G-Mode - Revision history

Kyleb: Reword and add details to Unusual Uses

2025-04-29T18:37:31Z

Reword and add details to Unusual Uses

Kyleb: convert Overloading PLMs to be a subheading

2025-04-28T23:03:46Z

convert Overloading PLMs to be a subheading

Kyleb: fix some numbers that were just added

2025-04-28T23:00:33Z

fix some numbers that were just added

Kyleb: Reword and add details to a few more sections

2025-04-28T22:44:56Z

Reword and add details to a few more sections

Kyleb: Reword and add details to the first few sections

2025-04-28T19:54:33Z

Reword and add details to the first few sections

Maddo: Add See Also section with link to G-Mode Technical Details

2025-03-18T20:44:30Z

Add See Also section with link to G-Mode Technical Details

Tropylium: /* Limitations */ copyedits

2025-01-27T12:49:14Z

‎Limitations: copyedits

Tropylium: /* Reverse Lower Norfair Entry */

2025-01-27T12:44:33Z

‎Reverse Lower Norfair Entry

Tropylium: copyedits

2025-01-27T11:34:57Z

copyedits

Show changes

Pyonkichi: /* G-Mode Save Station */

2024-04-18T09:27:15Z

‎G-Mode Save Station

@@ Line 259: / Line 259: @@
 This is done by pressing backwards during the knockback that initially knocks Samus out of [[G-Mode#G-mode Immobile|G-mode immobile]]. The backwards press must be during the knockback frames, so is a five frame window. If done way too early, Samus will turn around and then be hit; if done slightly too early, Samus will turn-around kago the hit; if done too late, Samus will turn around after the knockback frames.
-If the fast G-mode method is done, with less than 5 Energy in Reserves, then the frame window for entering G-mode interacts with the frame window for pressing backwards. With n health in reserves, the number of frames that backwards can be pressed is 8-n. There must also be a short pause between X-Ray release and pressing backwards. The frame window for pushing backwards is always in the same spot (no matter when X-Ray is released), and is always 1 frame after the last frame that X-Ray can be released (if backwards is pressed during this 1 frame instead, then Samus turn-around kagos the knockback). In other words, the following are the valid input patterns after the transition (with D meaning dash must be pressed, d meaning dash may be pressed, < meaning backwards must be pressed on one of these frames, and _ meaning an empty frame):
+If the fast G-mode method is done, with less than 5 Energy in Reserves, then the frame window for entering G-mode interacts with the frame window for pressing backwards. With n health in reserves, the number of frames that backwards can be pressed is 8-n. There must also be a short pause between X-Ray release and pressing backwards. The frame window for pushing backwards is always in the same spot (no matter when X-Ray is released), and is always 1 frame after the last frame that X-Ray can be released (if backwards is pressed during this 1 frame instead, then Samus turn-around kagos the knockback). In other words, the following are the valid input patterns after the transition (with <tt>D</tt> meaning dash must be pressed, <tt>d</tt> meaning dash may be pressed, <tt><</tt> meaning backwards must be pressed on one of these frames, and <tt>_</tt> meaning an empty frame):
-* 4 Energy in Reserves:  Dddd_<<<<
+* 4 Energy in Reserves:  <tt>Dddd_<<<<</tt>
-* 3 Energy in Reserves:  Ddd_<<<<<
+* 3 Energy in Reserves:  <tt>Ddd_<<<<<</tt>
-* 2 Energy in Reserves:  Dd_<<<<<<
+* 2 Energy in Reserves:  <tt>Dd_<<<<<<</tt>
-* 1 Energy in Reserves:  D_<<<<<<<
+* 1 Energy in Reserves:  <tt>D_<<<<<<<</tt>
-The variable number of frames that one must wait dependent on X-Ray release can make this obnoxious for timing purposes. If used to entering G-mode, usually 2 Energy feels the easiest, where the window for pressing backwards (6 frames) is much longer than the waiting period (1 or 2 frames).
+The variable number of frames that one must wait dependent on X-Ray release can make this inconvenient for timing purposes. If one is practiced at entering G-mode, 2 Energy may feel the easiest, where the window for pressing backwards (6 frames) is much longer than the waiting period (1 or 2 frames).
-This is a one time Morph:  As soon as Samus unmorphs, the trick would have to be done again to be able to Morph. While in this morphed state, Bombs, Power Bombs, and Spring Ball may be used. It is still G-mode, so in order to break Power Bomb blocks one must lay a power bomb, unmorph, and then cancel G-mode.
+This is a one time Morph:  As soon as Samus unmorphs, the trick would have to be done again to be able to Morph. While in this morphed state, Bombs, Power Bombs, and Spring Ball may be used. It is still G-mode, so in order to break Bomb or Power Bomb blocks or open Power Bomb doors, one must lay a bomb or power bomb, unmorph, and then cancel G-mode before the explosion, if PLMs have already been overloaded.
 With this technique, without going [[Out of Bounds]], and in the usual Super Metroid layout, 62 items may be collected RTA without Morph. An additional 13 may be collected with immediately softlocking if the item is not Morph.
@@ Line 283: / Line 283: @@
 In G-mode, items behave as air and are PLMs so may be used to overload PLMs.
-If an item is passed through before PLMs are overloaded, and then G-mode is canceled, the item is collected. This allows collecting items from very far away. Note this must be done in direct G-mode.
+If an item is passed through before PLMs are overloaded, and then G-mode is canceled, the item is collected. This allows collecting items from far away. Note this must be done in direct G-mode, as items do not spawn in indirect G-mode, and only for items that are not normally in a Chozo Ball or Shot block.
 This becomes even more powerful when combined with G-mode Morph above, allowing the collection of Morph-locked items without getting softlocked. Here is an example collecting [[List of Missiles#Brinstar 2|Beta Missiles]] using Spring Ball:
@@ Line 295: / Line 295: @@
 This may additionally be used wherever else there are Speed blocks. In particular, X-Ray and a Reserve Tank may access all Speed-locked map tiles in [[Map Completion]]]. This will be much slower, but opens up other possibilities in low% consideration.
-One more frequently done example is G-moding to access the [[Aqueduct]] items. This requires either Bombs or Grapple, to overload PLMs. It is also an alternative to the much harder suitless right side [[X-Ray Climb]]. Here is an example:
+One more frequently done example is G-moding to access the [[Aqueduct]] items. This requires either Bombs, Grapple, or using the bottom left door to overload PLMs. It is also an alternative to the much harder suitless right side [[X-Ray Climb]]. Here is an example:
 {{#ev:vimeo|623732097}}
@@ Line 303: / Line 303: @@
 Since the door does not close behind Samus when G-mode is initially entered, she may walk very deep into the door and cancel G-mode. The door closes on Samus while she is in standing position, so she may [[X-Ray Climb]] from here.
-This allows getting very deep in doors. Thus, it allows x-ray climbing past door shells lying above this door. Here is an example, x-ray climbing past the top right green door shell in [[Bubble Mountain]]:
+This allows getting very deep in doors. Thus, it allows X-Ray climbing past door shells lying above this door. Here is an example, X-Ray climbing past the top right green door shell in [[Bubble Mountain]]:
 {{#ev:vimeo|623735183}}
@@ Line 322: / Line 322: @@
 This example is also notable as an RTA viable downward G-mode.
 ==Non-Examples==

