Glitch assisted or not, the athleticism shines through
Skyward Sword and 1001 Spikes may not look like they have a lot in common, but they share a lot of the same design sensibilities. Both games are about exploring relatively small, densely packed areas that appear simple on the surface, but allow for surprisingly deep levels of variability and nuance. When you master these games, you end up with the feeling that you’ve formed a hard earned, multifaceted relationship with them. That kind of mastery is what speedruns are all about.
The Skyward Sword speed-run above is a +7 minute exhibition by Indykenobi at Summer Games Done Quick (Now playing Pokemon Gold). He shows off one the game’s more empowering glitches, and ends with highly entertaining display of combat against the game’s last boss. Spoilers for those who haven’t beaten Skyward Sword — the last boss might take you anywhere between two minutes to an hour to beat, depending on your level of skill and strategy. He’s one of the reasons I love that game so much. While I’m excited for the 3D Zelda games to come, I have the sinking feeling that when it comes to combat, Skyward Sword may end up being the peak of the series.
Below you’ll find a glitch-free speed-run of the first map of 1001 Spikes, another game where the smallest alteration in strategy or the tiniest mistake can completely change your outcome. This expert level run also works great as a guide for those who may still be stumped on some of the game’s more befuddling ruins.
