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The Brilliance of Hindsight in Speedrunning
Speedrunning is a discipline built on relentless optimization. Every frame, every movement, every decision is scrutinized to shave off precious seconds. We've seen incredible glitches, complex routing, and insane execution become the norm.
Yet, the history of speedrunning is littered with instances where solutions to long-standing problems were surprisingly simple, requiring just a slight shift in perspective. This isn't a knock on the runners; it's a testament to how deep the rabbit hole goes and how dedicated the community is to uncovering every possible shortcut.
Today, we're focusing on GoldenEye 007, a game that has been a staple in the speedrun community for decades. Despite its age and the vast amount of analysis it has undergone, there are still strats that lay dormant, waiting to be discovered.
The "Natural Stuck Mainframe" Glitch
This one is a classic example of exploiting enemy AI and collision detection. The goal here is to get enemies stuck in a state where they can't attack or interfere, effectively freezing them in place.
In many levels, particularly those with complex geometry and guard patrols, finding a specific spot where an enemy will pathfind into an inescapable loop is key. The "Natural Stuck Mainframe" strat involves luring guards into a particular environmental feature or corner that traps them.
For years, runners might have been avoiding these exact spots, seeing them as awkward or dangerous. The breakthrough came when someone realized that instead of avoiding the trap, they could use it to their advantage, rendering a whole group of enemies harmless for a crucial segment of the run.
The sheer ingenuity of finding these AI exploits is what makes speedrunning so fascinating. It’s like finding a secret handshake with the game’s engine.
Mastering this requires precise enemy manipulation and timing, ensuring the guards get stuck before they can raise the alarm or engage 007. This single strat could save significant time by eliminating combat encounters entirely.
The Farwall Strat (vs. Ourumov)
Facing off against Trevelyan (Ourumov) is a critical part of many runs. Traditionally, this encounter involves a direct confrontation, often at close range.
The "Farwall" strat, however, turns this on its head. Instead of engaging Ourumov directly in the usual arena, speedrunners found a way to trigger his demise or advance the objective from a much safer, further distance.
This often involves exploiting line-of-sight glitches or specific trigger zones. By positioning Bond correctly outside the typical engagement area, Ourumov might become vulnerable or despawn/advance prematurely, skipping a significant portion of the fight.
This discovery dramatically altered the optimal routes for levels featuring Ourumov, proving that even boss encounters had hidden shortcuts. It’s a prime example of how understanding the game’s boundaries and trigger mechanisms can unlock massive time saves.
The Clipboard Lure
This strategy is particularly ingenious, relying on a clever manipulation of enemy awareness and object interaction. The "Clipboard Lure" is all about misdirecting guards using a specific item or action.
In levels like Aztec, where you need to infiltrate and avoid detection, using the environment is crucial. The Clipboard Lure involves performing an action or dropping an item (the "clipboard" being a metaphorical representation of such an item or interaction point) in a way that draws enemy attention to a specific spot.
Once the guards are distracted and moved away from their patrol routes or key positions, Bond can sneak past or reach objectives unhindered. This strat bypasses the need for stealth takedowns or direct confrontation, streamlining the infiltration process.
The genius lies in realizing that guards have predictable behavioral patterns when alerted, and these patterns can be exploited. Finding the exact "lure point" and timing is the key to making this a consistent time saver.
Reverse Hostages Strat
In missions where rescuing hostages is an objective, the standard approach is to find and escort them. The "Reverse Hostages" strat, however, flips this on its head.
Instead of actively seeking out and protecting hostages, this strategy involves manipulating the game state so that the objective is completed passively or by an indirect action. This could mean triggering the end-of-level objective before all hostages are technically "rescued" in the conventional sense, or finding a way for enemies to eliminate the hostages in a way that still counts as a success.
This requires a deep understanding of mission parameters and trigger conditions. It’s about finding the loophole that allows the game to register objective completion without the standard, time-consuming gameplay loop of escorting individuals.
It's mind-blowing to think that the developers might not have intended for hostages to be "completed" by having enemies take them out, but here we are! That's the magic of the speedrun community.
This kind of strat often involves precise positioning or specific sequence breaks that alter the expected flow of the mission, saving valuable minutes.
The Decoder Door Lure
Facility is a level notorious for its security measures, including the infamous decoder door. Getting through it quickly is a major challenge in any GoldenEye 007 speedrun.
The "Decoder Door Lure" is a strat that bypasses the need for the actual decoder or a lengthy hacking sequence. Instead, it involves manipulating the AI of guards in such a way that they are drawn *away* from the door, or perhaps even trigger its opening through their patrol or combat routines.
This could involve throwing grenades to lure guards, using specific weapon fire to draw aggro, or even exploiting the game's collision detection to make guards "clip" through certain areas, inadvertently opening paths.
The ultimate form of this lure might involve drawing guards to a point where their AI causes them to trigger the door's opening mechanism or move out of the way, allowing Bond to slip through with minimal delay. This is a perfect example of using enemy behavior as a tool, rather than an obstacle.
These five strategies represent just a fraction of the innovations within the GoldenEye 007 speedrunning scene. Each one highlights how persistent analysis and creative thinking can uncover new possibilities even in the most well-trodden games.
It’s these kinds of discoveries that keep the #speedrunning community vibrant and exciting. The quest for the ultimate PB or WR is a journey of constant learning and adaptation. What other "obvious" strats do you think have been missed in your favorite games?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "Farwall Strat" in GoldenEye 007 speedrunning?
The "Farwall Strat" refers to a speedrunning technique in GoldenEye 007 where players manipulate the game to defeat or bypass the antagonist Ourumov from a distance, often outside the normal engagement area, saving significant time.
How does the "Clipboard Lure" save time?
The "Clipboard Lure" saves time by exploiting enemy AI to draw guards away from their patrol routes or key positions. This allows the player to sneak past them or reach objectives without engaging in combat or lengthy stealth sequences.
Are these strats considered glitches or intended mechanics?
Some of these strategies might border on exploiting glitches in the game's AI or collision detection, while others are more akin to intended mechanics that were simply overlooked due to their complexity or the need for a specific perspective to discover.
How long did it take for these strats to be discovered?
The discovery times varied greatly. Some were found relatively early in the game's speedrunning history, while others remained undiscovered for years, only being popularized in more recent years as the community continued to push the boundaries of optimization.
Where can I see these strats in action?
You can find videos of these speedruns and strats on platforms like YouTube. Many top speedrunners showcase their runs, and dedicated analysis channels often break down the techniques involved. Checking out sites like speedrun.com for GoldenEye 007 leaderboards and run videos is also highly recommended.
What are your thoughts on these overlooked strategies? Did you discover any of them yourself back in the day? Let us know in the comments below! If you enjoyed this deep dive into GoldenEye 007 speedrunning history, make sure to share this post and join the discussion on our Discord server. Happy running!