In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time speedrunning, a major change has happened for the first time in three years, and it involves the Wii U. Speedruns in the “any%” category now take under four minutes thanks to a trick called Stale Reference Manipulation (SRM).
This trick, especially the Lightnode SRM version, lets players change the game’s memory using the names of their save files, which makes it possible to complete the game much faster.
Previously, in 2021, a breakthrough technique was discovered that allowed players to use Lightnode SRM to warp instantly to the game’s credits from the starting area in Kokiri Forest.
This advancement was only achievable on the Wii Virtual Console version of Ocarina of Time due to a specific bug in the N64 emulation on the Wii. Consequently, the Wii became the preferred platform for most speedrunners, as it was the only option supporting this unique SRM technique.
However, MrCheeze, a notable figure in the Zelda speedrunning community, has now demonstrated that the Wii U is potentially a superior platform for this speedrun. The Wii U’s N64 emulator provides better frame rates compared to the Wii, which could save up to two seconds in a four-minute run.
MrCheeze’s recent findings have enabled the Lightnode SRM technique on the Wii U, and early results from runner Malicia suggest this new approach could lead to faster times.
The Wii U also offers an additional advantage: the TV remote button functionality. This feature could assist in executing the Lightnode SRM by allowing precise control over analog stick inputs.
By using a combination of the gamepad and a second controller, players can theoretically achieve the exact input needed to complete the trick more easily. Despite this, there’s ongoing debate about the legality of this method within the speedrunning community.
Currently, the use of the Wii U’s unique controller manipulation is controversial and potentially against the rules, which prohibit swapping controllers or changing mappings during a run. This has sparked a discussion about whether the Wii U technique should be officially accepted.
Regardless of these debates, the introduction of this new method marks a significant development in Ocarina of Time speedrunning, showcasing the community’s ongoing innovation and dedication to revitalizing classic games.
