AGDQ 2022 Had a Stellar Opening Day (Day 1 Recap)

Today marked the beginning of Awesome Games Done Quick 2022, a seven-day long speedrunning marathon streamed live on Twitch, with donations going to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Providing a mixture of retro classics and modern favorites, day one of AGDQ 2022 was a fantastic stream to keep on all day long. We had a wonderful time kicking back and watching talented speedrunners from around the globe blast through their favorite games, all for a good cause. To kick off our daily recap coverage of the marathon, here are some of our favorite speedruns from AGDQ 2022 day one!

If you want to watch any of these speedruns, you can find the replays on Games Done Quick’s Twitch channel or their YouTube channel. The first day of AGDQ 2022 was great fun and we have to commend the producers working behind the scenes, ensuring this all-digital event goes off without a hitch. There’s still a full week of speedrunning left, so get ready for more AGDQ 2022 recaps in the coming days. For now, here are our picks for the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day one.

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2022 Day One

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest (Any% Race) by Tonkotsu, SBDWolf, V0oid, and Eazinn

Speedruns races at AGDQ usually provide some solid entertainment, and this four-runner race of Donkey Kong Country 2 on the Super Nintendo was no exception. Featuring some seriously talented runners playing at an unbelievably quick pace, this race had it all. There was great competition, brisk commentary that kept up with the gameplay, and an wildly climactic ending. We also have to commend runner SBDWolf for pulling off the “Gusty wrong warp” trick, making him the third player in history to complete a run that includes the technique. If you’re looking for an intense speedrun that’ll have your attention glued to the screen, pop on this DKC2 race.

Final time: 39:39

Mega Man 2 (Any%, Difficult Mode) by coolkid

Mega Man 2 is a beloved game in world of speedrunning and coolkid is an equally treasured member of the GDQ community, so it’s no surprise that combining the two equals entertainment. In this show-stopping speedrun, coolkid blazed his way through the classic NES sidescroller on Difficult Mode, a tough variation of this already challenging game. In addition to his calculated movement and precise shooting, coolkid showcased his skill with a variety of tricks, including screen-wraps and zips that bewilder. After watching this speedrun, you’ll never look at Wood Man’s stage the same way again. Coolkid’s run of Mega Man 2 was not only one of the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day one, but likely the entire marathon.

Final time: 27:02

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (Blindfolded Tanker) by ApacheSmash

Blindfolded speedruns used to be few and far between, but as of late, they’ve seen a surge of popularity across all sorts of speedrun communities. In a game like Metal Gear Solid 2, where your main objective is to be stealthy and undetected, there’s not a ton of room for error. Regardless, that didn’t stop ApacheSmash from executing this awesome performance of the early Tanker section with a blindfold across his eyes. Even with a blunder or two, this brief speedrun was exceptionally impressive to watch. Blind-firing both his pistol and his camera, ApacheSmash managed to slither Solid Snake through the Tanker, snapping shots of massive military mechanics while dodging defenses. Brief but satisfying, this run of Metal Gear Solid 2 was definitely one of the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022.

Final time: 10:26

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered (Silver Lining DLC, Ultimate Difficulty) by Pessilist

Marvel’s Spider-Man helped reinvigorate the growing popularity of the superhero genre in gaming, with a fantastic story, smooth movement, and intense combat. In this speedrun of the game’s third and final DLC, dubbed “Silver Lining”, runner Pessilist web-swung his way through a gauntlet of bad guys and obstacles. Thanks to a donation incentive, the game was played on Ultimate Difficulty, adding even more stress to the situation. Luckily, Pessilist kept his cool and provided a great showing of this challenging DLC. With creative movement and expert combat tactics, he sped through New York and completed the story in just over 30 minutes, earning a spot on our list of the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day one!

Final time: 32:24

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (All Essences) by TGH

The Legend of Zelda franchise holds a special place in our hearts, but unfortunately, Oracle of Seasons is one of the entries in the series we’re not very familiar with. Thankfully, runner TGH led us through this colorful and comfy adventure at a brisk pace, showing off the quirky Game Boy journey with speed and style. Using a hefty amount of RNG manipulation, precise movement, and nifty tricks, TGH cleared the “All Essences” category while enduring puns and Undertale jokes aplenty from donations and couch commentators. Relaxed and easy-to-watch, this speedrun of Oracle of Seasons was perfect for second-screen viewing at the end of AGDQ 2022 day one.

Final time: 1:42:04

Dead Space 2 (Any%) by sharkhat87

To cap off AGDQ 2022 day one, runner sharkhat87 offered this gloriously gory and spooky speedrun of Dead Space 2. This stunning sequel amps up the intensity of the franchise’s signature sci-fi scares, with buckets of extra blood, disturbing enemy creatures, and much more. Sharkhat87 put on a showing with plenty of impressive glitches and tricks, including some out-of-bounds sequences and wildly broken movement. While the goofy glitches might take some of the oomph out of Dead Space 2‘s scares, this speedrun is still a wonderful way to experience Isaac Clarke’s trip through the crumbling Sprawl city. If the Oracle of Seasons run was too comfy for your tastes, consider sharkhat87’s Dead Space 2 run as your pick-me-up.

Final time: 1:11:07

By the end of AGDQ 2022 day one, the marathon raised over $100,000 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, once again showing the overwhelming generosity of the community. We love starting the year with AGDQ, as it’s an event that consistently reinforces our faith in mankind and fills us with wholesome vibes. If anything, AGDQ 2022 is definitely on track to topple SGDQ 2021’s donation total, which was a cool $2.8 million.

We’re excited to continue covering the marathon as it unfolds throughout the week, so be sure to check back each day for our thoughts. We’re also chatting about the event live on the A9K Twitter, so join in the conversation there too!