Awesome Games Done Quick Has Returned For 2021
Whoa — Games Done Quick is back already? That one sure sneaked up on us. It usually returns for the first full week of the year, but we’re used to the first full week NOT starting as early as the 3rd. It’s active as we speak and there’s a lot of good content heading our way.
Games Done Quick is a semi-annual charity marathon where the world’s best video game speedrunners blast through fan-favorite titles as quickly as possible, sometimes through liberal use of glitches and bugs, sometimes through sheer skill. Ordinarily, the speedrunners gather together in a hotel and compete in its ballroom, but that hasn’t been possible since last March. The summer version from 2020 was streamed from the gamers’ homes, and the winter 2021 version will be no different.
This first day has so far included runs of Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Donkey Kong Country and Mirror’s Edge. As I write this, runner CScottyW is attempting to beat Metroid: Zero Mission in one hour with just five missiles in his inventory. It’s possible through quick farming and is quite the feat to watch. When he encounters Metroids he has to use all five just to kill one of them, then dodge everything until random drops have filled him up again.
In the next few days expect eviscerations of Startropics, River City Girls, Cuphead, Carrion, Golden Sun, Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Skyward Sword, Link’s Awakening DX, Wand of Gamelon (yes, that one), Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Final Fantasy 7 completed in just two hours, Ghostbusters on Genesis at 3:12 in the morning, and something called “Epic Dumpster Bear 2: He Who Bears Wins.” Check out the full schedule and mark your calendars for each! AGDQ 2021 runs through January 9.