Super Metroid VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers

Source Code of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers

The source code is available on GitHub.

Contact

Discord

You can join the VARIA Randomizer Discord, to contact us, ask for help, paticipate in weekly races, be aware of the latest features in development or beta testing.

GitHub

If you want to contact the developers about any issues or suggestions you may also do so at the GitHub Issues page.

Contributors

Special thanks to:

Djlo: awesome VARIA Randomizer logo and animated location icons
Rand(0): palettes Randomizer
cout: optimizations and refactoring
cassc: various frontend contributions
Prankard and Sirkura: beam door graphics

Thanks to

Web hosting was sponsored in 2019 by the Super Metroid Item Randomizer League. Since then, web hosting is sponsored by generous people donations.

Huge thanks to the people who developed Super Metroid, the previous Super Metroid Randomizers, Super Metroid patches, Metroid Construction, Super Metroid Discords.

Statistics

You can consult statistics on the Randomizer and Solver activity on the statistics page.

You can consult statistics on the influcence of the progression speed parameter for the Randomizer on the progression speed statistics page.

Change Log

2024/08/18

Hello @everyone,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/).

Nothing groundbreaking this time, but a large set of improvements and fixes, that warranted a release.

NOTE: if you're on real console and experience visual glitches in the HUD, disable minimap colors using the available patch in the Customizer (Accessibility section)

New stuff :

Rando
- objectives: added "kill all xxx" objectives where xxx is an enemy type
- objectives: added option to distribute random objectives evenly across categories
- start: Red Tower starting location now opens alpha PB room door
- escape: reduce allotted time depending on preset skill score
- escape: lower room shaking during first half of escape timer
Logic
- generalize reserve tank hell run restriction to hard rooms
- no longer require bombs/PB to access Ice Beam and West Ocean bottom missiles
- add snail clip to get out of aqueduct without bombs
- new techniques :
  - clip through closed Maridia tube with morph (veteran+)
  - grav jump out of opened Maridia tube (veteran+)
  - Watering hole with Gravity+Morph (veteran+)
  - West Sand Hole items with Morph (veteran+)
  - Ice Escape without Ice (expert+)
  - suitless R-Jump to Spring Ball (master)
  - suitless Spring Ball escape with Space Jump (master)
Layout
- add ability to individually select layout patches and VARIA tweaks
- no longer force all layout patches/VARIA tweaks for custom start location (only the necessary ones)
- anti-softlock: change climb supers exit block to shot block
- area layout: change crab hole to be able to traverse it both ways
Solver
- display spoiler log with colors from map areas
- better objectives display in spoiler log
Tracker
- great performance/reactivity improvement
- show potential no comeback locations with '?' overlay
- highlight accessible zones with in-game map colors
ROM
- added instant reset to last save using Start+Select+L+R
- revamped backup save system (now enabled in all seeds) :
  - show backup info when saving
  - ability to lock/unlock saves in load menu. Examples:
    - your current save is in a softlock situation: unlock it before loading a backup save to allow it to be overwritten
    - you don't want to lose a specific backup save: you can lock it to avoid having it overwritten
- show area colors in minimap
- add Better Reserve comfort patch by @Nodever2
- change Fast Doors patch to the one used in practice hack and map rando
- map: added boss letters for portals in boss rando
- map: when map revealed is enabled show unexplored portals in gray
- map: only show actually explorable rooms (removed map rooms in escape rando, absent areas in minimizer)
- tweaked collected items sound effects in no fanfare patch
Web
- revamped GUI for objectives selection
- new GUI for layout patches/VARIA tweaks selection
Customizer
- add grayscale mode: select affected elements like palette rando
- lots of new custom sprites and music tracks!
Bugfixes
- fixed a lot of issues with in-game map :
  - removed garbage tiles that could sometimes appear
  - some area portals sometimes did not show
  - Samus cursor no longer shows in the wrong area when unpausing
  - fixed Nothing items that sometimes weren't "collected" resulting in item dot staying on the map
  - fixed issue with map tile counting that could prevent 100% map/explore area objectives to be completable
  - made visible hidden tile in Green Brinstar Firefleas
  - do not count explored empty tiles (X-Ray climbing, etc.)
  - fixed door icon colors when color blind mode is enabled
- tweaked randomization for objectives to use gaussian and avoid the "complete 3 objectives out of these 15" effect
- solver: no longer rush MB and end with too high difficulty
- tracker: fixed issues in difficulty computation
- plando: fix issues with patches saving/re-apply
2023/07/17

Here is a mini-release with several bugfixes from the recent one, and a graphical change based on user feedback.

The most visible change is a font adjustment. Vanilla font has been brought back for item collection message boxes. The custom font, used for HUD and pause menu, has been replaced with another that is closer to vanilla in style, and we added lowercase letters.

Bugfixes:
- fixed credits regression on race seeds
- fixed issue with objectives reading in auto-tracker
- fixed customizer compatbility issue with older seeds
- use default value for missing parameters when calling randomizer from web service
- added missing Maridia objective in objectives_hard_water preset
- added missing parameters in usage statistics page
2023/07/09

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/).

🪞 You can now play the game horizontally mirrored! This has been made possible by integrating the Super Mirrortroid hack by @BuggMann (https://metroidconstruction.com/hack.php?id=622). In mirror flavor all rooms, including bosses/mini-bosses are mirrored. All VARIA features are available in both vanilla and mirror flavors.