@@ Line 124: / Line 124: @@
 * Blue and green gates will not appear and can be freely walked through.
-==Overloading PLMs==
+===Overloading PLMs===
 As mentioned above, some behaviors will spawn too many PLMS and overload them, which has the following effects:

@@ Line 147: / Line 147: @@
 * Passing through an uncollected item (every frame);
 * Bombing an uncollected Chozo Ball item (once per bomb);
-* Power Bombing an uncollected item or Chozo Ball item (1-20 times per bomb, depending on the distance between the item and Power Bomb);
+* Power Bombing an uncollected item or Chozo Ball item (1-35 times per bomb, depending on the distance between the item and Power Bomb);
 * Shooting the vertical part of a closed gate (every frame if shooting vertically against it);
 * Shoot or Bomb a locked Door (every frame if shooting vertically against it).
@@ Line 155: / Line 155: @@
 * Shoot or Bomb a door that was ever locked, but isn't the door Samus just came through (every frame if shooting vertically against it).
-Note that using a Power Bomb to interact with an item is better the closer to the item as possible, but falls off rapidly: one pixel from the item spawns 20 PLMs, but two tiles away only spawns 5. This drops off until 16 tiles away, which spawns 20 again, but one tile closer only spawns 1, and one tile further spawns 0. This is similar when measuring the vertical distance, although slightly compressed - the maximum distance, which spawns 20, is 12 tiles above or below the item.
+Note that using a Power Bomb to interact with an item is better the closer to the item as possible, but falls off rapidly: one pixel from the item spawns 22 PLMs, but two tiles away only spawns 5. This drops off until 16 tiles away, which increases again to 35, but note that one tile closer only spawns 1, and one tile further spawns 0. This is similar when measuring the vertical distance, although slightly compressed - the maximum distance, which spawns 35, is 12 tiles above or below the item.
 ==Limitations==

