Streaming Star Dedicates Thirty-Seven Straight Trying to Beat <em>Tears of the Kingdom</em> Using a Single Branch

One could think that after two years since Tears of the Kingdom arrived, fans would have exhausted novel self-imposed challenges that apply unique rules on a playthrough. Yet, although many players have tried to complete Tears of the Kingdom using just a wooden stick, content creator the streamer holds the record as the individual who endeavored to beat the adventure with a one stick—meaning, the exact same one from start to finish.

PointCrow is famous for such challenge runs, like the time he played the title using only explosives or the attempt where he aimed to defeat the story with zero energy. A one-branch run, though, seems unfeasible at face value. There's the opening sequence, which requires the hero to wield the legendary blade. Then, there's the entire weapon wear system, which is especially important when dealing with the most fragile tool in the entire world. Yet if the branch shatters, that's the end. It's over.

So, How?

So, how? The straightforward explanation is glitches. The complete answer, I kid you not, is parallel universes. Apparently, you can manipulate the game's saving mechanism to have distinct game sessions that affect one another. So PointCrow does a “setup” file where he progresses standardly, and the real save, where he's restricted. The preparatory file has him completing the intro and first starting area, and this Link gains maximum endurance and hearts. From here, he starts a cutscene and halts midway through to instruct the software to open an automatic save from the branch-only file. The system gets confused and generates a new game file that merges the states of the original two.

That causes new problems, though. The fused save file has a protagonist that never obtain the capability to enter sacred places. Luckily, this is something that the file exploit addresses easily, but pulling it off means depending on an unstable build of the game that fails to open certain areas. Like other obstacles, he has a technical workaround for it: He starts Tears of the Kingdom on its pre-release version 1.0, and then patches the game partway through to make sure it starts functioning correctly.

Overcoming Durability and Additional Challenges

Curiously, the introductory version of the hero is coded so that he is unable to damage any tools he uses, likely to avoid a situation where the user gets trapped at the start of the adventure. But that's additionally how the streamer bypasses the durability problem, as the Link he pulls across universes is the one from the start of the game. It's a clever trick, but not one that eradicates all potential difficulty. The stick is still a weak item that renders encounters tedious. But at that point, it's all a question of determination and perseverance. It also aids that there's a duplication glitch that gives him an plentiful number of consumables to boost his attack, or accumulate on healing spirits. He additionally makes use of a glitch that allows him to phase through the world. Some would find these methods grounds to discredit the legitimacy of the attempt, but in my mind, he's a inventive gamer who is ready to do whatever it takes to engage his audience. He further implements a penalty of kinds stating that, for every spirit he employs, he'll ban a viewer from his live stream, establishing an incentive to not overly rely on them.

Major Battles and the Last Showdown

The streamer manages to get through many of Tears of the Kingdom's bosses, but the fights appear grueling. The YouTube version of his quest doesn't make the audience sit through the entire conflicts, which is a good thing when a few of them last several long hours. A particular boss fight, Queen Gibdo, takes an incredible 23 hours. The final villain battle, which depletes Link's hearts as it unfolds, is a notable tense moment. The indestructible stick is still only a piece of wood. He can't always clone items midway the battle.

So, is it possible? In a matter of speaking, PointCrow manages to defeat the beast form of the antagonist. But the software compels the user to wield the Master Sword as the last strike, so technically, it's not fully a branch-exclusive run. But what fun is that?

In the end, the streamer banned over a thousand people in his live stream. Rest in peace.