It may be almost 24 years since GoldenEye released on the N64 but, in the intervening decades the game's dedicated community of speedrunners has continued to challenge themselves to come up with the fastest times on various levels, blazing through enemy gauntlets as quickly as possible to create new World Record times.
Regarded as the game's toughest stage, the Moonraker-inspired Aztec level has provided something of an ongoing challenge in this regard due to an awkwardly positioned piece of armour that doubles a player's health — a boost previously thought vital to a successful run — that's seen speedrunners feel the need to go out of their way, wasting precious seconds in order to grab it.
However, as reported by Kotaku, one nifty speedrunner named Gus Riolo has managed to set a new world record by leaving that vital piece of armour behind and using a new trick to find a quicker way of surviving the level's enemy onslaught.
According to speedrunning documentarian Karl Jobst, it's been one turret in particular on the Aztec level, a seemingly unavoidable obstacle sat in a duct that tears player's health to shreds, that's been causing all the trouble. However, a handful of speedrunners eventually discovered a trick to fool the turret that involves moving forward to get its attention and then stepping back in order to send it tracking around, giving players just enough time to clear the duct without taking any damage.
With this valuable information in hand, Riolo was able to blast through the level in a world record time of 1:34 seconds on 00 Agent difficulty, as you can see below:
Of course, with this trick out in the open we're sure to see new records set in due course, However, for now — over two decades after the game originally released — Riolo has something to celebrate and GoldenEye speedrunners have a brand new challenge to chase.
We're off to check our cart and see our original Aztec completion time on 00 Agent difficulty. Because we certainly finished it on the hardest setting. Yes sirree, we definitely didn't get our mate's little brother to unlock any of the cheats for us.
Stop looking at us like that. We're regular 007s over here! Shaken not stirred and all that...
Let us know your times below.
[source kotaku.com.au]
Comments 17
This is pretty awesome. The mastery of the speedrunning game will never end!
"...one turret in particular on the Aztec level, a seemingly unavoidable obstacle sat in a duct that tears player's health to shreds..."
So the thing giving speedrunners grief has been a "tear duct," if you will?
I'll see myself out.
@Fath Deary me.
Impressive, I wondered how they heck they handled Jaws but it seems there's some sort of glitch that gets the guards to open the locked office with the launch disc. Plus, using the armour piercing AR33 so they can shoot bad guys through closed doors is cool.
I wonder if using the Japanese version is just a personal preference or if there's something about that version that makes speed running easier? I noticed he was looking at the ground a lot, presumably to keep the frame rate up.
While I do find this level very difficult, I still consider Control to be my nemesis thanks to that bit at the end defending Natalia!
Just saw on Eurogamer that a streamer accidentally discovered a 2-minute time save in MGS. Couple of 90s classics seeing speedrun records fall.
@Dpullam Cheating is not awesome. I don't understand how the community allows these cheats. Some people say oh it's a skill. Yeah, a skill in cheating.
@BulkSlash most games are run using Japanese versions of the games because the text scrolls quicker.
@SirRandall you have lots of different categories for all games. Glitchless, 100% and no arbitrary code execution are just a few. All categories are competitive and very high skill.
Every speedrunner post has the same comments saying that cheats are not ok. I but I really like the glitches they use. But if u dont like, there is the right category for it.
Also whoever messed me up and now making me think his hand is his mouth, Darn you.
@Boxmonkey Ah yes, of course. I know that’s definitely the case for Ocarina of Time as there are rom patches to speed the text up to match the Japanese version.
I’ll have to give the Japanese version of GoldenEye a try, if Valentin rabbits on for less time in that version it might be worth switching! 😅
Edit: just checked The Cutting Room Floor and it seems the Japanese version is a bit easier:
-Missions have the same amount of body armor available regardless of the difficulty chosen in the Japanese version; the amount available is reduced on harder difficulties in other regions.
-Auto-aim also behaves the same way on all difficulties in the Japanese version. It isn't as strong on higher difficulties in other regions.
@Boxmonkey Well said!
That image had me clamoring for an HD port; this is interesting in its own right though.
Christ i should have taken up speed running, first time i've bothered seeing something like this an that was how i always did that level as a teenager, the turrets across all levels could be strafe fooled (strafe out, then back, then strafe out while going forward for extra speed). Worked a treat in the jungle too. Facility in 56 seconds was always the hardest for me. Think the world record was 54, which must have taken so much practice to shave off.
@Snatcher
Obligatory
Speedrunners hate him! Learn this one sneaky trick to leave the competition in the dust.
Impressive, but it's no Streets 1:12.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...