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 When getting knocked out of G-mode immobile, do not hold forwards. This will cause a downwards knockback which may immediately ground Samus and she may still be immobile. This applies to both the low health version (with the automatic knockback), and when waiting for an enemy.
 ===The Frame Window===
@@ Line 75: / Line 77: @@
 ==Effects==
-Most of the effects of G-mode can be summarized as PLMs (Post Load Modifications) not behaving properly. They will fail to update:  The game is sort of acting like X-Ray is constantly in use.
+The most significant effects of G-mode can be summarized as PLMs (Post Load Modifications) not behaving properly. They will fail to update: The game is sort of acting like X-Ray is constantly in use.
 Some examples:
 * The door behind Samus upon entering G-mode will not close;
 * Doors and gates cannot be opened;
-* Scroll PLMs will not work, which leads to graphical glitches (like the screen not following Samus);
+* Scroll PLMs will not work, which sometimes leads to graphical glitches (like the screen not following Samus);
 * Bombs and power bombs will not break blocks;
 * Shot blocks and super blocks cannot be broken;
@@ Line 90: / Line 92: @@
 * Drops from enemies will not spawn;
 * Projectiles from enemies will not be visible, and will not move (they can still damage Samus);
-* Heat will not damage Samus (other environmental damage, like lava and acid, will).
+* Heat will not damage Samus (other environmental damage, like lava and acid, will);
-Additionally, if too many PLMs are interacted with, this overloads PLMs and the behavior of blocks will return to some "default" state. This is the same behavior that makes [[Frog Speedway#Randomizer|Reverse Frog Speedway]] work. This default state is:
+Additionally, some behaviors will overloads PLMs and the behavior of blocks will return to some "default" state. This is the same behavior that makes [[Frog Speedway#Randomizer|Reverse Frog Speedway]] work. This default state is:
 * Shot, Super, and Power Bomb blocks act solid;
-* Crumble, Bomb, and Speed blocks act like air (one qualm:  If a Bomb block is (power) bombed or if a Crumble block is stepped on before PLMs are overloaded, then it will instead act solid).
+* Crumble blocks act like air (only if they haven't been stepped on before).
-This notably allows passing through Crumble blocks from below, and allows passing through Speed blocks without [[Speed Booster]], a [[Yellow Suit Glitch|flash suit]], or a [[Blue Suit Glitch|blue suit]].
+In addition, there are other specific features of Direct G-mode:
-Overloading PLMs can be done by interacting with enough PLMs, possibly the same one multiple times. Some example methods:
+Direct G-mode will be changed into Indirect G-mode when transitioning to another room, and the R-mode effects will be lost. This can be done through the open door, through sand pits or elevators, or by clipping past a door shell.
-Other than these basic effects, there are effects that depend upon which room Samus is in.
+In indirect G-mode, the screen will return to the normal dimness level. Door shell colors will not appear but they are there: it is purely graphical. The pause screen will look normal again.
-===Direct G-mode===
+In addition, there are other specific features of Indirect G-mode:
-Direct G-mode is before any transition tiles are interacted with in G-mode. It is a particular example of [[R-Mode|R-mode]], so will have the same effects. This includes graphical glitches, forced stand, and the power bomb effects. The graphical glitches may look different.
+==Overloading PLMs==
-A note about G-mode forced stand: Since drops do not spawn, this requires a [[Crystal Flash]].
+As mentioned above, some behaviors will spawn too many PLMS and overload them, which has the following effects:
-Direct G-mode will be canceled when entering a transition tile, just like R-mode is lost when entering a new room. It will become:
+This notably allows passing through Crumble blocks from below, and allows passing through Speed blocks without [[Speed Booster]], a [[Yellow Suit Glitch|flash suit]], or a [[Blue Suit Glitch|blue suit]].
-===Indirect G-mode===
+Remember that shot, Super, and Power Bomb blocks always act solid.
-This is the state of G-mode after triggering a transition tile. Note since the door does not close behind Samus when initially entering G-mode, this room can usually be entered. Also, after entering this room, the door will now close behind Samus (or more accurately be instantly closed).
+A maximum of 40 PLMs can spawn (a small number may already spawn on room load). Examples of ways to spawn more include:
-Other transitions also work, like elevators or sand pits.
+Spawning PLMs in Direct G-mode:
-In indirect G-mode, the screen will return to the normal dimness level. Door shell colors will not appear but they are there: it is purely graphical. The pause screen will look normal again.
+Spawning PLMs in Indirect G-mode:
