ActRaiser (Japan)
Special Mode is a fast run though ActRaiser with the following differences over Normal Mode:
1) You start with the full 24 HP.
2) Magic is removed.
3) Simulation Mode is removed. You just go from act to act.
4) When starting an act, the initial "statue inhabiting" animation has been removed. You simply start the level right away.
5) Enemy damage does 2 damage. Terrain damage still does just 1.
6) Enemies that normally take 1 hit to kill now take 2. Multi-hit enemies don't take any more. Certain "destructible terrain" like the floating skulls in Aitos Act 1 still only take 1 damage to kill.
7) Certain enemies have a different pattern, though not very many.
8) Magic Scrolls in the acts have been replaced by crushes.
9) NO CONTINUES. You lose and it’s game over.
10) After an act is cleared, there is no life/time bonus. Your life gets refilled and you move on to the next level.
11) Projectiles in Aitos Act 1 is removed and replaced with a 1-UP. You still get them for Tanzara.
12) Ending is removed and you just go straight to the credits, with the final image changed from "THE END" to "YOU ARE THE BEST PLAYER!"
Special Mode is different from the US Professional! Mode in the following ways:
1) You start with fewer lives (2 on Japan vs 5 on US).
2) Layouts in some sections are changed.
3) Some bosses have different tactics (most notibly, Maranha Act I).
4) Apples have been changed/moved.
5) More lag in the Japanese version.
6) The timer at Satan (Tanzra) stops after the first form.
7) Some enemies require more damage to kill then the US version.
8) Some enemies have a different design.
9) Filmoa (Fillmore) Act II uses the same music as Filmoa Act I.
10) More spikes, and all of them are INSTANT KILL (if vulnerable)
4 versions of this run have been completed.
v1 - 0:33:55
v2 - 0:33:32
v3 - 0:33:30
v4 (CURRENT) - 0:32:42
Special Mode Comparison Times
(Opens in a New Window - 135kb, so give it some time to open)