Super Smash Bros 64 Samus Break The Targets 8.60 [World Record]

Описание: Previous wr was 8.87 by me :    • Super Smash Bros 64 Samus Break The Target...  
Tied by YoungXion :    • Smash 64 - Samus BTT '8"87  
Tied by CursedYoma :    • (SSB64) Samus 8.87s (J)  

Japanese version

In this version every direct contact with a target has 1 frame less of hitlag. On this stage, this applies 6 times for (0.1 second).
The stage is faster on this version for this reason. Otherwise they would be identical has Samus's version change doesn't affect how she performs on this stage.

[Strat explanation]
The previous Samus strat was easy and has been around for 25 years. It capped at 8.87 which was finally achieved in 2017 by me.
Sub 9 was achieved in 2000 so almost no progress were made since other than cleaning up all the frames for the cyle.
I did a lot of research to find a new route that could break the cycle.
I found this new strat around 4 years ago but the beginning up-b edgecancel appeared too annoying.
I tried to look for alternatives without success and last year I decided to start practicing the middle / end section.
It was really difficult but I was able to get some success after a while. The only thing missing was the first up-b edgecancel.
I found a setup accidentally and I was about to do some attempts but Gibrani found a new strat for Kirby BTT which looked easier / more fun.
End of March 2024, I decided to finally go for it.

[New tech]
2 new tech that I implemented for this run.
I say new in the context of bonus mode, I doubt anyone knows about the first one, but the 2nd one might already be known.

1- By holding right and halfway up (y=45-52), I buffer a 1 frame dash into the shortest stick jump possible when it says GO.
I found this accidentally when testing ideas for the opening. It's really convenient as I can only time a B press to do the beginning.
It is not easy to get this exact position on the stick but that depends of your controller. If you just dash, you didn't hold up enough. If you jump instead of dash jumping, you were holding too high.
This is extremely situational and I doubt it'll be useful in versus but it's still an interesting quirk.

2- Used for the 6th target, I do a c jump up-air without having to buffer or be worried of doing a stick jump or an accidental double jump.
The trick is to press the C button and flick up after. It's even possible to do this with a short hop if you don't hold the c button.
This is really good for sensitive controller or even for keyboard players, to allow them to Cjump or shorthop up-air without buffering !

[Strats Details]
Step 1 - I start with the new tech by holding right and halfway up. Then I just time a B press and wiggle left to right to edgecancel. This is extremely precise as we need to edgecancel and jump from it with the GO still on screen.
99% of attempts will die there :(

Step 2- After the stick jump, I need to time a double jump to barely land. It's still possible to get a completion even if you overshot a little but it's harder.
Just before landing on top, I buffer a stick jump left then a really precise double jump + delayed up-air drift to barely hit T3, then a bomb to hit the bottom target followed by an up-air z-cancel on the moving platform.
Those 3 targets are the reason why we need the up-b edgecancel for T1-T2. Any other options and we are too slow and we cannot make it to the rising platform.
It really is harder than what it looks like.

Step 3- As soon as you land on the moving platform, dash c jump + flick up to prepare for the up-air on T6. As the move ends, shoot to the right or just press B. Holding a direction while shooting can help with Samus drift.
This is probably the easiest step to do although it's not trivial to get a good drift out of the c jump.

Step 4- Buffer a fastfall and do an up-air without double jumping. There's 2 way to do this, slam up + A at the same time (frame perfect) or hold slightly up and press A. If you didn't up-air too early or too late, you will hit T8 while falling and from there you might have a small window to shoot T9. After the shot, buffer a fastfall to the left then double jump bair.
I lost a lot of run to accidental fastfall nair or fastfall into double jump up-air. The lower you shoot T7, the faster you need to fastfall up-air.

[Possible Improvement]
I did tons of savestate practice after T2 and the best I ever saw is 8.59. TAS for this strat can get 8.55 with an even more precise T3 and tighter ending.
I honestly couldn't be happier, it was my 3rd completion (in 15k attempts) and a huge skip after I got 8.77 twice. Unless some faster alternatives are found, I don't think I will be challenging this time.
Hopefully this new T1-T2 can open up new ideas.

List of all the world record for all regions :
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

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