Dragon Warrior by NEScardinality in

[@BStar555]

This is easily the most underrated run in a GDQ event. The run was executed phenomenally well, and the commentary was fantastic. Being able to commentate so well while performing precisely timed movements and actions is multitasking on another level.

[@dancrowdus]

This is beyond normal human ability 🤯

[@GrosJambonTBNK]

A lot of people don't seem to realize how impressive this is. I can't even try to imagine how much research had to be done to assemble this run. And to be able to pull it off in front of a crowd, while explaining most of it at the same time. I for one am in awe.

[@dannyholley]

A well-earned standing ovation! That was an amazing, AMAZING run, more so when you consider that the runner himself was giving superb commentary while constantly manipulating RNG to perfection. Tough act to follow!

[@machineofadream]

I wish I could go back in time and do this for people in 1989 without explaining it.

[@robertsides3626]

I'm just imagining an unlabeled VHS tape mailed right to Enix's main office.

[@CeeJayThe13th]

I wish I could go back and just do a SMB1 Any% and freak people out.

[@logans.7932]

You don’t run into a single enemy until a random metal slime, jump to level 5 without weapons or armor, then dip

[@va_duck2497]

The bus gets here in 30 minutes. Finish your game.

[@TheFlyingZulu]

You would be accused of cheating somehow. Lol.

[@ZerogunRivale]

By far, one of the best runs this year. He took control of the entire game without any outside tools.

[@Nhusky]

Actually, he used copious notes as outside help. Still amazing though and I agree it's one of the best runs in the marathon.

[@NerfedFalcon]

I agree with myself. It's always interesting to see turn-based RPGs get speedruns like this, especially the older ones where people have had plenty of time to learn all the TAS-level tricks.

[@festerallday]

I got this game free with a subscription to nintendo power. It came with a hint book that explains how to do this. It is not a new technique.

[@NerfedFalcon]

Then let's see you do it without them.

[@MozillaVulpix]

I guess you could say he became part of the game, right, Hajime?

[@ZenoDovahkiin]

Whenever an old tale says a hero succeeded with the help of a deity or destiny, imagine some guy on mount olympus is looking down at their journey and manipulating RNG so the hero wins.

[@whorantheironhorse1680]

Underrated comment

[@tomasfong40]

I mean the godess of luck is a thing

[@stt5v2002]

Ok, that was really amazing. It has everything. Novel and deep understanding of how the game works, routing, precise timing, precise execution, and excellent commentary. One of the best runs I have ever seen.

[@jharvey62778]

Excellent commentary can be mentioned again he did such a great job

[@CabbageFarmerAi-Chan]

-The Dragonlord watching the hero depart on his journey. "Oh look, i guess he's going to his ancestor grave now ?" **Turns around** "How did you get here?"

[@benjamorales2344]

😂😂😂

[@artemi7]

This is seriously one of my favorite runs of *all time*, it's such a fun video to watch. It turns the original Dragon Warrior into a rhythm game, essentially. I still come back to watch it fairly regularly.

[@MrEricAdam]

This was probably my favorite run of the entire marathon just by the sheer amount of perfect execution. I used to grind every morning before school in 5th grade to try to beat this game!

[@simoncarlile5190]

There was an episode of Yu Yu Hakusho where there is this kid who has mastered a trivia video game to an insane extent. The game was a 10 question quiz, and every question was selected from a vast database of possible questions. The kid had memorized not only the answers to every question, but all of the possible quizzes that could occur. In other words, the quizzes weren't selected at random - there was a huge list (over 10,000 quizzes) from which the current quiz was selected from. The kid used the first 5 questions of the quiz to determine what the next 5 would be, and could then answer questions without allowing a single word (or letter) to be asked. Speedruns like this remind me of that kid, only this is somehow even more impressive.

[@calsinclair]

Sounds awesome. Is this episode available on KZbin?

[@giin97]

I did that with the old "You Don't Know Jack" Trivia game. Amusingly, Dev thought they would be clever, if you interrupt the question before the narrator is done reading, the question vanishes off the screen, and instead of multiple choice, it's a typing field. I had that game down pat :P

[@DecepticonLeader]

@@calsinclair Yes, saw that ep a few weeks ago. Should still be available.

[@SrChoppers]

And you know whats even more amazing? Yoshihiro Togashi, Yu Yu Hakusho creator, is also a massive Dragon Quest fan.

[@grizius4123]

@@SrChoppers that why hxh is on hiatus

[@thebigbear4696]

Maybe one of the best marathon performances ever

[@elzipper716]

I didn't know Dragon Warrior was a rhythm game!