🗒️ The recently introduced objective system has been extended. There is now a distinction between "possible objectives" (the objective list in the seed) and "required objectives" (the actual number of objectives to complete from this list). This allows for more strategic play, by completing objectives that work well together. For this to be interesting, we had to expand the maximum number of objectives (9 max required, 18 max possible). Try it out with the "objectives_bingo" settings preset!

🗺️ The in game map has been enhanced as well, using the awesome Map Overhaul patch by @MFreak as a base. The room connections are visible, as well as major/minor item locations adapted to the seed's item split. Each VARIA area has its own color, consistent across the vanilla area maps. The door colors and area/boss portals are dynamically tracked and shown as map icons. When applicable, objectives are visible on the map.

▶️ Speaking of map, the tracker/plandomizer user interface has been remade by @chrisc! On top of mirror support it features seamless change of map style, smooth resizing, different item trackers, an improved seedless mode etc.

Other new stuff:

rando:
- objectives: new map completion based objectives
- objectives: new "Hidden objectives" option for random objectives: the objective list is hidden until you reach G4 (or equivalent)
- rom: improved objective screen with detailed progress display
- rom: new ending screen showing RTA time, item%, and item collection details
- rom: show RTA timer in the pause menu
- rom: new HUD/message boxes/pause screen font
- rom: restored vanilla Mother Brain cutscenes
- doors: no plasma doors when super fun combat is on
- presets: save/load rando presets to/from disk
- layout: in area rando, removed the platform in green hill zone (reduced the above overhang instead)
logic:
- hellruns: only account for a maximum of (number of ETanks+1) Reserve tanks
- New techniques :
solver/tracker:
- escape path is shown in solver spoiler log
- auto-tracker support for multiworld seeds (thanks @Dorkmaster Flek for the PR)
customizer:
- added a LOT of new sprites and ships
- improved palette randomization of levels, by adapting to human perceived luminance
- option for Hard Mode by @Sirkura, @Devaliah, @Quote and @Phosphodile
- option to add VARIA RTA timer/stats/credits to a vanilla ROM
bugfixes:
- rando: prevented speedrun progression speed from generating seeds above max required difficulty when it was not necessary
- patches: don’t open Ridley door when he’s dead when HUD is on in non-Scavenger seeds
- logic: added missing access to Mickey Mouse missiles from Firefleas (was previously only in logic from LN entrance)
- and more...
2022/11/01

Hello @randomizer,

We've (finally!) released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/). This is a pretty humongous one.

You can now choose the objectives required to trigger the endgame. The endgame itself can be Vanilla Tourian, Fast Tourian, or just trigger the escape sequence. It is of course possible to randomize these settings, and they are fully supported in the Solver/Tracker/Plandomizer as well.

Objective settings are in the Medium or Advanced tab of the Randomizer page. Choose or randomize from 0 to 5 objectives, from a pool of 37 possible goals about bosses, mini-bosses, area/item completion, or memes! Be sure to use the help (?) button of the setting for details.

At any point, objectives status can be checked in the pause screen, along with an item% indicator (useful for item% related objectives). When objectives are not vanilla, the G4 statue sound effect is played when an objective is completed, and a notification is displayed if VARIA HUD is enabled. Objectives and Tourian status are also recalled before starting the game when they are not vanilla.

Special thanks @chrisc for your contributions to the web front-end!
Other new stuff:
rando:
- new door color indicators: some doors that were previously blue now blink to tell you the color of the door on the other side
- area rando: the PB blocks at the entrance of Aqueduct are now bomb blocks to prevent some softlock scenarios
- web: new 'randomize & customize' button to display the generated seed in the customizer
- rolling saves are now enabled in custom start location seeds with vanilla map
- display save locations in the load menu when rolling saves are enabled
- RTA time is shown instead of IGT in the load menu
- triggers for Samus animation at credits end are now 1:30 and 3:00 RTA instead of vanilla 3:00 and 10:00 IGT
- patches: fast doors and fast elevators are now distinct. Samus fast door exit position has been fixed
- patches: option for relaxed round robin crystal flash by @dagit (use any ammo to perform a crystal flash)
solver:
- objective completion is shown in solver spoiler log
- new button to show credits spoiler log
tracker:
- objectives and completion are now displayed in tracker/autotracker
- major/chozo/scavenger locations have a Samus icon on them for easy spotting
- improve responsiveness
customizer:
- accessibility patches:
- many new custom sprites and ships
- randomly choose custom sprites and ships
- challenge options:
- music: individual bosses tracks can now be customized
- music: disabled music-dependent sound effects on customized tracks
- widescreen patch for bsnes-hd by @ocesse_sm
- individual comfort patches can now be reset to vanilla
presets:
- auto load of presets when selected in the list
logic fixes:
- take into account fight ammo for CF exit in suitless Draygon fight
- fixed hell run requirements for Crocomire escape item without supers to pass the gate
- fixed hell run requirements for returning from Speed Booster Missile when unable to open Speed Booster room door
other fixes:
- fixed Lower Norfair HUD item counter in full rando (was off by one)
- fixed slowdown when obtaining Hyper Beam while charging a shot in Fast Tourian
- added vanilla bugfix by @PJBoy for corrupted graphics in Kraid room with fast doors
- added vanilla bugfix by @strotlog for a rare Spring Ball related crash
- probably more...
2021/11/01

