This has always been my favorite NES game, so i'm glad that i've finally made a speedrun of it. What i really appreciate about BC is the versatility of the bionic arm. For most platform shooters, the speedrun formula is fairly prosaic: keep the screen scrolling at maximum speed and don't run into anything. But the numerous ways in which the bionic arm can be used lends itself to some very creative game-play, and i have found the route-planning aspect of this speedrun attempt to be more right-brained and enjoyable than that of other speedruns i've done in the past.

The vast majority of the route you see here was developed before i watched sdkess's video (the previous record), however i did learn a few things from it and i am grateful to him and to SDA for making it available. There are a number of TAS videos of this game which are immensely entertaining to watch due to extensive exploitation of the game mechanics, however i found these videos to be of little help since they employ tactics that are not possible for a human.

I did not keep track of how many attempts it took to make this run, but the total recording time was about 25 hours (not including planning, research, and practice) spread over the course of about 4 weeks.

Note that i played by the (somewhat stupid) Twin Galaxies rule prohibiting A+B+Start. The previous record for this game (by sdkess) also followed this convention.

• AREA 15
  Not much to this level. Grabbing the communicator is the only challenge, and i must admit that i'm rather proud of my technique for doing so.
  Probability of failure on this level: <10% (Usually due to a missed grapple in the item room. This early in the game a missed grapple is a resettable offense.)

• AREA 5
  I find this to be the most fault-prone level. Placement of the copters and paratroopers is difficult to control and has caused me many headaches and resets. How glad i am to get this level out of the way early on in the game. This level has several applications of a technique that i call the "hop" -- grappling at a 45 degree angle, beginning to swing, but then immediately disconnecting. This takes advantage of the fact that you are given a slight upward lift at the onset of a swing. When timed correctly, you can use it to perform a small jump. This move is enormously useful throughout the game, not the least of which being the top segment of this tower (2:13--2:22).
  Probability of failure on this level: 60% (Usually due to high standards rather than death)

  (1:41) This spot is a big headache. One must stand at the very edge of this platform in order to reach the grapple point, and the range of acceptable places to stand is only 2 pixels wide. Many attempts end here because of missed grapples or walking off the platform (either of which is a resettable offense). Once connected to the barrels i choose to swing rather than hop, since this is more reliable and only a split second slower.

  (2:17) I must pause here briefly to wait for the paratrooper to appear, else i'd have a much longer delay on the next platform while he dropped straight through where i needed to be. It's a matter of screen positioning.

• AREA 3
  This level is a piece of cake. The only risky part is the spikes right before the boss room, but even this is fairly tame.
  Probability of failure on this level: 10%

  (3:57) I like to fire a shot right before i begin the swing so that the bullet hits the boss the moment it comes on screen. Not a huge time savings, but it looks cool.

• AREA 5
  I used to hate this level, particularly the places where you must swing across large gaps via the lamp-posts. But now that i've had a good deal of practice i find it quite fun. I especially enjoy exploiting the collision-detection bugs and climbing through the platforms in the second part of this level (because the game designers clearly wanted you to zigzag your way up the levels of the tower on foot and get bowled-over by spikey-balls, and we all love doing things that the game designers didn't intend).
  Probability of failure on this level: 33%

  (4:45) An inconveniently-placed paratrooper hits my line, causing it to disconnect prematurely. Thus i could not execute my usual plan of grappling straight up to the tall lamppost, dropping straight down, and then hooking on to the following platform to do a swing with my line fully extended. It would have looked pretty sweet. Instead i had to improvise. Fortunately, there are other ways of getting across the gap. It did, however, cost me about 4 seconds.

  (5:15) I lose another 3 seconds here by failing to pass through the platform on the first attempt. This is a very uncommon occurrence.

• AREA 14
  Very short level. Again, i am rather proud of my communicator-grabbing technique.
  Probability of failure on this level: ~0%

• AREA 9
  Piece of cake. There is nothing in this wimpy level that deserves comment.
  Probability of failure on this level: 5%

• AREA 7
  Everything in this level goes according to plan except for some inefficiency with the boss.
  Probability of failure on this level: 40% (Usually due to a missed grapple at 8:48)

  (8:48) For some reason i very often miss the grapple on this last block (which basically means game over). I didn't this time, though. Go me.

  (9:00) Normally i'd start the battle by hitting this guy in the face at point-blank, doing 2 damage. Because i missed the shot, i'm not able to kill him before he pauses for the 3rd time, out of range of my attacks (as seen at 9:12). This costs me about 5 seconds.

• AREA 10
  This level has it all... lasers, purple slimes, spike pits, robots that fall from the sky, and yet another pi-pi-pi machine. It's probably my favorite.
  Probability of failure on this level: 5%

  (10:44) Timing the swing to pass in between laser blasts is rather difficult. Add to this the fact that you must hitch to just the right spot in order to be able to reach the right part of the platform on the other side. I succeed only about 50% of the time.

  (11:02) This is a tough spot, since you must get extremely close to the spike in order to reach the box, and there is little room for error. I don't manage to pull it off, and i lose 3 seconds in the process.

