Mythology Network
Mythology Network is by far the most disliked level by the public as well as there is a lot of stuff to cover, speedrunning wise. This video showcases the fastest route out of 4 routes based on TV cancels. There are different strats on collecting collectables based on different routes. There is annotation commentary once again. Here are the 4 routes...
1: Route based on the 3 normal visits (With no TV cancels)
Here is my 3:19:52 100% run that use this route from a while back but it has quite outdated strats.
https://youtu.be/53lY_q5QV18?t=1h36m21s
2: Route based on TV Canceling the first TV (You should always try for this route if you are on the normal route since going for this have no risk if you fail the cancel. Saves around 1 minute and 30 seconds compared to normal route)
Here is my video that uses this route.
https://youtu.be/jIZ51dcKLKs?t=1h18m37s
3: Route based on TV Canceling the rainbow TV (Saves around 2 minutes and 30 seconds compared to normal route. I recommend taking this route once you sub 2:40)
My 2:25:47 100% speedrun shows this route.
https://youtu.be/DlJ1Q_LsfZ8?t=1h10m10s
4: Route based on TV Canceling on both TVs (Just like this video, saves around 4 minutes compared to normal route)
Keep in mind that this video and my 2:25:47 100% run are the only ones with fully updated strats. All the videos are there just to show the outline of the routes. When you are on the first (normal) route, you should use the icy fly powerup to get collectibles from this example when going for just the rainbow TV remote (without going for the 100 fly coin remote) If you fail the TV Cancel that leads to the 2nd major route.
https://youtu.be/W_0dXpu6nlU?t=2m56s
The first TV cancel is a 1 frame trick while the second TV cancel is more precise then it looks. Here is the Rainbow TV Cancel Skip Tutorial that I made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brL0a-UkgZ8
So this is it for this horrible level for now. For me, this level turned into a nightmare once TV Cancels got incorporated into speedruns, especially when going for both the 2 TV Cancels. My best advice for this level is to try and replicate just the basic movements on how I do things such as jumping into the airways not too early or late and going across moving platforms without any camera tricks at certain times. Take your time and don't rush if you keep on falling in some parts. Then once you get the sense of the movement then move on to the more advance skips such as all the camera trickery as well as more precise jumps. When in doubt, have Gex run at max speed and then jump to have his tailbounces higher. This level may seem overwhelming at first but it will get easier by practicing.
Mythology Network is one of the levels where you play on the PS3 version, there is WAY less lag. You can save 30 seconds here (when going for the 1 cycle route) if you play on the PS3. Other places with less lag include Funky Town and Gangster TV. But I don't think playing on the PS3 is worth it since it has longer loading times then a PS2 run using FDS.
1: Route based on the 3 normal visits (With no TV cancels)
Here is my 3:19:52 100% run that use this route from a while back but it has quite outdated strats.
https://youtu.be/53lY_q5QV18?t=1h36m21s
2: Route based on TV Canceling the first TV (You should always try for this route if you are on the normal route since going for this have no risk if you fail the cancel. Saves around 1 minute and 30 seconds compared to normal route)
Here is my video that uses this route.
https://youtu.be/jIZ51dcKLKs?t=1h18m37s
3: Route based on TV Canceling the rainbow TV (Saves around 2 minutes and 30 seconds compared to normal route. I recommend taking this route once you sub 2:40)
My 2:25:47 100% speedrun shows this route.
https://youtu.be/DlJ1Q_LsfZ8?t=1h10m10s
4: Route based on TV Canceling on both TVs (Just like this video, saves around 4 minutes compared to normal route)
Keep in mind that this video and my 2:25:47 100% run are the only ones with fully updated strats. All the videos are there just to show the outline of the routes. When you are on the first (normal) route, you should use the icy fly powerup to get collectibles from this example when going for just the rainbow TV remote (without going for the 100 fly coin remote) If you fail the TV Cancel that leads to the 2nd major route.
https://youtu.be/W_0dXpu6nlU?t=2m56s
The first TV cancel is a 1 frame trick while the second TV cancel is more precise then it looks. Here is the Rainbow TV Cancel Skip Tutorial that I made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brL0a-UkgZ8
So this is it for this horrible level for now. For me, this level turned into a nightmare once TV Cancels got incorporated into speedruns, especially when going for both the 2 TV Cancels. My best advice for this level is to try and replicate just the basic movements on how I do things such as jumping into the airways not too early or late and going across moving platforms without any camera tricks at certain times. Take your time and don't rush if you keep on falling in some parts. Then once you get the sense of the movement then move on to the more advance skips such as all the camera trickery as well as more precise jumps. When in doubt, have Gex run at max speed and then jump to have his tailbounces higher. This level may seem overwhelming at first but it will get easier by practicing.
Mythology Network is one of the levels where you play on the PS3 version, there is WAY less lag. You can save 30 seconds here (when going for the 1 cycle route) if you play on the PS3. Other places with less lag include Funky Town and Gangster TV. But I don't think playing on the PS3 is worth it since it has longer loading times then a PS2 run using FDS.
