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Well, since I like good challenges and was a bit bored of playin Megaman X the usual way, I imposed a challenge on myself. These are the rules:

- Only the uncharged X-Buster may be used to attack.
- Only the final form of Sigma may be attacked by fully charged shots from the X-Buster.
- No heart tanks.
- No energy tanks.
- No collecting any armor, except for the boots because the cannot be avoided.
- Chill Penguin's stage must be played last, so that you cannot acquire boots early.
- Dashing is allowed after boots are obtained.

Ok... so those are the over the top rules. I was doing fine, every boss was falling one after another... until I encountered the easiest boss in the game:


Spark Mandrill

This guy is a beast without Chill Penguin's weapon. The problem is his nearly undodgeable punch that does more than 1/3 your HP in damage.

If you stay in the ground, he just punches you and you can't outrun him. If you try to jump above him, you will fail; it's possible to jump over him, but not if you're near the edge of the stage (Because he stops and you need his speed to jump above). You also have to jump before he starts his attack in order to actually dodge it, so it becomes a guessing game.

Any tips to actually defeat this guy while obeying the above rules?

Watch the run

I'm rerunning through the game, this time recording my input (not actual videos). To be able to watch my run, you will need to download a few things.

Megaman X challenge.zip (attached at the bottom of this post) includes all the input files so far, so you don't have to download the individual ones.

The rest of the files are only in the case you downloaded an earlier version of the previous file, which doesn't include the updated parts of the run. Put those into the Movies folder included in the previous file.

To view the run:
1-Start snes9x.exe
2-File > Load Game...
3-Select Mega Man X.smc and hit enter
4-File > Movie Play...
5-Click "Browse...", it's the button on the upper right.
6-Open one of the .smv files corresponding to the part of the run you want to see (They should be in the Movies folder).
7-Click Ok and watch.
8-To proceed to next part, go back to step 4.

Play order:
StartLevel.smv
ArmoredArmadillo.smv
FlameMammoth.smv
StormEagle.smv
BoomerKuwangerA1.smv
BoomerKuwangerA2-3.smv
StingChameleon.smv
LaucnhOctopus.smv
SparkMandrillA1.smv
SparkMandrillA2-8.smv

To be continued...

This post has been edited by ZoeStellan: 23 January 2011 - 11:08 AM

Love this game first of all, but yeah I've always absolutely hated Spark Mandril, not much I can do to help you with this one, sorry

I can't offer help but i highly suggest you continue your insanely hard game campaign and go onto ninja gaiden and super meat boy. try some online guides but megaman represents

This post has been edited by lolwut: 17 January 2011 - 01:24 AM

Actually I might try this challenge methong, but tell me, do you have it on the setting with both groups and no story line?

This post has been edited by MiwAuturu: 17 January 2011 - 01:38 AM

Nice challenge.

Good luck on doing that ^_^
I don't have any tips, I never tried doing anything near that...

Just fucking play Megaman 2, that game is hard enough.

Airman ga taosenai.

Youtube it. With lyrics, if you may.

You'll need full health, it's mostly a dodging game(you'll need to practice pixel jumps, a lot)until he's climbing the cieling, hit him then. This strategy is guarenteed. Of course, it took me 3 hours when I tried this strategy. Yeah, Spark Mandrill is a pain. Good luck finding a quick method.

interesting...

@lolwut: I have already beaten ninja gaiden several times, and I'm not hardcore enough for a no deaths run. Also I'm poor to try super meat boy, doesn't that thing cost money? Btw, I have also beaten I wanna be the guy on very hard, so I believe I need a different approach rather than just more practice at hard games. =P

@CaptainBaconMan: Megaman 2 already beaten... japanese version.

@Lycan: Airman is overrated. Just follow the fireman strategy: shoot and don't bother dodging, he will fall faster. Ice man and Elec man are much harder opponents when it comes to using only the Buster. And don't get me started on the yellow devil. (P.S. That song is still awesome)

@Arc Impulse: Alright, I shall try your method. But yeah, I got him down to 1/2 hp without him hitting me, up until he started punching. That punch is what gets me, specially with no dashing. >.<

This post has been edited by ZoeStellan: 17 January 2011 - 07:08 AM

I know this isn't very helpful, but

Get MGS3 or in fact any of the Metal Gear games
Then try and complete it on European Extreme. You get seen? It's instant game over.
I managed it with number 3 once.... good times.

