Low-Level Run: Difference between revisions

Line 1:

Variation of the [[Self Imposed Challenge]]. Restricted to [[Role Playing Game|RPGs]] and games with [[RPG Elements]], particularly experience and [[Character Level|levels]]. The goal is to complete the game with your characters' levels being as low as possible. The player avoids or flees as many [[Random Encounters]] as possible (while reducing the amount of experience he is forced to gain, if that option is available) while still defeating the required enemies and winning the game. The challenge can be expressed in terms of aggregate levels (all characters' total levels, added up), average character level, or the level of the character with the lowest level, depending on the game.

Variation of the [[Self-Imposed Challenge]]. Restricted to [[Role Playing Game|RPGs]] and games with [[RPG Elements]], particularly experience and [[Character Level|levels]]. The goal is to complete the game with your characters' levels being as low as possible. The player avoids or flees as many [[Random Encounters]] as possible (while reducing the amount of experience he is forced to gain, if that option is available) while still defeating the required enemies and winning the game. The challenge can be expressed in terms of aggregate levels (all characters' total levels, added up), average character level, or the level of the character with the lowest level, depending on the game.

This challenge is just impossible in some games, but others are well-suited for it. These include games where tactics or reaction time outweighs raw power, as well as games where characters' statistics can be raised to a competitive level without [[Level Grinding]].

Compare [[Minimalist Run]], where the objective is to finish the game using as little equipment as possible.

* ''[[Chrono Trigger (Video Game)|Chrono Trigger]]'' is well suited for Low Level Runs: characters gain no experience while [[Non Lethal KO|knocked out]], and the battle system is designed in such a way that statistical bonuses gained from equipment far outstrip those gained from [[Level Grinding]]. It's possible to beat the game with the main character's level being as low as 1<ref>It helps that a piece of equipment exists that converts EXP gained into cash. Of course, it's acquired pretty late in the plot. Another critical advantage is that you can learn higher level techs and upgrade character stats (through Tabs) without gaining XP. Part of this indeed due to Wallet. Tubsters are the other key part.</ref>

* ''[[Chrono Trigger (Video Game)|Chrono Trigger]]'' is well suited for Low Level Runs: characters gain no experience while [[Non-Lethal KO|knocked out]], and the battle system is designed in such a way that statistical bonuses gained from equipment far outstrip those gained from [[Level Grinding]]. It's possible to beat the game with the main character's level being as low as 1<ref>It helps that a piece of equipment exists that converts EXP gained into cash. Of course, it's acquired pretty late in the plot. Another critical advantage is that you can learn higher level techs and upgrade character stats (through Tabs) without gaining XP. Part of this indeed due to Wallet. Tubsters are the other key part.</ref>

* ''[[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]'' features a special mode where experience gained is determined by the quality of the [[Combos]] the player uses. This is intended to reward players who are good at the battle system, but it can be used to keep the characters' levels low by deliberately performing poorly. Since the game is an action-RPG, a good player can avoid all damage, and keep enemies locked in infinite-[[Combos]] regardless of the characters' levels. [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tales+of+symphonia+colette+poison&search=Search There are videos] of low-level parties, with Colette and Raine (the game's healer and defensive mage) ''leading'' the battle, defeating [[Bonus Boss|Abyssion]] -- the single toughest enemy in the game by poisoning him and dodging attacks for several minutes.

** There is a title for Lloyd obtained by getting to a certain point in the game with a party level total below a certain number.

Line 15:

* It is possible to go through the ''[[Paper Mario]]'' games with the starting stats of 10HP and 5FP. Level-ups are given to the Badge Points (which do nothing [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|except equip badges]], which can modify attack, defense, etc.) What makes it difficult is that enemies have ''high'' attack power late to post-game. ''[[Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door]]'', for example, has a late-game boss that can do 10 Attack ''in one move'' if you're not prepared, and the final boss can do 7 attack ''three times''. These are very high stats for these games.

