Streaming Star Dedicates Thirty-Seven Straight Trying to Conquer <em>The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</em> With Only a Single Branch

You might assume that after two years since Tears of the Kingdom arrived, fans would have exhausted novel challenge runs that apply unique rules on a playthrough. However, although numerous gamers have attempted to complete Tears of the Kingdom using only a wooden stick, streamer the streamer stands out as the individual who endeavored to clear the game with a single branch—specifically, the very same one from start to finish.

The streamer is renowned for these kinds of challenge runs, like the time he played the game using only bombs or the effort where he aimed to defeat the story with no stamina. A single stick run, however, seems unfeasible at face value. There's the opening sequence, which forces the hero to use the legendary blade. Then, there's the entire durability system, which is especially important when dealing with the weakest weapon in the whole game. Yet if the stick shatters, that's the end. It's over.

The Method Behind the Madness

So, how? The simple answer is glitches. The full story, I kid you not, is alternate dimensions. Apparently, you can tweak the game's save file system to have distinct game sessions that affect one another. So the creator does a “setup” file where he progresses standardly, and the real file, where he's limited. The preparatory file has him completing the intro and initial tutorial island, and this character gains maximum stamina and health. From here, he triggers a cutscene and halts partway through to tell the software to open an auto-save from the branch-only file. The system gets confused and creates a new save file that combines the states of the original two.

This creates new issues, though. The fused save file has a Link that did not obtain the capability to enter sacred places. Luckily, this is an issue that the file exploit addresses easily, but executing it means relying on an unstable build of the title that refuses to load some areas. Like other obstacles, he has a clever solution for it: He starts Tears of the Kingdom on its early 1.0 build, and then patches the software midway through to ensure it begins working properly.

Overcoming Durability and Additional Challenges

Interestingly, the introductory form of the hero is programmed so that he cannot break any tools he uses, presumably to prevent a scenario where the player gets stuck at the beginning of the game. But that's additionally how the streamer gets around the wear issue, as the character he pulls between universes is the one from the start of the game. It's a clever trick, but not a method that eliminates all possible friction. The branch is nonetheless a weak item that makes battles tedious. But at that point, it's all a question of grit and perseverance. It further helps that there's a duplication glitch that gives him an plentiful number of items to improve his strength, or stock up on healing spirits. He additionally employs a glitch that enables Link to clip through the world. A few would consider these means reason to question the legitimacy of the attempt, but in my mind, he's a inventive player who is ready to do whatever it takes to engage his viewer. He further uses a safeguard of sorts stipulating that, for each fairy he employs, he'll remove a viewer from his Twitch chat, establishing an incentive to not overly rely on them.

Boss Fights and the Last Showdown

The streamer succeeds to defeat several of Tears of the Kingdom's bosses, but the battles look painful. The YouTube version of his journey spares the viewer endure the entire conflicts, which is a good thing when a few of them last multiple hours. One enemy encounter, a powerful foe, requires an incredible 23 hours. The final villain showdown, which erases Link's hearts as it unfolds, is a notable nail-biter. The indestructible branch is after all just a piece of wood. He is unable to always duplicate objects midway the fight.

Did he succeed? In a matter of speaking, PointCrow manages to overcome the beast form of Ganon. But the software compels the user to wield the Master Sword as the last strike, so technically, it's not quite completely a branch-exclusive playthrough. But what fun is that?

When everything is said and done, the streamer banned over 1,000 people in his Twitch chat. RIP.