Lol, I tried to get to that boss with your rules attempting to learn something wich could come in hand but I failed pathetically at the mid boss :\
By the way, are you recording and uploading somewhere your game run? I would like to see how are you playing

I'd think the octopus with the seeker missiles would be the hardest. Seriously, just cling to the walls and take shots to eat away at him and learn to dodge his damn punch.

I love Megaman X games as much as the next person, but that is a little too rich for my blood

QWOP FOR VICTORY!!!!

I like how beating certain bosses gives you stage advantages in the next level and that the headgear addition in every game does practically jack shit.

Jerk, on 18 January 2011 - 04:08 PM, said:

not true! the headgear in x4 i think gives you infinite weapon energy on non-charged shots~

SpaceMouse, on 18 January 2011 - 05:51 PM, said:

eh? don't remember that.

@Jerk: Actually, Launch Octopus is very easy if you know how to beat him. Just stay a moderate distance from him, and spam your uncharged buster.

NEVER JUMP. The only situation where you should jump if is he uses his homing missiles, because for some reason bullets go through one of the four he launches, hitting you. The non homing missiles will automatically explode if you are shooting fast, and not hit you (unless you jump).

If you see Launch Octopus jump fast above you, he is gonna try to drain you. Walk away, you have enough time to get some distance and get away unharmed.

@Everyone else: So... no, I'm not recording this. I'm just doing it for fun, but if you wanna see, I can start over and record it this time. The hardest part was learning to exploit each of the bosses. Now that I know how it should be easier (except for Flame Mammoth, I exploited a blind spot accidentally the first time around, so I don't know if I can pull it off again).

So you want me to start over and record my futile attempts to complete this game?

Do not bother, I was just curious but if you have to start over again then there is no problem ^^
Anyway thanks for the though

SpaceMouse, on 18 January 2011 - 05:51 PM, said:

I meant the good ones. You know...the first three.

@Demone della Luce: Meh, I'm gonna start over. Hopefully this promotes uhh... gaming challenges in this forum or something haha.

Jerk, on 19 January 2011 - 10:51 PM, said:

I'm kinda the same way, X4 felt a little weird because of the cut scenes, odd story and it didn't exactly seem to have the same style (artistically), but I really enjoy X5; the bosses, music, visuals, loved it. I didn't much like X6 because of the unskippable cutscenes, voice overs and it felt cluttered. X7... well, I like to pretend there never was a 7th game in the series.

This post has been edited by ChewySmokey: 19 January 2011 - 11:59 PM

@ZoeStellan: Thank you then, I'll look forward the videos

ChewySmokey, on 19 January 2011 - 11:55 PM, said:

I'm playing just now Megaman X7 but I do not enjoy it a lot... The other games (I've played the previous ones except for X4) were all fast paced and overall funny, X7 is just tedious (in my honest opinion) and the characters are agile just like a brick :|

This post has been edited by Demone della Luce: 20 January 2011 - 12:01 AM

Demone della Luce, on 19 January 2011 - 11:56 PM, said:

I know right? One thing that really made me realize that the Mega Man X franchise was dead was one of the in-game phases Mega Man says in X7 after firing his charged X-Buster: "Stop it!" THEY TURNED HIM INTO A PUSSY!

One question for the OP, is this the original cartridge version you're playing on the SNES, or one of ports in the Mega Man X Collection on last gen consoles? I don't think it would matter, but maybe for authenticity's sake?

@ChewySmokey: Since I have no screen capture hardware that I can use for Snes or any of those collections, I'm using an emulator. Snes9x to be precise.

I'm using a PS3 controller for input (it's similar to the SNES controller layout), since its the one I feel the most confortable with.

