Streaming Star Dedicates 37 Hours Attempting to Conquer <em>Tears of the Kingdom</em> With Only a One Branch

You might assume that two years post-launch since Tears of the Kingdom debuted, enthusiasts would have run out of novel self-imposed challenges that apply unique rules on a gameplay session. Yet, while numerous players have attempted to complete Tears of the Kingdom with only a wooden stick, content creator the streamer holds the record as the player who aimed to clear the adventure with a one branch—specifically, the exact same stick from start to finish.

The streamer is renowned for these kinds of challenge runs, such as the time he went through the title solely with explosives or the attempt where he aimed to defeat the game with zero energy. A one-branch playthrough, however, seems impossible at first glance. There's the opening sequence, which requires Link to wield the Master Sword. Then, there's the entire durability mechanic, which is particularly important when dealing with the weakest tool in the entire world. Yet if the branch breaks, that's the end. It's over.

So, How?

So, how? The simple explanation is exploits. The complete answer, I kid you not, is alternate dimensions. Apparently, you can manipulate the game's save file system to have separate playthroughs that affect one another. So PointCrow creates a “setup” save where he progresses normally, and the actual file, where he's restricted. The setup save has him going through the prologue and initial starting area, and this Link gains full stamina and hearts. From here, he starts a cutscene and halts midway through to instruct the game to load an automatic save from the branch-only file. The system gets mixed up and generates a new game file that combines the states of the first two files.

This creates new problems, though. The merged file has a Link that did not obtain the capability to enter sacred places. Fortunately, this is an issue that the save glitch fixes readily, but pulling it off means relying on an buggy version of the title that fails to load certain locations. 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 updates the software midway through to ensure it begins functioning correctly.

Overcoming Durability and Additional Hurdles

Curiously, the introductory form of the hero is programmed so that he cannot damage any tools he uses, likely to avoid a scenario where the player gets trapped at the beginning of the adventure. But that's also how PointCrow bypasses the durability problem, as the character he transfers between dimensions is the version from the start of the game. It's a smart technique, but not one that eliminates all potential friction. The branch is still a weak item that renders battles onerous. But at that point, it's all a question of grit and perseverance. It further aids that there's a copying exploit that grants him an abundant supply of items to improve his attack, or accumulate on healing spirits. He additionally makes use of a glitch that enables Link to clip through the environment. Some would consider these means reason to discredit the validity of the run, but in my mind, he's a resourceful player who is willing to do whatever it takes to entertain his audience. He also uses a safeguard of sorts stipulating that, for each fairy he uses, he'll remove one viewer from his live stream, creating an incentive to not depend too much on them.

Boss Fights and the Last Showdown

PointCrow manages to get through many of the game's bosses, but the fights appear painful. The video version of his journey spares the audience endure the entire conflicts, which is a good thing when a few of them take several long hours. A particular enemy encounter, Queen Gibdo, takes an incredible 23 straight. The Ganondorf battle, which erases Link's hearts as it unfolds, is a memorable nail-biter. The unbreakable stick is after all only a piece of wood. He is unable to necessarily duplicate items midway the fight.

Did he succeed? In a matter of speaking, PointCrow manages to defeat the beast form of the antagonist. But the game forces the player to use the legendary weapon as the final strike, so technically, it's not completely a stick-only playthrough. But what fun is that?

When everything is said and done, PointCrow banned more than 1,000 users in his live stream. RIP.