[@necrobonesgaming2424]

Dragon Warrior Hero: Legends Of Rock

[@chaosmizuchi]

@@necrobonesgaming2424 ** Dragon of the Rock

[@MetalSmasherGaming]

Dragonforce Warrior

[@EidoEndy]

With enough skill, every game is a rhythm game. Just hit the buttons at the right time.

[@jacksawack6724]

Dragon Dragon Revolution

[@Keepcalmandcupcakes]

20:11 getting applauded for dying is one of the reasons I like speedrunning.

[@bredmond812]

What did the guy shout in the background shortly after your time stamp?

[@Zelapher]

i think it was "DON'T LET HIM DIE"

[@BuFFoTheArtClown]

Well, then you'll LOVE GDQ events because a lot of people die from cancer. I wish more people clapped and cheered when donations are read.

[@doxazo5512]

Wow, this guy is a really good commentator, doing fancy tricks WHILE explaining them

[@FelipeDermann]

Mind blowing run, the game knowledge of this dude is just insane he can even predict the npc movement by manipulating RNG. Amazing run.

[@adameves5970]

the npc movement that he "predicts" is used to confirm the proper frame. if he was wrong, his rng would be messed up. its like "predicting" that you'll see that first goomba in mario.

[@knightrdrx]

Not a normal play of the game so it doesn't count

[@Jordan3DS]

I agree, 38th Defender of Earth

[@hotdogwater7037]

@@knightrdrx it actually is a normal run. Thats on console

[@pdubowner]

Showing this to my mom now. This was her FAVORITE videogame of all time. She is MIND BLOWN. 😁😁😁 THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!

[@Eric-yt7fp]

This guy might be my new favorite speed runner.

[@Vistico93]

The faith the Dragonlord and his minions had in the STOPSPELL was their undoing...

[@bredmond812]

"your faith in your friends is yours" ~Anonymous?

[@Seydaschu]

You might be joking, but Erdrick's Armor literally makes you immune to STOPSPELL, and enemies will randomly cast it as long as you aren't silenced. So when they choose to cast STOPSPELL, it is a guaranteed free turn! Late-game enemies that simply know how to cast STOPSPELL are much easier than those that can't.

[@darkjanggo]

Seydaschu wait seriously? damn i never knew that

[@DecepticonLeader]

@@bredmond812 That quote is from Darth Sidious (The Emperor) from Return of the Jedi. Also, yeah Erdrick's armor is so op. Not only stopping stopspell, but also makes you immune to damage tiles and give regeneration. Only wish the shield and weapon had special effects too. That would have been cool.

[@bredmond812]

@UCVFuy6c56TNj_hyTBBXQqUw i know. i cant remember exactly where i was going with except maybe making an oblique indication of where the OP derived his quote from.

[@williamlong5810]

First RPG I ever played. I have some serious fond memories of this game, and even the Gameboy remake.

[@KeeperofKittens]

One of my favorite childhood games completely and utterly destroyed by this speedrunner. I never thought this classic could be completed quicker then several hours, and they have proved me wrong. Absolutely amazing, I loved every second.

[@Figgy20000]

You'd be shocked how fast the non-glitched TAS runs are, they beat the human world records by well over 5 minutes by abusing the shittt out of the RNG even harder.

[@TheAsvarduilProject]

My own poor runs of the GBC version, without glitches or any intentional RNG abuse, have clocked in at about 2:45:??ish. Dragon Warrior I isn't by any means a long game. Of course, I didn't RNG-manipulate Metal Slimes, so most of my run time is due to grinding. I'm going to have to try these techniques on the GBC version to see if I can trim the run down.

[@casmx7300]

This man is an actual real world superhuman. How he can commentate while manipulating RNG, listening to audio cues, watching for visual cues, it's unreal. Incredible.

[@bm-br3go]

I go back and play this game every couple of years. It's relaxing, and by that time, I usually forget what exactly has to be done in which order, so I find it rewarding to go back and rediscover the game. Through so many hours of level grinding, I like to have a show or movie on in the background. I never would have guessed this game could be beaten in under 30 minutes. Bravo to the runner and all those who did the research for this run.

[@macnolds4145]

Not only is this guy a great Runner, he's phenomenal at commentary/oration. He needs a podcast or something. The way he smoothly transitions from explaining RNG manipulation, to prompting AGDQ announcers to shill and read donations, to introducing his couch crew...it's fantastic.