Anything else? No, it's just me, my controller, the emulator and the Megaman X rom. No emulation shenanigans such as save states (the only thing I'm using is the input recorder, which uhh... records every button press for every frame).

To view my run, you will need to download a few files (that I will post on my first post), and the input files. I'll make sure to include everything in a single package for convenience, and will upload the results to youtube when the run is finished. In the meantime, you can see what I have so far using the emulator to replicate my movements.

Edit: Ok it's uploaded. Check first post for updates.

This post has been edited by ZoeStellan: 20 January 2011 - 07:47 AM

Thank you for the video, I enjoyed watching them, especially observe how you broke Flame Mammoth's AI by finding that blind spot :asd:
Armored Armadillo was an endurance battle, somehow it reminded me the fight against Yellow Devil :asd:

@Demone della Luce: The Yellow devil took me a lot longer to defeat without cheating him. >.<

Armored Armadillo is pretty easy, but I still screwed up on his predictable pattern for some reason the first 2 times.

Hmmm... I should consider streaming video as I play, so that you can see me play live haha.

Well, it would be interesting but difficult to handle, especially due to the time difference since I live in Italy and you in Mexico :asd:
The input recording work really fine and saves us from the difficulties to find a moment to be online at the same time.

About Yellow devil... Eh, I kinda like that battle: It drains a lot of energies and can be really considered an endurance battle since it is heavily patterned (and if you're playing a only-buster game it is rather difficult to hit him), especially if you're trying a no damage fight.

Last night I gave it a shot, Flame Mammoth was so easy it was insulting, Storm Eagle was a push-over, but when I got to Armored Armadillo I was getting too cocking and getting myself hit. Haven't tried anyone else yet.

edit: just tried Spark Mandrill, that guy is an unpredictable asshole. Get him down a quarter and I'm dead

This post has been edited by ChewySmokey: 20 January 2011 - 06:42 PM

@ChewySmokey: See what I mean dude? The punch also cannot be avoided by climbing onto the wall, as it knocks you down too. D=

You bring up the atrocity of X7, yet forget the return to more goodness in X8? X8 made X drop the pussy additude, the bad voices were dropped, story kept simple, a massive return to 2D only having 3D camera angles on 2D levels, overall very good...with the two major flaws being first off I thought reviewers were just stupid but after showing to many of my friends and watching them play it, it's like Battletoads or Ghosts N' Goblins. Extremely fun, but extremely difficult(specially if you select the hardest difficulty). Secondly, depending on your skill level, the game is very true to old school as in you can beat it in one sitting if you get your old school skill back(I probably managed it cause I spend more time on my SNES and NES than my PS2). I'd say the series
X>X2>X8>X3>X6>X5>X4

And no, I didn't miss any Mega Man X games. NONE.

forgot there was an 8, I must have shrugged it off. But I stand by X5, I loved it.

I never played Megaman X8 and never judged it, but if what you say is all true then I'll finish X7 as soon as possible to start X8.

Hey dudes! I just updated.

Boomer Kuwanger, Sting Chameleon and Launch Octopus were defeated. You can now see me fail 8 times at Spark Mandrill (I'm getting better, damn I was so close...).

I tried to beat him by myself although after a lot of attemps I gave up until I'll get a controller, however I also searched for some videos wich could give me some guide and I found a guy who defeated him with those rules:
No charged buster only,
No dash,
No wall jump,
No damage (yes, he must be some kind of monster O.o ).
If you are interested I may link it here, it could help you find a strategy to avoid his punch...

I see, link please?

Three seemed too "over-the-top" and One seemed too simple. I especially didn't like the cutscenes they added in the port. "Congratulations," thought I. "You've ret-conned him into a faggot."

No, I remember the X2 best what with the motorcycle riding out of the desert and ramming into the damn guard, and then fighting a six-story tall monstrosity. THAT'S how you begin a game, my friends.

There you are:

Jerk, on 24 January 2011 - 12:09 AM, said:

yeah, I agree 100%, X2 had a something special to it that was lost on the 1st and 3rd. I mean, you ride a god damn space rocket in the desert! It's a shame that there are audio issues with the ported version... to eBay I go.