Streaming Star Spends 37 Straight Trying to Beat <em>Tears of the Kingdom</em> With Only a One Branch

One could think that two years post-launch since Tears of the Kingdom arrived, enthusiasts would have run out of creative challenge runs that apply unique restrictions on a gameplay session. Yet, while many players have attempted to finish Tears of the Kingdom with only a stick, streamer PointCrow holds the record as the individual who endeavored to clear the adventure with a single stick—meaning, the exact same stick throughout.

The streamer is famous for these kinds of challenge runs, such as the instance he played the game using only bombs or the attempt where he tried to beat the game with zero stamina. A single stick playthrough, though, sounds unfeasible at first glance. There's the opening sequence, which forces the hero to use the legendary blade. Additionally, there's the whole weapon wear mechanic, which is especially relevant when dealing with the most fragile tool in the entire world. But if the stick breaks, that's it. Game over.

So, How?

How did he do it? The simple answer is exploits. The complete answer, believe it or not, is parallel universes. Apparently, you can manipulate the game's saving mechanism to have separate game sessions that affect one another. So PointCrow does a “setup” save where he advances normally, and the real file, where he's limited. The preparatory save has him going through the prologue and first starting area, and this character acquires maximum endurance and health. From this point, he starts a cinematic and halts partway through to tell the software to load an auto-save from the stick file. The system gets confused and generates a third game file that combines the conditions of the first two files.

That creates new issues, though. The merged file has a Link that did not obtain the capability to access shrines. Luckily, this is something that the file exploit addresses easily, but executing it means relying on an buggy build of the title that refuses to open certain areas. As with everything else, he has a clever solution for it: He starts the game on its early version 1.0, and then updates the software partway through to ensure it starts working properly.

Overcoming Durability and Other Hurdles

Interestingly, the introductory form of Link is programmed so that he is unable to break any weapons he uses, presumably to avoid a scenario where the player gets trapped at the start of the adventure. But that's additionally how PointCrow gets around the durability issue, as the character he pulls between dimensions is the version from the beginning of the game. It's a smart technique, but not one that eliminates all potential friction. The branch is still a ineffective weapon that renders battles onerous. But at that point, it's entirely a question of determination and dedication. It also aids that there's a duplication glitch that grants him an plentiful number of consumables to boost his attack, or accumulate on revival fairies. He additionally makes use of a glitch that allows Link to clip through the environment. A few would find these means grounds to question the legitimacy of the attempt, but in my mind, he's a inventive player who is willing to do anything necessary to engage his audience. He further implements a safeguard of kinds stating that, for every spirit he uses, he'll ban a fan from his Twitch chat, creating an motivation to not depend too much on them.

Major Battles and the Last Showdown

PointCrow succeeds to get through many of Tears of the Kingdom's bosses, but the battles look grueling. The YouTube version of his quest spares the audience endure the entire fights, which is a good thing when some of them take multiple hours. A particular boss fight, Queen Gibdo, requires an incredible 23 straight. The final villain battle, which depletes the hero's hearts as it progresses, is a notable tense moment. The unbreakable stick is still only a stick. He can't necessarily duplicate objects during the fight.

So, is it possible? In a matter of speaking, PointCrow manages to overcome the beast form of the antagonist. But the software compels the user to wield the legendary weapon as the final attack, so strictly speaking, it's not quite completely a stick-only playthrough. But what fun is that?

In the end, the streamer removed over a thousand people in his Twitch chat. RIP.