Streaming Star Spends 37 Straight Trying to Beat <em>Tears of the Kingdom</em> Using a Single Stick

One could think that after two years since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom arrived, fans would have run out of novel self-imposed challenges that impose unique rules on a playthrough. However, although many gamers have tried to complete the game using only a stick, streamer PointCrow stands out as the individual who endeavored to clear the game with a one stick—meaning, the exact same stick from start to finish.

PointCrow is renowned for such challenge runs, such as the instance he played the game using only bombs or the attempt where he tried to beat the story with no energy. A one-branch playthrough, however, sounds impossible at first glance. There's the opening sequence, which requires the hero to use the Master Sword. Then, there's the entire weapon wear system, which is especially important when dealing with the most fragile weapon in the entire world. Yet if the stick shatters, that's it. Game over.

So, How?

How did he do it? The simple explanation is glitches. The complete answer, I kid you not, is parallel universes. Apparently, you can tweak Tears of the Kingdom's save file system to have separate playthroughs that impact one another. So PointCrow creates a “setup” save where he advances standardly, and the actual save, where he's restricted. The preparatory file has him going through the prologue and first starting area, and this Link gains maximum endurance and hearts. From this point, he starts a cinematic and pauses partway through to instruct the software to load an automatic save from the stick file. The system gets confused and generates a new game file that combines the states of the first two files.

This creates new problems, however. The merged save file has a Link that did not obtain the ability to enter sacred places. Luckily, this is something that the save glitch addresses readily, but executing it means depending on an unstable build of the game that fails to open certain areas. Like other obstacles, he has a technical solution for it: He starts the game on its pre-release 1.0 build, and then updates the software partway through to ensure it starts functioning correctly.

Overcoming Durability and Additional Hurdles

Curiously, the prologue form of the hero is programmed so that he is unable to break any tools he wields, presumably to avoid a situation where the user gets trapped at the beginning of the game. But that's also how the streamer gets around the wear issue, as the Link he transfers between dimensions is the version from the beginning of the game. It's a clever trick, but not one that eradicates all possible difficulty. The branch is still a weak weapon that makes encounters onerous. But at that stage, it's entirely a matter of determination and dedication. It also aids that there's a duplication glitch that grants 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 find these means reason to discredit the validity of the run, but to my view, he's a resourceful gamer who is ready to do whatever it takes to engage his viewer. He further implements a safeguard of sorts stating that, for every fairy he employs, he'll remove a fan from his live stream, establishing an incentive to avoid depend too much on them.

Major Battles and the Final Showdown

The streamer manages to defeat many of the game's main enemies, but the fights appear painful. The YouTube version of his journey spares the viewer endure the whole conflicts, which is a good thing when a few of them last several hours. A particular boss fight, a powerful foe, takes an incredible 23 straight. The final villain battle, which depletes Link's health as it unfolds, is a notable nail-biter. The indestructible branch is after all just a stick. He is unable to always duplicate items midway the fight.

So, is it possible? Technically, PointCrow does defeat the dragon version of Ganon. But the game compels the player to wield the Master Sword as the last strike, so technically, it's not quite completely a stick-only run. But where's the challenge in that?

When everything is said and done, PointCrow removed over a thousand users in his Twitch chat. Rest in peace.