SOTN/Alucard Any% NSC Blindfolded

Introduction to SOTN Alucard Blindfolded Any% NSC

Because of the nature of this run, the sections have been broken up by save rooms. This has been done so that the route is easier to practice, and so that run-ending mistakes can be corrected during a run by loading the most recent save.

The primary challenges during a Blindfolded run are memorization, keeping track of where you are in a room and in the castle, and dealing with randomness in enemy patterns. The route detailed below (TODO) takes advantage of numerous sound cues and normalization setups to control for randomness and minor input error as much as possible. There are still a few sections and tricks that require frame perfect or near-frame perfect inputs.

Before you attempt a full blindfolded run, it can be helpful to practice each segment without a blindfold at first, but still utilizing the blindfolded moveset. After getting familiar with the segment this way, you can then attempt it with a blindfold on. It can also be very helpful to record your blindfolded attempts, so you can review your run afterward and learn what sort of mistakes you are likely to make during a given section.

Start

Death Skip

NOTE: All actions in this guide, such as "Jump left" or "Jump right" refer to specific moves that are normalized for blindfolded play. Refer to the Basic Moveset (TODO: Create the Basic Moveset section) section for more detail.

If you are already proficient with the Neutron Bomb Death Skip in a normal Any% run, it is possible to execute the trick blindfolded the exact same way. However, there exists a normalized setup that can guarantee a 100% success rate if performed correctly. The setup revolves around getting Alucard to a very specific X position using a particular sequence of jumps and dashes, detailed below. Once Alucard is at this position, a map buffered input can be used.

1. Set Alucard's X Position to a specific value
   1. Walk right against the ledge
   2. Crouch and slash while standing in place to break the block
   3. Jump right
   4. Stand up and dash left
   5. Jump right, colliding with the ledge
   6. Jump right again
   7. Stand up and dash left
   8. Jump right, colliding with the ledge
   9. Stand up and dash left
   10. Listen and wait for the Warg's attack
   11. Perform the following three times in a row while not getting hit by the Warg's attack
   12. Jump left
   13. Stand up and dash
   14. Dash again
2. Equip Neutron Bomb
   1. Press MENU (to enter the menu screen)
   2. Press JUMP twice (to select Alucard's Right hand)
   3. Press DOWN (to select the Neutron Bomb)
   4. Press JUMP (to equip the Neutron Bomb to Alucard's Right hand)
   5. Press MENU (to return to the game screen)
3. Map buffer holding LEFT and ATTACK (to use the Neutron Bomb)
   1. Open the map
   2. Hold left and attack
   3. While still holding left and attack, press the map button again to map buffer the inputs
4. While the level up animation plays, hold DASH
5. Walk right against the ledge
6. Jump right while walking right until Alucard exits Death's room