The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has captivated gamers since its 1998 release on the Nintendo 64. Over 20 years later, this epic adventure spanning the fantastical land of Hyrule still stands as one of the most critically-acclaimed video games ever made. Its playable cast of iconic characters, lush 3D world brimming with secrets, and ingenious mix of puzzles, combat and platforming have made it nothing short of legendary.
Given how beloved this game remains decades on, it comes as no surprise that a passionate community has developed around pushing Ocarina of Time to its limits through speedrunning. This article will serve as your guide through the exhilarating world of OoT speedruns, spotlighting the run that took things to absurd new heights courtesy of master speedrunner Cosmo Wright. Grab your Ocarina and strap in!
The Thriving World of Ocarina of Time Speedruns
For the uninitiated, speedrunning is the practice of experienced gamers racing to complete titles as quickly as possible, employing intimate game knowledge, precision button inputs, glitch exploitation and endless trial-and-error to set record times.
While any game can be speedrun, Ocarina of Time remains one of the most popular choices. The complexity of its gameplay systems allows for an incredible diversity of speedrun categories and self-imposed rulesets. Players can blaze through the main story liberally using shortcuts as an "Any%, run every sidequest for a grueling 100% run, or restrict things even further for added challenge. On top of that, its pivotal place in gaming history means no shortage of nostalgic fans eager to watch these masterful runs.
Record-setting OoT speedruns manage to transform this adventure, known for sweeping players away in a 40-hour epic journey, into a frantic sprint concluded in under 4 minutes! As gamer KillerMemestar1700 explains:
"Ocarina offers the perfect balance between precise movement, glitch knowledge and creative routing that makes optimized runs incredibly hype to watch."
Let‘s examine why these runs manage to thrill both participants and spectators alike by highlighting one particularly groundbreaking attempt.
Cosmo Wright‘s Any% Breakthrough
In 2014, renowned speedrunner Cosmo Wright managed to reach Ocarina of Time‘s climax in under 20 minutes without collecting main weapons or navigation tools that are considered mandatory in normal playthroughs. He warped directly from the Deku Tree dungeon to the final Ganondorf battle thanks to ingenious exploits. This run became legendary, setting the stage for increasingly ridiculous shortcuts.
To appreciate the intricacy of Wright‘s methods, let‘s break things down:
Precisely Charting the Optimal Route
| Sequence | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Deku Tree Clip | 0:24 | Passes through doorway without collecting slingshot |
| Dodges Mido | 1:12 | Delicate stick maneuver skips confrontation |
From the beginning, Wright performs pixel-perfect moves necessary to slip past barriers that would mandate completing the first dungeon. This analysis continues documenting every manipulated encounter on the way to Ganondorf.
Masterful Execution of Difficult Tricks
While other runners had managed to reach the end credits quicker post-2014 relying on more easily performed skips, Wright‘s run remains incredibly impressive due to techniques considered far more challenging at the time, namely:
I‘ve embedded footage of Wright flawlessly pulling off these tricks below:
While later outdone, Wright‘s ingenious methods pushed OoT speedrunning into a new era and inspired countless runners to follow in his footsteps. Next we‘ll examine the history that led to sub-20 being considered groundbreaking.
The Evolution of Ocarina of Time Speedruns
Modern OoT runs finishing in under 5 minutes were once considered impossible, but gradual discoveries slowly chipped times down over decades:
Mapping notable breakthroughs to their impact over the years shows how far OoT speedrunning has come thanks to both glitch hunting and sheer player dedication.
Many runners even restart from scratch when more efficient tricks emerge. Top speedrunner Zfg1 recounted his experience with reinventing strategies:
"I had the Any% record for a while in 2016 with a time of about 19 minutes. Then a major new Wrong Warp discovery happened that let runners finish in under 5 minutes…back to the drawing board!"
This willingness to toss proven methods aside is part of what makes the OoT community so innovative to this day.
Getting Into Ocarina of Time Speedrunning
Hopefully this glimpse into what top-level OoT speedrunning looks like has piqued your interest! Those eager to dive in should check out these resources:
Veterans strongly advise new runners stick to the Any% category and master key tricks through repetitive practice before complicating things. Patience is key – Cosmo Wright spent 2 years tirelessly optimizing to get his breakthrough run!
With passion and dedication, you too can push OoT to its limits. Good luck speedrunners!
