General Strategies (including GIVE UP Chain)

Note: This guide identifies stages by number, their (Row, Column) position, and a visual keyword.
Topics covered here:

- Preloading
- Tab Key Usage
- GIVE UP Chain

## Preloading

If not in the cache, levels are loaded from the server when entered. Loading levels from cache is faster.
To set up the cache, the player should load the webpage and enter each stage.
This may require beating the game again if progress was previously reset. This only needs to be done once.

## Tab Key Usage

The following stages can be beaten quicker by using the Tab key:

- Stage 7 ((2,1) Shards)
- Stage 10 ((2,4) Sprouts)
- Stage 15 ((3,3) Triangles)
- Stage 19 ((4,1) Alignment)
- Stage 31 ((6,1) Thermometer)

Not all browsers and websites handle Tab the same way. The goal is to reduce the number of Tab elements.
From my experience, BlueMaxima Flashpoint keeps the Tab function within Flash.

## GIVE UP Chain

It is possible to beat stages quickly enough that the GIVE UP button never disappears.
When this happens, the player can return to the Stage Select and try to beat another level quickly.
The player only gets three seconds after finding a star to beat another stage, as STAGE CLEAR is in effect.
Completing additional stages while using this strategy results in a "GIVE UP Chain".

Each stage added to a chain, but not at the end, saves anywhere between 1 and 3 seconds.
Soft-locks may occur if the player is fading between stages or loading data when the STAGE CLEAR ends.

STAGE CLEAR time-to-fade: 3 seconds
GIVE UP time-to-appear: 1 second
Stage Select fade-in/fade-out time: 0.5 seconds

A stage can extend the GIVE UP chain if it can be completed in less than one second.
The following are known to extend the chain:

- Stage 2 ((1,2) Cut-outs)
- Stage 9 ((2,3) Slingshot)
- Stage 17 ((3,5) Paper)
- Stage 26 ((5,2) Bikini)
- Stage 32 ((6,2) Bird Tree)

A stage can end the GIVE UP chain if it can be completed in less than two seconds.
However, you must click the GIVE UP button and the next stage, so a target time of <1.5 seconds is desired.
The following are known to end the chain:

- Stage 1 ((1,1) Mario)
- Stage 19 ((4,1) Alignment)
- Stage 23 ((4,5) Twist)

Under ideal conditions, a player can complete a chain end stage on the same frame that STAGE CLEAR ends.
When this happens, the star chime is heard, and the player is returned to Stage Select with the star awarded.
This saves about three seconds. It is believed to be a frame-perfect trick. No consistent setups are known.
It is not known if it can be achieved on every chain stage, but is has been verified in the following stages:

- Stage 1 ((1,1) Mario)
- Stage 32 ((6,2) Bird Tree) - not worth attempting, since this can be beaten earlier in the chain

Submission Rules

A recorded run must start with a Reset Data on the opening screen. Time will be taken from the Start Game click to the Credits click.

Having a timer on screen is required. If a run displays a seemingly incorrect time due to human error during the run, this can be corrected later. In this case, time from Start Game black screen to Credits black screen will be used.

Walkthrough and Explanation of Known Strategies (in Japanese)

Even though the video is in Japanese, it may be useful to any viewers:
http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm32936192
(http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm32936192)

Topics in the video include:
- Browser conditions needed for optimal Tab button use
- How the GIVE UP sequence works (and comparison of times)
- Level orderings to make GIVE UP chains and reduce RNG dependence late in the run
- Descriptions of each level's best strategy known at the time

Name	Author
General Strategies (including GIVE UP Chain)	MOUTHWEST 4 years ago
Submission Rules	MOUTHWEST 7 years ago
Walkthrough and Explanation of Known Strategies (in Japanese)	MOUTHWEST 4 years ago