Watch T3‘s Flawless Metroid Prime Speedrun!
When Metroid Prime was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002, it took the gaming world by storm. As the first 3D entry in the acclaimed Metroid series, Prime revolutionized the first-person adventure genre and helped solidify Nintendo‘s newest console as a powerhouse. Nearly 20 years later, Metroid Prime remains one of the most beloved and replayed games in history. But while most playthroughs focus on exploration and progression at a steady pace, an elite community of speedrunners has torn Tallon IV wide open by utilizing glitches, exploits, and pure skill to complete Samus‘ mission at blinding speeds.
One runner stands at the pinnacle of the Metroid Prime speedrunning scene – a Canadian gamer known simply as T3. With nearly two decades of experience analyzing and mastering Prime, T3 has claimed world record after world record with seeming ease. His most recent triumph: a "flawless" any% single-segment speedrun on normal mode that bested the previous record by a shocking 4 minutes.
In this guide, we‘ll analyze T3‘s history-making Metroid Prime run, highlight precisely what makes it so groundbreaking, and trace the genesis of Metroid speedrunning from the early 2000s to today. Whether you‘re a hardcore fan or simply gaming curious, let‘s dive in!
Understanding Speedruns: What Makes Them So Impressive
For the uninitiated, speedruns may look like magic. The sheer speed and intricacy of moves inputted can seem more befitting an illusionist than a gamer. But make no mistake – behind every world record lies hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of precision practice.
In simple terms, a speedrun aims to complete a video game as quickly as possible – hence the name. But that simplicity belies an incredible depth. Mastering a speedrun requires not just skill and reflexes, but an intimate understanding of the game‘s mechanics, physics, and bugs. Tiny exploits that may seem insignificant to a casual player become the foundation of new routing and groundbreaking times.
As an example, let‘s examine "wallcrawling" in Metroid Prime. Normally, Samus is confined to exploring rooms and hallways within intended boundaries. But speedrunners discovered that by chaining together Morph Ball bombs, boosts, and well-timed jumps, they could effectively scale vertical surfaces and bypass entire sections. This completely changed the way runners approached routing and serves as just one of countless tricks that sets top times apart.
And for many, the thrill comes not just from setting records, but building community and pushing boundaries. Modern streaming sites like Twitch have allowed speedrunning to blossom into a spectator sport, with fans gathering to cheer on runs in real time. In many ways, it‘s the purest form of gaming as an art and science.
Understanding T3: A Metroid Prime Master
The runner at the center of this legendary run is T3 – a Canadian gamer with an astounding 18 years of experience analyzing and routing Metroid Prime. While T3 holds claim to numerous Prime speedrun records across categories, he‘s perhaps best known for his pioneering any% runs – a category where anything goes so long as Samus makes it from her gunship to the final boss.
With so much time spent dissecting Metroid Prime, T3 has an intimate understanding of both intended mechanics and exploits that more casual players wouldn‘t even know existed. And rather than just stumble upon new tricks, T3 takes a studious, analytical approach – using tools like dolphin emulator‘s debug mode to trial routes and find opportunities to optimize.
While certainly gifted in terms of raw skill, it‘s this studious nature, matched with nearly two decades of experience, that have cemented T3‘s standing in the Metroid community. Let‘s examine precisely how he leveraged that knowledge in arguably his most impressive feat yet.
The Run Explained: Rules, Exploits, and Records
In simplest terms, T3‘s latest run is an any% single-segment completion of Metroid Prime on normal mode difficulty. For the uninitiated:
- Any% means reaching the end credits with any amount of completion. No special requirements.
- Single-segment means no breaks, pauses, deaths, or game resets. This entire run happened in one go.
- Normal mode is the base Metroid Prime difficulty – harder than easy mode but easier than hard.
Armed with that knowledge, T3 set out to beat the existing any% record of 48 minutes – a time that had stood mostly unchallenged for nearly 2 years. And he didn‘t just edge it out either – he absolutely shattered expectations with a 44 minute masterpiece.
Even T3 himself didn‘t think he‘d best this record anytime soon. But little improvements began stacking up, and suddenly a new best was in sight. Route optimizations here, tighter movement there, and most crucially – nailing tricks other runners struggled with.