[@randmiller88]

Skill Level: _Groundhog Day_

[@xXChipsAndGravyXx]

underrated comment

[@jacobmattis7176]

It takes a lot of commitment to practice a run over and over again and be able to play it with that kind of precision, all while delivering explanations, in a marathon setting. One step too many or too few or one pause too long or too short, and the run would have gone to heck, and this guy is just chugging through while explaining the process in detail.

[@RKNELIAS]

Games usually plays with your expectations and can surprise you on some level even after playing 10.000 hours this guy plays with the expectations of the game. You can´t know a game better than this.

[@gengie8147]

But u have to grind the game a couple hundred times to be at his level

[@scottslayer2]

"I AM ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL"-NESCardinality

[@finbeard]

this is hands-down one of the best and most entertaining speedruns i’ve ever seen. mindblowing execution and smooth & cleanly delivered commentary by a knowledgeable and likeable runner. NESCardinality earned himself a new fan.

[@Lovuschka]

Game is a huge grindfest where progress takes hours. Awesome to see it beaten in less than half an hour!

[@heavyq]

I've follwed NEScard for years now and I still come back and watch this like, once a month. It's such an absolutely great run from start to finish.

[@Rhythmicons]

He really is a descendent of Erdrick.

[@ShosuCeladon]

The Erdrick Family is real.... 0_0

[@anthonymanzalji]

I just realized how many hours I wasted playing this as a child when I could have done the studder step and beaten it in under 30. Bravo!

[@Ultracity6060]

I got it second hand with a dead battery, and didn't even know you were _supposed_ to be able to save. At least you probably didn't waste as many hours on it as I did :p

[@TheGreektrojan]

I had the same thing with my SNES FF2 cart. I actually had to beat the whole game in one sitting. Took me all day.

[@thegregors8484]

TheGreektrojan whoa that blows

[@OSYofRR]

That is not entirely true though, they have software to do the RNG checks and map this all out and then practiced for a very long time to learn how to rig it. There is no way anyone was figuring this out without reading through and understanding the correlations of all of the games code and there was no way you were doing that as a child lol.

[@TheMixedPlateFrequency]

i actually discovered it a long time ago on accident lol

[@backflipmann]

Can we just appreciate how perfect that run was! It 100% went according to the plan. A delight to watch :D

[@shahramirani1]

How can u not love this guy! What a sweetheart. Best speed run ever! Thank you as a child i used to watch my brother grow through this game and now u .

[@woolybear]

Legendary work Nes and to every single person who put time into this game to make it possible, cheers!

[@kellen987]

This is the best speedrun I've ever seen

[@shoombabi1697]

This is the single most impressive thing I've ever seen in AGDQ. This is insane.

[@dutchweeks1]

To this day this remains one of the most impressive and entertaining speed runs in the GDQ library; dude has a way of explaining his process that just appeals to my inner nerd in a huge way.

[@TheButterCollector]

command Command COMMAND C O M M A N D

[@ChamplooMusashi]

T H I C C O M M A N D

[@retroboyo4238]

c o m m a n d

[@Tcj333]

*C O M M A N D*

[@ПростоПользователь-ц7ч]

Приказ? *Приказ?* _Приказ?_ *_Приказ?_* *_П р и к а з?_*

[@ДмитрийБекетов-р2е]

@@ПростоПользователь-ц7ч а зачем это он делал? Английского незнаю

[@Galagaboy]

This was the best run of whole event! 💙

[@tortuga7160]

Here I am grinding scorpions for hours to afford a god damn broad sword.

[@PkGam]

Amazing speedrun! The amount of time to set this up, practice and execute consistently is incredible in itself. But combine it with informational commentary throughout that could distract one "just" enough to mess it up but didn't takes it up another notch!

[@sourdable]

very extremely wild to see this dude think and talk at the same time. i cant even fold laundry and talk at the same time. sheesh

[@level1blackmage]

I've never played DW, but even so, I was amazed by the commentary and the RNG manipulation. Incredible!

[@ComCodex]

Hard to stop watching. Getting this run down to a science, with excellent commentary while doing it.

[@adamwintz1072]

I've watched this two dozen times. It completely blows my mind every time.

[@mrmacross]

Not going to lie... if I knew all the correct algorithms on how to manipulate RNG in this game, I would've choked and failed spectacularly.

[@robertanderson2898]

This is insanely amazing. Never in all my years of playing video games did I think they could be tackled this way...... Still proud to say I own the game, got it with the Nintendo Power deal back in '89. Was a great day when I finally beat it, but....... this is awesome!

[@Toxodos]

I love that they know so much about the inner workings that "we're gonna encounter a random enemy here, we're not gonna know which one it is until the fight starts" means one of two possible enemies. It's basically a rhythm game at this point.

