The world of Zelda: Ocarina of Time speedrunning is constantly evolving, with speedrunners pushing the boundaries of what was once thought possible. From utilizing Stale Reference Manipulation (SRM) to leveraging the Wii U GamePad and a rubber band, the latest discoveries are shaking up the speedrunning scene.
Speedrunners of OOT have been utilizing a technique known as Lightnode SRM to manipulate the game’s code and memory through specific characters in the save game’s filename. By doing so, they are able to trigger the end credits after completing a series of inputs in the opening Kokiri Forest section, allowing for faster completion times in Any% speedruns.
Traditionally, speedrunners have favored the Wii’s Virtual Console for OOT speedruns due to a bug in its N64 emulation that allowed for quicker completion times. However, a speedrunner named MrCheeze recently discovered a filename that works for the Wii U, taking advantage of the console’s improved framerate to shave precious seconds off the record.
The key to achieving precise button inputs in Lightnode SRM lies in holding the joystick at a Y-43 angle. Working in collaboration with MrCheeze, speedrunner bradyONE found that using a rubber band to hold the joystick in place ensured consistency in hitting this critical angle. This innovative approach eliminates the risk of human error and streamlines the speedrunning process.
The Wii U GamePad’s ‘TV Remote mode,’ while often overlooked, plays a crucial role in the speedrunning process. By limiting button inputs from the device, speedrunners can set the joystick in place with the rubber band, activate the remote mode, initiate the speedrun with another controller, and then deactivate the mode to allow the GamePad to execute the final input flawlessly.
Despite the ingenuity of using the GamePad and rubber band in OOT speedruns, questions have been raised regarding their legality. Current speedrunning rules stipulate that only one controller with one analog mapping per controller port can be used during a run, prohibiting the switching of controllers, mappings, calibrations, or toggling during the speedrun. The use of the GamePad’s TV Remote mode may blur the lines of this rule, leading to a debate within the speedrunning community.
As speedrunners continue to explore new techniques and strategies to optimize their runs, the controversy surrounding the use of the Wii U GamePad and rubber band in OOT speedruns will likely shape the future of the speedrunning landscape. Whether these innovations will be embraced or deemed illegal remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the world of OOT speedrunning is as dynamic and exciting as ever.
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