Needing a break from the nightly news? Seeking thrills from forces NOT hellbent on apocalypses or taking away rights? Then join me for a deep dive into the dark, twisted, and shockingly fast world of Resident Evil 4 speedrunning!
Grab some herbs, secure weapons in your attaché case, and let‘s delve into the past and future of record-melting sprints through Los Illuminados‘ gauntlet of ghoulish ganados and towering bosses.
Chasing Legends: Satoshi_RTA‘s Sub 1 Hour 35 Masterclass
On January 8th, 2023, renowned Resident Evil speed demon Satoshi_RTA uploaded a YouTube video that left horror fans slack-jawed. His tireless efforts had culminated in a history-making run of RE4‘s main story in 1 hour, 34 minutes and 18 seconds!
| Speedrunner | Platform | Time | Date Set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satoshi_RTA | PS4 | 1:34:18 | January 8, 2023 |
This blistering playthrough sees Satoshi fully optimizing item routes, abusing enemy AI, gracefully mitigating threats, and seemingly glitching the game‘s very code to achieve inhuman mobility.
While Survival Horror often relies on tense, precise play, this run makes Resident Evil 4 look about as dangerous as a Sunday stroll! So how did Satoshi shatter more limits of the iconic action title than the Los Illuminados did to enemies‘ skulls? Let‘s break down the black magic at play…
Pixel Perfect Precision
Even veteran fans of Resident Evil struggle with the strict resource management required at higher difficulties. But through endless grinding of enemy patterns and terrain, Satoshi has reached a point where no bullets, seconds or footsteps are spared or wasted…
Frames Save Lives
By cancelling animations frames before they trigger and capitalizing on controller input queues, Satoshi masters tricks that subtly teleport Leon for faster mobility than intended…
Mental Endurance
A single misstep over 90 straight minutes of heart-pounding action can force runners like Satoshi to restart entirely. His ability to maintain laser focus despite the ever-present threat of failure shows incredible poise.
Satoshi‘s historic run continues his dominant streak atop the RE4 leaderboards, even nearly 20 years since launch. But how precisely did speedrunning become such a monumental part of Resident Evil 4‘s legacy?
Over 8,500 Attempts And Counting: The History of RE4 Speedrunning
Since bursting onto the survival horror scene in 2005, Resident Evil 4 has inspired over 8,500 tracked speedrun attempts across all platforms.
| Year | Milestone / Record Holder | Platform | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | First tracked runs emerge | GameCube | ~2 hours |
| 2015 | First sub 2 hour time | PC | 1:58:36 (ZombieRyushan) |
| 2018 | All major platforms have active leaderboards | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | First console sub 1:40 | PS5 | 1:39:58 (SpartanFinix117) |
| 2023 | Current world record | PS4 | 1:34:18 (Satoshi_RTA) |
As this timeline shows, RE4 speedrunning has come a LONG way from initial playthroughs doubling the length of Leon Kennedy‘s infamous Assignment.
These days, a plethora of categories across GameCube, Wii, PS4, XB1, Switch, and PC partitions leaderboards by difficulty, gameplay mode, and additional factors. This lets newcomers compete directly alongside experts pushing the bleeding edge.
Records have fallen across platforms in 2023, but the PS4 leaderboards boasts both the outright world record and highest density of elite times. PS5 offers similar top-end performance, but some argue PS4 has more competition driving innovation.
Meanwhile, the PC port‘s unlocked frame rate enables blistering movement when perfectly optimized. But this also increases the margin of error. Top PC runners like CarcinogenSDA (1:38:55 world record) spend tons of time modifying control schemes for optimal play.
Ultimately, mastering Resident Evil 4‘s versatile arsenal of weapons, tools and techniques opens exciting speedrunning avenues regardless of your platform of choice.
Equipping Yourself to Contend
From casually capping cultists to feverishly racing the world‘s finest, Resident Evil 4 welcomes all to test their skills against Los Illuminados. Before following in Satoshi‘s boots towards speedrunning glory, make sure you‘re armed with the right knowledge!
Study the Strats of Legends
Make ample time to study speedrun route guides, boss analyses and trick explainers created by veteran players on YouTube and Speedrun.com. Seeing the precise execution needed to excel is invaluable.
Grind Areas in Isolation First
Rather than force a quick overall time right away, master key areas like the Village, Castle and Island individually before linking everything together. This builds consistency rapidly.
Replay the Routes, Not Just the Runs
Focus runs on nailing the proper item/enemy manipulation without fixating on final times. Whether you finish in 1:40 or 2:05, repeating optimal choices trains essential memory and reflexes.
Engage the Community
Questions or frustrations? The Resident Evil speedrunning community is packed with passionate, welcoming fans happy to provide advice and cohort camaraderie!
No Rest For the Wicked (Or Speedrunners)
Another day, another wave of undead villagers to cut down… thank goodness! With a remarkable 2023 speedrunning surge in full effect, there‘s never been a better time to dive into Resident Evil 4 runs.
Top competitors are already strategizing how to trim further seconds in hopes of breaking new barriers before 2024 arrives. Can legendary players like Satoshi_RTA continue to delay Father Time‘s grip on the all-time records? Will a shocking newcomer rise up to clinch console or platform-specific glory?
I‘m biting my nails waiting to see history unfold again soon. But I‘m even more excited to potentially watch YOUR star-making runjuggernauts one day! The nightmares are just beginning…
