Game:

Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999)

Duration: 1:39

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4

Date: 2022 July 06
Emulator: Duckstation ver.0.1-4790-g50db81af (dev)

This was done on stream yesterday night during a vortex run I started after finishing a (rather slow) 120%. As far as I am aware, this is the first time Fish Escalator has been performed in a full run RTA! Funnily enough, this was after 2 attempts that definitely should have made it via Fish Ladder if I played a bit better, aha.

A little more context for friends of mine who still aren't as familiar with the trick, but watch my videos about these things: the successful attempt of this trick at the end is the version done in the TAS, and was previously thought to only ever be done in that setting. A method that was a bit easier and more viable for runs was figured out and has been performed many times by a few handfuls of players now, but even still not many go for it in runs due to its difficulty. The original name for the trick was Fish Ladder, however as things have developed, the TAS version is now often referred to as Fish Escalator to differentiate them.
As of writing this, I'm currently the only one who goes for Fish Escalator.

Below are my usual lengthy thoughts from the stream highlight description. I don't think I have much else to add at the moment, but I do want to thank everyone who has followed me along this journey of learning this trick, and everyone who discovered and made it possible in the first place. ♥

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This was 6th try, so still not perfect. Failing the first try fish ladder in that way was really unfortunate, And the 2nd good hook I got I shouldnt have dropped like that, though Im more than happy with a 6th try attempt that makes it via Escalator.

For more context, it usually take on average 5-10 tries for me to get Fish Ladder at all in a run. Sometimes I get lucky with a first try, though my consistency with the hook is very low still, despite not really having trouble with the wallglide afterwards. Usually I aim for getting Fish Ladder within only a few attempts, so I dont have to use the infinite code to avoid a game over. My best ever in a run has been first try, but I cant even remember if that run PBd at the time, aha.

As for Escalator, I have accomplished the trick both from fly-in and respawn blind turnaround setups about 70 times now. Seeing my consistency with the trick improve over time is encouraging, and I hope this inspires others to at least give Fish Ladder a try if they havent already. I feel like both tricks are much more viable for runs than theyre given credit for, because the initial jump and hook is so difficult. Hoping to put out a video soon enough that will serve as a detailed analysis of Fish Ladder/Escalator, so anyone looking to learn the trick is able to more easily.

Getting Fish Escalator in a run is something Im very happy with. When I first set out to learn Vortex, Fish Ladder was the first major trick I picked up. I was inspired by seeing top runners be able to pull off something that looked like something it was TAS only. The journey to get Fish Ladder once in practice was incredible, and I still remember how supportive others were when I was doing attempts at it. When I finally achieved it, and started to get it consistent in the weeks thereafter, I started to get into the mind set of everything in this game being possible with enough dedication and practice. Turning my attention towards getting Escalator was originally more just for fun, as I still was led to believe it was better left to be in a TAS, along with most others. It was once I got it 3 times close together in a practice session while laying in bed practicing Fish Ladder that I immediately knew this was RTA viable. From there I set out to analyzing the trick in detail until it started becoming consistent, and in learning it, Fish Ladder became easier to do, as recovering into it from a failed Escalator attempt was beneficial in practically every case I found. The rest was practice, and now were here. I wasnt expecting to get it in a run so soon!

Thats about all I have to say for now though. I think my final goals with this trick would be to get the full TAS version in practice, landing on the second stair instead, as well as getting Fish Escalator first try in a run. Besides that, I dont know if theres much left! The TAS can theoretically be tied to the second in this level, so perhaps thats the last major milestone to reach for me, but thats still a long ways away.

In any case, thanks for taking the time to read through all this ^^ I know this is pretty lengthy, but achieving this trick in a run, even if not first try, is probably my largest accomplishment with this game when it comes to speedrunning, so I wanted to share my thoughts, aha.

Thanks again, and good luck on your runs ♥

You can do this.
~ Xeirla

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