Streaming Star Dedicates 37 Hours Attempting to Beat <em>The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</em> Using a Single Stick

One could think that after two years since Tears of the Kingdom arrived, enthusiasts would have exhausted creative self-imposed challenges that apply special rules on a gameplay session. However, while numerous players have attempted to finish Tears of the Kingdom with just a wooden stick, streamer the streamer holds the record as the individual who aimed to beat the adventure with a one stick—specifically, the exact same stick from start to finish.

The streamer is famous for such challenge runs, like the instance he played the game using only explosives or the attempt where he tried to defeat the game with no stamina. A one-branch run, though, sounds impossible at first glance. There's the game's introduction, which requires the hero to use the legendary blade. Then, there's the whole weapon wear system, which is especially relevant when working with the weakest weapon in the entire world. But if the branch breaks, that's the end. Game over.

The Method Behind the Madness

How did he do it? The simple explanation is exploits. The complete story, believe it or not, is alternate dimensions. It turns out, you can tweak the game's save file system to have separate game sessions that impact one another. So the creator creates a “setup” file where he advances standardly, and the real file, where he's restricted. The preparatory file has him going through the prologue and initial starting area, and this character acquires full stamina and health. From here, he starts a cinematic and halts partway through to instruct the software to load an auto-save from the branch-only file. The game gets confused and creates a new save file that merges the states of the first two files.

This creates fresh problems, however. The merged file has a protagonist that never obtain the capability to access shrines. Fortunately, this is an issue that the save glitch fixes easily, but executing it means relying on an buggy build of the game that fails to open some locations. Like everything else, he has a technical workaround for it: He starts the game on its early 1.0 build, and then patches the game midway through to make sure it begins functioning correctly.

Overcoming Durability and Additional Challenges

Curiously, the introductory form of Link is coded so that he cannot break any weapons he wields, likely to avoid a scenario where the user gets trapped at the start of the adventure. But that's additionally how PointCrow gets around the wear problem, as the Link he transfers across universes is the one from the start of the game. It's a smart trick, but not one that eliminates all potential difficulty. The stick is still a weak weapon that makes battles onerous. But at that point, it's entirely a question of grit and dedication. It also aids that there's a copying exploit that grants him an abundant number of items to boost his strength, or stock up on healing spirits. He additionally makes use of a bug that enables Link to clip through the environment. Some would find these means grounds to discredit the validity of the run, but to my view, he's a resourceful player who is willing to do whatever it takes to entertain his viewer. He further implements a safeguard of sorts stipulating that, for each spirit he employs, he'll remove one fan from his live stream, creating an motivation to not depend too much on them.

Major Battles and the Last Encounter

PointCrow manages to defeat several of the game's bosses, but the fights appear grueling. The video edit of his journey spares the viewer endure the whole fights, which is a good thing when a few of them last several long hours. One boss fight, Queen Gibdo, takes an astonishing 23 straight. The Ganondorf showdown, which erases Link's hearts as it progresses, is a memorable tense moment. The indestructible stick is still only a stick. He is unable to necessarily duplicate objects during the fight.

So, is it possible? In a matter of speaking, PointCrow manages to overcome the dragon version of the antagonist. But the software compels the user to wield the Master Sword as the last strike, so strictly speaking, it's not fully a branch-exclusive playthrough. But where's the challenge in that?

When everything is said and done, the streamer banned more than a thousand people in his live stream. RIP.