Before we dive headfirst into dissecting Zero-Master‘s mind-blowing Doom speedrun skill, let‘s rewind and make sure we‘re all on the same page regarding what a "Doom speedrun" actually is.
What Exactly Does It Mean To "Speedrun" Doom?
Simply put, a "speedrun" refers to playing through a Doom game as fast as humanly possible – using any means necessary, whether that‘s exploiting shortcuts, glitches, optimal routes, or simply ungodly aiming reflexes.
The goal is to set a blazing fast time that other speedrunners strive to match or beat. It‘s an intensely competitive subculture within the Doom community that evolved soon after the original 1993 game took PCs by storm. And of all the god-like speedrunners that have emerged in Doom history – nobody has more thoroughly dominated across every category than the mythical Zero-Master.
Just look at the way Zero-Master dismantles this Doom level in WR pace – it almost looks like the game is being fast forwarded! Insane movements and precision aim make 57 intense seconds seem like a blur. More on how Zero-Master is able to shred this fast later on.
First, let‘s break down the different "flavors" of Doom speedruns players around the world compete in…
The Many Delicious Flavors of Doom Speedruns
While the concept of playing Doom super fast sounds simple enough, over decades of evolution there have emerged many nuanced sub-categories and rulesets to cater to different specialties and playstyles.
Any% vs 100% Completion Speedruns
The most common delineation when it comes to Doom speed attempt types is "Any%" versus "100%":
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Any% means finishing the game as quickly as possible through whatever means necessary. Skip levels via glitches? Sure! Only kill mandatory bosses? Go for it! Just get to the ending by any route possible.
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100% on the other hand requires fully completing the entire game – all levels played in order, all secrets found, all monsters killed. A true fully "legit" run.
| Type | Rules | Example Run Time |
|---|---|---|
| Any% | Anything goes! Skip content etc. Just finish fast. | Doom 93 – <13 minutes |
| 100% | Complete all levels/kills/secrets | Doom 93 – ~1 hour |
Then within those two buckets, there has emerged finer-grained categories with their own rule sets and leaderboards over 30 years of Doom speedrunning innovation.
UV Rulesets Add Further Flair
Beyond Any% and 100%, unofficial "UV" rulesets further distinguished speedrun styles according to what content needed to be covered:
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UV Speed – Rush through levels as fast as possible from start to finish.
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UV Max – Must achieve 100% kills and secrets before exiting each level.
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UV Pacifist – Finishing the game without harming any monsters at all!
And then there‘s also a stylistic choice between unrestricted (take whatever shortcuts you want) and restricted runs (glitches off limits) too for an extra layer of spice.
But no matter what particular flavor of Doom speedrun you dive into – from blazing Any% runs to restricted UV slaughterfests – Zero-Master has proven to be the undisputed maestro over decades of unthinkable performances across the entire series.
Behold – Zero-Master: The Michael Jordan of Doom Speedrunning
Much like Michael Jordan ubiquitously dominated professional basketball for over a decade, Zero-Master has consistently maintained world record pace across countless Doom speedrun flavors.
We‘re talking continuous claim over the Any% Restricted category for the original 1993 Doom, multiple records across various Ultra Violent rulesets, and most recently the crown jewel – a mind-blowing 17 minute 48 second slaying of Doom Eternal top-to-bottom.
And while other rival speed demons have briefly seized records from Zero-Master here and there, the GOAT always comes raging back with performance improvements cementing a permanent spot atop the Doom speedrunning pantheon.
But raw record times only tell part of the story when it comes to the pure majesty of watching Zero-Master carve through hordes of hellspawn at lightspeed. Let‘s analyze the secrets behind Zero-Master‘s advanced speedrunning sorcery:
Secret #1 – Pixel Perfect Precision
One of the keys behind Zero-Master‘s continuous world record strangling is the ungodly precision embodied during play. We‘re talking tapping exact floor pixels to clip through geometry, landing each circle strafe jump flawlessly, and effortlessly nailing 150+ damage direct rocket hits routinely.
This level of movement/aiming accuracy enables pathing through levels most players didn‘t even know was possible!
Secret #2 – Pattern Memorization Mastery
In addition to mechanical precision, Zero-Master exhibits astonishing pattern memorization skills when it comes to completing extended room sequences under duress. The muscle memory turns seemingly random rapid decision making into a beautifully choreographed dance to safety.
Secret #3 – Glitch Manipulation Wizardry
While certain Doom restricted categories forbid outright glitching, Zero-Master dexterously knows how to subtly manipulate favorable bugs/unintended mechanics without fully breaking runs. We‘re talking animation canceling, brief wall clips, slope boosts and other physics hijinks that afford precious time savings.
Secret #4 – Ultra High Risk Improvisation
Where other runners may cautiously opt for slower but consistent routes, Zero-Master is known for improvising seat-of-the-pants shortcuts that shatter records through sheer luck and balls. One missed jump spell‘s death, but the gambles pay off more often than not during world record streams!
Thanks to this lethal combo of accuracy, planning, tricks and daring on-the-fly decisions, Zero-Master has been able to absolutely decimate previous conceptions of what was possible in Doom speedrunning year after year after year.
And with the beauty of modern streaming technology, we all get front row virtual seats to the action! Check out Zero-Master‘s YouTube channel here highlighting world record runs across various Doom games over an illustrious career.
Which brings us to the final piece of Zero-Master‘s extensive legacy when it comes to pushing speedrunning game boundaries…
Doom: The Genesis of Modern Video Game Speedrunning
It‘s critical to understand that the original 1993 Doom played a pivotal role in spawning speedrunning as we know it today.