[@Meteo121]

I finally thought to look for this and watch it. WOW! As someone who has played this game since childhood and watches NEScard stream DWR on the regular, it was amazing to watch him systematically cleave through this game in record time, and to see his face doing it! I'm such a fan!!!

[@purifyws]

Simply amazing. Best run I've seen for this year so far easily

[@jamielovesgames]

One of the first speedruns that I ever watched and a treat to come back to. GGs!

[@pengwin_]

The dragon lord was up against NEO

[@benallmon5613]

This dude is nuts. What a run. True genius.

[@SinisterMailbox]

This was one of the most insightful and awesome speedruns I've ever seen.

[@g-reg8063]

I am astonished. I don't know how many hours it took me as a kid to beat this game, but it was well over 10. I am stunned this kind of RNG manipulation is even possible, and the memorization needed to pull it off this seamlessly is incredible. Really excellent work!

[@NeonLightning]

Definitely one of the most impressive runs I have seen

[@fluffskunk]

2 minutes in and he's farther than I ever got as a kid.

[@TekGriffon]

Too real :D

[@fluojn]

I love this run! Such pure skill in execution!

[@pattyb1472]

Nescard is the best commentator/player GDQ has ever seen. He's so good at explaining things.

[@coke37f]

Command?

[@pheenic]

Command?

[@mayorofcoolsville1102]

Command?

[@tato7156]

Command?

[@coke37f]

!Attacks! Excellent move!

[@fluffyninja3467]

Command?

[@MarcoFerrari179]

Based on nostalgia only, this has to be one of my favorite games of all time. Good times, great memories and an awesome run by this dedicated gamer. Thank you NEScardinality and GDQ for this.

[@skippydeenice]

The legends have proven true, NEScardinality art indeed of the line of Erdrick.

[@Shadowlynk]

Absolutely incredible. I never expected this level of RNG manipulation to be possible outside of a TAS, but here it is.

[@JerrodNelms]

I watched this live and was completely blown away! This is by far one of my favorite runs at any GDQ.

[@kujo62]

I love this. King: go save the world! 20 minutes later Hero: Done!

[@PeterG00000]

I loved this game dearly as a child, and I'm strangely proud of this guy's astonishing run.

[@AriGaming98]

This is a fantastic run! Fantastic gameplay and commentary from the runner! This is why I love watching the GDQ's, people like this man make it worth watching

[@fortidogi8620]

Erdrick Punches His Way Through Computer Science 101

[@ShosuCeladon]

Best Dragon Quest quote ever

[@ThrowedGenji]

I remember as a kid running into the Axe knight that guarded Edrick's armor for the first time. I got so lucky I was able to put him to sleep for so long that I beat him but I was at such an early level. It never happened for me like that again.

[@feiwong3634]

I've seen a lot of awesome runs during the years, but this takes the cake, so massively impressive!

[@XDarkStrikerX]

By far one of the best runs i've ever seen and i never played the game. It was super interesting, amazing runner. 11/10

[@vsully360]

This is one of the most amazing displays of complete game mastery and understanding that I’ve ever seen.

[@3v4n]

this is the best speed run i have ever seen

[@alekheatter6413]

This was fun ❤️ see you guys in 6 months

[@Psi34ax]

what a boss. well done man, you deserve that ovation.

[@hope_and_love]

Making RNG cry like a little child

[@wokeupinapanic]

"Making RNG cry like an anime fan on prom night" FTFY

[@hope_and_love]

very nice

[@OniLordMiki]

wokeupinapanic No

[@OtakuD50]

As an anime fan, I can safely say I enjoyed my prom night. Mostly by avoiding prom.

[@demilembias2527]

This is like doing hundreds of card tricks in a row with the hidden values in an archaic NES game. Bravo.

[@Nox-Eldar]

holy balls, this rng manipulation tactics are nuts, plus the dungeons with no torch dafak, NIce work I salute you, Grew up playing this when I was a kid.

[@Datharass]

The time put into this and the memory involved was absolutely crazy. You've literally broken the game wide open. Well done.

[@0781bghalljw]

That was friggin impressive! Fantastic play NESCARDINALITY.

[@manuellafond1365]

That dragon lord is the most unlucky being ever.

[@danpowell806]

That metal slime that got punched to death by a naked guy is a close second.

[@ShosuCeladon]

Dragon Lord: THIS FIGHT IS RIGGED!!!

[@IamGulzow]

This is amazing! I have beaten this game quite a few times but I have never done anything even close to this. Keep up the great work for a great cause.

[@WaywardBrigand]

A year and a half later, this is still my favorite solo speed run.

