Pause Buffer and Low Eco: Difference between pages

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[[File:Pause Buffer.gif|frame|Performing a pause buffer on Geyser Rock.]]
'''Low eco''' is a speedrun category in [[Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy]] that restricts the player to using the lowest possible amount of eco needed to completed the game.  
A '''pause buffer''' occurs when a player presses ''L2/R2'' and ''Start'' at the same time. The start menu tries to open, but gets delayed for 2.5 seconds by the heads up display (HUD). During these 2.5 seconds, the player is able to move around freely collecting precursor orbs and scout flies, but is unable to interact with any usable objects due to the game believing it is in a paused state. Jak cannot collect power cells during a pause buffer. At the end of the 2.5 seconds, the game will finally display the start menu and everything returns to normal once the player unpauses. A pause buffer can be ended early by triggering the "Press O to ..." prompt near usable objects or non-playable characters, or by zooming into Jak's goggles. This immediately removes the heads up display and forces the start menu to display.


You will know when you have successfully performed a pause buffer when the HUD does not display the numeric health counter or green eco particle effect.
[[Lava Tube Skip]] is banned in Low Eco. If it wasn't, Low Eco would be a slower and more boring version of [[Any%]]. The point of the category is to see how the runners manage to complete various tasks without the use of eco.


== Applications ==
== Rules ==
Pause buffers are utilized primarily in [[Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy]] to perform [[Blue Sage Cutscene Skip]], [[Red Sage Cutscene Skip]], and [[Citadel Skip]]. Pause buffers can also be performed in Jak II but have no applicable use.  
The [https://www.speedrun.com/jak1ext?h=Low_Eco-Lowest&rules=category&x=jdzr18r2-38dmz3z8.z19nmr8q currently listed rules] for Low Eco are as follows:


== Technical ==
''Beat the game as fast as possible while collecting as few eco pickups as possible.''
[[File:Pause Buffer Ignoring Power Cell.PNG|thumb|Jak unable to collect a [[Power Cell]] during a pause buffer.]]
By pressing '''L2/R2''' and '''Start''' at the same time, the game will execute two commands at the same time. It will bring up the heads up display (HUD) and then the pause menu right after. When doing this, the game believes that it is paused while the HUD is displayed. This allows Jak to walk around for 2.5 seconds (the length of time the HUD is displayed) while the game is in a paused state. When in a paused state, Jak is unable to collect power cells that are not tied to an in-game event. Jak is still able to collect precursor orbs and scoutflies, but the counters will not go up as long as the pause state is active.


When the "Press O to ..." prompt appears, it removes the HUD which causes the queued pause menu to activate. This is because the prompt, along with a few other things, utilizes a function that force dismisses the HUD elements. Another example would be the mirrors in [[Forbidden Jungle]].
''Currently, the only eco required to beat the game are the 8 on final boss (3 blue for launchers and 5 yellow. Green eco on the second phase must be avoided).''


== Discovery ==
''If eco is accidentally collected, you may load a save file to a previous state in the game, or immediately die to return to a previous checkpoint. Otherwise, you must reset.''
 
''No restrictions with the exception of Lava Tube Skip, which is banned.''

Revision as of 17:24, 15 February 2024

Low eco is a speedrun category in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy that restricts the player to using the lowest possible amount of eco needed to completed the game.

Lava Tube Skip is banned in Low Eco. If it wasn't, Low Eco would be a slower and more boring version of Any%. The point of the category is to see how the runners manage to complete various tasks without the use of eco.

Rules

The currently listed rules for Low Eco are as follows:

Beat the game as fast as possible while collecting as few eco pickups as possible.

Currently, the only eco required to beat the game are the 8 on final boss (3 blue for launchers and 5 yellow. Green eco on the second phase must be avoided).

If eco is accidentally collected, you may load a save file to a previous state in the game, or immediately die to return to a previous checkpoint. Otherwise, you must reset.

No restrictions with the exception of Lava Tube Skip, which is banned.