* Every ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' game has had someone do this, including the ones that don't actually use levels:

** Performing a [[Low Level Run]] for much of ''[[Final Fantasy VI (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VI]]'' is essential to those looking to max out their stats as much as possible, keeping levels as low as possible (by avoiding battles, juggling characters when you have to fight, and manipulating when characters rejoin the group) until the player has the right espers, which each grant a different stat boost when the character holding them levels up. The endeavor is helped by a few [[Good Bad Bugs]] such as the Vanish-Doom [[Game Breaker]] and isn't a ''strict'' low level run, as it still allows free [[Level Grinding]] of [[Guest Star Party Member|Guest Star Party Members]] and (at certain times) characters who can't equip espers to gain strength and money. <ref>Incidentally, bosses give no EXP in FFVI.</ref>

** Performing a [[Low-Level Run]] for much of ''[[Final Fantasy VI (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VI]]'' is essential to those looking to max out their stats as much as possible, keeping levels as low as possible (by avoiding battles, juggling characters when you have to fight, and manipulating when characters rejoin the group) until the player has the right espers, which each grant a different stat boost when the character holding them levels up. The endeavor is helped by a few [[Good Bad Bugs]] such as the Vanish-Doom [[Game Breaker]] and isn't a ''strict'' low level run, as it still allows free [[Level Grinding]] of [[Guest Star Party Member|Guest Star Party Members]] and (at certain times) characters who can't equip espers to gain strength and money. <ref>Incidentally, bosses give no EXP in FFVI.</ref>

** Of the [[Final Fantasy]] games, ''[[Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VIII]]'' is most suited to low-level runs. Most of your combat power derives from junctioned Guardian Forces and Magic, not level-grinding, and your enemies don't get numerically stronger to match. Thus, a low-level run is [[Game Breaker|just too easy]].

*** While conversely, a high-level but no-Junctioning game is the hardest self-imposed challenge in the entire series. It's impossible. Early in the game, by killing a few water monsters and junctioning their items, you can get 60 strength; at maximum level, unjunctioned, you get a max of 50. No items, no magic, no summons, and no card games either, without a junction.

Line 22:

** ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]'' has what's called a NSGNSNCNONENNENBB challenge -- that is, No [[Level Grinding|Sphere Grid]], No Summoning, No [[Item Crafting|Customizing]], No [[Limit Break|Overdrives]], No Escape, No "No [[Random Encounters|Encounters]]", and No Blitzball. Purportedly, the closest anyone has ever gotten to completing this challenge is getting the final boss down to about half health. Of course, variations of this challenge exist with only some of the previously mentioned restrictions in place.

*** Uniquely for ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', since experience in X doesn't net you anything until you spend it on stats and abilities, you can fight (and win) all the battles you like and still be playing "low level" (NSG). This has obvious use in farming.

** A [[Low Level Run]] of ''[[Final Fantasy XII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XII]]'' is nicknamed a 122333 run, because the lowest your party's levels can be is Vaan at level 1, Fran and Balthier at level 2, and the other three at level 3.

** A [[Low-Level Run]] of ''[[Final Fantasy XII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XII]]'' is nicknamed a 122333 run, because the lowest your party's levels can be is Vaan at level 1, Fran and Balthier at level 2, and the other three at level 3.

** At least one person has attempted to get as far as they could in ''[[Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XIII]]'' without using the Crystarium. Turns out you can get to the last boss of Chapter 9 before it becomes (nearly?) impossible to progress.

* ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' games do everything in their power to make a Low-Level Run impossible, with the specter of [[All Deaths Final|permanent character death]] always looming and untrained characters becoming increasingly (and mathematically) unable to stand up to enemies the more you neglect them. However, each game usually gives you several pre-promoted powerhouse units to recruit that are weaker over the long run, but ensure that you won't become [[Unwinnable By Mistake|completely stuck]] (excluding the very early Famicom installments).

Line 40:

* The first ''[[Knights of the Old Republic (Video Game)|Knights of the Old Republic]]'' has a variation of this, as many players will attempt to survive the Taris section of the game on as few levels as possible. This is not to increase the challenge, but rather so they can maximize the number of Jedi levels they can take.

** Not really much of a challenge because this only applies to your main created character. Feel free to powerlevel your two lackeys to your heart's content. Not to mention grenades can carry you through Taris pretty easily.

