No save-states, of course. Just a couple of pause breaks to eat, and go to the bathroom. I started from the bottom floor, and made my way to the top, using only one shortcut that the game invariably presents you with regardless of the route you take.
Well, here's to that &*^%$#@! piece of money-sucking arcade:
For the pits you made me fall into,
For the chests that were full of traps,
For the accessories that do nothing (crown and gauntlet),
for the little dragons that escape your attack and spit homing rings of fire,
for the skeletons that endlessly pop out of nowhere and block your slashes and carve you to shreds...

F**K YOU, CAPCOM.