• AREA 11
  This level has elicited the use of much profanity. Many a brilliant speedrun has ended here.
  Probability of failure on this level: 60%

  (12:39--12:44) This part is the main offender. Even if you manage to make all your grapples, you may still fail to clear the flame pit because one of the swings wasn't long enough. If I miss, the backup plan is to walk into the flames, take 3 damages, and bounce to the other side (making the boss-room battle harder, but potentially saving me a reset). However, since i took a hit earlier in the level, i would not have had enough life to do this. So thank god i didn't miss.

  (12:52--13:04) I don't really have a coherent strategy for the boss room; i always just run in there shooting and hope for the best. This time it got rather hairy -- i took several laser hits and made it through by the skin of my bionic teeth.

• AREA 12
  This level is remarkably easy for a last level. The only challenge is getting through all the sparks; however these parts are quite predictable so once you've learned the patterns there's really nothing to it. I took an accidental hit at one point, but it made no difference to the timing.
  Probability of failure on this level: 5%

• THE ALBATROSS
  It is a little tricky making the vertical grapples at 16:27 to reach the spot from which i do my shooting. It took a good deal of practice before i managed to make it on the first attempt with any degree of consistency. Notice that i face left while doing the vertical grapples and then turn back to the right once i'm ready to start shooting. This puts me slightly closer to the target than if i had simply faced right the whole time. If not for this, it wouldn't be possible to get in enough shots to destroy the machine before it slid off the screen.
  Probability of failure on the albatross: 33%

  Once the albatross is dead, i have almost no chance of failure, and it is all pretty much in the bag. I take a shot at the helicopter cockpit and splatter the head of Hitl... uh... Master-D. Then i climb my way out the escape tunnel just in time to watch the base "explod".

What a great game. It was a pleasure making this speedrun. Enjoy.

Hello this is my Bionic commando run with 100% items. 100% requires collected:
*All weapons
*All items
*All armors
*All translators

You need visit every areas expect area 19. There is nothing important. This run was insanely difficult for me. It is hardest all runs what i am ever maded. I started this run when i caught this game end of the October 2009. I already was running that game with my emulator and then my best 100% time was 30 and half minutes. This mean i haved quite good stanard when i started work on that run on real NES. Yeah this run took me easily over 1000 attempts. Maybe close 2000 attempts. I not count, but its took me over 3 months and several hours recorder.

I got totally bored this game middle of December. I got 27.40 run twice but its never went faster so i gived up and keep couple weeks break with this game. Then its sounds max time limit with my skill level can somewhere 27.20 range.

When i pick up game back middle of January my skill level was increased a lot. Though i practice a lot. I played every areas individually through and its look i can play all areas faster than Feasel did his any-% run. Then i wanted back my 100% project again.

I spend couple days. I finally beat my old record by 17 seconds and this run still includes rough mistakes. Already i think if i can got sub 27.20 i'll submit, but when i beat it i not was too happy with it. So i keep trying. I finally got 27.04, but i wanted go game sub 27 minutes. Finally most things went well done and i finally break 27 minutes limit. This final run was done in 26.53. Though im not are 100% sure how SDA timed this run, but i think i timed it quite correctly.

Time rules in this game are weird IMO. D-pad lost controll more earlier but even d-pad are losting all controlls you can still reset your game using AB start after escape sequence. BTW i timed this:

Start point: When plane started moved into map
Stop point: When escape sequence screen disappear and escape timer stopping.

I think it is quite same as timer in feasel run.

ABOUT MY ROUTE
I got hit with 5 enemy truck hold my run. I never founded better route line with enemys. I think 4 enemys is not are possible and if someone can find it, its maybe will requires too much running back and forth in map and its not make game any faster. I only run backward once between areas 9 & 17. This make me avoid one more enemy hit.

ABOUT MY AREAS
I compared my best ID table time and feasel area time his any-% WR run
*******************************************************************

AREA 1
This area went well done. Its not are perfect run. I can make first room little more riskier, but it is very hard and take tons reset my individual tabble. But otherwise it was very well done:

TOTAL
-3 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
*****************************************************************
AREA 13 NEUTRAL AREA 1
Nothing much here. I got lamp and reset using AB start. Perfect run here.
*********************************************************************
AREA 4
This area are quite easy expect shortcut end of the level. I make near perfect run here. Especially boss fight went really well done. Boss is very random and i finally haved perfect luck against him.

TOTAL
NO TIME LOST IN THIS LEVEL
*************************************************************
AREA 15 NEUTRAL AREA 2
Went perfectly. I got yellow translator and reset back to the map.
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AREA 5
This is difficult area for speedrun. I not got my dream run here, but its not was very bad.
Part 1: I got hit with last shooter guy when i accidentally push wrong button. I lost about two seconds
Part 2: Went quite perfectly. Using damage trick through last shooter guys save little bit time
Part 3: Some minor flaws with grappling
Boss: One noob mistake here.