[@CreeperJ44]

I'm thoroughly impressed. Never knew you could manipulate the game like this. I spent hours leveling up to beat it and this guy schools it in less then 30 mins..

[@Dustin_Bins]

This game is one of my absolute favourites, amazing manipulation of the game and the RNG. Great job!

[@Rstraub12]

Crazy, didn't know you could manipulate RNG like that. Of course this game deserves it for all the mandatory grinding it tries to make you do haha.

[@Fingolfin3423]

I remember my friend having this game on his NES. Whenever we would have a sleepover I would watch him play it. I remember a lot of this stuff. I'm not exactly sure what is happening in this video with the manipulation, but it was very fun to watch. This is impressive. Wow!

[@luvmenow33]

I've been casually enjoying speedruns of some of my favorite games, Old & New for a few years now. This is one of the most enjoyable runs I've ever watched. I could be a bit biased since DW1 is the Game that Started My Lifelong Love of RPGs overall and JRpgs especially. However , this is explained so well that a Layman like myself can understand all of it yet the actual process is so deep and amazing to see all the pixel perfect tactics. If you ever tried to tell me you could beat ANY DW game in 27 minutes I'd have laughed in you're face especially since I just spent over 100 hours playing DQ9 Love This Series.

[@Rokabur]

Just watching these videos, its amazing how much money they raise just by doing speedruns.

[@EGarrett01]

This was my first RPG game. I was so young at the time that my Mom had to help me play it. Fun to see someone finish it.

[@Bloodgaze]

This is one of the best examples of rng manipulation (actual rng manipulation) I've ever seen. I'm literally only saddened that the majority of people won't get it if they've never tried that. Just amazing.

[@knurlgnar24]

Best comment here. A truly amazing run.

[@haselni]

How could anyone not get it, with the quality of explanation nescardinality delivers?

[@bredmond812]

I have watched several of the games this year already. This one has to be my favorite.

[@TheAsvarduilProject]

As a Dragon Warrior I (GBC) runner, I approve of this run. Good job!

[@BBrecht]

Great run and absolutely incredible commentary. We need more runs like this.

[@SiGhast]

"A Wizard draws near!" But he's already playing the game!

[@ChicagoRetroGamer]

This is a simply incredible run. Awesome commentary and explanation of the RNG. Fantastic!

[@mikesimpson3207]

Long time DQ fan. This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

[@Maideneer]

I don't even comprehend what I just watched. I'm a lifelong Nintendo player since 1987, I'm not a speedrunner, don't know anything about frame rates / RNG / manipulations / ROMs / Emulators of any kind...hell I don't even know what that stuff means, my brain just doesn't work that way. Grinding for level increases was a pastime of mine in this game and I would spend week upon week upon week leveling up, getting frustrated at Wyverns putting me to sleep, using Healmore constantly, using that talk beacon so I could find the right coordinate spot in the swamp to find whatever item that was...you get the idea. I really don't even understand where someone could start to even try to begin the process of breaking down the game in this fashion...are you computer programmers? I'm just floored right now.

[@odudi]

I hear ya..i started gameing in the early 80's with the atari 2600. And in 87 i got the nes around the same time i also got a sega master just for Phantasy star alone. All those rpgs back then were level grinders. I played them from start to finish several times and i didn't mind the level grinding. How people understand computer language. programmers, and all that stuff you mentiond just flies over my head. I'm a simple man who gains levels 1 at a time, gets spells, weapons and armor 1 at a time. I eat my pizza 1 slice at a time. How the guy does what he does is mind blowing.

[@fortidogi8620]

Think of it this way: games are code, right? In the case of NES, theyre numbers, and the number the console sees is how the game knows that sprites and tiles to put on screen and what the npcs say. When an event has to be randomized, it'll create a random number and use that to determine which outcome occurs, whether your attack hits or misses, which way the villagers will walk, whether you get an encounter or not, and all of these other things. Thats RNG-- random number generation. The NES only has so much memory-- it can only fit so many numbers and only so large a size of number. So we have to multitask wherever we can! Thus, all of the RNG in the game is based on one number thats constantly being increased at certain intervals, and when certain things occur, like pressing an input on your controller or closing a textbox. That allows the game to save memory that would have been used to randomize everything individually. As a consequence, however, nothing is truly "random" if you know what causes that number to tick forward and what it is right now. By understanding what the state of that number is interpreted as in these different random outcomes (say if the number was 100 youd fight a wolf, 101 youd fight a bear, 102 youd fight a knight, etc,) you can predict what'll happen next and either avoid it or deliberately change it.