Space Race(2002)

All Tournaments - General Guide/Strategy [Current - 2025]

Güncelleme tarihi 1 month ago tarafından FreezeChamp

[UPDATED - 22 JANUARY 2025]

Google doc Version of this topic: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q18X9RlYTlMnFz5qfpFUvgVllQwthP0IxmREfv0uf0s/edit?usp=sharing

Hey y'all!

Here's a very general but simple explanation/guide of the main category and all it's quirks. Hopefully this will be helpful in some way to any NEW runner or current runner interested in running the category.

Main Objective

Win all 4 Main Tournaments.

Region differences (NTSC/PAL)

There are no current differences in between regions since both run the same way and have the same content. NTSC-U (US version) might be just a tad easier to deal with the AI since the Default difficulty is Easy, where PAL version is Normal, but I haven't fully tried a US version at all since I do not have a NTSC-U copy to run (especially to put on OPL).

RUN THE GAME IN 60HZ!

If ran in 50hz, the Jumping tech does not work at all and the game feels VERY clunky. Avoid playing on 50hz since it's actually slower unless you like going slow.

If anything is discovered or debunked, this will be updated accordingly.

Load Differences

The speedrun can be done in 3 different methods:

Disc

Emulator

OPL (Open PS2-Loader)

Disc being the slowest, Emulator is second fast and OPL having the faster loadings for the game.

Emulator and OPL are similar, but Emulator loads lose about 1.5/2 seconds per load compared to OPL. Disc is atleast 10-15 seconds slower per load.

A load-remover is being currently tested and improved as the time starts to go into parts where Disc becomes way too hard to achieve. This is still being discussed if splitting or using no loads is going to be a thing, but there is currently not a big enough sample case for this to be relevant (unfortunately not active enough YET - Please run the game and help the community develop!)

The 2 main techniques used in this run is Backwards driving, which has a higher cap of speed compared to driving forward, and Jumping, which is the result of pulling the Left Analog down and pushing any of the trigger buttons (Swerve/Dodge) to create momentum.

Misc but Important tech: Off-track timer (in between 2 to 3 seconds off the track). This timer counts down every frame that the vehicle is outside of the range of the track (below and above track have few exceptions). Timer only resets when the timer runs out. Intentional drops are needed for certain skips due to the time needed for the vehicle to reach the checkpoint.

Good tutorial/general guide for all tech above, etc by AestheticVoid: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkd330vDiClkSHJLCTdjo9cnr0_tc6Y1Y

(still to be updated due to new tech, better tech - still useful for any beginner, so don’t skip this)

ONLY usable characters for the run:

Coyote or Elmer Fudd

Both have the same stats (Good Speed and Accel, Mediocre Turning). Coyote may be a bit easier to jump due to the vehicle being pointy (Rocket), but they are way too similar to notice the difference.

Marvin The Martian (2,500 ACME Tokens)

Max Speed and Accel stats, Terrible turning stat. You need to buy him on the Galleria -> Secret Stuff menu only after you beat Looney Dish.

Category explanation

Game is divided into 4 main tournaments which 3 of the tournaments are subdivided with several cups.

First 3 Tournaments are subdivided into 4 cups and last tournament it’s only ONE event, in which is required for you to WIN every race.

Baby Carrot Tourney

Introductory tournament, all base game tracks are played here. First 2 tournaments (ACME to Mars Cup and Space Vacation Cup) are normal cups with no gimmicks involved.

Looney Cup is the first variation of a gimmick cup, which all 3 races have 1 locked gimmick:

North Pole Star 1: Infinite items and no turbo barrels
Off World City Limits 1: All item boxes only have explosive items (Bombs and missiles)
Wild West Quadrant 1: Unlimited boost (boost gauge goes up automatically)

Super Six Series is the last final cup of the first tournament in which you race all 6 base tracks in ONLY 1 LAP and no items, just pure racing

When you finish beating the first FULL tournament, this will unlock the next tournament, Super Carrot Tourney, and also 6 new tracks, The Asteroid Belt, Planet ACME 2, Off World City Limits 2, Galactorama Park 2, The Pyramids of Mars 2 and Wild West Quadrant 2.

