[Stefan]

Still, there could at least be a top ten of game trumping...

Which relates to the "few-game-menace" idea I proposed. To be honest, I'm really liking the idea. Da1andonlysonic and stanski would be somewhere on the list.. that's really all I can think of for now.

[Marth]

I hope something from SA gets in. :D Like that double Spin Dash jump that was used for
Casinopolis on GCN, and later in Final Egg on DC. Or any glitch that broke a single stage.
Or the Death Line Hax trick in Windy Valley. (Okay, that didn't do much... other than annoy
everyone because they couldn't figure it out.)

[yse]

Quite so, it should be entertaining rather than actually informative IMO :)

Are you suggesting these aren't informative?!

Personally I'd like to think I cover both bases fairly well. RPG, on the other hand...

[douglas]

Quite so, it should be entertaining rather than actually informative IMO :)

Are you suggesting these aren't informative?!

Personally I'd like to think I cover both bases fairly well. RPG, on the other hand...

Indeed, hence the smilie; I was just indicating which I feel to be more important.

Also RPG where's my bio kplz

[Zeupar]

Revival!

The topic for this edition of the top tens will be epic discoveries (this is not the official title).

Awesome idea! Who had it? Now I'm really expecting this top ten.

[yse]

We haven't forgotten about this! The #10 Epic Discovery will be out Sunday.

One important thing: I have started every previous Top Ten, setting the pace for future revealings from RPG. This time, I entrust him with the first revealing (in fact, the first three) so he'd better not fuck up >:O

[Rick_242]

Will he post them on time for once?

[Bilan]

Only if you're good.

[yse]

Okay, a bit of clarification because some people don't seem to have their heads around the concept.

This top ten ranks the mechanisms which have been found and used by us competitors over time. In order to get a high rank in the Top Ten, it must have had a wide ranging effect on competition. This means that it can be applied across an entire game, or perhaps multiple games!

Mechanisms which, while no less awesome, are restricted to a single level will be granted honourable mentions.

[Telnaior]

I'd bet that the #1 would be the TBG, although that's banned now. But it would have been monumental when it was originally discovered.

[yse]

Hello, and welcome to the Top Tens, Fourth Anniversary Edition!

I've already clarified pretty much everything about this category, except the format. So I suppose I'll do that now.

TSC's EPIC DISCOVERY #

[Name] - [Game] - [Finder - on some, this might be disputed]

[Background]
[Impact on competition]
[other epic stuff]

THE EPIC LIST :O

OK, that should be everything. RPG will have the first one ready, hopefully in the next 12 hours.

[Buizel]

RPG will have the first one ready, hopefully in the next 12 days.

Fixed.

*predicts an "fu zeph you know i did that on purpose last time to build suspense" or similar response along with something along the lines of "im totally going to have them all ready on time this time in fact i already have the first one done so stfu," except likely with bad spelling, to which I will say "o ok" and pretend that I believe him but be unsurprised when one or more of them are late, in which case I may have to the make one or more of The Faecâ„¢ depending on several factors including which one is the first to be late and my current mood*

[Bilan]

fu zeph you know i did that on purpose last time to build suspense.

im totally going to have them all ready on time this time in fact i already have the first one done so stfu.

[Bilan]

TSC's EPIC DISCOVERY #10
Goal Ring Skipping - Sonic Heroes - Chao_Fan

So here we go with the Fourth Anniversary Edition of the Top Tens, and for once I get to make the opening entry! woot and such.

Might I also interject at this point to say that there isnt a whole lot to say on this one before mike bitches at me. And also I have no firsthand experience with it limiting my descriptive attempts!

So basically, Goal Ring Skipping. Its the act of skipping a goal ring in Sonic Heroes, allowing you to progress further into a level as a team that is normally unable to do so (Think, Chaotix getting to Sonic/Darks Goal Ring in Ocean Palace).

Generally speaking, this tactic would have no benefit at all for Time that I can think of, as well as little or no Score benefits that I can think of either. Rings is where this tactic really comes in useful; as the rings in the sections beyond the goal rings for Rose and sometimes Chaotix still contain atleast some of the rings that Sonic and Dark would find on their regular paths. Naturally this has increased the maximum amount of rings in quite a few levels since its discovery.

A slight modification of this tactic can be used to full effect in various levels as the other teams, whereby you can rocketaccelljumpfly across gaps to normally inaccessible sections of level for that team and collect rings that still spawn there for some peculiar reason (think Grand Metropolis - Sonic).

Also I promise my next article will be better than this one, so without further ado:

THE EPIC LIST :O
10. SH goal ring skipping (Chao_Fan)

[Buizel]

fu zeph you know i did that on purpose last time to build suspense.

im totally going to have them all ready on time this time in fact i already have the first one done so stfu.

o ok.

