Game:

SaGa Frontier (1997)

Duration: 1:49:23

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83

This is a single-segment speed run of all characters of Saga Frontier. Specifically this is part 1 of a single-segment speed run of all characters of Saga Frontier completed in 6 hours 22 minutes and 17 seconds. Timing is from power-on until arrival in the 2nd Division. This was done on a PS2, SCPH-30001. The fast disk option was used. The controller model used was SCPH-10010. This run was recorded with a DVD recorder.

As before, and as in the case of all pretty much all my videos these are MQ anri-chan encodes. I use an older version because of audio issues.

Credit List:

*Correction on 26 February 2014: changed attribution of Red TAS.

This is similar, but with a few new additions.

knbnitkr: I first learned of early termination of the rune event from his TAS; apparently this was known in the Japanese SaGa community a number of years prior. I also first learned of the use of SnkeOil during Overdrive from his TAS.
gure and Achey: Two other Japanese TASers from whose runs I learned of enemy avoidance methods and event triggers. Also, I think skipping "The End" in Blue's chapter was discovered by gure.
start_button (すたーと): I used large portions of his route for Riki's chapter. His new run of T260G inspired changes in T260G's chapter.
masago53: The brilliant use of Hidebehind in Asellus' and Emilia's chapters is masago's idea. Once again I borrowed large portions of his route for these characters' chapters.
Pearl: If it weren't for Pearl's old RTA, then Lute's chapter would have been much slower. I had dismissed the Junk Shop as initially too slow; however, after reading Pearl's route, it was pretty clear that I could save time by exploiting it.
Zaraktheus: He has compiled a wonderfully useful mechanics FAQ; his tranlations of the combo data on sakura made planning for this run much easier.
http://www.uri.sakura.ne.jp/~saga/sf1/ : A Japanese Saga Frontier website that was also terribly useful in planning all along the way.
聖天使猫姫: I learned of various movement optimizations a TAS of Red's chapter by this individual.
clowps (くろぷす): He's a real-time SaGa speedrunner from whom I've acquired information.
みけぽん: The new Blue route borrows heavily from a route he devised. Also, one of his Riki runs made me realize a rather silly equipment choice in my old route.

Single-segment means a speed run done in a single-session banning saves, quicksaves, and resets. I time from power-on until appearance in the 2nd Divison as previously. I make numerous route choices for the sake of consistency over absolute speed. Also, while the play quality is generally better in this run than in the old one, I make plenty of silly, time-wasting mistakes.

Asellus:

Unplanned Battle Count: 0

There are a few differences here. One, I no longer do the stuff with the in battle menu. I realized that my overworld movement really wasn't that consistent after I failed to pass the first 17 minutes of the run for about a month. Two, my route for facing the Sages, LionPrincess, and Ciato is different. Three, Zozma no longer absorbs Dead Knights. His QUI is lower as a result, and so I need to use Kylin'sSong in order to make Orlouge more consistent.

This is not the absolute fastest Asellus route. Not recruiting Thunder would save time; facing LionPrincess with a party of only Asellus and Silence would save time. But the latter would result in a less than 50% chance of success in that battle. I've only completed this run five times anyway, so I can't say I wanted to slice my chances more.

Riki Part 1:

Unplanned Battle Count: 1

Things are quite similar to the previous run. Really, the differences include not absorbing any ability with Kylin and a slightly different equipment scheme. I did the former as I realized that KylinJr's slightly higher defense post transformation really wasn't that helpful. And the latter I did as I noticed that Kylin could use the FighterRing more efficiently than Sei.

There is a potentially faster route that involves not recruiting Kylin, but its success depends on getting an optimal four turn victory vs. Master Ring. Riki doesn't have a HarmoniumEarring, and in general the probability of success is quiite low. Well, it's low assuming that you aren't using hard saves and hard resets for the sake of rng manipulation. But this is classical single-segment; doing that isn't an option.

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