What is the highest possible score for Crazy Kong?

[Milehighdt]

1.2 million seems to be the score the best DK players are shooting for but what about CK. I'm thinking 700k is doable and maybe higher.

[ChrisP]

700K is possible, but I would doubt even 710K.

Phil T pretty much destroyed the game and got 685K (INP is at MARP). However, he definitely left a few points lying around. His start, in particular, could have been bigger.

I'd say 700K is kinda the equivalent of 1.17M in DK.

[Milehighdt]

yeah Phil did a great job in that game, I was really impressed how he had zero mistakes and about maxed out his points from deaths.

[ChrisP]

I think 700K might even require the upper hammer on the barrel screens, which obviously isn't going to be easy.

[marinomitch13]

Did Phil leech the pie in the oil barrel on every conveyor? How deep into the game does that remain profitable?

[Milehighdt]

Did some more testing last night and 700k is definitely not the max. I now think 720 is with a 120 start, 33 per level, 30k from deaths and 700 from killscreen. That is without using the top hammer. Those numbers will be hard to put together but can be done. My goal is to break 700 and I now know it doesn't have to be a perfect run to achieve it.

Mitch I don't think leeching the oil barrel beyond the first level is profitable, but that could just be me.

[ChrisP]

Wow, 720? Cool!

Somebody should go for it. With the lower "random death" factor, it probably won't take as many trials as even 1M in DK.

It's going to be pretty awesome when the world record is at the point where you HAVE to get the top hammer to beat it! That's going to make some poor bastard so miserable.

[lakeman421]

I kind of thought 700k would be the 1.2 million for CK, but looking at the numbers 720k would make more sense.  So many factors could come into play especially when those rivet screens almost seem impossible.

[Milehighdt]

I'm not sure taking the top hammer would be a good strategy. My reason for taking the top hammer would be the same for taking the lower one, to get rid of the fireball and let me group barrels. Going for the top hammer would not give me a high probability of achieving that goal.

 It is a very hard jump to execute and takes a lot of time to perform. If the fireball reaches the third girder and you move into position for the hammer the fireball can do a number of things.

One it can climb quickly to the left and you would need to abandon the hammer and finish the board (no difference than not trying for it).

Two it can pause on the third girder and give you time to position yourself for the jump. At that point you could grab the hammer if barrel spacing is correct or wait for the fireball to climb. If you grab the hammer and the fireball climbs to the right  it can get above you since the break in the girder gives it safe passage. If it climbs left and gives you the best opportunity to smash it you still have to wait for the right barrel spacing and the time it takes to perform can allow the fireball time to reach the forth girder and burn you. If the pause on the third girder is long enough all benefit is lost.

Three it can climb right and you have to deal with getting by it.

To me the questionable rewards are too small to justify the risk. Taking it earlier may generate more points but not a significant amount and it  takes away grouping time. l know I can't hit it every time and that's enough reason for me to skip it. I would love for someone to to prove me wrong with a strategy that works with the top hammer.

[VON]

I would love for someone to to prove me wrong with a strategy that works with the top hammer.

This would require me playing Crazy Kong, which will never happen.  Regardless, I'll offer my unqualified opinion.

The move to grab the top hammer can be executed with consistency, it just requires near pixel perfect timing.  I feel this difficult timing is the only major obstacle to incorporating the top hammer into Crazy Kong point-pressing.  Barrel spacing and fireball position are elements of the gameplay to which the player must hold themselves accountable.  Grabbing the top hammer and smashing nearly any amount of barrels will generate more points than can be gained by grouping.  Therefore, it is fallacy to theorize a max score without factoring in the points made available by the top hammer. 
 

[ChrisP]

This would require me playing Crazy Kong, which will never happen.

Probably for the best. The last thing I would want to see is a nice kid like you getting caught up in "the life."

[Simpsons99]

Just allmost Kill screen my 3rd Different Verson of Crazy Kong ..    Got to 21-2 *Pie factory*   574,600