Super Carrot Tourney

First route change. Instead of going to the first cup, you want to start the 3rd cup (Looney Dish) because this cup will give you enough ACME tokens to buy Marvin The Martian, also mainly because it is easier with Coyote/Elmer to deal with the gimmicks.

Looney Dish is the first type of cup where the game throws certain items at you the entire time. You wanna max your jump and good evasive driving to avoid a lot of these nuisances.

The Asteroid Belt: Game Spawns random portable holes all over the track

First track you need to maximize getting the item boxes for the Clove for invincibility since there are going to be holes everywhere. Maximize the off-track timer for certain skips to make it easier.

Planet ACME 2: Item boxes are actually explosive traps

Avoid getting any of the item boxes. Maximize jumping as there are several item boxes that are too tight for you to avoid.

Off World City Limits 2: Aggressive Granny…

Shouldn’t be an issue with your speed, but Granny is just hitting everyone to cause chaos. Main problem is the track is very tight so drive carefully. First choke of the track is very item based so expect getting hit, if not, be blessed LMAO

Second instance of menuing:

Down input -> Galleria

Down input -> Secret Stuff

2x Left input -> Marvin The Martian

2x Triangle to back off to the main menu

Press No when the Save Game screen pops.

Up input -> Tournaments

Press X til’ character select screen

(COYOTE) 3x Right input to choose Marvin

(ELMER) 1x Right input to choose Marvin

Galact-o Cup-O Rama very straightforward cup in which you just race 3 of the new tracks unlocked. No gimmicks.

Cup O’ Mystery one of the biggest run killer of the speedrun. 3 races entirely randomized. It will randomize if items/no items, boosts/no boosts, ALL tracks unlocked so far, and laps in between 1, 3, 5 or 7 laps.

Best case scenario: Planet ACME 1, West Quadrant 2, Asteroid Belt. 1 to 3 laps always good.

Worst case scenario: Pyramids 1, Pyramids 2 if >= 5 laps, Off World City 1 and 2, North Pole 1

Any track that gets 7 laps and the track has zero to no skips is going to result in a HUGE timeloss.

Slowpoke Pursuit is the last cup of the 2nd Tournament. Gimmick is a Elimination type race, 5 laps on 2 tracks (Wild West 2 and Pyramids of Mars 2), every lap last place gets eliminated.

After beating the 2nd Tournament you unlock the track “The Nebula”.

Mega Carrot Tourney

Simple progression, difficulty ramps up as there are several tracks that may lose you some time, like Planet ACME 1 with Marvin (SC is a lot harder)

ACME Grand Buffet is a straightforward cup, no gimmicks, introduces The Nebula to the player.

Blue Star Special same straightforward cup, no gimmicks but only 2 laps. You’ll be playing all the first 2 tournament tracks variants.

Looney Spoon is the third instance of menuing (small menuing). It’s optimal to go back to Coyote/Elmer due to the very first track gimmick. The cup runs the same gag as Looney Dish except it’s 2 laps.

Planet ACME 1: Falling objects all over the place.

Abuse the Jumping mechanic to avoid getting hit or hitting any debri. Abuse the shortcut for free win.

The Nebula: Hare Oil all over the place, it makes you lose control of the vehicle and spin-out.

Abuse jumping again and optimal evasive lines. Play it safe, over hitting the oil and drop out of the track.

Pyramids of Mars 1: Normal race but shaky screen.

Awful to look at, but a regular race. It doesn’t change anything… It’s just a visually awful gimmick.

The Gold Rush is Last cup(ish) of the 3rd Tournament. Single track cup of 7 laps. You race in “The Nebula”. The gimmick is every placement gains points, who has more points wins (You’ll be first (ideally) so it’s just a normal 7 lap race).

3rd Tournament beaten, you unlock the last track available in-game, North Pole Star 2.

Carrot Masters Tourney

Night of 1000 Tunes is the last cup of speedrun. Featuring 3 tracks from the 1st Tournament and the last track of the run being the new unlocked track, North Pole Star 2.

2 LAPS and you can ONLY WIN to be able to continue. Every race has a single item.