Annotation Commentary Text
This level guide includes annotation commentary because there is so much to this level. This video shows the 1 cycle Mythology Network.
00:00 to 00:08
I always collect the first two fly coins in the airway and then karate kick in the airway because I never get all of the coin flies in one karate kick.
00:14 to 00:23
Most skips in this level heavily rely on the camera.
00:25 to 00:34
This time around, the annotation commentary is fast paced in some parts so pause the video if you need to.
00:35.5 to 00:45.5
After firing at the skeleton, I move back really fast and then forward to prevent the frozen skeleton from flying past Gex.
00:46 to 00:53
It’s possible to shoot the pawprint when you are on top of the Hercules powerup.
01:00 to 01:05
This skip is pretty self explanatory. All you need is to run first once you land on the platform to gain height when jumping. You can also jump from the green ivy to the platform while still moving to avoid stopping but it’s harder.
01:15 to 01:25
You can jump from a flying rezling to higher grounds. You can use this strat in this area to skip breaking the pillars. You can also abuse this in the next cloudy area but this is highly inconsistent and TAS only.
02:08 to 02:26
To get across the platforms fast without waiting at this part, turn the camera so that the platforms are off screen. Then make them onscreen once you jump from the highest pillar to where the first platform is at. This is to make the 2nd platform to begin to move from its starting position to go where you need to go.
02:28 to 02:38
This time, you don’t need to collect any fly coins that are above the airway before karate kicking into this airway.
02:38 to 02:44
Remember to have the number of fly coins memorized in some parts in 100%. After collecting all fly coins in this area, you should have 42 so far. This is to avoid you having to check to see if you have gotten all of the coins in this area.
02:44 to 02:52
I did safe strats here to not look at the moving platforms while hitting the statue. You can look at the direction of the moving platforms sooner to make them move earlier. For the actual skip, wait until the middle platform formed a right angle with the left platform and the ground where Gex is at. Then go and karate kick.
02:52 to 03:00
For a setup for this second skip for this section, get the icy fly. Right when Gex receives the icy fly, jump to the left platform. It is possible to be fast enough to freeze the skeleton that appears later on to go up and get the 2nd golden apple when you eat an icy fly now but it is so hard.
03:00 to 03:08
It is possible to skip the Hercules powerup and jump from the moveable pillar up to the checkered platform but it is actually really precise and TAS only.
03:10 to 03:18
If you are fast enough, you can move the moveable pillar at 5:20 and go up on that wall with this powerup in one go, skipping the other Hercules powerup that is in the water area. But I find no use of this skip yet.
03:20 to 03:33
Don’t press the X button when you are going up for Gex to do small bounces.
03:55 to 04:02
Only fire at the pawprint because it is up in the air more while the bonus coin is not.
04:10 to 04:18
For this 1 frame TV Cancel Skip, I jump from 4 red/white tiles in to make Gex jump right on to the green pad of the TV and spam square as fast as I can.
04:20 to 04:27
Now what you need to do is to get hit by enemies throughout the level to have 1 hit point left for the DREADED Rainbow TV Cancel Skip.
04:34 to 04:44
For the following skip, I jump from 2 tiles away from the edge while holding left and up while turning the camera in the direction to the green ivory. Once I land on the pillar, I do a karate kick.
05:04 to 05:12
2 simple karate kicks should be good when going over this part.
05:21 to 05:26
I tend to collect the first 2 fly coins that are above the airway a little later on but you can collect them now.
07:00 to 07:12
Make sure to have the bonus coin in the camera view or else you won’t get the coin. The following might be faster if you are farming this level with only 4 hit points: Do not get hit yet, death abuse here to spawn next to the checkpoint, and get hit fast while going to the Rainbow TV.
07:35 to 07:50
Click this link to open the Rainbow TV Cancel Skip tutorial that I made. This is the worst part in Gex 3 100% BY FAR for me. Do not go for this skip until you at least sub 2:40. It is such a horrible skip.
07:55 to 08:20
When you spawn here, look at the airway right away to make the air rise earlier rather then not looking and waiting for the air to rise.
08:32 to 08:38
It is possible for you to jump from the ground to the right platform where the harpy is. It can be useful if you fall down getting across to the final area.
08:54 to 09:00
For this skip, while collecting the ice fly make sure that the moving platforms on the right is off screen and then once Gex has a fly, turn the camera towards the corner of the platform where Gex is at and do a karate kick. You should land on the second moving platform.
09:00 to 09:10
You can get up to where the TV is at without the ice fly but you need a precise jump from the ground.
09:12 to 09:24
A slow backup strat to do is to collect 100 coin flies and then attempt the Rainbow TV Cancel Skip (just in case if you went in the TV while attempting the skip).
