Skipping part of Waterway

I came across this video today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt7D3-COHJQ

This technique was used in this speedrun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NYJA-JGJx0

Does anyone know if it's possible without tool assistance?

 

I believe I recall seeing it done during a non-TAS run, but I could be mistaken.

 

It's possible but very very hard to pull off consistently, from what I've seen. So most speed runners don't use it, due to the volatility of the technique.

Edit: But if you did it with opening and closing the menu... I never thought to exploit that.

Edit2: And of course, if you look at the uploader it's ppu, the holder of the current wr for speedrunning freeware Cave Story.

 

It's a great exploit no doubt about it, I think that's an interesting topic that isn't explained much.

 

I didn't really get it, though. What exactly does repeatedly opening and closing the inventory do?

 

I didn't really get it, though. What exactly does repeatedly opening and closing the inventory do?

I think you are supposed to press the fire button as fast as possible, and opening and closing the inventory is then used for pause buffering.

 

So it basically shaves off input lag time?

 

So it basically shaves off input lag time?

The problem with trying to do the waterway skip normally (without opening the menu) is you have to press the shoot key insanely fast to get out the necessary number of shots to propel you downwards through the stream. With opening the inventory, you can basically pause inbetween shots by going into the menu right as you shoot, so the timing is a lot easier.

 

Oh, that makes sense. Thanks.

 

just watched the speedrun

they...
they didn't even use the rocket!
holy crap

 

just watched the speedrun

they...
they didn't even use the rocket!
holy crap

It seems incredible till you find out that they used special mods to finish Cave Story faster.

 

It seems incredible till you find out that they used special mods to finish Cave Story faster.

What are you talking about? It was clearly run with a clean, unmodified version of vanilla (freeware) Cave Story.

 

What are you talking about? It was clearly run with a clean, unmodified version of vanilla (freeware) Cave Story.

Look at the video description. " Assisted by tools", and I assume that means that they used mods.

 

Look at the video description. " Assisted by tools", and I assume that means that they used mods.

What that means is that they use tools to slow the game down to around a frame per second. This is what allows TAS's to do so many crazy things that are often impossible to pull off without the slowdown.

 

What that means is that they use tools to slow the game down to around a frame per second. This is what allows TAS's to do so many crazy things that are often impossible to pull off without the slowdown.

Also I'd like to note that these are external tools, not tools that modify the game/executable itself, hence they're not "mods".

 

The skip was done at SGDQ this year without pause buffering. He did it in 3 tries.
Now that ppu has figured out a more consistent way to do it (maybe), I am excited to see if he'll come back and get a new world record.

 

holy that was something