*pretends to believe him but will be unsurprised when one or more of them are late, in which case I may have to the make one or more of The Faecâ„¢ depending on several factors including which one is the first to be late and my current mood*

I assume you two are alternating turns posting the top ten this time? (Or will we have things revealed out-of-order like last time? >_>)

[Bilan]

The order of our posting has been preset by fate and destiny.

[General Throatstomper]

Time to predict! The idea of a discovery affecting multiple games is pretty interesting.

1) Emerald Hunting Mechanics-Being able to restart after death to the last emerald obtained, and knowing piece locations has always been huge for emerald missions. Seriously, I don't think I need to explain this one.
2) TBG-It pretty much defined a whole game for a while back.
3)Screenwrap-the screenwrap is pretty important for that "Sonic 3&Knuckles" game, affecting a fair deal of charts. By which I mean select charts for 4 levels, and time attack. It's still significant though.
4) Superbounce-Necessary for a few records, useless for others. Superbounce(tm)
5) Rush Score Mechanics-Relevant for...Rush and Rush Adventure score attack. You're not surprised or anything, are you?
6) DD-Pretty important at the time, it was eventually relegated to freestyle only but I don't see that hurting tbg's position as a noteworthy finding.
7) second CC-I see this is as less significant than the number 10 finding, but at this point I really can't think of any other glitches.
8)Eternal Engine Wall Glitch-Self explanatory; a wall glitch in Eternal Engine in the Dreamcast version of SA2 that lets you avoid shooting the engine at the ends of missions 1 and 5.
9)Final Egg Capsule Glitch-I seem to recall a glitch in Final Egg where you're able to hit a capsule in some remote part of the level that logically shouldn't be there.

[Groudon]

Generally speaking, this tactic would have no benefit at all for Time that I can think of, as well as little or no Score benefits that I can think of either.

The exception to the lack of Score benefits would be Final Fortress using Team Rose.  Apparently, you can get a much higher score by passing the goal ring due to the high number of enemies.

[Stefan]

a.) genus you're way wrong since most of those apply only to one sa2/sadx level.

b.) I called goal skipping in chat. next up I see super bounce attack.

[Telnaior]

* JDGA remembers that the #1 on the previous top 10 was never actually completed.

It was mike89 vs RPG. mike89 made his post about it, then waited for RPG to post his side of it. He's still waiting. That's why I am expecting to call FAIL on RPG for lateness with this top 10.

* JDGA takes big breath ready to declare FAIL on RPG...

P.S. The Emerald Challenges need updating.

[Aitamen]

29 posts until 500... interesting!  Anyway, I'm interested in seeing stuff in the glitch/tech proposal...

Superglide (not the discovery of such, but the sudden records that were built because of it... AR2 and LB2... as well as a few AWESOME scores)

[Rick_242]

P.S. The Emerald Challenges need updating.

If you mean why haven't runs been graded, Thorn already explained it earlier in another topic. RPG is a noob and can't grade because of certain reasons. SDM left and gave the EC's to Thorn and RPG. So Thorn pretty much runs the show. If you meant something else, you can bring it up on the EC forums.

[Zeupar]

Superglide (not the discovery of such, but the sudden records that were built because of it... AR2 and LB2... as well as a few AWESOME scores)

It was useful in Egg Rocket as Knuckles as well.

[Bilan]

TSC's EPIC DISCOVERY #9
Flag Hax - Sonic 1 Game Gear - RPG/SprintGod

Citation needed for discoverers and such. While to my knowledge I was the first to find the actual mechanics on how the flag works and awards points and announce as such in chat, I dont know if Sprint had figured it out beforehand and kept it to himself~

Yay something I can right about!

So then, what is this S1GG Flag and why was it haxed? For those not in the know, its the signpost at the end of the level, and when you hit it, it flies up into the air and then awards (what was believed to be random amounts of) points upon landing. Naturally, being awarded points at random is annoying for those doing some serious SAing, so several of us looked into this.

What I did to test this out, was drop a savestate a short distance away, and then run at it. A lot. I got the same result each time so I tried rolling into it from different distances away, where I got different amounts of points. I also noted at this point that the flag bounced higher the faster you hit it. Some more trial and error later and I ascertained that hitting it at a certain speed caused the signpost to always award you 10000 points (the highest it can give), practiced this a while until I was consistent and then claimed the discovery! <_<

There really isnt much to say about the impact it has on competition: it allows you to get an extra 10K points when you finish a level with a signpost....thats about it really <_<

In terms of other epic stuff, while not completely related I feel I should mention that the mechanics for the signpost awarding you a bonus 10 rings was discovered (by Sprint!). Basically you die twice before completing the level and the signpost will be nice to you. Awww, isnt that sweet?