These tricks are the engine that allows such blinding times. And T3 utilized tried and true Metroid Prime speed tech to perfection:
Infinite Speed
An exploit that gives Samus unlimited boost speed – essential for blazing between roomsL-Jumping
Lets Samus phase through floors and ceilings by dropping a bomb, grappling a ledge and jumping"Bunny Hopping"
Chaining together L-jumps for rapid vertical movementSlope Jumping
Launching off slopes for huge height and distance"Scan Dashing"
Canceling Scan Visor transitions instantly to retain momentum
And the list goes on and on. Nearly every room has an optimized path and trick to shave precious seconds. It‘s only through long familiarity that they become second nature.
So where did these tricks originate? And how has the Metroid Prime speedrun scene evolved from 2002 to present day? Let‘s find out.
A Brief History of Metroid Prime Speedrunning
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the origins of sequence breaking and exploit-hunting in Metroid Prime trace back to 2002 – the very year of its release. An early pioneer was runner "SolrFlare", who coined the term "sequence break" – now ubiquitous in speedrunning lexicon.
In these early days, the mere act of finishing Metroid Prime quickly felt revelatory. Few imagined Samus could demolish her mission under 2 hours, let alone 1. But a combination of new tricks and routing saw times drop dramatically through 2003. Gradually, barriers long thought insurmountable fell away.
By 2004, dedicated sites like Speed Demos Archive had entire wikis dedicated to prime sequence breaks. Comprehensive route maps visualization brought new runners up to speed. And with so many eyes analyzing, new exploits emerged by the month.
Suddenly sub 50 and even sub 40 minute runs didn‘t seem so farfetched. A titan emerged in speedrunner Claris, whose 45 minute run went unbeaten for years. But no domination lasts forever – and eventually a young Canadian kid named T3 would rise through the ranks to become the Metroid Prime speedrunner.
Rather than radically change routes and exploit discovery though, T3 honed in on optimization. Shaving seconds through more precise movement and trick execution. By 2020, T3 captured the coveted sub-40, cementing his status atop the Metroid heap.
And while new exploits still surface and routing gets optimized, T3 has shown no signs of slowing. Could an eventual 35-minute run be in sight? Only time will tell.
The Legacy: Why This Run Matters
In the end, while records stand to be broken, one fact remains – T3‘s 44 minute run represents a new high water mark for Metroid Prime speedrunning. And coming off a long-standing 48 minute record, this 4 minute gap stunned the community.
But more than just the time itself, it‘s the legacy of this benchmark that proves most impressive. 18 years since first picking up a controller, T3‘s passion for Metroid Prime still burns hotter than ever. It‘s a testament to the depth and nuance that keeps speedrunning forever fresh, even within a single title.
And for every new viewer that witnesses the fluidity of sequence breaks or the emotion of T3 besting his own times, a bit of that passion spreads. Speedrunning stands today as both competitive gaming and performance art. And records like this remind us that even 20 years later, there‘s always new boundaries to break.
Frequently Asked Metroid Prime Speedrun Questions
For those hungry to learn more about the world of Metroid Prime speedrunning, here are answers to some commonly asked questions:
What are common speedrunning terms?
Sequence Break – Skipping sections through unintended order or exploitsAny% – finishing the game with minimal requirementsSingle-segment – No breaks or resets allowedLow% – Finishing with low completion/upgrades
What tricks do expert runners use?
Infinite Bomb Jumping – Chains bombs to reach new areasWallcrawling – Climbing out of bounds using bombs/momentumScan Dashing – Instantly canceling Scan Visor lagSlopeslides – Using slopes for speed and height
Where can I watch speedruns and learn more?
YouTube and Twitch host endless speedrunning content. Join discords for personal advice. Speedrun.com tracks verified record times across thousands of games.
How can I start speedrunning?
Choose a favorite game, watch top runs take notes on routes. Practice movement tech and sequences. Utilize emulators to trial tricks risk-free. And don‘t worry about times early on – focus on execution.
What is T3‘s world record time?
As of this article, T3 holds the Metroid Prime any% record at 44 minutes flat. He also holds several category records including any% hard mode at 1 hour 13 minutes.
The Takeaway: Appreciating an Artform
At its core, T3‘s run represents the very soul of speedrunning itself. That captivating mix of competition, passion, and community that drives the artform ever forward. 18 years and thousands of attempts in the making, this 44 minute run is truly the culmination of a lifetime dedication.
Yet as long as speedrunners continue hunting frame perfect tricks, and fans gather to cheer them on, even this record won‘t stand forever. And that fleeting, yet unbroken spirit helps make every run – flawless or failed – wholly unforgettable.
