Ah, "The Part Where He Kills You." Every Portal 2 player knows that moment. It's a notorious roadblock, a carefully designed encounter meant to test your puzzle-solving skills and, let's be honest, your patience. But for the elite few, the speedrunners, this section isn't a hurdle – it's an opportunity. An opportunity to be utterly bypassed. If you've ever watched a speedrun and marveled at how players seemingly teleport past insurmountable obstacles, you're in the right place. Today, we're diving deep into one of the most iconic and game-breaking glitches in Portal 2: the Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly.
Table of Contents
What Exactly IS the Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly?
The Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly, often abbreviated as "Crouch Fly" or "ECF," is a glitch that allows players to achieve extreme vertical and horizontal movement by exploiting the mechanics of the Excursion Funnel, a blue energy beam that guides Weighted Storage Cubes. In essence, by performing a precise sequence of actions involving crouching and jumping while interacting with the funnel, players can propel themselves at incredible speeds, often bypassing entire sections of a level or even entire test chambers.
This isn't just some minor exploit; it's a fundamental speedrunning strategy that has defined world records for years. It's a testament to the ingenuity of the speedrunning community, who constantly push the boundaries of what's possible in games.
The Mechanics Behind the Magic
At its core, the Crouch Fly exploits how the game engine handles player velocity and the physics of the Excursion Funnel. Here's a breakdown:
- The Excursion Funnel: This tool is designed to redirect objects. When it's activated, it applies a constant force to anything within its beam.
- Player Input: The glitch relies on very specific timing of player inputs. Pressing 'Crouch' and 'Jump' in quick succession, while also moving into the funnel's path, triggers a strange interaction.
- Velocity Stacking: The game attempts to apply the funnel's velocity and the player's intended movement velocity simultaneously. The precise input timing causes the game to enter a state where it drastically overestimates the required force, resulting in explosive acceleration.
- Momentum Conservation (or lack thereof): The physics engine, when confused by these rapid inputs and conflicting forces, can enter states where it doesn't correctly conserve momentum, leading to speeds far beyond what the developers intended.
It's a delicate dance with the game's code, a ballet of button presses that, when executed perfectly, breaks the intended flow of the game.
Execution: Step-by-Step
While the exact execution can vary slightly depending on the specific version of the game and the nuances of the RNG (Random Number Generation) at play, the general principle remains the same. For the famous "Part Where He Kills You" skip, speedrunners utilize the Excursion Funnel to gain significant altitude and bypass the encounter entirely.
- Positioning: The runner must position themselves correctly relative to the activated Excursion Funnel.
- The Input Sequence: At a critical moment, the player initiates a rapid sequence of inputs: typically moving into the funnel, pressing the jump key, and immediately pressing the crouch key. The timing is paramount – a few frames too early or too late, and the glitch won't trigger.
- Ascension: If successful, the player is violently propelled upwards and forwards, often at angles that defy gravity.
- Navigation: The runner then uses their gained momentum to navigate towards the objective, often landing far beyond the intended playable area.
The sheer precision required for this glitch is mind-boggling. It's not something you can just stumble into; it takes dedicated practice and an intimate understanding of the game's mechanics.
It's crucial to note that mastering this technique requires significant practice. Many speedrunners spend countless hours perfecting the timing and positioning for various Crouch Fly applications.
Why It Works: The Technical Side
For the truly curious, understanding *why* this glitch occurs delves into the intricacies of game development. While a full technical breakdown is beyond the scope of this article (though there are excellent resources online, like Krzyhau's write-up linked in the original video description), we can touch upon some key concepts:
- Frame Rate Sensitivity: The glitch is highly sensitive to the game's frame rate. Different frame rates can affect the physics calculations, making the glitch more or less consistent.
- Player State Changes: The rapid transition between standing, jumping, and crouching, while under the influence of the Excursion Funnel's constant force, can confuse the engine's state management.