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), mainly featuring customizer improvements.
New stuff:
- rando: in Scavenger mode, Ridley is now a scavenger location
- rando: no longer force Full split when generating a minimizer with 100 locations
- plando: enabled plandomizing of Scavenger seeds (write the location list)
- customizer: create/randomize your in-game playlist with available custom SNES music (thanks to @Albert V and other music composers for the hard work! join MMC discord for info on how to create your own)
- customizer: new custom ships available, thanks to a new ship importation tool (see https://github.com/theonlydude/RandomMetroidSolver/blob/master/tools/inject_ship.py to add a new ship)
- customizer: custom ships now show up in end cutscene
- customizer: from a seed permalink, ability to generate a new seed with identical settings
- customizer: ability to import gamepad mapping from a preset
- customizer: added Moonclif sprite by Lougaroc, Zero Mission by Starry Melody
- tracker: added new stream-friendly displays for items and areas
- tracker: show RTA timer when using auto-tracker
- solver: show number of Crystal Flashes used by the logic for LN hellruns
- rom: display real time instead of in-game time before the credits
- rom: race mode improvements for area/boss/door color rando
- rom: show real time instead of in-game time before credits
Fixes:
- presets: fixed moonwalk option storage bug
- logic: enabled going to bowling from top of WS with spring ball and no bombs
- rom: added vanilla Gadora crash fix by @P.JBoy
2021/08/02

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/) featuring a new HUD and an auto tracker!

The HUD is used in two brand new majors split :
- Full Countdown: Randomize like Full and display in the HUD the number of remaining unique upgrades (everything but energy and ammo) in the current area.
- Scavenger (thanks to @Slappy for the idea!): you must visit a given number of locations in a mandatory order in a scavenger hunt, and collect items there. The scavenger locations are the 16 locations where a unique upgrade is in the vanilla game. The HUD shows the next location in the hunt (whole route available in the pause menu). You can choose how many locations will be in the hunt (between 4-16, defaut is 10), whether the items in the hunt locations will be vanilla (default), or whether the escape is immediately triggered when the hunt is over (by default, you still have to beat G4 and go through Tourian after the hunt is over). The remaining unique upgrades will be randomized between the remaining scavenger locations.
The HUD also enables the usage of Major/Chozo split with random start location (some locations are changed, so the HUD is used to know how many Major/Chozo items are left in the current area). It can also be used as a standalone comfort patch. The area names in the HUD are the ones used by the area randomizer, so mind that Crocomire and Kraid’s Lair are their own areas for example. You can play around with the options and/or try out the new settings presets starting with ‘hud_’ or ‘scavenger_’ to enjoy the new modes!

Also featuring the VARIA Auto-Tracker to automatically track Area/Boss transitions, collected Items and Door colors as you play the seed, as long as you play on a platform compatible with QUsb2Snes.

Other new stuff:
- tracker: highlight accessible rooms on the map
- tracker: reset door colors when clicking on items bin
- solver: removed minimal pickup strategy, only any% and 100% now
- rando: slight credits rework
- rando: new ‘nothing’ item PLM to avoid having an extra missile pack in some cases
- rando: detect headered ROM and automatically remove the header
- rando: always load ‘default’ setting preset before loading a settings preset
- rando: tips are now always displayed on top of the page
- customizer: new sprites: Enby Samus by @Glove, Shaktool Jr by @Pneumatic
- customizer: more custom items names for sprites by @Avatar: Sprite Can, Link, Megaman, Win95, Mario/Luigi
- customizer: new custom sprites/ships will now be added independently from main releases
- customizer: option to restore vanilla music
- customizer: display non default parameters in bold for permalinks
- logic: some adjustments/fixes
- preset: preset modification are no longer lost when you enter a wrong password
- preset: new basic technique enabled in all presets: Unequip items with explaining video
2021/02/21

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), a small release before randomizer league Season 3 starts.
New stuff:
- tracker: the whole map now fits the screen, no more scrolling required
- presets: added presets for rando league season 3
- customizer: option to have vanilla Screw Attack graphics on sprites (disabled by default, enabled on race seeds to enforce a rando league rule)
- customizer: new custom sprites: Trans Colors (by TarThoron), Metroid (by Fingersmcgee), Captain Novolin (by PaddyCo), Shaktool (by Pneumatic), Combat Armor (by Munchy, ripped by TarThoron)
- rando: Suits properties can now be randomized
New small stuff:
- rando: use the Solver order to display the items/locations in the credits for speedrun progression speed
- logic: added more possibilities for morphless navigation in Upper Norfair
- rando: Save the animals surprise: remove bomb blocks at Alcatraz
- plando: check that the base seed has been generated with the current release in production
- plando: the base seed is now stored in the browser local storage
2020/12/09

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), just a small release focused on doors colors randomization before we get lost in Night City.
New stuff:
- doors: red doors can now only be opened with Missiles
- doors: Spazer and Plasma doors can now be opened with one of the two equipped if you collected both
- doors/area: hardlock protection with an automatic rotation and backup of the saves
- tracker: race protected seed can now track colored doors
- plando: select items which won't be added by the randomizer
- plando: in minimizer Zebetites no longer require Morph Ball (allowing Morphless minimizer plandos)
- customizer: new sprite Diddy Kong (thanks @Di10)
- logic: add High Jump and Spring ball jump to pass Forgotten Highway (thanks @rand(0)
- logic: access Wave rooms by entering from the lower door
- preset: new technique to climb up Double Chamber without items
- preset: SMRAT2020 has been renamed to SMRAT2021
- tracker: boss locations now display the boss in the location item
Bug fix:
- area: Main Street save station was sometimes inactive
- credit: fix final items percentage when nothing items were present and start was random
- doors: fix bug with Missile@Cathedral location when you couldn't comeback to Bubble Mountain

