Alright, wasteland wanderers and speedrunning aficionados, listen up! You’ve seen the headlines, maybe even the mind-bending clip: Fallout: New Vegas conquered in under 13 minutes. We're not talking about a casual stroll through the Mojave; we're talking about an **Any%** run that shatters expectations and redefines what's possible. If you're here, you're not just curious; you're likely a gamer who appreciates the sheer dedication, intricate knowledge, and frankly, the sheer audacity it takes to pull off something like this. You want to know *how*? You want to understand the deep cuts, the precise execution, and the psychological warfare against the game's mechanics. Well, strap in, because we're diving deep.
Table of Contents
Why Any% Matters: Speed Over Substance
First things first, let's clarify what "Any%" means in the context of speedrunning. For those not entrenched in the lexicon, Any% is the most open-ended category. The goal? To finish the game by any means necessary, as quickly as possible. This means embracing glitches, exploits, and sequence breaks that might completely bypass large chunks of content, traditional gameplay, or even story progression. It’s a pure race against the clock, demanding an intimate understanding of the game's engine and its most exploitable quirks. For Fallout: New Vegas, this category is a playground for optimization, where finding the fastest route often involves creative manipulation of game physics and AI. It’s about breaking the game to beat it, and that's where the magic happens.
The 666th Attempt: A Glimpse into Dedication
The run in question, achieving a time under 13 minutes, wasn't a fluke. It was the culmination of immense effort, specifically noted by the runner as their 666th attempt. This isn't just a casual playthrough; it's a testament to grinding. Five streams of dedicated effort went into perfecting this specific run category. Fallout: New Vegas, while a beloved RPG, presents unique challenges for speedrunners. It’s not just about fast movement; it’s about managing complex systems, AI, and often, a bit of luck. The runner's own words highlight how "incredibly exhausting" this category can be, underscoring the mental and physical toll of pushing a game to its absolute limits. This level of commitment is what defines the elite speedrunning community and separates the casual player from the record-breaker.
Unpacking the Blitz: Core Strategies and Glitches
So, how do you shave off hours from a game that typically takes dozens to complete? It’s a combination of understanding the game’s deepest mechanics and exploiting them. While specific details of the absolute bleeding edge of any speedrun category are often closely guarded secrets within the community, we can discuss the general types of strategies employed in a run like this:
- Movement Glitches: Techniques that allow for faster traversal than intended. This could involve jump glitches, clipping through walls (if the game allows), or exploiting AI pathing to create shortcuts. Think about techniques that might allow the player to move at sprinting speed while performing actions that would normally slow them down.
- Combat Skips: Avoiding mandatory combat encounters is crucial. This often involves manipulating enemy AI to ignore the player, using stealth to bypass patrols, or even finding ways to trigger game events that despawn enemies. In Fallout: New Vegas, this might involve clever use of stealth boys or precisely timed movements through enemy sightlines.
- Quest Manipulation: Speedrunners often find ways to "break" quest logic to advance objectives faster, or even skip them entirely if they aren't required for the Any% category. This could involve using specific item combinations or world states to trigger quest completions prematurely.
- Exploitable Mechanics: Every game has mechanics that can be used in unintended ways. For New Vegas, this might involve fast travel exploits, weapon glitches, or even exploiting the VATS system in unexpected ways to bypass obstacles or deal massive damage quickly.
The pursuit of a sub-13 minute Fallout: New Vegas run demands an almost forensic understanding of every single enemy AI, every NPC interaction, and every physics interaction. It's a dance with the game's code.
Route Optimization: Every Frame Counts
The core of any speedrun, especially in a category as unrestricted as Any%, is an optimized route. This isn't just about knowing where to go; it's about knowing the *fastest* way to get there, and the fastest way to interact with the game world once you arrive. Every second saved in one segment of the run is crucial. This involves:
- Precise Navigation: Minimizing wasted movement, understanding the fastest paths between key objectives, and often, memorizing enemy patrol patterns and spawn points.
- Menuing and Inventory Management: In RPGs, even menuing can cost precious seconds. Speedrunners optimize inventory access and item usage to be as quick as possible.
- Load Zone Management: Understanding how loading screens impact the run and finding ways to minimize their effect or even skip them through clever movement is key.
The Crucial Role of RNG
Ah, RNG. The bane and blessing of every speedrunner's existence. Random Number Generation dictates so much in games like Fallout: New Vegas: enemy spawns, critical hit chances, loot drops, even NPC behavior. For a run this fast, the runner likely needs a perfect storm of good RNG to hit those sub-13 minute times. This means specific enemies appearing in certain locations, critical hits landing when needed, and essential items spawning where they’re supposed to. While strategies can mitigate some RNG, a truly exceptional run often relies on favorable random outcomes. This is where the "luck" factor comes into play, making each attempt a unique gamble.
The ideal run isn't just about executing known strats perfectly; it's about adapting to and capitalizing on the game's inherent randomness. That's the thrill of watching a top-tier speedrunner.
The Gear Behind the Speed
While skill and strategy are paramount, the tools of the trade matter. The runner mentions their setup: a Corsair K55 RGB keyboard and a Logitech G502 mouse. This indicates a player who is serious about their peripherals, ensuring responsiveness and comfort for long, intensive grinding sessions. While high-end gear isn't always a requirement, having reliable and comfortable equipment is certainly a boon when you're pushing for world records. For Fallout: New Vegas, keyboard and mouse offer the precise control often needed for quick menu navigation and fast aiming.
What's Next for New Vegas Speedrunning?
Achieving such a remarkable time is an incredible feat, and as the runner suggests, it often leads to a period of rest from that specific category. However, the speedrunning world is always evolving. New glitches might be discovered, existing strategies refined, and the competition will undoubtedly continue to push the boundaries. Will we see this record broken again? Likely. Will it be by a significant margin? That remains to be seen. The beauty of speedrunning is its relentless pursuit of perfection. For now, this sub-13 minute run stands as a monumental achievement in the Fallout: New Vegas speedrunning community. If you're looking for more incredible feats and deep dives into the fastest ways to play games, don't forget to check out other amazing runs on speedrun.com and support these dedicated athletes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest category for Fallout: New Vegas speedruns?
The fastest category is typically Any%, which allows for any glitches, sequence breaks, and exploits to be used to complete the game as quickly as possible, regardless of story progression or content completion.
How many attempts did it take to achieve this sub-13 minute run?
According to the runner, this specific record-breaking run was their 666th attempt in the Any% category for Fallout: New Vegas.
What are some common glitches or strategies used in Fallout: New Vegas speedruns?
Common strategies involve precise movement techniques, exploiting AI pathing to skip combat, manipulating quest triggers, and utilizing glitches like clipping through geometry or specific item/menu exploits to bypass large sections of the game.
Is this speedrun method considered "legit" or "cheating"?
In the context of speedrunning, using glitches and exploits is considered legitimate within the rules of the Any% category. The goal is to finish the game as fast as possible using any available means within the game's code, not necessarily to play it as intended by the developers.
Where can I see more Fallout: New Vegas speedruns or learn about speedrunning?
You can find more information and watch runs on speedrun.com/fnv. For general speedrunning news and discussions, explore resources like GamingSpeedrun.com.
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