Time Trial Mode is an alternative way of starting a new game, should you want to complete a goal within it as fast as possible. To access this mode, you must be holding Shift and Right after starting a new game and before the intro would appear. Keep holding them until you hear the Effect GET jingle and see "Time Trial MODE" on the screen.
Features
The intro of the game is skipped, starting you right off with Urotsuki getting out of her bed. After one second of in-game time passes, a timer will show on the upper left corner of the screen (although certain events will cause it to change corners, ensuring that it is always visible), & will update every subsequent after. If Urotsuki's PC is turned on, it will inform you that you cannot save in this mode. The computer will also display the state the timer showed when you turned it on, and mention that it does not count the time spent in menus. This is true for the general effect menu as well as the F1 settings menu, while it is not true for some special menus, such as the quick select menu, the menus in Mini-Maze, Horror Maze, Platformer World, Monochrome GB World, and in Jigsaw Puzzle World. Loading times between maps are not counted either.
Routing Implications
Because of what the timer does not count, it will consider certain things to be faster than they would be in a realtime context.
- For any two routes to a world, the route with less tiles but more areas to load will win.
- Since effect changing from the default menu costs no in-game time, strategies employing rapid effect switches are viable.
- Using the favorite effect or the quick select menu to switch effects is always slower (besides one case where it is required).
- You can open any menu that does not tick down the clock for a break, not having to wait for downtime or autoscrollers in the route.
In special areas, the F1 settings menu will suffice.