2020/11/12

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), featuring doors colors randomization with additional beams doors in the mix! Of course it is also available for your plandos. Thanks to @prankard for beam doors graphics and @Sirkura for her help in the original beam doors patch gfx integration!

rando: doors colors randomization with beams doors. The fill algorithm will be more trolly about ammo/beam if you use slower progression speed
plandository: new channel #plandository in VARIA discord displaying plando added to the plandository
customizer: new ships: Opposition hack ship and Mario/Luigi ship (thanks @mccad00!)
customizer: new Samus Fusion and Opposition custom sprites (thanks @Gala and @mccad00!)
preset: new technique to Gravity jump Mt Everest without Hi-Jump
solver: add a 500ms delay before displaying room/area popup thumbnails
plandository: filters by preset/rating
web: docker images and script to locally run the web site
minimizer: add health refill after MB2 death in fast Tourian

2020/09/16

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), featuring the new Boss rush minimizer! Try it out with the 'minimizer' settings preset!
New stuff:
- rando: Create a 'boss rush' seed with a minimal layout by only connecting together enough areas to match the given number of locations (from 30 to 100, default 45). Boss and Area transitions are mixed together, Gadoras are removed, and you can exit boss fights at any point.
- rando: In 'boss rush' you can also speed up Tourian (on by default), to skip Metroids, Zebetites, and all cutscenes (including Mother Brain 3 fight).
- area: Light Area Randomization option: we keep the same number of transitions between areas as in vanilla. For example, Crateria will always have two transitions to Green Brinstar, one to Red Brinstar, one to Wrecked Ship and one to Tourian.
New minor stuff:
- area: new save stations in West Maridia (it was the only area without any)
- customizer: option to restore vanilla behaviour for fanfare and fast doors/elevators transitions
- customizer: five custom ships are available (made by Red-M0nk3y)
- customizer: custom item's names in pickup message box for some custom sprites
- layout: bomb block replaced with a shot block at Mission Impossible room
- logic: added missing energy requirement for Draygon Grapple/Spark kill
- logic: added new techniques for 'low%' mini-boss fights
- preset: new technique for various Maridia wall jumps that were previously implicitly in logic. Enabled by default for all presets except newbie.
- preset: new technique to access items in West Sand Hole (aka Left Sand Pit) with just Hi-Jump
- preset: new technique: Precious Room Gravity Jump exit
- core: significant performance boost, thanks to a bunch of optimizations initiated by @cout
2020/07/02

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), featuring new areas, an algorithm update, and other cool stuff!
New stuff:
- area: in area rando, Croc is now in its own area, and Maridia has been split in two
- rando: new progression speed available, "speedrun" using the random fill algorithm
- rando: other progression speeds have been modified as well for better balance between them
- rando: new "ultra sparse" energy quantity setting. Max 0-1 tank, Mother Brain's rainbow beam damage has been nerfed (20 with Varia, 40 with Gravity/Suitless)
- web: upload your vanilla ROM only once and it'll stay in your session
- web: get a permalink for generated seeds for easier sharing
- solver: separated difficulty info for path and location
- tracker: seedless user interface update. Now you can just click on the inventory instead of collecting locations (very handy for quick logic tests)
- rom: VARIA logo and version on the title screen!
- rom: new comfort patches available, Infinite Space Jump and Refill when saving
- customizer: new custom sprites, Link (by RonnSama) and Sprite (by TarThoron). Also by TarThoron, an awesome Dark Samus recolor, as well as a bunch of meme "Samus is rotated" sprites!
- techniques: added suitess Spring Ball access with Flatley Jump and Insane WRITG Wall Jump
- layout: Kraid save softlock protection
- presets: renamed "noob" to "newbie", "speedrunner" to "expert"
2020/04/13

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), introducting the new and shiny Plandository (https://varia.run/plandorepo) to easily share plandos with the community. So if you have any plandos lying around, upload them there NOW!
New stuff:
- rando: new starting locations: Mama Turtle, Aqueduct, Lower Norfair Firefleas. Thanks total for the evil ideas!
- plando: Plandository to store community plandos and VARIA weekly races seeds/plandos
- escape: escape randomization can now be used without Area Randomization
- escape: Animals Challenges in randomized escape. Find the hidden animals, or/and cycle through possible escapes by going to vanilla animals!
- preset: new techniques Crystal Flash Clip (suited and suitless variants), Firefleas Wall Jump, Dodge Lower Norfair Enemies
- patches: background music randomization option, aka Super Metroid Jukebox
- customizer: NES Super Mario Bros custom sprites by TarThoron
- credits: display resets/deaths count, much more accurate RTA timer resistant to resets or power cycles
New minor stuff:
- area: area transition doors are now blinking to help newer players to see that they are portals
- area: new softlock protection in Wrecked ship
- patches: max ammo display is no longer corrupted when Supers or PowerBombs total is more than 100
- rando: fix checksum of randomized ROMs
- rando: when settings are randomizable, you can now select the possible values to randomize from
- customizer: no comfort patch on race seeds. VARIA base patches available
- stats: Progression Speeds comparison statistics (https://varia.run/progSpeedStats), how they influence progression items placement over the run
- tools: added a command line webservice client to remotely generate seeds
- doc: command line usage of rando and solver is now documented in README.md on GitHub
2020/02/10

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/).

Now you can start your seeds from somewhere else than Landing Site (or Ceres). Choose a start location, or randomize it! Click on the attached screenshot to check out the start locations list (note: Red Brinstar Elevator and Golden Four are only available in Area rando).