09:26 to 09:38
Don’t attempt the 1 Cycle Mythology Network unless you are behind and you need the time save. I hope this level will come to you guys easier now. It just takes practice. Thanks for watching.
09:40 to 10:00
00:00 to 00:08
I always collect the first two fly coins in the airway and then karate kick in the airway because I never get all of the coin flies in one karate kick.
00:14 to 00:23
Most skips in this level heavily rely on the camera.
00:25 to 00:34
This time around, the annotation commentary is fast paced in some parts so pause the video if you need to.
00:35.5 to 00:45.5
After firing at the skeleton, I move back really fast and then forward to prevent the frozen skeleton from flying past Gex.
00:46 to 00:53
It’s possible to shoot the pawprint when you are on top of the Hercules powerup.
01:00 to 01:05
This skip is pretty self explanatory. All you need is to run first once you land on the platform to gain height when jumping. You can also jump from the green ivy to the platform while still moving to avoid stopping but it’s harder.
01:15 to 01:25
You can jump from a flying rezling to higher grounds. You can use this strat in this area to skip breaking the pillars. You can also abuse this in the next cloudy area but this is highly inconsistent and TAS only.
02:08 to 02:26
To get across the platforms fast without waiting at this part, turn the camera so that the platforms are off screen. Then make them onscreen once you jump from the highest pillar to where the first platform is at. This is to make the 2nd platform to begin to move from its starting position to go where you need to go.
02:28 to 02:38
This time, you don’t need to collect any fly coins that are above the airway before karate kicking into this airway.
02:38 to 02:44
Remember to have the number of fly coins memorized in some parts in 100%. After collecting all fly coins in this area, you should have 42 so far. This is to avoid you having to check to see if you have gotten all of the coins in this area.
02:44 to 02:52
I did safe strats here to not look at the moving platforms while hitting the statue. You can look at the direction of the moving platforms sooner to make them move earlier. For the actual skip, wait until the middle platform formed a right angle with the left platform and the ground where Gex is at. Then go and karate kick.
02:52 to 03:00
For a setup for this second skip for this section, get the icy fly. Right when Gex receives the icy fly, jump to the left platform. It is possible to be fast enough to freeze the skeleton that appears later on to go up and get the 2nd golden apple when you eat an icy fly now but it is so hard.
03:00 to 03:08
It is possible to skip the Hercules powerup and jump from the moveable pillar up to the checkered platform but it is actually really precise and TAS only.
03:10 to 03:18
If you are fast enough, you can move the moveable pillar at 5:20 and go up on that wall with this powerup in one go, skipping the other Hercules powerup that is in the water area. But I find no use of this skip yet.
03:20 to 03:33
Don’t press the X button when you are going up for Gex to do small bounces.
03:55 to 04:02
Only fire at the pawprint because it is up in the air more while the bonus coin is not.
04:10 to 04:18
For this 1 frame TV Cancel Skip, I jump from 4 red/white tiles in to make Gex jump right on to the green pad of the TV and spam square as fast as I can.
04:20 to 04:27
Now what you need to do is to get hit by enemies throughout the level to have 1 hit point left for the DREADED Rainbow TV Cancel Skip.
04:34 to 04:44
For the following skip, I jump from 2 tiles away from the edge while holding left and up while turning the camera in the direction to the green ivory. Once I land on the pillar, I do a karate kick.
05:04 to 05:12
2 simple karate kicks should be good when going over this part.
05:21 to 05:26
I tend to collect the first 2 fly coins that are above the airway a little later on but you can collect them now.
07:00 to 07:12
Make sure to have the bonus coin in the camera view or else you won’t get the coin. The following might be faster if you are farming this level with only 4 hit points: Do not get hit yet, death abuse here to spawn next to the checkpoint, and get hit fast while going to the Rainbow TV.
07:35 to 07:50
Click this link to open the Rainbow TV Cancel Skip tutorial that I made. This is the worst part in Gex 3 100% BY FAR for me. Do not go for this skip until you at least sub 2:40. It is such a horrible skip.
07:55 to 08:20
When you spawn here, look at the airway right away to make the air rise earlier rather then not looking and waiting for the air to rise.
08:32 to 08:38
It is possible for you to jump from the ground to the right platform where the harpy is. It can be useful if you fall down getting across to the final area.
08:54 to 09:00
For this skip, while collecting the ice fly make sure that the moving platforms on the right is off screen and then once Gex has a fly, turn the camera towards the corner of the platform where Gex is at and do a karate kick. You should land on the second moving platform.
09:00 to 09:10
You can get up to where the TV is at without the ice fly but you need a precise jump from the ground.
09:12 to 09:24
A slow backup strat to do is to collect 100 coin flies and then attempt the Rainbow TV Cancel Skip (just in case if you went in the TV while attempting the skip).
09:26 to 09:38
Don’t attempt the 1 Cycle Mythology Network unless you are behind and you need the time save. I hope this level will come to you guys easier now. It just takes practice. Thanks for watching.
09:40 to 10:00