Streaming Star Spends Thirty-Seven Straight Attempting to Beat <em>Tears of the Kingdom</em> Using a Single Stick

One could think that two years post-launch since Tears of the Kingdom debuted, enthusiasts would have run out of creative self-imposed challenges that apply special restrictions on a gameplay session. However, although many players have tried to complete the game using just a stick, content creator the streamer stands out as the player who endeavored to beat the game with a one stick—specifically, the very same one throughout.

The streamer is renowned for these kinds of challenge runs, such as the instance he played the game solely with bombs or the attempt where he tried to beat the game with no stamina. A one-branch run, however, seems impossible at face value. There's the opening sequence, which requires the hero to wield the legendary blade. Additionally, there's the entire weapon wear system, which is especially important when dealing with the most fragile tool in the whole game. Yet if the stick shatters, that's the end. Game over.

So, How?

So, how? The straightforward answer is exploits. The complete story, believe it or not, is alternate dimensions. Apparently, you can manipulate Tears of the Kingdom's save file system to have distinct playthroughs that affect one another. So PointCrow does a “preparation” file where he advances normally, and the real file, where he's limited. The preparatory save has him completing the intro and initial tutorial island, and this Link acquires maximum stamina and hearts. From this point, he triggers a cutscene and halts partway through to instruct the game to open an automatic save from the stick file. The system gets mixed up and generates a new save file that merges the states of the original two.

This causes fresh problems, however. The fused save file has a Link that did not obtain the capability to enter sacred places. Fortunately, this is an issue that the file exploit addresses readily, but executing it means depending on an buggy build of the game that fails to load some locations. As with everything else, he has a clever workaround for it: He begins the game on its early version 1.0, and then updates the software partway through to ensure it begins working properly.

Bypassing Weapon Wear and Additional Hurdles

Interestingly, the introductory version of the hero is programmed so that he is unable to break any tools he wields, presumably to avoid a situation where the player gets trapped at the start of the adventure. But that's also how the streamer bypasses the durability issue, as the Link he transfers across dimensions is the version from the start of the game. It's a smart technique, but not one that eradicates all potential friction. The stick is still a ineffective weapon that renders battles onerous. But at that point, it's entirely a question of grit and perseverance. It also aids that there's a copying exploit that grants him an abundant supply of consumables to boost his attack, or stock up on healing spirits. He additionally makes use of a bug that allows him to clip through the world. A few would consider these means reason to discredit the legitimacy of the run, but to my view, he's a resourceful player who is ready to do anything necessary to entertain his viewer. He further implements a safeguard of sorts stating that, for every spirit he uses, he'll ban one fan from his Twitch chat, creating an motivation to avoid depend too much on them.

Major Battles and the Last Encounter

The streamer succeeds to defeat many of the game's main enemies, but the battles appear painful. The YouTube version of his quest spares the viewer endure the whole fights, which is a good thing when some of them take multiple long hours. A particular boss fight, Queen Gibdo, requires an incredible twenty-three hours. The final villain showdown, which depletes Link's health as it unfolds, is a memorable nail-biter. The indestructible stick is still just a piece of wood. He is unable to always duplicate items during the battle.

Did he succeed? In a matter of speaking, PointCrow does defeat the dragon version of the antagonist. But the game compels the user to use the Master Sword as the final strike, so strictly speaking, it's not fully a stick-only playthrough. But where's the challenge in that?

When everything is said and done, PointCrow banned more than a thousand people in his Twitch chat. RIP.