Time Mode
Time mode is scored in the following manner:
There are 19 grey checkpoints in the map (the starting square doesn't give points!), so for completing the game on timed mode, you receive 19*10*9 = 1710 from checkpoints alone. To calculate what a theoretically perfect time mode score would be, we can then look at the amount of time you get for each level.
The timer's starting values for each level are, in seconds:
Summing up all these times, we get 360*9 = 3240. A zergling's theoretical perfect run time is 75 seconds, so if we subtract 75 seconds for each level, that gives us 3240 - 75*9 = 2565. We can now obtain the score for a theoretically perfect run (if there were 0 drones whatsoever in your way) by adding the score for checkpoints and the score from time:
Perfect Zergling Score = 1710 + 2565 = 4275.
When it comes to strategizing your time mode speedruns, consider this: 1 second is worth 1 point regardless of the level you are running. However, the difference between a "careful" run and a speedrun increases largely with difficulty of the level. For example, for level 1, I would say the differece between a careful run and a speedrun for me is at most 2 seconds, whereas on level 9 the difference is easily 60 seconds, depending on how careful I really want to be.
Therefore, if you are trying to get the best time mode score possible, I would suggest just getting through the first 6 levels without dying, and then really put all your effort into doing well 7-9, because that's where you can gain or lose the most time (and thus score).
- For every checkpoint you reach, you get 10 points.
- Whenever you complete a level, you are given the number of points equal to the number of seconds remaining on the timer.
There are 19 grey checkpoints in the map (the starting square doesn't give points!), so for completing the game on timed mode, you receive 19*10*9 = 1710 from checkpoints alone. To calculate what a theoretically perfect time mode score would be, we can then look at the amount of time you get for each level.
The timer's starting values for each level are, in seconds:
- 300 (5:00)
- 315 (5:15)
- 330 (5:30)
- 345 (5:45)
- 360 (6:00)
- 375 (6:15)
- 390 (6:30)
- 405 (6:45)
- 420 (7:00)
Summing up all these times, we get 360*9 = 3240. A zergling's theoretical perfect run time is 75 seconds, so if we subtract 75 seconds for each level, that gives us 3240 - 75*9 = 2565. We can now obtain the score for a theoretically perfect run (if there were 0 drones whatsoever in your way) by adding the score for checkpoints and the score from time:
Perfect Zergling Score = 1710 + 2565 = 4275.
When it comes to strategizing your time mode speedruns, consider this: 1 second is worth 1 point regardless of the level you are running. However, the difference between a "careful" run and a speedrun increases largely with difficulty of the level. For example, for level 1, I would say the differece between a careful run and a speedrun for me is at most 2 seconds, whereas on level 9 the difference is easily 60 seconds, depending on how careful I really want to be.
Therefore, if you are trying to get the best time mode score possible, I would suggest just getting through the first 6 levels without dying, and then really put all your effort into doing well 7-9, because that's where you can gain or lose the most time (and thus score).