The Multi-Medium Any% Speedrun: Master the 1:13:08 Without Loads

What's up, speedrunners and gaming aficionados! Welcome back to GamingSpeedrun.com, your ultimate hub for all things fast-paced and optimized in the world of video games. Today, we're diving deep into a truly impressive feat: the Any% speedrun of The Multi-Medium, clocking in at an astonishing 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 8 seconds, specifically in the 'Without Loads' category. This isn't just about finishing the game; it's about dissecting every frame, every movement, and every trick to shave off precious seconds. If you're looking to understand the cutting edge of this particular run or simply marvel at the dedication involved, you've come to the right place.

Introduction to The Multi-Medium Speedrun

The Multi-Medium, a title that might fly under the radar for some but holds a special place in the hearts of dedicated players, presents a unique challenge for speedrunners. The 'Any%' category is the most popular, aiming for the fastest completion regardless of in-game objectives other than reaching the end. However, the 'Without Loads' variant adds a significant layer of complexity. This means minimizing or entirely avoiding loading screens, which often requires precise execution of glitches or out-of-bounds maneuvers.

In my experience, mastering a run like this demands not only an intimate knowledge of the game's mechanics but also incredible mental fortitude. The 1:13:08 mark is a testament to hours upon hours of practice, route refinement, and probably a few thousand failed attempts. We're talking about finding the most optimal path, executing frame-perfect inputs, and sometimes relying on a bit of good old RNG (Random Number Generation).

This guide aims to break down what makes this specific speedrun so impressive and offers insights into how such times are achieved. Whether you're a seasoned speedrunner looking to improve your own times in The Multi-Medium, or a curious observer fascinated by the dedication involved in the speedrun community, there's something here for you.

Understanding the Any% 'Without Loads' Category

Let's get granular. The Any% category means reaching the end credits as quickly as possible. Simple enough, right? Well, the 'Without Loads' modifier is where things get spicy. In many games, loading screens are unavoidable, breaking the flow of the run. In a 'Without Loads' category, the goal is to exploit game mechanics, often through glitches or sequence breaks, to skip these loading zones entirely. This usually involves:

  • Warp Glitches: Triggering a rapid transport to another area, bypassing intended travel or loading zones.
  • Out-of-Bounds (OOB) Exploits: Manipulating the character to exit the playable map and navigate through unintended spaces, often to reach triggers or areas faster.
  • Menuing Tricks: Utilizing the game's menus in specific ways to manipulate game state or trigger events that bypass loading.

Achieving 1:13:08 without loads in The Multi-Medium means the runner has likely perfected techniques that seamlessly transition between game segments, avoiding the moments where the game would typically pause to load assets. This is critical for maintaining momentum and shaving off those vital seconds that separate a good run from a world-class one. Understanding these core principles is the first step to appreciating the complexity of this world record attempt.

Core Strategies for a Fast Run

The 1:13:08 run is built upon a foundation of meticulously planned strategies. It's not just about speed, but about *efficient* speed. Every movement must have a purpose. The primary goal is to minimize backtracking and optimize traversal through each major section of the game. This often involves identifying the fastest routes, even if they seem counter-intuitive at first glance.

"The true art of speedrunning lies in finding the path of least resistance, even if that path is through a wall."

Key strategies typically revolve around discovering and exploiting glitches that allow for significant movement or objective skips. In The Multi-Medium, this might mean manipulating enemy AI, using specific item combinations, or performing precise jumps to clip through geometry. The 'Without Loads' aspect emphasizes techniques that trigger area transitions or load subsequent game events prematurely, bypassing the standard loading procedures.

Early Game Optimization: Setting the Pace

The initial moments of a speedrun are crucial for establishing a strong pace. In The Multi-Medium's Any% run, this phase likely focuses on acquiring essential items or abilities with maximum efficiency. Players will optimize movement, minimize combat encounters that aren't mandatory, and utilize any early-game glitches that can grant a significant advantage.

For instance, a common speedrunning tactic is to manipulate the game's initial spawn or tutorial sequences to skip unnecessary dialogue or movement. The goal here is to gain access to the main game world and its mechanics as quickly as possible. Any time saved in the first 10-15 minutes can have a compounding effect on the overall run time. This often involves learning specific pixel-perfect jumps or movement patterns that save fractions of a second but add up considerably.

Mid-Game Tech and Skips

As the run progresses into the mid-game, more complex glitches and skips often become viable. This is where the 'Without Loads' strategy truly shines. Runners might employ techniques to bypass entire sections of the map, skip boss fights, or manipulate level triggers to progress faster.

One such technique could be a well-timed jump or dash that allows the player to enter an area before the game intends them to, potentially skipping a necessary trigger or a lengthy cutscene that would normally initiate a load. Another possibility involves using environmental elements, like specific platform placements or enemy positions, to perform tricks that move the player faster or into areas not meant to be accessed yet. These mid-game exploits are often the most technically demanding parts of the run and require extensive practice to nail consistently.

