1% run in Metroid Fusion - Hard to Insane
The sad thing is, there's actually a sequence breaker that uses a perfectly-timed shinespark to skip that missile tank, but it requires that you perform the shinespark mere frames before it runs out. See m2k2 for details. Anyway, grats on the 1%, was the Nightmare fun?
I did a 10% hard run of Metroid Zero Mission on hard, using a Super Missile expansion as the tenth percent (Screw attack would have made Mother Brain a LOT easier, but the zebetites almost impossible). (I did pick up the Varia suit, although it adds a percent regardless of whether you pick it up or not.) The thing is, a 9% completition is possible in the PAL version of the game (the NTSC version has a missile block near the end that regenerates, forcing you to stock at least three missiles to progress). However, getting my hands on a European version would be far easier than actually getting past those zebetites, so it's something that I prefer to keep in my mind.
I've always wanted to take the TAS route in a Zelda 5 run; I really like the idea of skipping the first three temples. Although I have managed to successfully bomb jump onto the boarder surrounding the graveyard, I haven't managed to actually make my way to the Shadow Temple's entrance. I did do a pseudo-speed run once mimicking TSA's 4:57 route, but my time was over 6 hours. (I wasted a lot of time trying to get through the desert without the Lens of Truth, I probably should have practiced this portion of the run before actually trying to execute it.)
I tried doing a speed run of Golden Sun one time, and I have come to the conclusion that Saturos is the hardest boss speed-run boss in RPG history. If you fight zero randbats, your party level is 7, with Mia at level 10. Probably the hardest part is that you have no Granite, and I've actually toyed with the idea of detouring to Kolima to get it. My best time for beating Saturos is over 35 minutes, and with luck, Granite could conceivably shave fifteen minutes off that time. After seeing how Toxic Lapras performed, I'm beginning to think that using Granite would be acceptable for a recorded speed run. Still, the save mechanics make a recorded run an absolute nightmare, and would probably result in a run with at least sixty segments.
Back when I had the GBA Final Fantasy remake, I did a "perfect stats" run (reaching class promotion at level 11), although doing so really had no impact on my maximum stat potential since an infinite number of stat-raising items are available after completing the game. Still, it was fun (if a bit aggravating at times), and developed an attachment to Red Mages during that run that has greatly affected the way I read 8-bit theatre. I also did a run using only Black Mages, although that's really quite easy since the GBA version provides you with an actual MP stat.
I have the GBA version of Final Fantasy VI, and I've been toying with the idea of a "perfect" Celes/Edgar/Setzer run, although doing so would eat up a colossal amount of time. Still, I have three weeks of summer left before I start class again, and virtually no obligations until then...
