AM2R in

The goal of the any% skips speedrun is to complete AM2R without restriction, which means glitches and hardcore sequence breaking will be used.

AM2R is "completed" once Samus enters the gunship at the end of the game, leaves SR388, and the credits roll. The end game state is triggered when Samus reaches the metroid larva after the final boss, which then triggers the gunship's ability to leave the planet. Since reaching the end game state before defeating all metroids is normally impossible, the run consequently relies on the most potent sequence breaking glitch currently known in the game: an arduous, unforgiving, and punishing consecutive pause glitch called Blink. Successfully performing the glitch will enable Samus to bypass room transition triggers, enabling traversal outside the conventional boundaries of the level. Therefore, the goal is to reach the metroid larva as quickly as possible.

This particular run functions as an update to the 8:18 run I completed in 2017 a few months after the game was first released. It is essentially a better refined version that utilizes the increased skillset I acquired during the process of running 100% Skips. I must say that I don't feel I have given this category the time and attention it deserves yet, so another PB or a more focused return may be in order at some point. Still, my initial goal was sub 7:45 so I am satisfied having met that.

Thanks to Naatiska (discovering the pause glitch in 2016) and DruidVorse (discovering the zip glitch). Additional thanks to Nommiin and unknown. Special thanks to DoctorM64 for developing AM2R and doing something far more impressive than this weird super difficult speedurn.

Played on v1.1 PC without tool assistance or game modification.

100% Skips in 48:03 (11/2020):    • AM2R 100% Skips in 48:03  
Any% Skips in 8:18 (03/2017):    • AM2R in 8:18  
AM2R Speedrun Discord:   / discord