HUGE DISCOVERY!

If you've watched any Rygar TAS, you probably saw that in the 2nd screen, they screenwrap to get to the overworld faster (saves about 7 seconds from what I've seen) by pressing B every other frame to slowly glide to the bottom of the screen. This version of the trick is obviously not RTA viable, but I managed to find a setup that not only is RTA viable, but also saves 6 seconds if done perfectly, tho on average, you most likely will save between 1.5 and 4 seconds.

Here's the setup: You get over the pit right under the door and hold Down. From that point on, you need to repeat a very specific set of inputs: You let go of Down, 3 or 4 frames later (it's a 2 frames window) press B and Down on the same frame. This will make Rygar drop down 1 pixel. Then release B and then release Down (they have to be at least 1 frame apart). Repeat this over and over until Rygar's feet touch the bottom of the screen (1 pixel away works but I prefer to use the bottom of the screen as a visual cue). The mash is usually at around 550 BPM if done optimally. For the final part, you want to release Down and 3 or 4 frames later, do B,nothing,B,nothing,B, which looks hard but using 3 fingers (like I did in the video linked below) makes it viable. You can also just go a few pixels more down and then do B once instead of 3 times, but I find it easier to do those 3 presses and the visual cue is better. I don't have a controller to test it out but I doubt it's any different if you use it like a keyboard. I can't guarantee it being viable if you use your thumbs to play, unless you're Arcus or TheRetroRunner and you can mash Down and B super quickly lol.

I have worked this out a few years ago and was able to pull it of with the D-pad but only after hundreds of tries.

yeah that was my 1st way of doing it but I found it extremely slow and inconsistent. My current setup basically makes it so you have to press B and Down at the same time in a 2 frames window rather than having to frame perfect B after every Down release so it's a bit more viable. Surprised to see there was already some development on this strat years ago!

After some research I think the main difference is in the PAL VS NTSC version and the trigger for Rygar to fall. Rygar will fall after only 3 frames without the down button pressed and on the PAL it looks like it is 6. Making this trick and airwalking much different on the PAL

I'm curious if the Keyboard is more effective. Could you try to do in on the NTSC with the keyboard and see if your strat works?

the frames I mentioned are all PAL frames, so it is on frame 3 with the old strat and frame 3 and 4 with the new strat. As for NTSC, I haven't TASed it so I don't really know the exact frames, but I already did a few attempts to see if it was different and it took me like 5 tries to get almost all the way at the bottom so surely it can't be that much different. About controller vs. keyboard, like I said in the original post, I don't have an NES controller that works on PC and I don't own the cartridge so I can't test it on original hardware. In SMB1 we consider keyboards to be on par with controllers for various reasons, but idk if the same can be said here. I think holding the controller like a keyboard may be a strat? In Ninja Gaiden you also mash Down+B extremely fast to slash cancel and I personally can't mash fast enough to beat the last boss damageless on keyboard so I don't really think keyboard is much of an advantage here

I don't know if you have ever seen this but it is my grip and technique for the screen wrap on controller. I came up with this based on the Slackanater's discoveries. Not used in runs yet because if how precise it must be performed on an already very precise and reset heavy run. It basically uses the same principles but because the release and re-engagement of the buttons is the most important part I tap the controller away from my fingers instead of tapping the buttons.

I have also have a setup in which I switch the grip during a jump and just hold down after running off the ledge but the video was just an early proof of concept.

Omg this is so much faster (and looks easier?). I had never seen that before, it's crazy