Thanks to folks in the VARIA Randomizer discord (https://discord.varia.run/) and #data-dev channel in SMZ3 discord for some of the starting locations ideas!
Important notes:
In area rando, the Key Hunter Room bottom door (vanilla door to Red Brinstar Elevator) and the vanilla door to G4 are now blue, since Crateria is no longer necessarily the start area.

Early morph setting had to be modified to accomodate this new feature, and this has some significant consequences on standard start seeds with Early morph (like all tournament presets, so read carefully):
- Speed or Screw attack can now be in Blue Brinstar even with Early Morph enabled
- For skill presets who don't know the Blue Brinstar Ceiling D-Boost tech, such as newbie and SMRAT2020, Morph ball will always be vanilla
Other new stuff:
- new technique to acces Spring Ball with Gravity+Grapple+HiJump: enabled by default in all presets except newbie and SMRAT2020
- new rando preset: 'where_am_i', area rando with random start location
- new rando preset: 'suprise', randomize a few significant settings (like quite_random), also randomizes start location, and whether the seed will be area/boss rando
- various bugfixes on Super Fun seed generation
2020/01/12

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/)

New stuff:
- rando: new option (enabled by default) to randomize escape sequence in Area Rando. 5 Tourian exit points possible, the vanilla one and outside map stations in Brinstar/Maridia/Wrecked Ship/Norfair
- plando: customize escape sequence Tourian exit point and timer value in Area Plandos
- rando: added optional Progressive Suits patch from DASH randomizer
- rando: added optional custom Nerfed Charge available from the start
- logic: take into account Nerfed Charge/Progressive suits if they're enabled
- rando preset: new 'haste' preset inspired by the DASH randomizer with Nerfed Charge and Progressive Suits
- rando: allows area/boss to be randomly set for mystery seeds, and removed giveaway letters in seed file name
- solver: update spoiler path with items and bosses icons instead of text
- solver: display location/area/subarea picture when hovering over its name in the spoiler
- tracker/plando: allow removal of a selected transition instead of the last one
- plando: add option to hide placed items
- customizer: added phazon hack and Luigi sprites
New minor stuff/fixes:
- core: python 2.7 to 3.7 migration, 20% speed increase
- rando: reorganise patches display
- preset: display bosses sprites
- tracker: set bosses portals to red
- tracker: display access point name in the GPS tooltip
- plando: recompute sequence break locations after placing an item to display its difficulty if it's now available
- rom: fix rounding error in credits %
- preset: renamed smrat to SMRAT2020
2019/12/02

Hello @randomizer,

A small release for the Randomizer league season 2 playoffs (https://varia.run/)

New stuff:
- presets: new league playoff presets
- customizer: custom sprites from various hacks
Bugfixes:
- multiple small bugfixes
2019/11/17

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/)

New stuff:
- statistics: display techniques used
- statistics: display difficulty histogram
- boss rando: Ridley additional platform is gone, teleport Samus in front of Ridley instead
- boss rando: add Cacatac Alley as possible logical Draygon door access if she's already dead
- customizer: add Alucard custom sprite
- layout: Spore Spawn save station is now available without morph or bomb
- layout: additional soft lock protection in Early Supers Room if you fall in the 2nd pit
- preset: display Lower Norfair Hellruns Energy/Crystal Flash requirements
- preset: new technique for Bubble Moutain wall jump (enabled by default in all presets except newbie)
- preset: new technique: access Billy Mays Room without Gravity or Space Jump (enabled by default in all presets except newbie)
Bugfixes:
- rando: fixed some bugs in Chozo 2nd phase fill up
- logic: added missing Energy requirement for Plasma Pirates with Charge and Botwoon to Draygon with ice (Mochtroid damage)
- web: session cookies are now kept between client browser restart
- rando: selecting a settings preset no longer reload the whole web page
- solver: fixed wrong required energy report for Lower Norfair hellruns
2019/09/19

Hello @randomizer,

A small release for the season 2 of Randomizer league.

New stuff:
- preset: display the Hard rooms and Hellruns energy requirements
- preset: new technique, Spring Ball access with Gravity jump
- preset: new technique, Botwoon to Draygon with Ice
- customizer: new Contra custom sprite by Nintoaster
- settings preset: changed hardway2hell randomizer preset to generate more evil suitless seeds (can be even harder than stupid_hard for those interested in this kind of seed)
Bugfixes:
- logic: small fixes to suitless logic
- randomizer: fix bug with Super Fun provider and Lower Norfair Hellruns
- customizer: fix palette randomization with custom sprites
2019/08/25

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver, Tracker, Plandomizer and Customizer (https://varia.run/), dubbed "MegaSamus X"!

You can now change Samus sprites in the customizer. All the sprite sheets created so far with SpriteSomething (https://github.com/Artheau/SpriteSomething/releases) have been integrated, for instance Megaman X!

Another cool new feature is the ability to use the Randomizer to complete your plando. This allows for fun stuff like creating your own custom map (you don't like Wrecked Ship? don't include it) for your seeds, or generate a seed after placing Varia at Ridley for example.

Note: to remove the bloat of the randomizer page, color randomization is now only available on the customizer page, don't worry it has not gone away!

