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View Full Version : Metroid Pause Times -- do they affect the ending?


aclbandit
05-16-2009, 09:40 PM
As almost any gamer would know, getting the best endings in Metroid games involves beating them quickly.

So, since I'm getting started on Metroid II, I would like to know:

Does time spent with the game on "pause" affect the ending you get on Metroid games, and, if so, which ones specifically?

I'm fairly certain that at least the FDS version of Metroid 1 does count pause time toward your ending.

What about the others?
skaar
05-16-2009, 11:22 PM
Never noticed it to, myself.

If you have a save at the end of one of the games with a really low time just pause the console overnight and check. Mystery solved!
aclbandit
05-17-2009, 03:45 AM
Well, when I played Metroid 1, I did time it on the way through and I should have gotten the best ending, but I didn't. It's possible that the times for the FDS version are different, but I always thought that one was because I left it on pause for about an hour.

I played Metroid II in one sitting today (my first time through the game, finished in 2:06 -- not bad, methinks), but used the pause a lot -- I still got the best ending, so I don't think it has any effect on overall time in the 2nd game (and, hopefully, from there forward).

I'll probably do Super Metroid soon, and see what I can find out.
Graham Mitchell
05-18-2009, 02:11 AM
Wow. I don't know the answer, but that's a really good question. I've never really thought about it.
aclbandit
05-18-2009, 02:27 PM
Wow. I don't know the answer, but that's a really good question. I've never really thought about it.

That's the reaction I've found from almost anyone I ask.

I'll try to find out first-hand sometime soon. I know that I can easily test it with Metroid II, since I have a save near the end-- it just means that I'll have to leave it paused for exactly 1 hour.

Metroid 1, however, is a much more unanswerable question on my end -- NOT gonna try to play through that again, at least for a year or two.
jb143
05-18-2009, 02:33 PM
Metroid 1, however, is a much more unanswerable question on my end -- NOT gonna try to play through that again, at least for a year or two.

You could try one of the password generators.
aclbandit
05-18-2009, 11:27 PM
You could try one of the password generators.

Well, my version of Metroid 1 is for Famicom Disk System, so it doesn't use passwords -- it has SAVES. However, I could emulate it to find out, I suppose.
rbudrick
05-20-2009, 03:28 AM
Well, my version of Metroid 1 is for Famicom Disk System, so it doesn't use passwords -- it has SAVES. However, I could emulate it to find out, I suppose.

Please let us know. It really is a great question.

-Rob
SparTonberry
05-22-2009, 12:06 AM
I looked at the disassembly on this page:
http://www.romhacking.net/docs/367/
to find that SamusAge is at $687D-687F. I'm guessing that is the timer.
It increments about every 4 seconds, but watching that address in FCEUX, it does not increase while paused.

So, I'm going to go with no, pausing does not count.
aclbandit
05-24-2009, 11:52 PM
I looked at the disassembly on this page:
http://www.romhacking.net/docs/367/
to find that SamusAge is at $687D-687F. I'm guessing that is the timer.
It increments about every 4 seconds, but watching that address in FCEUX, it does not increase while paused.

So, I'm going to go with no, pausing does not count.

There we go, problem solved! Thank you so much. Was that the cartridge NES release?

EDIT: Although it's probably safe to assume that they wouldn't change it for later releases, any confirmation for Super Metroid?