These notes are based on Rife's Any% world record route (and his notes), with some tweaks and improvements. Some levels are lacking notes/parts that might benefit from them, especially in the Attack department; I need to do another test run to fix these. This webpage features some recent improvements to the route (October 2025). These include:
I have considered using the part file function to save time equipping frequently used part sets, but I don't think there are any sets that are re-equipped often enough throughout an Any% run (they slowly evolve, and often will have minor changes to boost a stat or two)
The "Mission Report" screen at the end of each level (or after dying) takes a different amount of time in each language, because the title at the top of the screen must be fully printed out before the information cards appear. I couldn't find any other points in the run where there is "scrolling" text or other impact from the game's language, so I measured the length of this text in all six available languages and drew conclusions from there. English is in the slower-middle ground; French is the slowest; German is the fastest; and Japanese is only slower than German by one frame per level/death. (Note that language does not matter for individual level runs.)
The conclusion: if you want to save about 15 seconds, run the game in Japanese/German (whichever is more convenient, although Japanese is about a second slower). To that end, here is a table of zone names in English/Japanese/German (although I would recommend learning the zones by their menu position since the level names use letters instead of the zone name):
| Letter | EN | JP | DE |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | BASE | べ一ス | BASIS |
| B | FACTORY | フアクトリー | FABRIK |
| C | TOWN | タウン | STADT |
| D | RUINS | ル一イン | RUINEN |
| E | DESERT | デザート | WÜSTE |
| F | CAVE | ケーブ | HÖHLE |
| G | TOWER | タワー | TURM |
The rest of this page below this section is a web version of the level notes. There is also an XML/markdown version for use with the markdown fork of the SpeedGuidesLive component for LiveSplit (using these splits), which has been updated with the 2025 improvements.
The benefit of using SGL is that once you finish each level, you can view the notes for the upcoming level in isolation, with no need to focus on one section of many, or gradually scroll through a long document. I have used it for several speedgames, and find it very helpful, which is why I am sharing it here.
As of August 2026 I am working on more tweaks to the route, currently visible as small comments underneath some level notes. When I've finished testing those changes, I'll update the markdown version as well. As part of the testing, I did a Tool-Assisted demonstration of the route (with lots of retrying missions, but making sure the gameplay isn't too too crazy). This run clocks in at a 1:34:39 (or thereabouts), which is theoretically 17 minutes faster than Rife's current world record, not that TAS and RTA can be directly compared. While this is a lot of timesave, it does really show how much the game's formula contributes to the run time — any skips are relatively minor, and no matter what, you have to do all the missions in all the levels.
Take damage on second bomb before card key spawns
boss takes 5 hits
Lay bombs for 3 just after energy core disappears off screen
Lay bomb for mission 3 at 2 tiles away from wall, when the core is 2 tiles away from whichever edge it is going towards
Lay bomb for 3 at or just to right of 3rd hard block from the left
Spam bombs at beginning and clear blocks. RC LL CL CR
RDU LDU
note Aug. 2026: I think switching to the boss part set is better here, since it gives >2 bombs and removes one equip menu. Throw doesn't really get any use so no need to take up equip points with it (unless there's some sweet throws you can do between rooms?)
Try to have 6 atk
left, right, back, right, right, back.
Save part file, then equip
Note Aug. 2026: I'm noticing that the next few levels use the same part file as the previous level (hence the use of the save and recall), but it would certainly be better to just save this level for later, possibly before E6 in case it can push us to LV20. The little bit of level switching matters less than entering the part menu an extra time
Recall part file
Remember to clear the path to the warp floor in advance (mission 3)
Rife is good at this level
Note Aug. 2026: I don't think I've ever had LV20 at this point in the run, in test runs or single segment. I feel like it might as well be moved to after F-3, since that will greatly increase the odds that it works out.
Note Aug. 2026: I did a test run and didn't have enough points to put on the Tech Armor. It seems like equipping grip spikes here is fine, since you still get enough attack and balanced stats while being able to use long throw. The lack of short fuse is a bit annoying, but not a huge deal
Note Aug. 2026: There was a note saying that the Grip Spikes weren't necessary but I was just keeping them here anyways. I haven't tried anything recently but it does seem fine
Note Aug. 2026: Not sure what the point of the Nitro Boots is here, with the remote bombs. Sticking with Grip Spikes seems fine, and even lets you have 1 more attack, although I'm not sure that it matters for this miniboss
Note Aug. 2026: Equip Tech Armor to have more than one bomb?
Note Aug. 2026: this level is still a bit annoying with only 1 bomb. Maybe grip spikes are good, at the cost of not having short fuse
Note Aug. 2026: I'm not entirely sure what the point of changing parts is here. I think Grip Spikes might be safer here
Note Aug. 2026: Tech Armor + Attack Shoes? Unfortunately 9 attack is a timesave here (is it? I wrote this a couple days ago but now I'm not sure), so it's dangerous no matter what