Streaming Star Spends Thirty-Seven Straight Trying to Conquer <em>Tears of the Kingdom</em> Using a Single Stick

One could think that two years post-launch since Tears of the Kingdom arrived, enthusiasts would have run out of creative self-imposed challenges that apply unique restrictions on a playthrough. However, while many players have attempted to complete the game using just a stick, streamer the streamer stands out as the individual who aimed to beat the game with a single stick—specifically, the very same one from start to finish.

The streamer is renowned for these kinds of challenge runs, like the time he went through the title solely with explosives or the effort where he aimed to defeat the game with zero stamina. A one-branch run, however, sounds impossible at first glance. There's the game's introduction, which requires the hero to use the Master Sword. Then, there's the whole durability mechanic, which is especially important when dealing with the weakest tool in the whole game. Yet if the stick shatters, that's it. It's over.

The Method Behind the Madness

How did he do it? The straightforward answer is exploits. The full answer, believe it or not, is alternate dimensions. It turns out, you can tweak Tears of the Kingdom's save file system to have separate playthroughs that affect one another. So PointCrow creates a “preparation” save where he advances standardly, and the actual file, where he's restricted. The setup file has him going through the prologue and initial starting area, and this character gains maximum stamina and health. From here, he starts a cutscene and halts partway through to instruct the software to load an automatic save from the stick file. The system gets confused and creates a new game file that combines the conditions of the original two.

This creates new issues, however. The merged file has a Link that did not obtain the capability to access shrines. Luckily, this is something that the save glitch fixes easily, but executing it means relying on an unstable build of the game that fails to open some areas. As with everything else, he has a technical solution for it: He starts the game on its early version 1.0, and then updates the game midway through to ensure it starts working properly.

Overcoming Weapon Wear and Other Hurdles

Interestingly, the prologue version of the hero is coded so that he is unable to break any tools he uses, presumably to avoid a situation where the player gets stuck at the start of the game. But that's also how PointCrow gets around the durability issue, as the Link he pulls between universes is the version from the beginning of the game. It's a smart technique, but not a method that eradicates all possible difficulty. The branch is still a ineffective item that makes encounters onerous. But at that point, it's entirely a question of grit and perseverance. It also aids that there's a copying exploit that gives him an plentiful supply of consumables to boost his attack, or accumulate on healing spirits. He also employs a glitch that allows him to phase through the world. Some would find these methods reason to question the legitimacy of the attempt, but to my view, he's a resourceful gamer who is willing to do anything necessary to engage his viewer. He also uses a safeguard of kinds stipulating that, for each fairy he employs, he'll ban one viewer from his Twitch chat, creating an incentive to not overly rely on them.

Major Battles and the Last Encounter

The streamer succeeds to defeat several of Tears of the Kingdom's bosses, but the battles appear grueling. The video version of his quest doesn't make the viewer sit through the entire fights, which is a blessing when some of them take multiple long hours. One enemy encounter, Queen Gibdo, takes an incredible 23 straight. The final villain showdown, which erases Link's hearts as it progresses, is a notable tense moment. The indestructible branch is still only a stick. He can't necessarily clone objects midway the battle.

Did he succeed? Technically, PointCrow does overcome the beast form of Ganon. But the software forces the user to use the legendary weapon as the final strike, so strictly speaking, it's not completely a stick-only playthrough. But what fun is that?

When everything is said and done, PointCrow banned over 1,000 users in his Twitch chat. Rest in peace.