Thirteen years after a record was set within a five-minute demo hidden inside Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a speedrunner named Savestate broke it on August 21, 2021, completing a version of Ocarina of Time in 4 minutes and 51 seconds. The achievement speaks to something enduring in human nature — the impulse to find the seams in any system, however small or forgotten, and pull them apart with care. Even the most overlooked corners of our created worlds, it turns out, still hold secrets worth pursuing.
Kotaku
· Aug 25, 2021
· society
· 2 min read
High
Sourcing: Verified
Speedrunner Breaks 13-Year-Old Zelda Record Hidden in Smash Bros. Brawl
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Sports
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Bias & Framing
⚖
Article celebrates speedrunner achievement with enthusiastic, accessible language; minimal bias detected in straightforward reporting of gaming record.
Bias Direction
center
Confidence
MED
Celebratory/achievement-focused framing that emphasizes the difficulty and ingenuity of the speedrun, using vivid descriptive language to make technical accomplishment engaging for general audience.
mythical route
chaotic wizardry
machine-like precision
pattern magic
Speedrunners are the closest modern equivalent to sorcerers
Perspective from the previous record holder (13-year-old record holder)
Commentary from other speedrunning community members or competitors
Technical analysis from game developers or emulation experts
Broader context on speedrunning culture beyond individual achievement
Geopolitical Impact
🌎
Gaming speedrunning achievement has no geopolitical implications.
Escalation Risk
N/A
Confidence
HIGH
Economic Lens
📈
Speedrunner breaks 13-year-old record in Zelda demo within Smash Bros. Brawl; minimal direct economic impact on gaming industry or consumer markets.
Market Signal
neutral
Confidence
HIGH
Video gaming/entertainment
Streaming and content creation
No direct consumer impact. May generate minor engagement for gaming platforms and content creators through speedrunning community viewership and social media sharing.
No regulatory or policy implications. This is a niche competitive gaming achievement with no bearing on industry standards, consumer protection, or market practices.