The Late-Game Push: Precision Under Pressure

The final act of any speedrun is where nerves of steel are paramount. By the time a runner reaches the late game in The Multi-Medium, they've likely conserved their resources and executed most major skips. The focus shifts to absolute precision. Small mistakes here can cost the run, especially when aiming for a time as specific as 1:13:08.

This phase often involves executing the final sequence of tricks that lead directly to the end trigger. It might include a difficult boss encounter optimized for speed, a final sequence break, or a rapid traversal through the game's concluding areas. The 'Without Loads' aspect continues to be critical, ensuring that the transition to the final sequence and the game's ending itself is as seamless as possible. Maintaining composure and executing these final, often high-stakes, maneuvers without faltering is what truly defines a top-tier speedrunner.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with the best strategies, speedruns are prone to failure. Understanding common pitfalls is key to improving consistency. For The Multi-Medium's Any% 'Without Loads' run, these might include:

  • Execution Errors: Missing a precise input for a glitch or skip, leading to a death or a significant time loss.
  • Bad RNG: Unfavorable enemy placements, item drops, or environmental events that disrupt the optimal route.
  • Incorrect Glitch Activation: Triggering a glitch improperly, which might cause the game to crash, softlock, or simply not perform the intended skip.
  • Loading Screen Backups: Inadvertently triggering a loading screen that should have been skipped, which is particularly detrimental in this category.
"Consistency comes from repetition. You need to practice the difficult parts until they feel as natural as walking."

To avoid these, runners often practice specific segments repeatedly, utilize save states (in practice, not in official runs!), and develop backup strategies for when RNG isn't on their side. Analyzing past runs to identify where time was lost is also crucial.

Practicing Your Run Effectively

Achieving a record-breaking time isn't just about playing the game a lot; it's about practicing smart. Effective practice for The Multi-Medium's Any% run involves:

  • Segmented Practice: Breaking the run down into smaller, manageable sections and perfecting each one individually before attempting a full run.
  • Glitch Training: Dedicating sessions specifically to mastering the execution of crucial glitches and sequence breaks.
  • RNG Manipulation: Learning how to influence or adapt to random elements in the game to ensure a smoother run.
  • Mindset Training: Developing the mental discipline to stay calm under pressure and recover from mistakes.

For the 'Without Loads' category, this means spending extra time ensuring that the specific inputs required to skip loading zones are perfected. This often requires a deep understanding of the game's internal timers and loading triggers.

Advanced Techniques and Future Potential

The speedrun community is constantly innovating. The current 1:13:08 mark for The Multi-Medium's Any% 'Without Loads' run represents the current peak of discovered strategies. However, there's always potential for new discoveries.

Advanced techniques might include newly found glitches, more optimized routing that exploits unexplored parts of the game's engine, or even new ways to manipulate RNG. It's possible that even faster times are achievable through further exploration and experimentation. The pursuit of the next second is what drives the speedrunning scene, and The Multi-Medium is no exception. Keep an eye on community forums and leaderboards like speedrun.com for future advancements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 'Without Loads' category the most difficult for The Multi-Medium?

It is generally considered one of the more challenging categories due to the precise execution required to bypass loading screens, often involving complex glitches. However, 'glitchless' categories can sometimes demand different kinds of optimization and precision.

How do players practice these difficult skips without wasting too much time?

Most runners utilize save states in practice modes or tools that allow them to instantly reset to specific points in the game to repeatedly practice difficult segments and glitches.

What is RNG in the context of speedrunning?

RNG stands for Random Number Generation. It refers to elements in a game that are determined by chance, such as enemy spawns, item drops, or critical hit probabilities. Runners often hope for 'good RNG' to get favorable outcomes that speed up their run.

Are there any specific items or abilities crucial for this Any% run?

While the exact items depend on the specific route and discovered glitches, speedrunners typically prioritize abilities or items that enhance movement speed, allow for combat skips, or are necessary for activating key sequence breaks.

What is the difference between Any% and 100% speedruns?

Any% aims to complete the game as fast as possible, regardless of collectibles or objectives. 100% requires completing all in-game objectives, collecting all items, and achieving maximum completion, which usually results in a significantly longer run time.

Conclusion and Community Call

The 1:13:08 Any% 'Without Loads' speedrun of The Multi-Medium is a masterclass in optimization, execution, and dedication. It showcases the incredible potential of pushing game mechanics to their absolute limits. From intricate glitches that bypass loading screens to the sheer mental fortitude required to execute a near-flawless run, every second of this achievement is earned.

We hope this deep dive has given you a new appreciation for the skill involved. Are you inspired to try your hand at The Multi-Medium speedruns? Have you discovered any new strats or tricks we missed? Share your thoughts, your own experiences, or any questions you might have in the comments below! Join our Discord channel to connect with fellow speedrunners and discuss strategies. Keep pushing those boundaries, and happy running!