THE STARTING TO BECOME MORE EPIC LIST :O
10. SH goal ring skipping (Chao_Fan)
9. S1GG flag (Sprint/RPG)

[Bilan]

TSC's EPIC DISCOVERY #8
Double Spindash - Sonic Adventure 1 Marth

So now heres something that you whiny bastards might call epic. Though I still prefer the S1GG flaghax because it has more use than just one level?

So a double spindash eh? You press first button, keep held and press the other when fully charged into an ancient light attack, then release the first button only for a split second allowing you to start a spindash while you also quickly press A to jump.

So what does this do? In all actuality not a whole lot....were it not for the fact that it allows DC owners to completely bork Final Egg - Sonic. By doing this at the very first halfpipe in the level, releasing the spindash and jumping through the ceiling, with careful aiming and by using the already charged AL, you can boost forwards...and land on a capsule out in the middle of fucking nowhere and finish the level in ~10 seconds.

There really isnt much to say about the impact this has on competition either: it allows absolutely absurd times on FE-S and also helps GC owners in Sonic's Casinopolis stage. Other than that it just looks cool.

THE LIST WHICH IS NOW BECOMING EPIC :O
10. SH goal ring skipping (Chao_Fan)
9. S1GG flag (Sprint/RPG)
8. SA1 double spindash (Marth)

[F-Man]

Ahaha you got it all wrong! You press first button, keep held and press the other when charged, then release the first button only for a split second allowing you to start a spindash while you also quickly press A to jump.

This epic discovery is also useful in Casinopolis if you don't have a Dreamcast (see videos).

[Bilan]

Cheers for correcting me X)

I was close tho rite <_<

[yse]

SHUT UP.

TSC's EPIC DISCOVERY #7
Chaotix infinite fly - Sonic Heroes - sonicam/smizzla

Once upon a time, there was a game called Sonic Heroes. And in this game you could fly. This made backtracking for ring attacks rather easy. But something was about to affect ring attacks much more than that...

One day, sonicam was playing Ocean Palace and it came to pass that, by holding against a wall, the Chaotix could reset their flight meter and continue upwards, until clearing the invisible wall and reaching the turtle area. This allowed for much more rings on Ocean Palace, and also made a cameo appearance on Bullet Station. Still, all was well.

Later, my brother was playing around in Bullet Station and found something even more broken. Instead of holding against the wall, he simply shot the characters against the wall... and observed the same effect to flying capacity. A quick test on my part confirmed the truth: Chaotix were able to fly anywhere.

The impacts to RAing now are immense. Areas of Final Fortress, Mystic Mansion, BINGO Highway and other levels which were never thought possible now are. In fact, it was found that some levels had a Back ring, which as you know resets all objects in the level. This makes for easy 999s and was thus banned.

For its impact on exploration and competition, this becomes the #7 epic discovery.

THE LIST WHICH IS NOW BECOMING EPIC :O
10. SH goal ring skipping (Chao_Fan)
9. S1GG flag (Sprint/RPG)
8. SA1 double spindash (Marth)
7. SH infinite fly (sonicam/smizzla)

[yse]

TSC's EPIC DISCOVERY #6
Boost jumping - Sonic Advance 3 - nitsuja

Sonic Advance 3 was designed for balance. With 20 potential character teams, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses, selecting the right team for any given level was a) a lot of testing and b) a nightmare. That was, until this...

Universally regarded as the greatest ninja ever to walk the earth, nitsuja has developed a reputation for destroying Sonic games through the art of TAS. The full list of glitches and tricks he found would fill a volume, but this particular trick broke any semblance of balance in Advance 3. Essentially, charge up your partner, Sonic. Now hold R, but not A, and pause the game. Now release R, hold A, and unpause. You jump out of the boost. This means that X+Sonic teams have:
* Twice the jump height
* More than twice the effective jump length
* A boost that's even faster (by 20%) than in regular circumstances

Naturally, the records in Advance 3 were destroyed in a flash. Quartz, who had a hand in nitsuja's TAS with his videos and drawing his paths on the maps, was the main beneficiary, but I caught most of the way up, and Judgement has had a part to play as well.

Only five more to go! Have a guess at what they're gonna be :O

10. SH goal ring skipping (Chao_Fan)
9. S1GG flag (Sprint/RPG)
8. SA1 double spindash (Marth)
7. SH infinite fly (sonicam/smizzla)
6. SAdva3 boost jumping (nitsuja)

[Taco]

#6 is very win

I also had no idea half of these tricks even existed (in particular 7 and 9)

looking forward to the final 5