* Speaking of [[Bio Ware]], ''[[~~Baldurs~~ Gate (Video Game)|Baldurs Gate]]'' has had a couple of interesting games. At least two people have played through the first game ''without gaining XP at all'', via a combination of [[Stealth Run|stealth]] and using enemies against each other. The second game requires you to kill enemies, but minimal XP runs have been completed, with only a few thousand XP gained (the cap being 8 million).

* Speaking of [[Bio Ware]], ''[[Baldur's Gate (Video Game)|Baldurs Gate]]'' has had a couple of interesting games. At least two people have played through the first game ''without gaining XP at all'', via a combination of [[Stealth Run|stealth]] and using enemies against each other. The second game requires you to kill enemies, but minimal XP runs have been completed, with only a few thousand XP gained (the cap being 8 million).

* ''[[Neverwinter Nights (Video Game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'', also a Bioware game, is also beatable at a much lower level than you're expected to be.

* ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'':

** In the Final Mix+ rerelease of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II (Video Game)|Kingdom Hearts II]]'', there is not only an option for an even more difficult mode not in the original (Critical Mode), but in that mode, there is an ability called EXP Zero, which does exactly what you think it does: You don't earn any EXP, ever, so you can play through the whole game at Level 1. Also, you take double damage and your HP is halved in this mode. The worst part about a level 1 run is the fact that you'll never learn the [[Last Chance Hit Point|Once More and Second Chance abilities]], which means later on, almost every hit is a [[One Hit Kill]].

** In the Final Mix+ rerelease of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II (Video Game)|Kingdom Hearts II]]'', there is not only an option for an even more difficult mode not in the original (Critical Mode), but in that mode, there is an ability called EXP Zero, which does exactly what you think it does: You don't earn any EXP, ever, so you can play through the whole game at Level 1. Also, you take double damage and your HP is halved in this mode. The worst part about a level 1 run is the fact that you'll never learn the [[Last Chance Hit Point|Once More and Second Chance abilities]], which means later on, almost every hit is a [[One-Hit Kill]].

** This can also be done in the original [[Kingdom Hearts II (Video Game)|Kingdom Hearts II]] by hacking, due to the fact that Antiform has the EXP Zero ability by default.

** In ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358 Days Over 2 (Video Game)|358/2 Days]]'', you only increase in level by equipping level-up panels. This allows you to play through the entire game at Level 1, if you want.

** In ''[[Kingdom Hearts: 358 Days Over 2 (Video Game)|358/2 Days]]'', you only increase in level by equipping level-up panels. This allows you to play through the entire game at Level 1, if you want.

** Likewise in ''[[Kingdom Heartscoded (Video Game)|coded]]''. The game actually encourages it by recording the lowest level you've beaten a world at.

* The closest thing you can do in "Pokemon" to a more conventional low-level run is the "[[Not Allowed to Grow Up|No Evolutions]]" run. It isn't ''quite'' as difficult as you still earn experience, but most players couple this with a "[[Solo Character Run|(Enter Species Here) Only Run]]". [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRZhCXsg4GI Observe].

Line 51:

** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkVT1KjojCk Cynthia has now been beaten by a team of level 1's.]

** To prevent people from downloading the newest games, [[Pokémon Black and White|Black and White]], a "no experience" security patch was added. A lot of people actually use said patch to challenge themselves.

* Since you only gain a level in ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] [[The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion (Video Game)|IV: Oblivion]]'' when you gain 10 points in your major skills and then sleep, it's relatively simple to acquire very high skill levels while remaining at experience level 1. And since the game's [[Level Scaling|difficulty scales with your level]], this is arguably easier than gaining levels the traditional way. Your attributes and equipment will suffer, though. In order to beat the main quest, you must complete at least one of the Daedric artifact quests, each of which has a minimum level, although some are as low as two. It's still possible to complete the game at level 1, but this requires killing an NPC who is about as powerful as the game engine will allow, then giving up her [[Infinity ~~Plus One~~ Sword]] to short-circuit the quest's level requirement. Alternatively, if you're willing to gain just one level, you can complete the easiest Daedric artifact quest in the game instead.