Full changelog below.
New stuff:
- plandomizer: you can now use the VARIA Randomizer to complete your plando
- plandomizer: you can load the items and transitions of your base seed
- plandomizer: the item selection popup now display the items with icons
- customizer: you can now replace Samus sprite with custom ones
- randomizer: usefull tips are now displayed during randomization
- randomizer: new link "what's in the logic" next to the preset to display the techniques available for the Randomizer
- stats: the total percentage for each item is now displayed at the end (for Randomizer presets with Super Fun enabled)
Bugfixes:
- solver: handle utf8 ROM filenames
- randomizer: fixed bug on super fun movement that did not remove space jump when VARIA tweaks were disabled
- randomizer: fix no comeback bug for bosses that created some failed area rando seeds
- logic: fixed ancient endgame condition bugs
2019/07/08

Hello @randomizer,

We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers (https://varia.run/).
New stuff:
- stats: new page with statistics for the standard skill presets and randomizer presets (up to 100000 seeds in the stats for tournament ones)
- preset: added separated technique for XRay Ice Climb w/o Hi-Jump, now disabled in newbie and casual presets
- rando: Phantoon save station is now active before killing Phantoon when using area/boss randomization
- rando: new optional Speedkeep patch to keep momentum after landing
- rando: the number of uncharged shots are now displayed in the credits statistics
- rando: headered ROMs are now detected and an error message displayed
- rando: the heads at Morph Ball location are now activated with every items (like the yellow camera)
- layout: new platform in Acid Statue Room when VARIA tweaks patch is enabled
- solver: the number of ETanks/Reserves used are now displayed
- tracker: in seed-less mode the vanilla area transitions are now added by default
Bug fix:
- rando: fixed strict minors option (was not really accurate with low% minors)
- rando: fixed pregression spoiler in the credits where items were out of order sometimes
- plando: the lock button works now
2019/03/24

Hello @randomizer,

A big VARIA update and a domain name (https://varia.run/) for its first birthday!

Chozo split, G4 randomization and color randomization are now available in the rando. You can also apply color randomization or other patches on existing seeds using the new customizer. If you think slowest progression is not trolly enough, use your imagination in the new plandomizer! Also, the item tracker can now work without a seed.
New stuff :
- randomizer: new majors/minors split: Chozo: Put all the required items to finish the seed in the Chozo statues locations.
- randomizer: G4 boss doors can be randomized.
- randomizer: palette randomizer to change the colors in game.
- randomizer: credits now show the 'intended' progression items.
- tracker: unified areas/items tracker (only the locations in the connected areas are computed).
- tracker: seedless mode to use the tracker from a tablet.
- plandomizer: graphical interactive areas/items plando editor.
- settings: suits restrictions is now 'no suits in crateria/blue brinstar' for both suits (some restictions on gravity were removed)
- customizer: add palette randomization or other patches to an existing ROM.
- preset: new technique: Ice escape.
- preset: new technique: Screw Attack exit without Screw.
- preset: new technique: frog speedway without speed.
- preset: new technique: double spring ball jump.
- patches: updated anti-softlock patches, now you can get out of brinstar map room without bombs.
- web: the VARIA website is now on https://varia.run/
- web: the VARIA beta website is available at https://beta.varia.run/ (updated everynight from GitHub)
- discord: you can join the VARIA discord server on VARIA Randomizer Discord
2018/12/17

Hello @randomizer,
We've released an intermediate version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/).
New stuff:
- randomizer: New progression speed: VARIAble; it randomly switches the progression speed after each progression item placed
- randomizer: When randomizing the progression speed you can choose which progression speeds are available for randomization
- preset: New technique: Puyo Clip with X-Ray
- preset: Lower Norfair hellrun is now activated in the speedrunner preset
- randomizer: new preset highway2hell: favors suitless seeds
- randomizer: new preset quite random: randomizes a few significant settings to have various seeds
2018/12/03

Hello @randomizer,
We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Teenage Mutant Mama Turtle".
New stuff:
- preset: New technique: Mama Turtle Etank with High Jump (thanks rand(0))
- preset: New technique: 1 Etank/1 Power Bomb pack/Speed Booster access to Gauntlet minors (thanks rand(0))
- preset: New technique: Reverse Crocomire speedway
- preset: Moonwalk can now be stored in the Controller preset
- home: Display a link to the Randomizer League
- logic: Right sand pit Power Bombs in suitless level 3 can now be accessed with a Spring Ball jump (thanks rand(0))
- randomizer: fix case when Late Morph and Suits restrictions are both enabled
Bug fix:
- logic: fix Etank requirement to exit Crateria Super Missile
- logic: fix Forgotten Highway Traversal when suitless
- logic: fix Mother Brain Energy requirements when suitless
- logic: various bug fixes affecting low% / super fun seeds
2018/10/31

Hello @randomizer,
We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Bite my shiny metal ass".
New stuff:
- randomizer: spread items parameter is gone and has been merged with progression speed
- randomizer: the first available minors are displayed in the credits
- item tracker: available locations sprite is now a shiny GIF for easier spotting
2018/10/21

Hello @randomizer,
We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Race to Twitch Mountain".
New stuff:
- randomizer: race mode to obfuscate item data in the seed and prevent the seed from being solved on the VARIA website until a certain customizable delay has passed
- randomizer: Randomizer presets are now available, they contain example Randomizer settings, and the settings for upcoming rando league
- randomizer: reworked Super Fun Times (TM) settings. Now:
  - Combat will always remove Plasma and Screw Attack if possible, and randomly others
  - Movement will always remove Space Jump, and randomly others
  - Suitless will remove at least one suit if the preset allows it
- new techniques: Norfair Reserve DBoost, Crocomire Power Bomb: DBoost or Ice, Wall Jump Cathedral Exit
- item tracker: the collected items are displayed like in the inventory menu
- item tracker: sequence breaking is now supported
2018/10/01