-The most important effect of indirect G-mode is that wave and super gates will not spawn. Therefore, these gates can be passed and G-mode can be canceled on the other side, to allow crossing them without opening. In particular, this allows getting past gates that face the wrong direction.
+Note that using a Power Bomb to interact with an item is better the closer to the item as possible, but falls off rapidly: one pixel from the item spawns 20 PLMs, but two tiles away only spawns 5. This drops off until 16 tiles away, which spawns 20 again, but one tile closer only spawns 1, and one tile further spawns 0. This is similar when measuring the vertical distance, although slightly compressed - the maximum distance, which spawns 20, is 12 tiles above or below the item.
 ==Limitations==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''G-mode''' (short for ''Grey mode'' or ''God mode'') is one of the three X-Ray Scope glitched modes, the other two being [[X-Mode]] and [[R-Mode]]. It is possibly the most powerful with the weirdest effects.
-G-mode requires [[X-Ray Scope]] and at least one [[Reserve Tank]].
+G-mode requires [[X-Ray Scope]] and at least one [[Reserve Tank]]. It has some very powerful effects, many of which require specific setups and are limited to certain scenarios. Some of these include: convert some blocks and sand tiles to behave like air; prevent gates from spawning; prevent taking heat damage; prevent a door from closing behind Samus on room entry; and even morph without the Morphing Ball item.
 For speedrun purposes, G-mode is mostly a time save for low% categories. It is used in all optimal routes of 14% categories that collect X-Ray:  [[14% xIce]], [[14% xChargeless]], [[14% xSpeed]], and [[14% xAmmo]]. In addition to simply being a faster method, in 14% xChargeless, 14% xPb and a theoretical PAL-only route of 14% xSpeed, it is required to avoid [[L+R Walljumping]].  Note that L+R cannot be avoided in [[14% xAmmo]].
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 If dash is released very early, nothing notable will happen. If dash is released late, then instead R-mode will be activated. If successful, the door will not close behind Samus (if at a transition where there is not a door, see [[G-Mode#Effects|Effects]] to figure out how to determine it was successful in other cases).
-Based off the above description, it is fastest to enter G-mode with a very small amount of Energy in Reserves. For most applications, it is usually optimal to have 4 Energy in Reserves. See the below sections for a discussion on this.
+With 5 or more Energy in Reserves, G-mode Immobile will be entered. Because of this, it is generally optimal to have 4 Energy in Reserves. See the below sections for a discussion on this.
 ===The Frame Window===
@@ Line 52: / Line 64: @@
 * If the amount of Energy in Reserves is less than 12, then the frame window is as soon as you have control over Samus after the transition. Thus, if X-Ray is released too early, it will simply never be used.
-* If the amount of Energy in Reserves is greater than 11, then the frame window is the last 3 frames of health entering Samus' Energy Tanks. If we let n be the amount of health entering her tanks (so n is the minimum of Energy in Reserves, and the total of 99 + 100 * # of Energy Tanks), then the first frame where dash can be no longer held is when Samus' Energy is n-2, n-1, or the first frame when her Energy is n.
+* If the amount of Energy in Reserves is greater than 11, then the frame window is the last 3 frames of health entering Samus' Energy Tanks. This includes the frame when Samus first hits the final amount of Energy that she will end with, and either one or two frames earlier.
 Note dependent on input lag, when X-Ray must be released could appear to be different. Visually, for entering G-mode when Energy in Reserves exceeds 11, the X-Ray Scope re-widens after the Reserves have finished deploying. The three frame window is immediately before this happens.
-From this discussion, it sounds like an optimal amount of Energy in Reserves is 11, where the frame window is at a maximum of 14 frames. However, due to the next section on G-mode immobile, most applications of G-mode have 4 Energy in Reserves (with a 4 frame window) and the remaining applications have full Energy in Reserves (with a 3 frame window).
+The "optimal" amount of Energy in Reserves can be defined in several different ways:
+* If it is possible to perform the needed actions at 4 Energy, it is generally optimal to have 4 Energy in Reserves: This way, Samus may move immediately, and the frame window is maximized.
-===G-mode Immobile===
+* If there is an enemy that can re-mobilize Samus and that enemy can deal less than 11 damage, then having 11 Energy in Reserves will significantly increase the frame window at the cost of being slower.
+* If the the actions require having a larger amount of Energy, it is generally optimal to have full Reserve Energy, but Samus will be immobile and require an enemy to hit Samus.
 ==Effects==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:44, 18 March 2025
Line 357:		Line 357:

	''The mode is disabled whenever X-Ray is activated again, and since doors are also PLMs, they will not open while the mode is active (excluding the initial door, which stays open when the mode is first activated, allowing the mode to persist into the room you were originally in).''		''The mode is disabled whenever X-Ray is activated again, and since doors are also PLMs, they will not open while the mode is active (excluding the initial door, which stays open when the mode is first activated, allowing the mode to persist into the room you were originally in).''
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+
		+	* [[G-Mode Technical Details]]

	[[Category:X-Ray Scope Glitches]]		[[Category:X-Ray Scope Glitches]]

@@ Line 132: / Line 132: @@
 G-mode is canceled when Reserves automatically trigger (when in direct G-mode) or X-Ray is used.
-The most evident limitation is the enemy positioning needed to enter G-mode. Note that the damage taken must be from an enemy. Projectiles will not work (they do not move during transitions, so will always damage Samus before the transition is triggered). Additionally environmental damage (e.g., heat) will not work. Dependent on if one want direct or indirect G-mode, this set-up either has to exist in the desired room or in a neighboring room (dependent upon if transitions in the desired room have doors).
+The most evident limitation of G-mode is required enemy positioning for entering it, as the damage taken must be from an enemy. Projectiles will not work (they do not move during transitions, so will always damage Samus before the transition is triggered), nor will environmental damage (e.g., heat). Dependent on if one wants direct or indirect G-mode, a set-up either has to exist in the desired room or in a neighboring room (dependent on if transitions in the desired room have doors).
 Another limitation is that G-mode requires using X-Ray, so activation will cancel a shinespark suit. G-mode can be activated with a blue suit, although requires a 1 frame movement (i.e., Samus must be one pixel away from the transition tile).
@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
 Downward transitions are also similar to R-mode, and are hence incredibly problematic. See [[G-Mode#Crossing Sandy Rooms|below]] for an example. The current 100% TAS does this, which is discussed in [[G-Mode#Entering Maridia from the top|Entering Maridia from the top]].
-The most important limitation of G-mode is that doors cannot be opened, and shot, super, and power bomb blocks always act solid. Therefore, mobility with G-mode is difficult.
+The most important limitation of operating in G-mode is that doors cannot be opened, and shot, super, and power bomb blocks always act solid. Therefore, mobility with G-mode is difficult.
 ==Major Speedrun Uses==

@@ Line 154: / Line 154: @@
 {{#ev:vimeo|623701383}}
-This method, especially if done without a Crystal Flash, has the issue of dealing with the [[Three Musketeers' Room|Three Musketeers]].
+This method, especially if done without a Crystal Flash, has the issue of needing to deal with the [[Three Musketeers' Room|Three Musketeers]].
-There are two modifications to this method. One is to G-mode with a blue suit, and use the blue suit to kill the Three Musketeers. Two is to use a full health G-mode, to avoid the need to Crystal Flash without Varia or Gravity. This second point probably requires at least 2+3 Energy+Reserve Tanks to survive the hellrun. Here is an example that does both of these modifications:
+There are two modifications to this method. One is to G-mode with a blue suit, and use the blue suit to kill the Three Musketeers. The other is to use a full health G-mode, to avoid the need to Crystal Flash without Varia or Gravity. This second method probably requires at least 2+3 Energy+Reserve Tanks to survive the hellrun. Here is an example that does both of these modifications:
 {{#ev:vimeo|623704977}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:27, 18 April 2024
Line 217:		Line 217:

	The current major use is [https://www.speedrun.com/super_metroid_category_extensions#RBO_glitched RBO Glitched]. The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DBaboq0YMs&t=950s current route] uses this to collect [[Gravity Suit]] before Ridley, by disabling G-Mode on a specific frame after landing on the save station.		The current major use is [https://www.speedrun.com/super_metroid_category_extensions#RBO_glitched RBO Glitched]. The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DBaboq0YMs&t=950s current route] uses this to collect [[Gravity Suit]] before Ridley, by disabling G-Mode on a specific frame after landing on the save station.
		+
		+	{{#ev:youtube\|SK9f3uXvFjs}}

	TODO: Get a more detailed description of what is possible in general.		TODO: Get a more detailed description of what is possible in general.