* Since you only gain a level in ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] [[The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion (Video Game)|IV: Oblivion]]'' when you gain 10 points in your major skills and then sleep, it's relatively simple to acquire very high skill levels while remaining at experience level 1. And since the game's [[Level Scaling|difficulty scales with your level]], this is arguably easier than gaining levels the traditional way. Your attributes and equipment will suffer, though. In order to beat the main quest, you must complete at least one of the Daedric artifact quests, each of which has a minimum level, although some are as low as two. It's still possible to complete the game at level 1, but this requires killing an NPC who is about as powerful as the game engine will allow, then giving up her [[Infinity+1 Sword]] to short-circuit the quest's level requirement. Alternatively, if you're willing to gain just one level, you can complete the easiest Daedric artifact quest in the game instead.

** ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] [[The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind (Video Game)|III: Morrowind]]'' was even more extreme, as the alchemy process was considered a [[Game Breaker]]: Because the game was paused when the player stopped to brew potions, a player could brew an INT boosting potion that lasted a short time, drink it, and then immediately brew another potion that provided an even greater bonus (as alchemy stat bonuses were affected by your INT stat), and it would stack to absurd levels until you could create a potion that restored your entire health pool many times over each second for an hour. This allowed the player to wield the game's [[Infinity ~~Plus One~~ Sword]] without worrying about the required protection (the sword would kill the player without a specific gauntlet to protect them). This exploit can be used to beat the game in under 10 minutes. Oblivion capped this by preventing the player from benefiting from most stat bonuses past 100 (the usual limit).

** ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] [[The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind (Video Game)|III: Morrowind]]'' was even more extreme, as the alchemy process was considered a [[Game Breaker]]: Because the game was paused when the player stopped to brew potions, a player could brew an INT boosting potion that lasted a short time, drink it, and then immediately brew another potion that provided an even greater bonus (as alchemy stat bonuses were affected by your INT stat), and it would stack to absurd levels until you could create a potion that restored your entire health pool many times over each second for an hour. This allowed the player to wield the game's [[Infinity+1 Sword]] without worrying about the required protection (the sword would kill the player without a specific gauntlet to protect them). This exploit can be used to beat the game in under 10 minutes. Oblivion capped this by preventing the player from benefiting from most stat bonuses past 100 (the usual limit).

* ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' has two different forms of this; Level 1 Gnome (or Tauren) races often end in an opposing faction's capital, and making your way through is an exercise in aggro management and sheer patience. On the other hand, it's possible to enter many raid dungeons five levels before you are supposed to (the game simply refuses anyone of lower level than that).

** There are videos of people solo-ing 25-man raid bosses using just the right combination of exploits. Iin particular, someone figured out that a warlock could kite one of the bosses in Serpentshrine Caverns by throwing instant-speed dots and running up and down stairs a lot.

Line 61:

** A recent addition promoted Low Level Runs to officially-endorsed status by allowing players to disable experience gain altogether

* There are people crazy enough to take on ''[[God Hand]]'' on Hard Mode, with only the starting moves, while still keeping their Kick-Me Sign on. By the end of the game, your starting moves are practically [[Scratch Damage]]. Hard Mode locks the [[Dynamic Difficulty]] on its highest level, "Level Die". The Kick-Me Sign falls off if you use either the [[Super Mode|God Hand]] or [[Limit Break|God Reels]]. People have beaten the game this way.

* Many a [[Speed Run]] in [[RPG|RPGs]] can result, inadvertently or deliberately, in a [[Low Level Run]]. For example, winning ''[[Fallout 2 (Video Game)|Fallout 2]]'' in less than half an hour is possible, but even with the amount of XP granted from some of the late-game area quests being insane for a low-level character, you will likely finish the game severely underleveled compared to what most players would feel safe doing.

* Many a [[Speed Run]] in [[RPG|RPGs]] can result, inadvertently or deliberately, in a [[Low-Level Run]]. For example, winning ''[[Fallout 2 (Video Game)|Fallout 2]]'' in less than half an hour is possible, but even with the amount of XP granted from some of the late-game area quests being insane for a low-level character, you will likely finish the game severely underleveled compared to what most players would feel safe doing.

* Some [[Platform Hell]] ''[[Super Mario Bros|Mario]]'' ROM hacks enforce a [[Low Level Run]] by having Mario die from doing anything that gets him points (which includes the [[Goomba Stomp]]).