Hello @randomizer,
We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer and Solver (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Dude, Where's My Next Location?".
New stuff:
- item tracker: an interactive Item Tracker is now available, it uses the Solver in interactive mode to show the next available locations on the map
- logo: new awesome VARIA Randomizer logo, used on the home page of the web site
- preset: nova boost technique is now available (enabled in speedrunner and master presets), it could be required to solve some Total Hard seeds
2018/09/28

Hello @randomizer,
We've released an intermediate version of the VARIA Randomizer and Solver (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Track Me If You Can".
New stuff:
- tracker: an area tracker is now available, it allows you to graphically link the portals between areas
- cache: new internal caching system, 25% performance gain on Randomizer and Solver
Bug fix:
- locs: fix various small bugs thanks to the new cache
2018/09/09

Hello @randomizer,
We've released an intermediate version of the VARIA Randomizer and Solver (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Lord of Stats".
New stuff:
- presets: better separation of standard/community presets
- presets: presets list is now more user-friendly with the addition of a search bar
- presets: added a skill level bar and some stats about the preset
- rando: added time spent in pause menu in the credits stats
- solver: auto detect the preset when solving a VARIA seed
Bug fix:
- presets: fixed bug in the new presets preventing suitless Maridia in generated seeds
- rando: fixed the bomb counter in the credits stats (PB no longer count as bomb)
- rando: fixed SBA counter in the credits stats (a bug made it increase wildly in certain conditions) in the credits stats
- locs: fixed some locations access functions
2018/08/23

Hello @randomizer,
We've released an intermediate version of the VARIA Randomizer and Solver (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Easy Ridley".
New stuff:
- rando: Now max difficulty can be upped automatically if only boss fights prevent seed generation.
- stats: new page with statistics on the Randomizer and Solver usage (accessible from the Information & Contact page).
- solver: added an item list before the spoiler, clicking on an item with highlight it in the spoiler.
- solver: simple/advanced tabs with the "items not picked up" in the advanced tab.
2018/08/09

Hello @randomizer,
We've released an intermediate version of the VARIA Randomizer (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Finding Kraid".
New stuff:
- area: Kraid warehouse is now an independant area. That means there are now 4 portals leading to Norfair and...you have to find Kraid!
- presets: added a bunch of techniques to access Spring Ball location.
- rando: new option to match the requested quantities of minors instead of using probabilities.
- rando: new option for Morph placement: late, prevents Morph to be found in early game (Crateria/Blue Brinstar). Mostly relevant for area mode, to find morph in peculiar places.
- rando: new progression speed: basic, mimics Dessyreqt and Total Normal/Casual algorithm, for those who don't like getting trolled too much ;)
- rando: new optional patch: No music, disables background music while playing.
- rando: max ammo display and msu1 patchs are now compatibles and added by default. No worries if you don't have SD2SNES/MSU1 chip it falls back to vanilla music.
Bug fix:
- solver: the pickup strategies any/minimal were collecting too many minors
2018/08/02

Hello @randomizer,
We've released an intermediate version of the VARIA Randomizer (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "Way of the Snail".
New stuff:
- preset: New technique, Snail Clip, to reach minors in Aqueduct without Speed Booster
- rando: When the Randomizer fails to generate a seed it displays an explicit message with the cause and how to fix it
- rando: Most parameters of the Randomizer can now be individually randomized
- rando: Like in Dessy's randomizer you can now randomly hide half of the items
- rando: The number of available Etank/Reserve is computed with a gaussian instead of a fixed number
- solver: When the Solver can't finish a seed with a given preset it displays which technique(s) to learn to be able to progress in the seed
- solver: Display the remaining/inaccessible major locations in the spoiler
2018/07/18

Hello @randomizer,
We've released an intermediate version of the VARIA Randomizer (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) dubbed "web site redesign in progress".
New stuff:
- web rando: simple/medium/advanced mode for the randomizer
- web preset: new page to manage the presets, the techniques are now grouped in tabs, gamepad mapping in the preset
- new optional (activated by default) VARIA tweaks patch:
  - Bomb Torizo fight is triggered when picking up the item he's holding
  - Access item at Wrecked Ship Etank location without killing Phantoon (via Forgotten Highway)
  - Activate Lower Norfair Chozo (left of entrance) without Space Jump
- rando: the percentage at the end is now based on the available items, not the 100 vanilla ones
- area: magic "ship like" refill when entering Tourian (most of the time the ship is not on the way to Tourian)
- new optional (activated by default in area) area patch for easier navigation: Remove Crab green gate in Marida and blue gate in Green Brinstar, add new platform in Green Hill Zone to access transition door.
- solver: the path of access points between locations is now displayed
2018/06/27

Hello @randomizer !
We've relased the new version of the VARIA Randomizer, dubbed "feeling lost in Zebes again".
New stuff:
- Area randomization official release (randomization of the access points between the main Zebes areas)
- Solver: More human-like pathing
- Rando: The maximum difficulty is now set to hardcore by default (no difficulty cap was the previous default)
- Rando: The eye at Morph Ball will now open for any item, not only Morph Ball
- Presets: Updated all built-in presets for better balance between them. Added casual and master presets.
- Presets: Added new, harder settings for X-Ray room
- Presets: Short charge is now for 3 taps or stutter 3 (thanks @ponk !). Enabled by default only in speedrunner and master presets.
Bugfixes:
- Area Rando: The scrolling sky background bug has been fixed (thanks to Smiley from metconst!)
- Area Rando: The music will correctly change when entering a new area
- Area Rando: Unmorphing while passing a transition door no longer crash the game
- Lot of bugs corrected in the access condition of the items locations
For the next big release we'll do a complete redesign of the website to make it more user friendly.
If you have some feature requests for the next release, you can create create them on github and we'll see what we can do.
2018/05/01