- Velocity Application Order: The order in which the game applies forces and player input can lead to unexpected results. When the game tries to process the funnel's push, the player's jump force, and the crouch input all at once, it can enter a calculation loop that results in an exponentially increased velocity.
- Hitboxes and Collision: The interaction between the player's hitbox, the funnel's collider, and the game's collision detection plays a vital role in how the glitch manifests.
This deep dive into game mechanics is what separates casual players from dedicated speedrunners. It’s about understanding the game not just as intended, but as it *is*.
Impact on Speedrunning
The Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly is not just another trick; it fundamentally changed how Portal 2 is speedrun. Before its discovery and widespread adoption, routes were vastly different and significantly longer. The ability to skip crucial sections, especially those involving difficult combat encounters or intricate puzzle sequences, dramatically reduced completion times.
This glitch has become a cornerstone of many categories, particularly Any%. The race for world records in Portal 2 has been heavily influenced by the optimization and consistent execution of this technique. It's a prime example of how game-breaking exploits can become integral to the competitive landscape of a game.
Without the Crouch Fly, the Any% world record for Portal 2 would likely be several minutes longer. It's that impactful.
Comparison with Other Strats
While the Crouch Fly is king for certain skips, Portal 2 speedruns are a rich tapestry of various techniques. Other notable strategies include:
- Bunny Hopping: Standard bunny hopping (continuing to gain speed by jumping upon landing) is essential for general movement, but it pales in comparison to the sheer velocity of the Crouch Fly.
- Portal Placement Exploits: Clever placement of portals to redirect momentum or bypass walls are common, but often require specific map geometry that isn't always available.
- Queueing Commands: In some instances, specific sequences of commands can be queued to achieve minor speed boosts, but again, not on the scale of the ECF.
- "The Part Where He Kills You" in its intended form: This involves complex turret manipulation and timed portal usage. It's a battle of precision, but still significantly slower than skipping it entirely.
The ECF's advantage lies in its ability to bypass entire sections, saving immense amounts of time, making it the go-to strategy for the segment in question.
Learning the Crouch Fly
If you're inspired to try this yourself, be prepared for a steep learning curve. Here’s what you need:
- Patience: This is not a trick you'll master in an hour.
- Practice: Repetition is key. Find a quiet area in the game designed for this and practice the input sequence repeatedly.
- Resources: Watch speedruns by top players like Msushi (the creator of the video you're watching!) and study their movements. Look for detailed tutorials online.
- Controller/Keyboard Settings: Ensure your controls are comfortable and responsive. Some runners prefer specific keybinds for jump and crouch to make the sequence easier.
Remember, the goal of speedrunning is not just about beating the game, but about understanding it on a level most players never reach. It's about finding the hidden potential within the code.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly" in Portal 2?
It's a glitch that allows players to achieve extreme speeds by precisely timing crouch and jump inputs with the Excursion Funnel's mechanics, enabling them to bypass large sections of the game.
Why is it called "The Part Where He Kills You"?
This refers to a specific challenging section in Portal 2 where players are intended to be eliminated by turrets and GLaDOS, but speedrunners use the Crouch Fly glitch to skip it entirely.
Is the Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly used in every Portal 2 speedrun?
It's a fundamental strategy for categories like Any% due to the significant time saved. However, other categories might have different rules or objectives that preclude its use.
How difficult is it to learn?
It's notoriously difficult and requires extensive practice due to the precise timing of inputs. Many hours of practice are usually needed to consistently execute it.
Are there other ways to skip "The Part Where He Kills You"?
While other minor sequence breaks or alternative routes might exist, the Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly is the most effective and widely used method for completely bypassing this encounter in speedruns.
The Excursion Funnel Crouch Fly is more than just a glitch; it's a piece of gaming history within the speedrunning community. It showcases how players can discover unexpected interactions within a game's code and leverage them to achieve incredible feats. Whether you're a seasoned speedrunner or just a curious player, understanding this technique offers a fascinating glimpse into the deeper mechanics of Portal 2. Keep practicing, keep experimenting, and who knows what other secrets you might uncover!