* Some [[Platform Hell]] ''[[Super Mario Bros|Mario]]'' ROM hacks enforce a [[Low-Level Run]] by having Mario die from doing anything that gets him points (which includes the [[Goomba Stomp]]).

* This is easy to do in ''[[Beyond Oasis (Video Game)|Beyond Oasis]]'' (aka ''The Story of Thor''), since your character's level is determined by the number of hearts he collects (which also, predictably, increase maximum HP), rather than EXP gained by kills. Furthermore, hearts are rigged to only drop from enemies if you're getting your ass kicked, when you would logically need them. Thus, the game's difficulty rather ingeniously scales itself depending on your skill... or, you can simply go macho and ignore hearts altogether.

* The introduction of "instanced" areas, where difficulty is determined by a given player's level, has made joining groups with a much lower-level player into a viable tactic in [[Gaia Online]] MMO ''zOMG!'' The low-level player is sent in first to set the difficulty of the enemies, and then his high-level buddies come in, walk all over the enemies, and revive their sacrificial victim if necessary. Side effects may include situations where the low man is the last person standing against Queen Lorelei... and wins.

Line 77:

* The soullevel 1 challenge in ''[[Demons Souls]]'' is quite common. Some guys take it a step further though and complete the game in the much harder "New Game +" Mode without leveling up ever. Or beating the game using only your fists.

* The ''[[Gothic]]'' expert "[[The Wonderer]]" has beaten Gothic II with Expansion with level 6. You can download the videos [http://www.worldofgothic.de/dl/download_207.htm here] (in german).

* The [[Epic Battle Fantasy]] series (as well as [[Spin Off|Bullet]] [[Bullet Hell|Heaven]]) allow the player to simply not upgrade, in a somewhat similar way to the sphere grid in ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]''. Bullet Heaven in particular can get really nasty; compare the first [[Bonus Boss]] of four (and yes, the others do get harder) on a [[Low Level Run]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlKzSvY8T8M here] to that same boss [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8UM9VCadUg fought with full upgrades].

* The [[Epic Battle Fantasy]] series (as well as [[Spin-Off|Bullet]] [[Bullet Hell|Heaven]]) allow the player to simply not upgrade, in a somewhat similar way to the sphere grid in ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]''. Bullet Heaven in particular can get really nasty; compare the first [[Bonus Boss]] of four (and yes, the others do get harder) on a [[Low-Level Run]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlKzSvY8T8M here] to that same boss [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8UM9VCadUg fought with full upgrades].

* ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'' comes equipped with a level slider, which lets you go as low as 1 and as high as you have advanced. The more you handicap yourself, the higher the drop rate is. It's practically required to set your level to 1 to obtain several rare pins, especially in postgame.

* ''[[Nethack]]'' has an unusual example where [[Low Level Run]] is actually a part of a viable strategy. {{spoiler|The cost of the divine protection available in Minetown is proportional to the player's level, so rushing for Minetown without leveling allows the player to acquire lots of protection for relatively little money.}}

* ''[[Nethack]]'' has an unusual example where [[Low-Level Run]] is actually a part of a viable strategy. {{spoiler|The cost of the divine protection available in Minetown is proportional to the player's level, so rushing for Minetown without leveling allows the player to acquire lots of protection for relatively little money.}}

* ''[[Wild Arms]]'' can be done in a [[Low Level Run]] thanks to a severe abuse of [http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL12AE6450199298EE&feature=view_all Goat Dolls], an item in the game that allows a character to survive any attack with partially HP. The best part is, you can keep re-equipping more during combat. Experience can be avoided completely after a certain point in this game due to status effect 'forgetfulness', which causes characters not to gain any experience after a fight ends.

* ''[[Wild Arms]]'' can be done in a [[Low-Level Run]] thanks to a severe abuse of [http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL12AE6450199298EE&feature=view_all Goat Dolls], an item in the game that allows a character to survive any attack with partially HP. The best part is, you can keep re-equipping more during combat. Experience can be avoided completely after a certain point in this game due to status effect 'forgetfulness', which causes characters not to gain any experience after a fight ends.