Half Life‘s introduction is famously slow. Long tram rides and lengthy speeches from co-workers preparing Gordon Freeman for an experiment that would destroy the world. An atmospheric start, for sure, but it’s a ache for folk making an attempt to beat the game as shortly as potential. For one speedrunner, although, these lifeless minutes aren’t an impediment – they’re the proper alternative to begin practising for a record-breaking Star Wars run.
Speedrunner Maxam1337 isn’t one for timewasting. In his newest, world-record-setting Half-Life speedrun, The Swedish runner places a four-minute interval of exposition (beginning under on the 1:30 mark) to good use – tabbing out of Half-Life to apply methods for 1997’s Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.
Once the scientists again in Black Mesa have had their enjoyable, Maxam tabs again in to begin his speedrun in earnest. Freeman, preferring theoretical physics to Jedi thoughts tips, received’t decide up a lightsaber once more for the remainder of the run. however it’s properly price a watch regardless.
I haven’t adopted the Half-Life speedrunning scene for a minute – whereas lots of the outdated staples are there (skipping whole ranges with well-placed grenades), I’ve by no means seen quicksaving used so pointedly to keep away from tripwires or management the tempo of explosions. More than any supersonic bunny-hopping is that management of the game’s circulation, balancing well being and ammo in order that he’s solely ever firing photographs or taking injury when completely mandatory. Once Maxam picks up the Tau Cannon (with its secondary “go fast” motion), the run actually hits full throttle.
By the time he reaches Xen, he’s flying via Half-Life’s notorious alien platforming dimension in seconds. Half-Life remains to be a blisteringly quick 90s shooter, and I’d be curious to see how ponderous VR thriller Half-Life Alyx speedruns play out as compared.
With Jedi Knight 2 clearly on the desk, Maxam hasn’t fairly deserted Half-Life. Despite snagging the world document as soon as once more, he’s nonetheless eager on breaking the 27-minute barrier. He does briefly entertains the concept of speedrunning Half-Life and its fan-made successor recently completed remake Black Mesa, which lastly released in full last month, alternating between every one stage at a time.
Said in jest, certain, however I’d be properly up for catching that.
