====================AWESOME GAMES DONE QUICK 2025==================== ========Raising $2,565,185 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation========= =========================January 5-12, 2025========================== -------------------------------SUNDAY-------------------------------- Pikmin (Switch - Nintendo EAD 2001, 2023) All Parts by Ray0ken host Quacksilver, couch Mokaygee [2RH], PiePusher11 1h00m49s (est 1h15m, wr 45m41s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube PSTmCDXtGZE Review: A strong start to the marathon. Incredible multitasking, a tight route, and great commentary for those that are new to the game. Portal 2 (PC - Valve 2011) Single Player No SLA by Msushi host Quacksilver, couch Kevin 1h02m39s (est 1h05m, wr 55m44s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube 2X48Ryg6NA8 Review: An impressive run - most of the time loss was just to insisting on showing off the coolest possible strats. Almost every chamber had something neat, and the energy just never flagged the entire time. Portal 2 (PC - Valve 2011; Gigo 2012) Kaizo Map Showcase - Fractious, Godly Behemoth by Msushi host Quacksilver, couch Kevin 5m50s (est 7m, no wr) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 2X48Ryg6NA8+3888 Review: A pair of absurdly tough custom maps, focusing on rapid execution. It's not as interesting as the main run, but still impressive when he finally gets it. Kirby Air Ride (Gamecube via Wii - HAL Laboratory 2003) City Trial Any% by Bluekandy [WRH] host Nichole Goodnight, no couch 57m06s (est 55m, wr 41m30s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube 3-_EZLb37B4 Review: A weird sort of roguelike / bingo thing, completing certain arbitrary tasks within a randomized environment. But also controlling up to four characters at once. It's certainly unique, but not always easy to follow, nor the most interesting gameplay to watch. Mega Man X3 (SNES - Capcom 1995) Any% by Zachary Ewing host Nichole Goodnight, couch The_Sid, thataintfalco 41m28s (est 43m, wr 39m04s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube https://youtu.be/qLypvQmsJsA Review: A very dry, technical sort of run. There's no individually huge strat, besides obtaining the saber, but there's constant little strats to save time. Good if you want a super-serious sort of run. Ori and the Blind Forest (PC - MOON 2015, 2016; sigmasin et al 2017) Randomizer World Tour 11 by CovertMuffin host Nichole Goodnight, couch tomatoanus as tomatoangus, BloodThunder, Eiko 1h06m31s (est 1h05m, no wr) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 5zRN1LvcLzw Review: It's a fun run. Seeing someone adapt and route things on the fly is what makes randomizers fun, and there's plenty of that here. And in the late game, there's a ton of really fast, polished movement. It suffers a bit from repetition in the mid-game, but was still an enjoyable watch. Astro Bot (PS5 - Team Asobi 2024) Any% by KingJO444 [3RH] host Mr. Game and Shout, couch Bdud5 [WRH], itsaddieofficial, spikevegeta 2h12m19s (est 2h20m, wr 2h08m07s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube z23f-1uiYPg Review: An impressively polished run, for something this new, and a rare Sony entry into the collectathon platformer genre. Two hours is perhaps a bit much, but it's got enough variety to keep things going - especially for longtime Playstation fans. NM: TODO: two bonus runs after The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Gamecube - Nintendo EAD 2002) Any% by Linkus7 host PippyInATopHat, couch EJ125, TrogWW 59m21s (est 1h10m, wr 44m19s) Overall ★★★★★ Skill ★★★★★ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube GbR_QqEGBcM Review: There were at least three tricks here that seem straight-up impossible. Unbuffered superswimming, barrier skip, some crazy zombie hovers. Even having seen plenty of Wind Waker speedruns before, my jaw was on the floor. Tomb Raider (PC - Crystal Dynamics 2013) Any% by BloodThunder host PippyInATopHat, couch tomatoanus as tomatoangus, CovertMuffin 1h10m37s (est 1h15m, wr 59m30s rta) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube r5cwIQ-oJDA Review: A run heavy on the out-of-bounds and other movement skips, but few skip a substantial amount of time. Kind of sloppy, or at least unpolished, but they keep it fun anyways. NM: not on leaderboard? -------------------------------MONDAY-------------------------------- Alan Wake II: Night Springs (PS5 - Remedy 2024) All Episodes by SweetPeebs host ateatree, couch Nichole Goodnight, suavepeanut 34m46s (est 40m, no wr?) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube EYEP_RsF9aY Review: Strictly as a speedrun, there's not much to see here. It's mostly just running from point to point, with little in the way of tech or even combat. But as an extended joke about the surreal story of Alan Wake (and the wider Remedyverse), it's hilarious. What's going on? Something inexplicable. What does that mean? Don't worry about it! NM: check time, iirc it was off Alan Wake II: The Lake House (PS5 - Remedy 2024) Any% by suavepeanut [WRH] host ateatree, couch SweetPeebs, Nichole Goodnight 16m34s (est 17m, wr 15m29s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube d-gVfVC8PEA Review: Compared to the previous DLC in the previous run, this one has more speed tech (read: any speed tech). But the story is a bit more grounded, so the outsider surrogate on the couch spends less time being baffled to (comic) tears. LEGO The Hobbit (PC - Traveller's Tales 2014) Restricted Any% coop by Dr_Pi, Zojalyx [2RHs] host ateatree, couch CountGooby, CovertMuffin 26m57s (est 32m, wr 25m31s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube xys2DgOlaz8 Review: Even the runners were surprised how smoothly this run went. All the tricks that were supposed to be inconsistent? First try, every time. There unfortunately isn't much in the way of low-level tech, just that handful of big skips, but it's still a fun enough watch. Van Helsing (PS2 - Saffire 2004) Any% by DECosmic [WRH] host j0kerr, couch Asuka424, pmcTRILOGY 36m19s (est 40m, wr 30m11s) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube mQcZ8i1cl-8 Review: I don't know if something was wrong with the video capture, or if the game's just like that, but it was too dark to see much, for much of the run. I felt similarly about the commentary - sure, it was there, it described what was going on, but it didn't do much to explain *why*. There were a few good couch gags, but overall, it's a run that's just sort of there. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (PC - Iguana 1998, Nightdive 2017) Any% by Rifampin [2RH] host j0kerr, couch SemiNoLemonStars, Bird650 52m42s (est 55m, wr 45m41s) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube Hnfi-xZA01c Review: Just kind of too long a run, for what it has to offer. There's one important trick, repeated several times. For most of the run, the normal gameplay challenge is suspended, enemies can't damage you so it's just running to get keys. If this had been half as long, it wouldn't have worn out its tricks, but as it is, feels very padded-out. Grief Syndrome (PC - Twilight Frontier 2011) All Characters by Froob [2RH] host j0kerr, couch PXMacaiah 29m29s (est 32m, wr 27m07s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube cRBJPv402ug Review: This is a run, I think, almost exclusively for the Madoka Magica fans. If you know the game, or even the anime, this is probably quite enjoyable. But, uh, it took me longer than I care to admit to even realize this was a tie-in game. If you were expecting Froob's typical buttery-smooth, outsider-aimed introduction and play-by-play, you won't find it here. Instead, we got a passionate, heartfelt, but very niche run. NM: very sketchy citation on this dev Ruff City (PC - Jason Marrero 2023) Any% NWG by Seirea [WRH][ORH] host j0kerr, couch chessjerk, yelsraek, MadMegaX381 14m39s (est 18m, wr 13m01s) [NV] Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube eAkGj2t4aYY Review: It's a pretty straightforward bmup run, with an aesthetic even this dog-hater found adorable. Technically invalidated by accidentally triggering the weapon glitch in a No Weapon Glitch run, but it didn't affect anything. New Super Lucky's Tale (PC - Playful 2020) Any% by stevetvonline host happybythree, couch KingJO444, Konception, WerePossum aka Dan Hurd [DEV][REM] 56m25s (est 1h00m, wr 50m35s rta) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 7UHOoPlJXtg Review: It's a pretty by-the-books collectathon platformer - mix of 2D, 3D, and autorunner stages, though the speedrun focuses on the 2D. The run is solid, the only trick it didn't nail was an impossibly hard one, and attempting it did a great job showing the skill involved. I can't say this run did anything I haven't seen before, but it did everything well, and had enough variety to sustain even an hour-long run. NM: not ranked? only ranked on Windows Store version? Dick Tracy (NES - Realtime Associates 1990) Any% by MadMegaX381 [WRH] host happybythree, couch chessjerk, yelsraek, Seirea 21m45s (est 25m, wr 19m41s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube vu14CH_u5-Y Review: The on-screen action is only sometimes scrutable, thanks to the game's focus on opaque clues that the speedrun entirely ignores. But other times it's a simple action-platformer, and it's always a good vessel for jokes and hardboiled noir accents, so it's still a good time. Snake Rattle 'n' Roll (NES - Rare 1990) Any% 2-Player coop by yelsraek, chessjerk [WRHs] host happybythree, couch MadMegaX381, Seirea 6m59s (est 8m, wr 4m47s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube 1gGFYeX1jU4 Review: Just too short a run to even say much about. Most of the game is outright skipped, and the biggest obstacle is the slippery physics, hard to judge the skill it takes without having played it. The runners seemed to be having a blast, maybe that's enough for you? Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SNES - Natsume 1994) All Rangers by MRRKNIGHT [WRH] host Jaidlyn, couch Gromfalloon, TheAndySocialNetwork, AshSaidHi 29m14s (est 35m, wr 28m43s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube GbpBK5H7r7k Review: It's a simple little beat-em-up, enough that they had to introduce their own restrictions with the category to make it more interesting. And it works, but it's still not the most technical speedrun. But if you like Power Rangers or puns, you won't want to miss it. Ninja Gaiden II (NES - Tecmo 1990) Any% by TheRetroRunner host Jaidlyn, couch yelsraek 10m49s (est 20m, wr 9m53s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube o1qCrkDvpH8 Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: pb 10m07s Final Fantasy Legend 2 (Switch - Square 1990, 2020) Any% No Credit Warp by Toorima [2RH] host Jaidlyn, couch chessjerk, puwexil 40m09s (est 42m, wr 35m43s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube qdkLgOEKsOs Review: It's a lot like first-gen Pokemon runs, in that there's corruption glitches to absolutely wreck the intended story route. But it takes long enough to get to that point, that there's still space for some tight RNG manipulation, and even some intended (ish) gameplay. Pizza Possum (PC - Cosy Computer 2023) Co-op Triple Crown coop by GrayGooGlitch, Alara host Threach, couch Nichole Goodnight, FlannelKat 17m30s (est 20m, wr 12m56s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube HPjJbwzn9k8 Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: not ranked? also assumed Any%, there's also Triple Crown 100%; and assumed Unrestricted Peglin (PC - Red Nexus 2022) Any% - Balladin [BIDWAR] by BystanderTim host Threach, couch Dylan Gedig, SeaAverage 17m25s (est 30m, wr 9m55s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube VOmg_LBpfAU Review: (not yet reviewed) Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop (iOS - h.a.n.d 2024) Challenge Adventure by Peas host Threach, couch limy_sr, Ozmourn 12m11s (est 20m, no wr?) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube irrMEuBET_c Review: Aww yiss, this is some good puzzle speedrunning. It's easy enough to grok the basic gameplay, but I do wish there'd been a bit more explanation given for the bespoke mechanics. Then again, with a run this fast, you don't really have time! Rain World: Downpour (PC - Videocult 2017, 2023) Rivulet - Story by ICED host Threach, couch WhitePaaws 41m05s (est 47m, wr 28m48s rta) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube aDS0RuYvDr4 Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: pb 32m57s igt Rabbids Go Home (PC - Ubisoft Montpelier 2009) All Missions race Jaxler [3RH] vs vaen host SatanHerself, couch LunaticJ 47m42s, 48m10s [NV] (est 55m, wr 45m29s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube sOj0I_Zz56Q Review: An interesting sort of kart platformer. Unexpectedly good, not as busted as you'd expect from a Europe-only partial PC port of a Wii game, but still having well-developed speed tech. One run invalidated by a softlock, just started the next level in sync with the other runner instead of restarting. UFO 50 (PC - Mossmouth 2024) Various Games Showcase by GrayGooGlitch, burst_error, Spooty, Python host SatanHerself, no couch 56m11s (est 50m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 38vug-2rROI Review: A selection of four games out of the fifty in the collection. Very nice for variety, even if the runs themselves boil down to play-game-good. NM: todo list exactly which games played Super Meat Boy (PC - Team Meat 2010) Any% by shredberg host SatanHerself, couch Spilled OJ, Metallama 20m10s (est 21m, wr 17m27s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube 8_ByOm1WcTg Review: The grandaddy of grueling indie precision platformers. It's fast and hard and has some bonkers strats, all explained as well as possible in such a breakneck run. Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (3DS - Nintendo Software Technology 2016) SMC Any% (No Autoscrollers) by Charbunny [3RH] host savage_octagon, THEKyleThomas, couch Lizzyberry, Bobbeigh 1h10m05s (est 1h15m, wr 1h47m26s rta with autoscrollers) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube lL2WMTqlUXo Review: It takes a while for the levels to get difficult, but it's got great commentary, both informative and funny. And skipping the autoscrollers keeps it from ever getting too dull. NM: is there any No Auto wr? Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (3DS - Nintendo Software Technology 2016) SMC World 19 Showcase by Charbunny host savage_octagon, THEKyleThomas, couch Lizzyberry, Bobbeigh 8m29s (est 10m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube lL2WMTqlUXo+4305 Review: Just a fast bonus run, showing off some of the hardest levels in the run. Not being part of any category but ILs, the marathon strats aren't super polished, but it's still fun to see. Sonic Origins (PC - Sega Technical Institute 1994, Sonic Team 2022) Sonic & Knuckles - Amy & Tails, NG+ by SnowballSMB host Jaypeg, no couch 34m33s (est 42m, wr 51m38s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube unzH4KishOU Review: It's a pretty straightforward Sonic run, no fancy clips or glitches. Just lots of clean execution and good use of abilities. Being a run of Origins-specific characters adds some novelty, but it's a run aimed at Sonic megafans more than series onlookers. NM: wtf is with this leaderboard? Have A Nice Death (PC - Magic Design 2023) Fresh File Any% by allison8bit host Jaypeg, couch Quacksilver 21m01s (est 28m, wr 18m03s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube w3xAyK5TeiU Review: A bite-sized roguelike run. From the commentary, it just got good enough RNG to absolutely melt bosses, which made it kind of dull, actually. I'm sure players of the game will be suitably impressed, but I can't say that I was. NM: pb 20m29s lrt Metroid Prime (Wii - Retro 2002) Any% Inbounds race edzan [3RH] vs Vertigo [WRH] host Jaypeg, couch Icefire, Metroid0925, Mr_Whiskers 1h20m10s, 1h23m25s (est 1h35m, wr 1h19m17s rta) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★★ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 4AiTOb3jxj8 Review: An exceptional race - by in-game time, one runner tied WR, and they were neck-and-neck throughout the majority of the game. Limiting them to staying inbounds doesn't do much to stop the sequence breaks or skips, but keeps it at least mostly recognizable as the game we casually played. NM: igt wr tied 56m igt, edzan pb 58m igt 1h21m29s rta NM: vertigo tied WR igt! The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch - Nintendo EPD 2017) [BONUS GAME 1] Any% 2 Players 1 Controller 2p1c by Player5, mikeysgone [WRHs] host klinkit, couch TheRealNoman, RequiemOfSpirit 28m56s (est 33m, wr 26m35s, 1p1c wr 23m09s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 27wvhVy3rJQ Review: This run could have made it in, even without the 2p1c gimmick. This beat the last non-gimmick Any% run of the game, by an entire minute. It's incredibly skip-heavy, ending with a chain of boss fights that have been routed to perfection. Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare (PC - Rockstar San Diego 2010, 2024) Any% by Rigi [WRH] host klinkit, couch Joshimuz 54m35s (est 1h00m, wr 50m38s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube Pn_9sglOpfk Review: Unsurprisingly, this felt a lot like GTA runs. The speedrun here is all in the routing - it's a lot of moving between missions, but without quite so much freedom as, say, a collectathon. Neat to see, but nothing spectacular. NM: timer stopped way late Horizon Forbidden West (PS5 - Guerilla 2022) NG+ Ultra Hard [INCENTIVE] by Bdud5 [WRH] host Xenadir, couch actualuse, Syn 1h41m44s (est 1h50m, wr 1h37m18s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube 1MXjfG82or4 Review: This run has a little bit of everything. Some tough fights, taken down skillfully. Some routing optimization. A splash of out-of-bounds, here and there. A lot of little animation skips or shortcuts. But it's so spaced out, or so similar, that it all blurs together. A good one for Horizon fans, but a hard sell to outsiders. Horizon Forbidden West (PS5 - Guerilla 2022) All Relic Ruins [BONUS] by Bdud5 host Xenadir, couch actualuse, Syn 6m27s (est 9m, no wr?) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 1MXjfG82or4+6246 Review: A snack-sized bonus run, just a rapid-fire series of short puzzle rooms getting bypassed by clips or unintended platforming. NM: claimed WR 7m37s? -------------------------------TUESDAY------------------------------- Yakuza (PS3 - New Entertainment 2005, 2012) Any% by BigNoNo [WRH] host OhHeyItsKara, couch Froob, Panduhmonium 1h57m49s (est 2h00m, wr 1h53m53s) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube rlKI5-0ayiU Review: There's several ways to make a run interesting to watch, for multiple hours. It can be a run jam-packed with different tricks and tech that need to be explained - this one relied on one weapon for most of the run, and spent more time just walking to fights than in them. It can delve deep into the story, explaining what's going on in all those cutscenes being skipped - this has worked well for previous runs of the series, but was absent here. If all else fails, you can lean on couch banter and jokes, but even that was notably absent. I think we heard more from the donation reader than the runner. There's just not much to appeal to you here, unless you really, *really* like Yakuza. Shenmue (PC - Sega AM2 1999) Any% TimeSkip by Maxylobes host HockeyBabbler, couch Froob, Tojimaru, DECosmic 3h17m42s (est 3h20m, no wr) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube 5r-J1686Mu0 Review: This is kind of just a slog of a run, even with a mod to skip through time. It felt like an entire hour was spent doing a ponderous forklift race, skipping to a cutscene, then skipping to end of day, then repeating. There were only two real glitches used in the entire thing, everything else played straight. We did get some quality story primer, and enough couch banter to keep it engaging, but it's still a long, slow-paced run. Beat Slayer (PC - ByteRockers 2024) Easy + Ult Kick by Amyrlinn [WRH][ORH] host Asuka424, couch bbrosef, jhobz 37m39s (est 40m, wr 33m05s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube OBzlbVswew8 Review: A neat but basic rhythm-roguelike-RPG run. I'm sure it's a lot harder than Amyrlinn made it look, but it lacked the wow factor of Necrodancer or Hades runs we've seen. By the end it was running out of steam, throwing over to donations because there was nothing left to talk about. Pru the Pigeon (PC - kurigamedev 2024) 57 Hot Dogs [INCENTIVE] by swooce [WRH][ORH] host Asuka424, couch Konception, Corvimae 17m38s (est 21m, wr 17m11s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 0E07MLrrw5A Review: It's a low-budget 3D platformer, but one with tight controls and good physics. Swooce absolutely schmooves through the levels, and the category is "everything that isn't slow and annoying to get", so there's basically zero downtime. It's not super technical or polished, but it doesn't need to be - it's just good platforming. Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood (PC - Sierra Online 1991) Low% by Lemming host Asuka424, couch thewoofs, davidtki 21m12s (est 24m, wr 15m21s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube MXiMuP4ICag Review: Low% is usually a matter of complex skips for "required" items, but here, it's going out of your way to lose points. Plus a few glitches. It's different from other runs, even other point-and-clicks, that's for sure, but still has that relatively sedate pace for a speedrun. NM: not on leaderboard, a new lowest % was recently found G-Saviour (PS2 - Atelier Sai 2000) Any% by pmcTRILOGY [WRH] host Asuka424, couch DBcade, Froob, DECosmic 27m57s (est 30m, wr 24m04s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube RjB0kEpL8ww Review: (not yet reviewed) Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider (PC - JoyMasher 2023) Beat The Game by DanTheVP [3RH] host Asuka424, couch Bobbeigh, Quacksilver 38m06s (est 45m, wr 35m55s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube yojOlfnMv2g Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: pb 37m38s VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action (Switch - Silenam 2016, 2019) NG+ Perfect Service (Console) by a_variety_pack [2RH] host JD Puppy, couch PippyInATopHat 31m50s (est 35m, wr 29m53s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube f3nmiINJDxo Review: (not yet reviewed) Dumpy & Bumpy (PC - Programancer 2021) [BIDWAR] Co-op Normal coop by swordsmankirby, Bbforky [WRHs][ORHs] host JD Puppy, no couch 19m51s (est 25m, wr 19m38s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube g6HxTl1q9EE Review: A lightning-fast barrage of coop puzzle levels. It's good that it mostly explains itself, because nobody would be able to commentate this fast enough to keep up. It's a hell of a ride. NM: alt game was Dandy & Randy DX vs by Asteristic 2022 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (PC - Konami 2006, 2024) Richter Any% by Lonely [WRH] host JD Puppy, couch Bobbeigh 27m52s (est 35m, wr 26m08s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube AwubiOOaF0c Review: This was just a really, really smooth run. Clean, fluid movement, bosses annihilated, commentary that gets you up to speed and then lets you sit back and enjoy. Castlevania runs have set a pretty high standard, and this met the challenge. Unicorn Overlord (Switch - Vanillaware 2024) Any% Story by Kuro* [3RH] host JD Puppy, couch Crak_atak, theoretically_moss 21m22s (est 24m, wr 19m18s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 9Ks3UpkmfA0 Review: A pretty short run, by tactics-game standards, but an interesting one, with very little downtime. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (PC - Nihon Falcom 2016, 2018) All Story Bosses by bramhallthefifth [2RH] host Threach, couch KingJO444, GhostKumo 1h19m57s (est 1h30m, wr 1h10m58s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube e5NyZBOHZWk Review: A heavily glitched run, melting bosses with a damage glitch and manipulating world state with cutscene glitches. Not super easy to follow, but it had some fun moments. NM: todo Any% bonus run Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (PC - Nihon Falcom 2016, 2018) Any% [BONUS] by bramhallthefifth [2RH] host Threach, couch KingJO444, GhostKumo 11m54s (est 15m, wr 10m55s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube e5NyZBOHZWk+4885 Review: A short addon run, showing how the glitches of the main run can be abused to warp to credits. Unfortunately reliant on the explanations in the main run, so it can only work as a dessert, not an appetizer. Spyro: Reignited Trilogy (PC - Insomniac 1998, Toys for Bob 2018) Spyro 1 - Any% NBS by toastedkat [WRH] host Threach, couch chaimyyyy [3RH], DylanJayFox 45m53s (est 50m, wr 43m32s rta) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube S3hj4M9EEXk Review: A momentum-heavy collectathon. There's a low skill floor, mostly evident in the boss fights, but also a high skill ceiling. Some of the late-game sections were quite impressive, keeping up speed for entire levels. F-Zero GX (Gamecube - Amusement Vision 2003) All Tracks Max Speed by FifanGX [WRH] host Skybilz, couch 1davidj, AKC12 1h10m33s (est 1h10m, wr 1h01m06s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube Li4cbwf_YRQ Review: A dry, technical speedrun. There's a good bit of tech here, and every track has something that needs explanation, but I'll admit, it blurs together after a while. Super Sheffy World 2: The Quest for 5 Shells (SNES - westslasher2 2019; Nintendo EAD 1990) 100% [INCENTIVE] by revolug [WRH] host Skybilz, couch Thabeast721, GlitchCat7 25m56s (est 30m, wr 16m37s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube V20N4od8JYY Review: Kaizo SMW is always a treat. This one was maybe not the smoothest run, but with a game that's hard even by kaizo standards, that's hardly unexpected. We get lots and lots of shell tech, and a few really neat gimmick levels. Super Mario Bros. (NES - Nintendo EAD 1985) Any% Simultaneous Time Attack races, GTAce vs SuperSonic vs scalpel vs JeremyMKW host Skybilz, couch Jay_the_Wook, FlibidyDibidy ~30m (est 30m, wr 4m54s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube G0ONr2lloM0 Review: An exceptionally cool piece of technology - taking the feeds from four separate consoles, and synchronizing them on one display, down to the framerule, as they do repeated any% runs. And some of them were really good runs! NM: todo get some of the better run times D/Generation (Amiga - Robert Cook 1991) Random Seed by tbcr [WRH][ORH] host Skybilz, no couch 16m37s (est 20m, no wr?) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube zwK7PTdZo10 Review: A quick filler run. The fact that it's an Amiga run is unfortunately the most remarkable thing about it - it's pretty slow gameplay and has little in the way of speed tech. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2 via PS3 - Insomniac 2003) Max% by Xem [WRH] host selcouthmind, couch Djura_ddos, SkitzTCB, marathonman 2h47m47s (est 2h50m, wr 2h37m47s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube NmrIvD1UNFI Review: This is the most impressive Ratchet run I think I've seen at GDQ. There's some cool glitches, a lot of technical gameplay optimization, and some very efficient routing. But wow, three hours is more Ratchet than I needed. Do stick around for the post-run opera performance though - it's only a leaderboard of three, but I'd put this as the best opera singing at a GDQ. The Last of Us: Left Behind - Remastered (PS5 - Naughty Dog 2014, 2022) Grounded by AnthonyCaliber [WRH] host Mr. Game and Shout, couch adef 31m40s (est 40m, wr 29m24s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube GlTbn5GGFMQ Review: There was really only one impressive segment in this run, a combat arena towards the end. It was a really good segment - but I'm not sure it was worth all the buildup. I'm sure the cinematic scenes were wonderful casually, built up great characters, but in a speedrun they just come across as wasting our time. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (PC - Capcom PS1 2006, 2024) Ending A NG by Ecdycis host Mr. Game and Shout, couch Sweedola, Froob, NallyQ 39m35s (est 43m, wr 28m25s lrt) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube yEy-LU4zfbc Review: A goofy sort of run for the fuzzy start of Horror Block. It's mostly skateboarding around zombies, punctuated by some fights. But the remaster makes for a much smoother speedrun, and Ecdycis and his couch make it charming. Silent Hill 2 (PC - Bloober 2024) New Game Hard Restricted by CaptainEzekiel [3RH] host Charbunny, couch Bobbeigh, Maxylobes, Ecdycis 2h15m35s (est 2h10m, wr 1h55m00s lrt) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube a90YAF9r6UE Review: As expected of a glitchless horror run, it's mostly dodging past mob spawns while flitting from one inexplicable puzzle to another, punctuated by a handful of boss fights. Most of the enjoyment is going to come either from explaining the lore, or ribbing the game, and this is a prime candidate for both. ------------------------------WEDNESDAY------------------------------ Condemned: Criminal Origins (PC - Monolith 2005, 2006) Any% by Draiga [2RH] host Nichole Goodnight, couch Maxylobes, Gulch2 [3RH] 1h08m00s (est 1h22m, wr 56m29s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube t9v6FBDPv60 Review: A fairly basic speedrun, mixing otherwise vanilla gameplay (and many cutscenes) with some out-of-bounds. Nothing spectacular, and it drags a bit, but only sometimes. Overall, a decent run. Crow Country (PC - SFB 2024) Any% Restricted - Murder of Crows [INCENTIVE] by RJsmangit [WRH] host Nichole Goodnight, couch Maxylobes, Bobbeigh 22m04s (est 25m, wr 22m37s rta) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 5PGedqPKQc0 Review: It's PS1-style horror, but with some modern design sensibilities to smooth it out. There's nothing too special about it, but it's just very competently done. The commentary's excellent, and the run beat the RTA time of the world record. Sometimes that's all you really need. Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (DS - Capcom 2006) Jill (Classic, Bad Ending) by Bobbeigh host Nichole Goodnight, couch CaptainEzekiel, Ecdycis, NallyQ 30m08s (est 34m, wr 26m23s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube wGHBWOUn9TM Review: With cutscenes and door transitions skipped, and some features lifted from later games, this was like a better version of other Resident Evil 1 runs. But somehow, it still felt thin, too much time thrown over to donations because the gameplay wasn't deemed interesting enough to talk about. Still a fun watch for Rezzy fans, but skippable if you're not. Resident Evil Survivor (PS1 - Tose 2000) New Game Easy by Punchy [WRH][REM] host TheKingsPride, no couch 37m34s (est 40m, wr 36m36s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube uB9FGE3KqLM Review: A weird spinoff of the franchise, free first-person movement but light-gun(-ish) shooting mechanics. The speedrun is heavily based on avoiding enemies entirely, exploiting some eccentricities of that gameplay formula. If you find other RE runs boring for how often they bypass zombies instead of shooting, this one takes that to extremes. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (PC - Relic 2011) Any% by Failracer [WRH][REM] host TheKingsPride, no couch 1h01m36s (est 1h10m, wr 59m40s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube mIVvMyQ7XFA Review: (not yet reviewed) Crypt Custodian (PC - Kyle Thompson 2024) Any% Easy by Inari Houzumi [2RH][REM] host TheKingsPride, couch Beniolite [REM] 43m05s (est 55m, wr 40m00s igt) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube WLco8t-mCw0 Review: The word that sums this run up best, I think, is "stiff". The runner's vtuber model may as well have been a static PNG. The commentator mostly stuck to a barebones play-by-play of the story, in correct but awkward English. The gameplay was skillful, so far as I could tell, but unless you could follow along with the commentary muted, you will probably find the full package lacking. NM: runner aka 八月朔日いなり White Day: A Labyrinth Named School (PC - ROI 2015, 2017) So-yeong Any% [BIDWAR] by shmumbler host Jaidlyn, couch SweetPeebs 18m29s (est 15m, wr 29m03s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube 4UdVD3gqkaI Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: double-check the category and WR, this seems fucky Descent Maximum (PC - Parallax 1996) Hotshot Any% by Spooty [WRH] host Jaidlyn, couch Gromfalloon 26m49s (est 33m, wr 41m43s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube FVXgW_O5GUI Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: check credits, if this is DOS version, 1996, if PS1, 1997, if Windows, 2006 NM: wr from just "Descent", played on PC Crossroad OS (PC - Daisy Games 2023) Any% by allison8bit [WRH] host Jaidlyn, couch Quacksilver, selcouthmind 18m46s (est 15m, wr 13m44s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube Vhj2b9hrQpo Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: alt credit "Guy", literally just "Guy" Batman Forever: The Arcade Game (Arcade - Probe Entertainment 1996) 1CC Attempt by LRock617 [WRH] host Jaidlyn, couch sharif, Starwin, giygasblues 24m11s (est 26m, wr 23m46s) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube iRv-m-MzZr8 Review: This run definitely had the late-night madness vibes. Unfortunately it was mostly "giggle fits and screaming" - fun if you're part of the madness, but not from the outside. The run itself had one busted move, some boss strats, but nothing much else. Gauntlet IV (Genesis - M2 1993) Quest Mode "Good Ending" 4-Player coop by Hold em Joe, walkingeye, Preevs, Elzo [WRHs] host Jaidlyn, no couch 41m19s (est 40m, wr 36m10s) [NV] Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube OL3F-RryYT0 Review: The fun in coop runs usually comes from the multitasking, dividing the game up into pieces that can be taken on simultaneously. This was mostly one player at a time, sometimes two. Even for boss fights, one player would dip out. Without that, the run still stands up, but it doesn't stand out. Invalidated by needing a safety save after dying to a boss. Sonic Lost World (PC - Sonic Team 2013, Sega Europe 2015) Any% Wingless by CriticalCyd [WRH] host klinkit, couch Brandino59, Gedrith 1h14m41s (est 1h15m, wr 1h08m48s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube jmFZPcMwZic Review: A straightforward run, but cleanly done, with a good mix of as-intended execution and glitching. Shadow Generations (PC - Sonic Team 2011, 2024) Any% by AlphaDolphin [WRH] host klinkit, couch Brandino59, Labrys, 1davidj 1h11m38s (est 1h17m, wr 1h09m03s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube dJ_UxcHNqTk Review: A basic but competent run. Did you enjoy Shadow Generations, and want to see it played better than you did? AlphaDolphin plays much better than you, and adds in a few skips and tricks to go even faster. But it's not a speedrun that's had much time to really be worked out, yet, feels too close to a casual run. But all the series lore being explained was fun enough. Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu!/Eevee! (Switch - Game Freak 2018) Any% Eevee by Etchy [2RH] host chibicarrera, couch NewAmber [WRH], kerbis54, eddaket 3h02m16s [NF] (est 3h05m, wr 2h57m20s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube hKw1mFnuPhQ Review: It has more on-the-fly rerouting than most Pokemon runs, but the route itself felt a lot less challenging. It's an excellent game for novice speedrunners to get into, but it's a hard sell to watch. Something for the real Pokemaniacs, but if you've never liked the series, this won't be the run to change your mind. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii - Nintendo EAD 2009) Any% While Playing Piano by Wes host Skybilz, couch ateatree, KingJO444, TrainerAnade 41m20s (est 45m, wr 23m54s while not playing piano) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★☆★☆★ Fun ★★★★★ Youtube vuaWJ-40hFY Review: Playing NSMB with head/foot controls, while playing the soundtrack on piano? Yeah. Sure. That's a speedrun now. Neither the gameplay nor the music would be that impressive on its own, but combined? Wow. That's just a ridiculous level of multitasking. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch - Retro 2014) Any% Original Mode by spikevegeta [3RH] host Skybilz, couch KeiperDontCare, Riekelt, GhostKumo 1h28m03s (est 1h30m, wr 1h22m30s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★★★ Youtube oKrH7E0fvro Review: It's easy to forget that, as great as Spike is on the couch, he's also a really good speedrunner. When he's not goofing off in this run, he's pulling off some pretty sick platforming. And then he gets distracted doing a bit, and you see just how easy it is to screw up. I'm planning to watch it again just to pay more attention to the actual speedrunning, not the top-notch couch banter - and the run was so good, that even though it happened less than an hour ago, I'm still down to watch it again. NM: todo add the bonus level at the end? Fallout: New Vegas (PC - Obsidian 2010) [BONUS GAME 2] All Sleeping Partners + Any% by tomatoanus as tomatoangus host Melo Acevedo, couch CJItsallGewd, CovertMuffin, bryonato 40m02s (est 40m, wr 20m18s 10m07s rta) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube HtUKlxIbUK8 Review: I don't even know where to start, with this run. On the speedrun side, you've got some workhorse glitches that break the game wide open, turn the "All Romances" into a flit around the map. And then on the shenanigans side - prop comedy, witty banter, some cheeky shade at the family-friendly event rules they're playing under. An overall excellent speedrun. Super Mario 64 (N64 - Nintendo EAD 1996) A-Button Challenge tas showcase by rcombs host Melo Acevedo, couch 1ted59, DanPark, BillyWAR 29m08s (est 28m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★☆★☆★ Skill ☆★☆★☆ Fun ★☆★☆★ Youtube lrb-b0n2fRY Review: A good introduction to ABC strats, and very smoothly presented. I think some of these were even new, at least improvements in time if not cutting out an A press. Super Mario 64 (N64 - Nintendo EAD 1996) 1 Key [BONUS] tas showcase by rcombs host Melo Acevedo, couch 1ted59, DanPark, BillyWAR 4m18s (est 5m, closest human wr 6m16s) Overall ☆★☆★☆ Skill ★☆★☆★ Fun ☆★☆★☆ Youtube E1JnfUC2yhQ Review: It's a TAS you've almost certainly seen elsewhere, but seeing the game demolished so completely will never get old. Rocket League (PC - Psyonix 2015) Workshop Map Speedrun Showcase by ThundaSurge host Melo Acevedo, couch Lethamyr, blaku, Plumato 50m01s (est 50m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube iMft32TvjRg Review: I got tired of this showcase, long before it finished. I think there were just too many maps focused on consistency and endurance, rather than a quick flash of skill. It all blurred together before the halfway mark. Yes, seeing someone fly a car like this is stunning at first - I *have* played Rocket League, I could never pull this off - but an hour of it was more than I could take. NM: add bonus run? The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC - Bethesda 2011) Main Quest by pekkanen [3RH] host Melo Acevedo, couch tomatoanus as tomatoangus, chronos, musical_daredevil 43m05s (est 32m, wr 27m35s rta) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube u4RzOF9e850 Review: A mess of a run. It's about 90% staring at the save menu or loading screens, for reasons that perhaps can't be easily explained but no attempt was made. Something went wrong, or maybe even several somethings, but even that was inscrutable. No amount of wild cheering for the phrase "horse tilt" could make this enjoyable. ------------------------------THURSDAY------------------------------- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC - Bethesda 2011) Level 1-80 [BONUS] by pekkanen [3RH] host Melo Acevedo, couch tomatoanus as tomatoangus, chronos, musical_daredevil 23m49s (est 13m, no wr?) [NV] Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ☆☆☆☆☆ Youtube u4RzOF9e850+2720 Review: Somehow a step down from the main run, and just as far over estimate. If things had gone *properly*, we'd still have been staring at an alchemy menu for multiple minutes while grinding levels, even with all the glitches active. Things did not go properly. Invalidated (though this doesn't even seem to be a real category) by using console commands to bypass a trick that kept failing. Superman 64 (N64 - Titus Interactive 1999) Any% by BradHarmar [WRH] host SatanHerself, couch Kiddblur, HungryEd 33m14s (est 33m, wr 29m33s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube YNIsfpvzGwc Review: Kicking off Awful Block with one of the vintage Worst Games. The game is suitably broken, with wall clips in pretty much every indoor level, and the run has a pretty fast route, to boot. Unfortunately, the best individual piece of speed tech is setting the screen size to 20%, to reduce (but somehow not eliminate) lag. So expect to squint a lot. Bite Night (PC - Rowdy Turtle 2023) Any% race, Konception [3RH] vs swooce [2RH] host SatanHerself, couch dragoR1n, PrincessAshfire 11m47s, 12m46s (est 15m, wr 9m49s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube -q-dIKUXH90 Review: A surreal trip of a game. I don't even want to describe it more, you're best going in blind. Don't expect all that much in terms of speed strats - there's gameplay, but not much. Just hang on and enjoy the ride. Golf With Your Grandmother (PC - Nevsram 2021) 5 Holes by KingJO444 host SatanHerself, couch Phillie, Xem, Jaxler 19m06s (est 18m, no wr) [NF] Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ☆☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube KpnzFxo7Vuw Review: This barely qualifies as a casual playthrough, let alone a speedrun. It's just a cheaply-made game built around one gag - but man, what a gag! Rex Ronan: Experimental Surgeon (SNES - Sculptured 1994) Any% by giygasblues [3RH] host SatanHerself, couch Starwin 18m13s (est 18m, wr 13m20s) Overall ☆☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ☆☆☆☆☆ Youtube PtO-jSyhOWE Review: Is there some reason this was dominated by a loudmouth on the couch, doing cowboy impressions and throwing things over to donations every ten seconds? The runner, and the other two people on the couch, barely got any chance to speak - and what came in its place, seemed to have nothing to do with the game, the run, or really anything. Oscar (SNES - Flair 1993, Titus 1996) Any% by janglestorm [WRH] host SatanHerself, couch NPC, iceblue, brossentia 14m45s (est 18m, wr 13m10s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube BtxSEBgmznw Review: It's a half-finished port of an Amiga/DOS game. Not nearly so terrible as other Awful Block games, but that does mean it can support an okay speedrun. It's just bad enough to be interesting. Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Crazy Maze (PS1 - Vision Media Engineering 2001) Any% Coop + Cutscenes [INCENTIVE] coop by Starwin, Crak_atak host Asuka424, couch Slurpeeninja, giygasblues 10m03s (est 22m, wr 48m18s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube tpLv9fpVTVs Review: Well this is a trip of a run. It's slightly plagued by gigglefits, being well into the madness hours, but they're able to rein it in, let us actually hear what they're laughing at. There's even a decent speedrun under it all! NM: not ranked? tf is with the WR? Bad Way (PC - Montee 2022) Any% by SweedOla [2RH] host Asuka424, couch shmumbler 26m04s (est 30m, wr 21m52s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube lejKfzJ8dCA Review: A very busted game, giving SweedOla both plenty of tricks to execute, and plenty of material to joke about. A classic sort of Awful Block game. Doronko Wanko (PC - Bandai Namco 2024) All Gifts by Cubsrule21 [WRH] host Asuka424, couch DelilahIsDidi, Aksannyi, selcouthmind 9m05s (est 7m, wr 5m11s) [NV] Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube mSqRcUso06I Review: A very short game about a dog wrecking a family's new home - less Untitled Goose Game and more Catlateral Damage. Not much tech, just routing, but it's short enough for that to remain engaging. Invalidated by an NPC not triggering a move to get certain badges for 100%, but you see enough. Who Shot Johnny Rock? (DVD - American Laser Games 1991, 2001) Ace Difficulty by sharif host Asuka424, couch brossentia, Konception, LRock617 23m26s (est 32m, no wr) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube HczJtTQ2QKI Review: Now this is some good Awful Block. Terrible acting in cheaply-produced FMVs? A light-gun shooter ported to DVD by just letting you aim on a grid? A grizzled detective mystery reduced to remembering a sequence of arbitrary objects? About the only thing that went wrong, was the couch laughing over the cutscenes, keeping us from hearing the ham and cheese. Meegah Mem (PC - Crapcom 2017) Any% by LV Creed [WRH] host Asuka424, no couch 4m52s (est 10m, wr 4m30s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube SHTevUN3VLI Review: A wonderful shitpost of a game, from the mspaint sprites to the kazoo soundtrack. The short length and the difficulty hearing what the runner was saying brought it down, but still. This is some good Awful Block. Taisen! Bakudan Poi Poi (PS2 - IMJ 2004) Mission Mode All Stages Default% by DBcade [WRH][ORH] host vanni_van, no couch 31m43s (est 40m, wr 26m08s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube m1d4LVOSiv4 Review: It's an absolute chaos fest. Attacks come in with no warning from all directions, bombs bounce around randomly, and many speedrunner noises are made. It feels more like a casual run than a speedrun, but it's still a good casual run. NB: GDQ listed as "Simple 2000 Series Ultimate Vol. 17: Taisen! Bakudan Poi Poi", abbreviated here Squirrel with a Gun (PC - Dee Dee Creations 2024) Any% by squirrelpascals [WRH] host vanni_van, couch iswimfly [2RH], Gary_Asher [3RH], ItsServina 28m39s (est 26m, wr 21m55s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube cqxK89znGT0 Review: The pedant in me wants to yell about how this is a Silly Game, not an Awful Game. But whatever. It's the collectathon where you're a squirrel and recoil is your main movement mechanic. It's competently executed, if taken a bit too seriously at times. Solid marks all around. Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (PC - Stellar Stone 2003) 100% by szcymanski [WRH] host vanni_van, couch ateatree, JamesSwan, dlsp 3m29s (est 6m, wr 3m01s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube jg9HaLywDL4 Review: The epitome of awful games. But it's just so short, it barely gets its explanations finished before it's over. Kevin Costner's Waterworld (PC - Macaw45 2022) All Items [INCENTIVE] by NPC [WRH] host vanni_van, couch sharif, flannelkat, brossentia 11m42s (est 15m, wr 10m20s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube gwlHDNF0aqE Review: It's a Simpsons gag, expanded into a deliberately-clunky fangame. Somehow the speedrun is decent, but the comedy is the star of the show. The couch mostly just lets the game's inherent joke shine through, no need to distract it with their own antics, and for a ten-minute run, it's pretty great. Hylics 2 (PC - Mason Lindroth 2020) Any% by RJsmangit host vanni_van, couch Ayymart 37m54s (est 28m, wr 24m00s) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube 6Q2Y3qkROu0 Review: This run was unfortunately, quite disappointing. Not just because a few bosses kept going awry, and blowing past the estimate. Mostly because, well, the commentary didn't do much. The series is famously bizarre and surreal, I'd have loved to hear about what was going on, or who these characters were. Failing that, explaining the strategies being used, might have carried it. We didn't get that, either. Flushed Away (Gamecube - Monkey Bar 2006) Any% by Kuro* [2RH] host OhHeyItsKara, couch Ozmourn, theoretically_moss 46m13s (est 42m, wr 37m29s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube E7PuPTeivW4 Review: Like you'd expect from mid-oughts shovelware, it's a speedrun heavy on glitches, and not super polished. The execution is usually good, but a few struggle points pushed it past estimate. You'll hardly notice, the couch jokes keep things hopping. BZZZT (PC - KO.DLL 2023) Any% - Normal by ThePiPiper host OhHeyItsKara, couch OnixpectedOtter, Weptlong, sSolarist 22m19s (est 25m, wr 17m54s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube aWLfOXy7Cro Review: It's a pretty simple little 2D platformer, but it has enough tight skips to make it an interesting speedrun. It even has a way to save time in the obligatory autoscroller! Runner and couch might not be the best speedrunners but they put on an excellent performance. RKGK / Rakugaki (PC - Wabisabi 2024) New Game+ Half Grafitti by limy [WRH][ORH] host OhHeyItsKara, couch vaen, mau [DEV] 35m26s (est 40m, wr 35m43s rta) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube yHo5jmGYr_o Review: It got compared to Jet Set Radio, but this game, or at least this run, is a lot more linear. There's lots of little cuts but much of it is still played as intended. I'm sure fans will love seeing it wrecked like this, but I was getting bored by the end - there just isn't enough variety here. Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster (PC - LucasArts 1995; Nightdive 2024) All Secrets [INCENTIVE] by ripchip_ [WRH][ORH] host OhHeyItsKara, couch CovertMuffin, tbcr 32m25s (est 36m, wr 30m27s rta) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 0BRDe51esXU Review: A really slick run of the remastered 2.5D shooter. Lots of grenade jumps, lots of tricky routing, just zooming around the level ticking all the boxes, with excellent commentary. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (DS - AlphaDream 2005) Any% by Tonkotsu [3RH] host happybythree, couch Migu, Snoion, GhostKumo 2h25m40s (est 2h40m, wr 2h15m39s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube IuXeE9QmHzY Review: The challenge from this run is more like a rhythm game than most JRPGs. The battle strats are unremarkable, but pulling off the attack/parry minigames? Wow. We also got some glitches, skipping enough to make sure they were always underleveled. It's a very unique run - besides other M&L runs. Even among those, this one stands out. Windblown (PC - Motion Twin 2024) All Encounters - 3P coop by Ozmourn, ateatree, Xenadir host happybythree, no couch 24m34s (est 30m, no wr) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube mbP6pDQ_x0M Review: Maybe I missed a crucial, never-repeated explanation, or maybe this is just a game that only makes sense once you've played it, but I just couldn't follow this run beyond the extremely basic "move and kill enemies". It wasn't information overload, or moving too fast, I just couldn't get a mental foothold. But it's got smooth movement and some roguelike builds, enough to keep me watching even without understanding. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch - Nintendo EPD 2023) All Dungeons by cloud [WRH] host PippyInATopHat, couch Glan, nukie, moistgoolash 2h27m47s (est 2h50m, wr 2h38m15s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube ZLIT3NmriRs Review: Well. It's a massive game, and requiring all dungeons actually be beaten ensures we see a good amount of it. But it's still an exploit-dense run, using all manner of glitches that are not easy to explain. It's well-commentated, not too hard to follow, but it's more a careful dismantling of the game than a kinetic blitz. Block Dude (TI-83 - Brandon Sterner 2001) Any% by adef host Lanaruse, couch Bobbyburm 13m11s (est 18m, wr 7m43s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube EOINI-QT-gs Review: How is a calculator game speedrun this good? Like there's actual skips and a real route. Even setting aside the (genuinely hilarious) couch banter, this was a fine run! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go dig through my closet and see where my TI-84 got to. Lies of P (PC - Neowiz Games 2023) Any% Glitchless by ColonelFats69 [WRH] host Lanaruse, couch Mitchriz, TimandTex 1h43m46s (est 1h45m, wr 1h30m09s lrt) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube AG-jTrU5ndw Review: (not yet reviewed) Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC - Infinity Ward 2007) Any% by bryonato host Lanaruse, couch BlueTarget, tomatoanus as tomatoangus, adef 1h38m15s (est 1h38m, wr 1h32m28s lrt) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 1PLtrQi-Q1w Review: It's a limited speedrun - there's a few skips, but it's mostly manipulating ally AI to advance faster, or quick strats to tear through firefights. And there's more than a few long autoscrollers. But it's a couch full of charisma and they came prepared, so it's still a banging time. CHUNITHM LUMINOUS PLUS (Arcade - Sega 2024) Arcade Showcase by Beazat [REM], Blaze [REM], Raveille [REM] host TheKingsPride, no couch ~1h50m (est 1h50m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube D-658yiF_28 Review: Rhythm game showcases are a narrow tightrope to walk. You need to do things that are impressive, even for people who've never heard of the game before it shows up on the schedule. But you also need to do enough different things, to fill out your time slot without turning into repetition, and that's where I find a lot of these Japanese rhythm games falter. This one, too, turns into a soup of unreadable colors and a barrage of electronica runs, but only towards the end. In the main run, there's some recognizable meme songs and some variety in the challenge that even newcomers can see - they saved the stuff that only makes sense to serious players, for the second showcase. -------------------------------FRIDAY-------------------------------- Hitman: Blood Money (PC - IO Interactive 2006) Professional/SA [INCENTIVE] by Alpha Brother [WRH] host selcouthmind, couch Meyanyo, Threeballer 33m46s (est 35m, wr 23m23s rta) [NV] Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube hUDFzfPmuvQ Review: This run was memorable for just how dumb and fast some of the strats could be, even on the hardest difficulty. Not every level has that level of AI manipulation, some are downright tedious, but it's got some good surreal comedy to it all. Children of the Sun (PC - Rene Rother 2024) Any% by BobbyBurm [2RH] host selcouthmind, couch SatanHerself 21m41s (est 26m, wr 18m39s rta) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 1ktYA3zONP4 Review: I'm sure this run will seem even more impressive once I play the game myself, but even as an outsider, it's got appeal. A brisk pace, quick inputs that still need precision, and it's obvious the route for this took some careful planning, even if I don't know what exactly that entailed. I'm not sure exactly who such a unique game's speedrun appeals to - maybe puzzle gamers? I got some Hitman vibes as well. But it's a short enough run, go ahead and take the gamble on it. BPM: Bullets Per Minute (PC - Awe 2020) Skuld : 100% Clear : Easy [INCENTIVE] by JamesSwan host selcouthmind, couch Rile_Soe, GFitty, Amyrlinn 18m00s (est 30m, no wr?) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube sYz-LX6ba74 Review: Maybe it just got an extremely lucky build, but it still put it to great use. It felt like speedrunning, not just RNG. I'd have liked a little more explanation of the basics, but it's easy enough to just pick up as it goes along, and the non-obvious stuff gets covered. NM: no 100% cat? Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES via Wii U VC - Konami 1995) Bad Ending (Catacomb Shortcut) by Hensachi60 [WRH][REM] host ClockworkOphelia, couch SBDWolf [2RH][REM] 15m52s (est 22m, wr 13m20s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube JRFmgYwaSAc Review: It's a run that gets everything done, but in a rough and sometimes clumsy way. The commentary was basic and lagged behind the stream, and the gameplay never had a chance to shine. Gimmick! 2 (PC - Bitwave 2024) True Ending [INCENTIVE] by SBDWolf [WRH][REM] host ClockworkOphelia, couch Gustav Idstrom [DEV][REM], Niklas Istenes [DEV][REM] 37m58s (est 48m, wr 35m37s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube -WyLkddZXZU Review: A neat little run, with some fun stories from the devs on the couch, and some very unique (save for the original NES game) movement mechanics. Frogun Encore (PC - Molegato 2024) Any% by TheHellfridge [WRH] host ClockworkOphelia, couch dtraitor 25m03s (est 30m, wr 19m55s igt) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube 81Joyq4QQBI Review: (not yet reviewed) No One Can Stop Mr. Domino! (PS1 - Artdink 1998) Any% Slow by Hibnotix host ClockworkOphelia, couch GBSaysHi 14m29s (est 15m, wr 10m19s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube 2siipoyNlfs Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: pb 11m09s ane-san (TG-16CD - NEC Avenue 1995) All Characters [INCENTIVE] by irukan [WRH][REM] host ClockworkOphelia, couch fuso_shikine [REM] 17m22s (est 20m, wr 15m25s) Overall ☆☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ☆☆☆☆☆ Youtube mBivTnrKaEk Review: Between audio mix issues, mumbling into microphones, and the language barrier, I could not understand a *single* complete sentence, from the time the run started to when the run ended. It was, literally, incomprehensible. With no commentary to explain the game or the run or the strats, we're left relying on the gameplay to speak for itself. And I'm sorry, but it looks bad here, too. It's a beat-em-up with no real combos, no effort to stack enemies together, bosses melt in seconds but seem to be just because the game is easy. If there was more to it than that, it was on the couch to explain. 10 Second Ninja X (PC - Four Circle 2016) All Stars by WDN2010 [WRH][REM] host ClockworkOphelia, couch verabagno [REM] 15m53s (est 18m, wr 14m12s) Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube b8a0JSdkMHE Review: This would have been a pretty good run, if anyone involved had felt at all enthusiastic about it. But they just didn't. Doing well, messing up, all done with the same tired monotone. I'm not sure if it was the remoteness, the language barrier, or just scheduling at the wrong hours, but it's hard to care about a run when it doesn't feel like the runner does. Which is a shame, because the speedrun didn't look that bad. Disruptor (PS1 - Insomniac 1996) Any% Regular NTSC-J by Nick Astalos [2RH] host Jaypeg, no couch 23m56s (est 27m, wr 21m53s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube lP8VZAT8wEc Review: A Doom/Quake style of FPS, and a historical curiosity as Insomniac's first game. There's nothing too special about this run, but also nothing wrong with it. A perfectly fine run, just not a standout. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5 - Square Enix CBU1 2024) Any% Easy by Woadyb [3RH] host ateatree, Jaypeg, couch HeroicSpiritGamer, The_Sid 6h12m34s (est 6h15m, wr 5m47s33s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube 8JD2BZRjvh8 Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: pb 5h55m39s NM: bonus after? Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PC - Rockstar North 2002; DinosaurBytes 2023) Tightened Vice by EnglishBen [3RH] host chibicarrera, couch KZ_FREW, Joshimuz 1h36m27s (est 1h20m, wr 59m45s) [NV] Overall ★☆☆☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★☆☆☆☆ Youtube HwMroQd1-xQ Review: A hard-mode mod of the game, this is a run of highs and lows. When it's working right, it's a more intense, interesting version of the normal Any%. But when things are going wrong - and they often went wrong - they turn into long sequences of retrying, or falling back to safety saves. If the failures were due to the difficulty of the mod, that would be one thing, but most of them were technical, or RNG. Runner and couch did the best they could, but the game just wasn't cooperating today. The Loosened Vice mod showcase afterward was moderately funny, but not really a speedrun, and the mood was pretty dead by that point. NM: double-check mod author, used name runner used Fresh Hops (SNES - MorrieTheMagpie 2024; Nintendo EAD 1990) 100% by frozenflygone host Charbunny, couch Corvimae, aco 39m19s (est 45m, wr 25m38s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube BeHvclq42j0 Review: Not the hardest kaizo we've seen, nor the most skillful, but possibly the funniest. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (Switch - indieszero 2024) Legendary Trial race, authorblues vs Skybilz vs GTAce vs EpicCrossover host Charbunny, couch spikevegeta, SuperSonic 25m10s, 25m36s, 26m10s, 27m56s (est 30m, wr 20m16s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 3n3UG0XlfsY Review: A neat - and official - variety game, blitzing through a dozen-ish short challenges in NES games. It's not the closest race, nor are the runners exceptionally skilled at every game, but it's still quite fun to see. PS1 Mystery Vs. Tournament (PS1 - DEVELOPER YEAR) Tournament Finals tournament, Thabeast721 vs Mikan vs CaneOfPacci host Charbunny, couch CavemanDCJ, Dr4gonBlitz ~40m (est 1h00m, no wr - tournament) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★☆☆☆☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube rXuSu782Fvg Review: A new feature to the GDQ main stage, this time they're playing random, usually bargain-bin games from the PS1. There's a strong advantage to those that have played them before, instead of going in blind, and each round is too brief to really develop a feel for each game, so don't expect top-notch gameplay. But as a goofy sort of showcase? It's pretty great, actually. NM: todo games, devs Tetris: The Grand Master 2 (PS4 - Arika 2000, 2022) Showcase - Normal Mode, Death Mode by JBroms, spc, EricICX, Mackie host cartridgeblowers, no couch ~20m (est 45m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★★ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube xhz2lQOp5SQ Review: It's tetris. You know what tetris is. But have you seen anyone stack blocks, this clean and fast? I mean, besides the other times this has shown up at GDQ. This is a more cursory look than the in-depth looks we've had before, but it leaves you wanting more, not outstaying its welcome. NM: todo more precise times Tetris: The Grand Master 3 (Arcade - Arika 2005) Showcase - Master Mode, Shirase Mode by Mackie, EricICX host cartridgeblowers, couch JBroms, spc ~20m (est 45m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube xhz2lQOp5SQ+1188 Review: The third iteration of the series gives them more tools to stack blocks, cleaner and faster, and oh boy do they stack clean and fast. Do I need to say anything else? I don't think I do. NM: todo more precise times Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch - Nintendo EAD 2017) 48 Tracks (DLC), 200cc, No Items by Bayesic host cartridgeblowers, couch Friz, MickyWinz, GanonSlayer 1h27m47s (est 1h30m, wr 1h25m49s) [PB?] Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube g6knOxoZE44 Review: It leans a bit more towards the serious, technical side, and it's a bit long for something this samey. But if you sank as many hours into the DLC tracks, as I did into base game, I'm sure you'll enjoy. Kaizo Mario World 3 (SNES - T. Takemoto 2017; Nintendo EAD 1990) [BONUS GAME 3] 100% by lungfish3000 [WRH] host Quacksilver, couch Glitchcat7, Beekaay 1h08m40s (est 1h00m, wr 39m17s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube sw_sbyvsP4I Review: A kaizo hack in the traditional, trolling style. Not quite so many kaizo blocks, just lots of stuff you have no chance of figuring out without trial and error, and a lot of RNG. Seeing the same segments attempted over and over saps some of the enthusiasm - but only some of it. jubeat copious APPEND (Arcade - Konami 2012) Showcase by PangaeaPanga host Quacksilver, couch Raysfire, Catastrophe573, Hedonic ~1h05m (est 1h00m, no wr - showcase) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★★ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube qtx768Ug_SY Review: An exceptional rhythm-game showcase. It starts off a bit slow, to give you some time to figure out how it's played, but it keeps ramping up from there. And it mostly avoids decaying into noise and random mashing, saving it for a few super-hard tracks near the end. ------------------------------SATURDAY------------------------------- Super Mario World (SNES - Nintendo EAD 1990) 96 Exit race, Vert vs Storster host j0kerr, couch matthewgaminglive, truman 1h26m18s, 1h28m03s (est 1h30m, wr 1h21m04s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube SEypB9L0f0k Review: A somewhat casual race, but fitting given the number of autoscrollers and flyover levels. It has occasional spikes of difficult (but not kaizo-level) tricks, but a lot of it's just banter and jokes between the runners. It's good vibes, but not the most thrilling display of speed. Super Mario World (SNES - Nintendo EAD 1990) Small Only [BONUS] race, Vert vs Storster host j0kerr, couch matthewgaminglive, truman 17m28s, 20m18s (est 20m, wr 14m38s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube SEypB9L0f0k+5447 Review: A shorter, more trick-dense bonus race. But with more serious time needed, it's left standing on pure technical skill, and it's found wanting in comparison. Peggle Extreme (PC - PopCap 2007) Extreme Grand Master race SatanHerself vs HeliosWX [WRH] host j0kerr, couch PoetryStud, Mannequin_Z 19m30s, 23m13s (est 36m, wr 16m39s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube CvwXV8ptXWU Review: The race wasn't super competitive, but the gameplay was interesting. There's enough strats to feel polished but enough improv to feel interesting, and the pseudo-100% category added some complications. Peggle Extreme (PC - PopCap 2007) Scott% [BONUS] race SatanHerself vs HeliosWX [WRH] host j0kerr, couch PoetryStud, Mannequin_Z 3m42s, 4m12s (est 5m, wr 2m56s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube CvwXV8ptXWU+1630 Review: A lightning-fast bonus run, doing the Any% with a fast-gameplay cheat code. It's different enough to be worth watching, especially at this runtime. Metal Gear Solid (PC - Konami 1998) All Bosses Extreme - Alternate Round [INCENTIVE] by MetalGlennSolid host HockeyBabbler, couch Pythonicus, MetroidMaster, Drakodan 1h04m04s (est 1h02m, wr 1h09m51s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube ntD8AkFvVwI Review: It starts strong but this run just runs out of steam. There's not much tech to explain, the re-enacting of the skipped cutscenes was funny but tapers off, and by the end it's just a long donation read. If you've seen all the other MGS runs and still want more, this is a category we've not seen, but you'd have to be a serious fan just to spot the differences in Alternate Round. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble (Switch - Ryu Ga Gotoku 2024) World Tour race Helix [2RH] vs Moo [WRH] host HockeyBabbler, couch iswimfly 29m09s, 30m31s (est 35m, wr 12m56s igt) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube uTNbVUu2P40 Review: It's new enough that the strats haven't gotten completely bonkers, and the race aspect wasn't as tense as it could've been, but this was still a fun Monkey Ball run to watch. Incredible energy, especially for 5am. Mega Man 10 (Wii - Inti Creates 2010) Any% Normal Bass race Slurpeeninja [3RH] vs Phil7 host HockeyBabbler, couch Ppotdot1, MrCab55 34m34s (est 40m, wr 31m29s rta) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube kmrHDSwUCFY Review: (not yet reviewed) Gothic (PC - Piranha Bytes 2001) No OoB by PokerFacowaty host vanni_van, no couch 19m39s (est 20m, wr 9m46s rta) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube -evoqJa5TVI Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: pb 11m52s lrt Deus Ex (PC - Ion Storm 2000) Any% by Vahisht host vanni_van, no couch 42m58s (est 42m, wr 32m25s rta) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube Fgcn5a261P8 Review: A very glitch-heavy run, but none of them too technical to explain in a minute, nor too dominant over everything else. Ape Escape 2 (PS2 - SCE Japan 2002) Any% by Riekelt host vanni_van, couch rijiku, Joester98 56m22s (est 1h00m, wr 50m30s) Overall ★★☆☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube rUC_KnG0JNw Review: It's a filler run, but it's high-quality filler. Even with no attachment to the franchise, it's got little tricks and strats everywhere to call out, even if few of them are all that impressive. And if you happen to like these games, I'm sure you'll have a blast. Road Runner's Death Valley Rally (SNES - ICOM Simulations 1992) Any% by gameO [WRH] host JD Puppy, couch janglestorm, Lenophis 23m06s (est 26m, wr 20m53s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube S-h_vZdZ7A0 Review: (not yet reviewed) Ristar (Genesis via Switch - Sega 1995) Hard Any% by Mackie host JD Puppy, no couch 33m39s (est 40m, wr 33m57s) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube Q8OAzGrCaig Review: (not yet reviewed) NM: assumed (JP), not ranked? The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (XbC - Heavy Iron 2004) No Pause Storage by BubbleBass [2RH] host JD Puppy, couch TediousThrone, Actualchatterteeth, Jaxler 1h05m46s (est 1h12m, wr 1h00m49s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★☆☆☆ Youtube 4xEdQqhWV2Q Review: One might expect a tie-in game to a movie spinoff of a Nickelodeon cartoon to be an avenue for silly antics and joking around. No. These runners are dead serious about this game, it's nonstop tech explainers. If you're down for that, it's a well-polished, technical run. Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire (3DS - Game Freak 2002, 2014) Any% race Sanjan vs Corvimae host frozenflygone, couch tpat, GretaIceVixen 3h11m46s, 3h14m54s (est 3h15m, wr 2h52m09s, 2h53m57s) [NV] Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★★☆☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube s2mALuq-SkM Review: It's a long run with a very careful route to follow. Almost every fight has something that needs to be pointed out, some threat they have to work around (or just hope to get lucky on). But it's also three hours of friends goofing around and joking, to fill the dead time inevitable in such a long run. Elden Ring (PC - From 2022) DLC Lockout Bingo bingo, adef vs CaptainDomo host Xenadir, couch Mitchriz 1h34m08s (est 2h00m, no wr) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube 8bngHevehrg Review: (not yet reviewed) Elden Ring (PC - From 2022) Saxophone-Controlled Boss Showcase by Dr. Doot host Xenadir, couch Thormungandr, PT 29m22s (est 20m, no wr - showcase) Overall N/R Skill N/R Fun N/R Youtube yaCvZd7iOkM Review: (not yet reviewed) Crazy Taxi (Dreamcast - Sega AM3 1999, 2000) Crazy Box by chuckles825 [2RH] host Xenadir, no couch, backing band 2dos, Metallama, The Sound Defense, SquidDilla ~20m (est 16m, wr 13m36s) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★★★ Youtube G4AomNJHzHk Review: What do you do if you have a run that mostly speaks for itself? Let it speak for itself, while putting on the loudest spectacle possible. It's half speedrun, half punk-rock concert. I don't even like punk and I had a blast. NM: todo get actually run time, with pausing NM: assumed NG The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64 via Wii VC - Nintendo EAD 1998; Testrunner et al 2018) No Logic Randomizer by ZFG host cartridgeblowers, Melo Acevedo, couch adef, Runnerguy2489, Vidya James 3h37m43s (est 3h40m, no wr) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★☆☆ Youtube 4nUZtFL7jLs Review: In a normal randomizer speedrun, glitches are used to try to save time, maybe get ahead of where the logic expected you to be. Here, it's mandatory. It takes an absolute wealth of game knowledge, and a skill at improvisation, to finish this at all, let alone in a marathon. NM: Assumed same rando devs as last time The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch - Grezzo 2024) [BONUS GAME 4] Any% Restricted by Glubbers [2RH] host Lanaruse, couch Glan, cloud 46m50s (est 50m, wr 42m53s) Overall ★★★☆☆ Skill ★★☆☆☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube V1WDaRLXqiY Review: It's still a developing speedrun, but already, there's some major skips involved. The execution might not be polished to a shine, but Glubbers presents them very well. Add in some finale hype, and you've got a wonderful run. NM: "Conductor Sparky" also listed on couch? Super Metroid (SNES - Nintendo R&D1 1994) Map Randomizer race Andy vs Oatsngoats vs imyt vs Eddie host Lanaruse, no couch 1h05m53s, 1h05m54s, 1h08m34s, 1h19m50s (est 1h20m, no wr) Overall ★★★★☆ Skill ★★★★☆ Fun ★★★★☆ Youtube ckKkywPtHAQ Review: Four of the top-level runners, racing through the most randomized randomizer I think we've seen. And even after an hour, first place came down to the second. The commentary plays second fiddle to banter and trash-talk, but it's fun trash-talk - though I do wish we had at least a basic tracker somewhere. Still, an excellent end to the marathon.