TOTAL
-5 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
+2 SECONDS FASTER THAN FEASEL
*************************************
AREA 16 NEUTRAL AREA 3
Green translator here. No time lost here
*************************************
AREA 2
Near perfect run here. Only one noob mistake and some grapples can be done riskier. Boss went perfectly.

TOTAL
-1 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
************************************************
AREA 3
Very good run in this area. Little bad luck with butterfly. 2nd part includes one very minor mistake. Also i miss one grapple with boss room.

TOTAL
-3 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
-1 SECONDS TIME LOST FEASEL

*****************************************************

AREA 6
This is my best Area 6 run ever. This run was insanely good. I pick up only one minor mistake and one caution intention. This is hard level went extremely well done. Also boss went perfectly. My Area 6 was whole 10 seconds faster than area 6 in Feasel run.

TOTAL
+2 SECONDS FASTER THAN PREVIOUS BEST
+10 SECONDS FASTER THAN FEASEL

*******************************************************

AREA 14 NEUTRAL AREA 4
Blue translator. No time lost

***********************************************

AREA 8
Very good run in level itself. Nothing real time lost here. Boss went avarage. Shield guy moving route is random and i didn,t have luck with him. I lost all times boss only.

TOTAL
-3 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
*********************************************************

AREA 9
This level was my roughest spot in my hold run. First mistake was minor. I mess up grappling into deep gap. This cost me maybe 1-seconds. I haved bad luck with minecarts and i lost couple seconds. Boss fight suck ass. I think i lost 4-5 seconds here. I just try take too much risk and i totally mess up.

TOTAL
-9 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
-8 SECONDS TIME LOST FEASEL

***********************************************************

AREA 17 NEUTRAL AREA 5
Well done. I need talking with guy who open secret paths.

ENEMY EXTRA
I got helmet here.

************************************************************

AREA 7
Near perfect run. Only one mistake here and it was very minor. Boss went almost well like area 6.

TOTAL
-1 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST

***************************************************************
AREA 18 NEUTRAL AREA 6
I need talking with guy who will set machine gun in room. Nothing time lost here.

*************************************************************
AREA 10
Very well done overall. I didn,t use tricky jump like feasel did his run. I thinking my succesrate make it correctly are something 50% or less and its save maybe one shy seconds total. Also i didn,t use crazy spike pit jump. This save maybe 5-6 seconds but it is extremely difficult to make. In very long SS run its would be suicide used it. So my intention was going visit into command room like Feasel did his any-% run.

My only real mistake happen end of the level. This cost me maybe 1-seconds

TOTAL
-9-10 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST (REASON:i didn,t use crazy spikey pit jump)
+1 SECONDS FASTER THAN FEASEL.
*******************************************************************

AREA 11
This level went ok. Its not was super awesome, mostly when i mess up shortcut and this requires me used lower route. Lower route is also quite fast so this not was very bad time lost.

Boss fight went better than feasel run. My boss can still done little bit faster, but it was very ok.

TOTAL
-5 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
-1 SECONDS TIME LOST FEASEL

*********************************************************************

AREA 12
PART 1/2
Last level is most difficult entire game. Or at least most annoying. I make first spark room very well done. 2nd spark room was also good, but i was little cautions. Spikey pit was done cautions like feasel. Its can be done 1 seconds faster if you used risky grapples. This still look i didn,t lost any seconds time with feasel when i enter to Albatross

ALBATROSS
Not perfect, but not bad. Done in 15 seconds. I didn,t miss any grapples, but i mess up one round kill. One round kill is also extremely random. Sometimes boss take more hits to die, like barriers end of the areas. Somereason rocket laucher are random effective and its not always register all hits. Maybe TAS peoples can know answer with this.

TOTAL
-5 SECONDS TIME LOST MY BEST
-4 SECONDS TIME LOST FEASEL

PART 2/2
I was freaking nervous at this point. Helicopter are ruin several runs already. This was just lucky time and thanks god i not missed it.

Escape went well done. Its not was super awesome like feasel did. I was about 1-2 seconds slower. But it was still very well done.

*******************************************************************

This run are quite same as Feasel any-% run. My rough spot was area 9 and feasel rough spot was area 6. Otherwise i keep my speed par like feasel did his any-% run. Also my run is done with 100% items and requires beat more levels and it is also very good run like feasel any-% run. I think its can very realistic got sub 26.40 with 100% items, but its would be very hard to make. Theoretical human limit can be 26.10 maybe very high 25 minutes, but these not seems very realistic goal. Its not are very human way used extremely hard time savers for example area 10 moving platform skip on SS run.

I'll let this run with this. Its took me freaking long to beat this. 3-4 months keep playing was really hard got game sub 27 minutes. Let see want someone got beat it. Its might be very hard.
*************************

SPECIAL THANKS***************************

I'll thanks Mike & Nate.
Also i want thank Feasel. He did awesome any-% run 17.37. This run help me find time savers. Feasel was very friendly guy. He answers my PM questions and help me a lot.

I'll thank my friend who help seed run through torrent to Nate.

Cheers:
Master-88