Hello @randomizer,
We've released a new version of the VARIA Randomizer dubbed "Randomize the Randomizer":
- New options to randomize the parameters used by the Randomizer
- The parameters used are now displayed in the credits
- As we had for Bosses and Hellruns, we now have difficulties for hard rooms: X-Ray and Gauntlet, so we've removed a few techniques for these rooms
- Now there's techniques for better settings of Gravity-less movement underwater
- New Randomizer's parameter to influence choice of the next location based on its difficulty
As a result don't forget to update your presets before using the Randomizer.
2018/04/21

Hi @randomizer!
We updated the VARIA (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/) to fix two issues:
- 1) The "too much spospo" bug. Now, the probability you would have to fight it is ~30% in slowest/slow, ~5% in medium, and ~0% in fast/fastest. All in all if you choose a random speed, there is a 1/7 chance to have to do the fight.
- 2) When "start at Ceres" was selected instead of "start at landing site", the stats counters in the credits were wrong and glitched out. It is now fixed, thanks @andrew (original credits/stats patch author), Smiley and PJBoy from metconst for their help, this was a tricky one to fix.
Enjoy!
2018/04/14

Hello,
We've made a new release for the VARIA Randomizer (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/randomizer):
- the layout patches are now optional (for EasyDanger)
- the save the animals suprise patches are now available (for andrew)
- there's now a tutorial and contextual help to explain the parameters of the Randomizer and Solver in greater details
- the randomized ROMs are now generated a lot faster (between x2 and x3 gain)
2018/04/09

Hi @randomizer !
We made an update to the VARIA randomizer and solver ( https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/ ). Not much in terms of new features, but lots of work behind the scenes:
- stabilized and improved randomizer algorithm: now it can be trolly with minor items as well (especially in slow/slowest speeds), be sure to try it! ;)
- fixed logic bugs affecting both rando and solver
- fixed Normal/Hard Total ROM patch set mapping for solver
This is an intermediate release, there's more in the works, namely: drastic performance improvements, a tutorial for the website explaining the plethora of settings and other surprises!
2018/03/16

Hello @randomizer !
We updated the VARIA (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/randomizer). Among the obligatory bugfixes, the following new features are available:
- Skip intro/start at Ceres option, as suggested by @Di10 and @BlackEliteJohn
- Added optional patch to speed up doors and elevators transitions
- Added a Super Fun Times feature for those who like the feeling of Dessy rando masochist seeds
- Ability to have a random progression speed instead of choosing one
2018/03/13

@randomizer Hello,
Using the presets (for each technique you can say if you know it and your perceived difficulty for it) from the solver we've made a new randomizer: the VARIA randomizer (Very Adaptive Randomizer of Items for Anyone)
It can be found here: https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/randomizer
Its features:
- generate a randomized ROM which can be finished using the techniques of the given preset
- can limit the max difficulty for reaching a location
- can choose the probability of each minors and the percentage of minors available
- can choose the quantity of Energy/Reserve Tanks
- can do a full randomization of the majors
- can influence how fast the randomizer places the progression items
- can spread the progression items in all areas with maximum distance between them
- several optional patches are available:
  - allow the aim buttons to be assign to any button
  - remove fanfare when picking up an item
  - allow Samus to start spinning in mid air after jumping or falling
  - play the music with MSU1 chip on SD2SNES
2018/01/30

Hello,
We've added a few things to the randomized roms solver (https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/):
- display the number of techniques used to solve the rom
- in the spoiler display the techniques used for each location
- for each techniques display the rooms where it's used with links to the wiki
- update the CSS of the website
2018/01/22

Hello,
With a friend we've developed a solver for the randomized Super Metroid roms: https://randommetroidsolver.pythonanywhere.com/
Tell it what you know (and how hard you find particular tricks), and it'll tell you if you can finish your seed, and how hard it will be, without spoiling the seed.
It's useful for people who hasn't yet mastered all the Super Metroid tricks required by the randomizers.
Features:
- works with randomized roms from Dessyreqt randomizer and (Total, Foosda, Leodox) randomizer
- somewhat realistic navigation algorithm
- pretty much all tricks and difficult rooms/areas have their setting, with video explanation when we found one, so you can actually learn the tricks if you want
- website front end
- save/load your presets on the website without having to create an account
- boss difficulty is estimated as well
- hell runs are taken into account in navigation

Source Code of the VARIA Randomizer, Solver and Trackers

Contact

Discord

GitHub

Contributors

Thanks to

Statistics

Change Log

2024/08/18

New stuff :

Rando

Logic

Layout

Solver

Tracker

ROM

Web

Customizer

Bugfixes

2023/07/17

2023/07/09

rando:

logic:

solver/tracker:

customizer:

bugfixes:

2022/11/01

rando:

solver:

tracker:

customizer:

presets:

logic fixes:

other fixes:

2021/11/01

2021/08/02

2021/02/21

2020/12/09

2020/11/12

2020/09/16

2020/07/02

2020/04/13

2020/02/10

2020/01/12

2019/12/02

2019/11/17

2019/09/19

2019/08/25

2019/07/08

2019/03/24

2018/12/17

2018/12/03

2018/10/31

2018/10/21

2018/10/01

2018/09/28

2018/09/09

2018/08/23

2018/08/09

2018/08/02

2018/07/18

2018/06/27

2018/05/01

2018/04/21

2018/04/14

2018/04/09

2018/03/16

2018/03/13

2018/01/30

2018/01/22