I improved this! Please watch my new 17:24 run here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFhKqLYUeqQ
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100% single-segment speedrun of Aladdin, NTSC-U version, done on BizHawk 1.8.1 Compatibility Core, non-TAS of course. This run aims to beat the game as fast as possible, while collecting all 70 red gems. Timing starts when I press START at the title screen and ends when Snake Jafar receives the 8th (and final) hit.
This is one of the best runs I've done, in any game. World 1 was a bit sloppy (although, I got the early platform at the beginning, which is pretty hard to do and saves ~2.5 seconds), but apart from that and a few very minor mistakes, everything went as planned, and Jafar decided to give me his best RNG. I am very happy with this run. Finishing with 0 apples and 0 gems makes it even more beautiful.
Reaching the early log in 2-2 while catching the two red gems is possible, but it is extremely hard and requires amazing R-mashing skills. I decided not to go for it; that strat is much more reliable in Any%. I think 17:30 can still be achieved with near-perfect execution, crazy R-mashing and godly RNG. Good luck to anyone who wants to go for it.
Enjoy the run!
Watch this run on my Twitch channel:
http://www.twitch.tv/le_hulk/c/5093848
Watch it with in-depth comments:
http://www.twitch.tv/le_hulk/c/5093795
You can watch my previous 18:03 run here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCBcRnTihsQ