The Japanese and North American versions of the game don't differ when it comes to speedrunning. However, the loads are inconsistent throughout the game. Even when entering the same room in the same state. This is due to the spinning disc and laser trying to access data to load the next area. This is a big deal because there is constant loading throughout the game.
I did frame counts for American and Japanese burns and then on an original Japanese pressed version. I don't have access to an American Silver version of the game. Due to it being rare, expensive and a result wouldn't want to make frequent use of it anyway.
When frame counting the transitions that have text at the start of the game. Up until entering the Sea Fox. I came across the following findings.
Over the course of the first 9 minutes of gameplay. I saved 8-10 seconds on loading when using the pressed; as opposed to a burned CD. This likely adds up to two minutes saved over the course of the game. It's likely burned discs will always be of lower quality than a well printed disc, but how much worse can vary, Taiyo Yuden and AZO Verbatim score very high for burn qualities when made with good burners. But the quality of your disc burner factors into the overall quality of the burnt disc.
