Speedrunning, the practice of completing a video game as fast as possible, has created a competitive and innovative community, especially around classic games like "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (OOT). Recently, a novel speedrunning technique involving a Wii U GamePad and a simple rubber band has emerged, potentially changing the game's speedrunning landscape.
"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" is a cornerstone of gaming, renowned for its depth and complexity. Even decades after its original release on the Nintendo 64, the game continues to attract a dedicated community of speedrunners. These players push the boundaries of what is possible in the game, utilizing deep knowledge of the game’s mechanics and exploiting glitches or bugs to speed up completion.
Historically, the most preferred means for speedrunning OOT has been on Nintendo's Wii's Virtual Console due to a bug in its N64 emulation, which proved advantageous in executing game-breaking glitches faster. Speedrunners use techniques like Stale Reference Manipulation (SRM), specifically the Lightnode SRM, which allows them to manipulate the game's code and memory through precise actions and inputs. This manipulation short-circuits the normal game sequence, triggering the final credits much sooner than through typical gameplay.
The latest discovery in this high-stakes speedrunning world involves using the Wii U version of the Virtual Console and incorporates a unique appliance of the Wii U GamePad. A speedrunner known as MrCheeze has identified a specific filename that, when used in the game’s save file, takes advantage of the Wii U’s enhanced framerate to potentially shave crucial seconds off the current world record.
A co-contributor to this discovery, bradyONE, realized that maintaining a consistent joystick angle was crucial for the required manipulation. The optimal angle, Y-43, is critical and difficult to maintain manually through the speedrunning sequence. Their novel solution is to use a rubber band to hold the joystick in the exact position needed.
The technique involves setting the GamePad’s joystick at the Y-43 angle with a rubber band and then using the GamePad's often-overlooked "TV Remote mode." This mode allows the runner to lock the joystick position and thus the performance of the required game inputs. The runner begins the speedrun with a different controller and switches over to the GamePad towards the end to execute the final crucial inputs.
While ingenious, this new method raises questions regarding its legality within the speedrunning community. The current rules specify that players may only use one controller and must not switch or modify control mappings or calibration during a run. The primary issue at hand is whether engaging the GamePad’s TV Remote feature constitutes a change of controller or simply a modification of input settings.
As the community debates this newly proposed method, its legality remains uncertain. If deemed legal, this technique could demand that players incorporate the use of rubber bands in their speedrun attempts, potentially making it the new standard. However, if rejected, it will remain a fascinating footnote in the ongoing evolution of speedrunning strategy.
This scenario reflects the continually evolving nature of video gaming and speedrunning. Players are constantly devising new methods and strategies to push the boundaries of what games like "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" can offer. Whether this new method becomes part of speedrunning lore or not, it exemplifies the creativity and problem-solving spirit that define the speedrunning community. Each new strategy, regardless of its acceptance, contributes to the rich tapestry of gaming culture and keeps the community vibrant and engaged.
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