Thanks for the support everyone! This run is a terrifying one, but I'm glad I was able to showcase it on the biggest stage for you all. This game is a classic!
It's impressive to see how good some of these are while being done live on camera with an audience, and commentary. This one was 1 minute off the world record, but it still would be good enough for 4th place all time, which is not shabby at all.
At the Chintai in Mission 2, you can climb back down the ladders and you can go to Mission 3 without even fighting. I'm 100% sure they already knew that though.
Always thought it was total bullshit how this game had platforming elements late game when the controls for jumping were so terrible. Same thing happens in the NES sequel. Shit is tough!
The arcade version didn't have platforming, unless you count the jump over the bridge. Stage 4 in the arcade is just a straight shot through the palace. @@palaceofwisdom9448
There was never a canon reason, as far as I know. They just wanted a different final boss and reused the sprite. The funny part was that it gave the game a great twist ending; too bad it wasn't canon.
It was a holdover from the arcade game where you beat the final boss, and if both players are still alive they fight over who gets the girl from the intro.
The level up glitch takes a long time and is not optimal for speedrunning. It adds another 40-60 seconds onto the run, and you can't make that time up by elbowing through everything.