AGDQ 2022 has crossed over the halfway point, closing the fourth day of this speedrun marathon for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. For the fourth day in a row, talented speedrunners from around the world finished their favorite games in ridiculously fast times, streamed live on Twitch for the world to see. AGDQ 2022 day four started with a small block of horror games in the early morning, followed by a slew of Sonic the Hedgehog speedruns and a lengthy Pokemon Crystal speedrun to bring things into the afternoon. A variety of speedruns and game showcases filled the evening hours, with a couple big name games ending the day. Overall, it was a highly entertaining day of speedrunning fun, with some spectacular runs we’d like to note. If you’re looking for some suggestions, these are our picks for the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day four.
To watch replays of these speedruns, visit Games Done Quick’s Twitch channel or their YouTube channel. You might have to wait a few days for the runs to be uploaded to YouTube, so keep that in mind if you’re reading this while the marathon is still ongoing. As always, the runs listed below are just a small selection of the full day’s schedule. We weren’t able to watch the full 24 hours, so please don’t consider this a “definitive” list by any means. After checking out any of our picks for the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day four, we recommend jumping around or watching the full marathon playback at your leisure. With that said, let’s get to some of the speedruns that helped AGDQ 2022 hit the $1 million donation mark!
The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2022 Day 4
PAON-ぱおん– BEYOND THE PIEN (Any%) by Swordfish4649
One of the first speedruns in the horror block was PAON – BEYOND THE PIEN, a free-to-play, Japanese horror game featuring a giant emoji-style monster. Similar to horror games like Slender: The Eight Pages, PAON tasks players with collecting a handful of items while evading the main monster. This incredibly brief speedrun was a chaotic burst of energy in the early-morning hours of AGDQ 2022 day four, thanks to the eccentric, costumed runner and some wacky gameplay. Quick and to-the-point, this “Any%” run was one of our favorite speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day four and a highlight of the marathon.
Final time: 4:39
Kuon (Yang Phase) by MissScarletTanager
Kuon is an incredibly rare and remarkably expensive PlayStation 2 game, developed by FromSoftware, the creators of Dark Souls. Similar in style to Resident Evil, this atmospheric horror game is all about dodging enemies while navigating a dreary environment, collecting items and solving puzzles along the way. Speedrunning the physical disc version of the game, which costs upwards of $800 online, runner MissScarletTanager put on a great show and achieved a new world record in the process. While it might not be as fast-paced as PAON, this speedrun of Kuon‘s “Yang Phase” campaign is definitely worth watching.
Final time: 42:09
We Love Katamari (Any%) by Harutomo
Katamari Damacy is one of the quirkiest and most cathartic game franchises of all time, revolving around a speedy cosmic prince who rolls up the galaxy with his ever-growing ball. In this speedrun of We Love Katamari, runner Harutomo rolled with expertise, nailing level objectives and grooving out to the catchy tunes. Solid commentary makes it easy for newcomers to understand this oddball game, resulting in a relaxed viewing that’s one of the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day four. By the end of the run, it’ll be hard not to shout “royal rainbow!” along with the runner and the couch.
Final time: 57:18
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Hard%) by Crunan
While most retro gamers are familiar with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time on Super Nintendo, there was a lesser-known TMNT game released on the Sega Genesis, The Hyperstone Heist. This 16-bit adventure provides tons of classic TMNT action, complete with iconic villains, hectic beat ’em up combat, and pizza power-ups. In this “Hard%” speedrun, runner Crunan plays as Raphael, utilizing his high strength stat to topple enemies while dodging attacks to deal with his lackluster health. Luckily, Crunan is an expert at beating up baddies, combo-attacking through waves of enemies and quick-killing bosses to boot. If you like beat ’em up games or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you’ll definitely enjoy this speedrun of The Hyperstone Heist.
Final time: 22:48
Sonic Robo Blast 2 (Sonic Any%) by Lemin
We missed a decent chunk of the Sonic block, but we were lucky enough to catch this “Sonic Any%” category speedrun of the fan-made game Sonic Robo Blast 2 by Lemin. Essentially, Robo Blast 2 is a DOOM mod, casting the bright and vivid Sonic visual style in a super fast first-person shooter engine. This makes for a remarkably fast game, which Lemin spin-dashed through with impressive precision. Between the fun boss fight strategies and the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it speed, this run of Sonic Robo Blast 2 is one of the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day four.
Final time: 26:09
Halo 5: Guardians (Full Game Legendary) by Distro
Although it’s not the most popular Halo game of the bunch, it turns out that Halo 5: Guardians is a pretty intense speedrun. Played on Legendary difficulty by runner Distro, this speedrun is packed with out-of-bounds glitches, quick and accurate shooting, and some inventive skips. As expected, the high challenge of Legendary difficulty also throws some wrenches into the run, forcing moments of improvisational shooting and back-up strategies. If you had a great time playing Halo Infinite and are hankering for a first-person shooter speedrun, this Legendary run of Halo 5: Guardians is a good way to spend an hour and a half.
Final time: 1:32:54
Diddy Kong Racing (All Trophy Races, 3-Way Race) by tridenttail, Sweenerdog, and Obiyo
Diddy Kong Racing is a title that brings immense nostalgia, forever remembered as one of the best kart-racing games on the Nintendo 64. With its colorful visuals, fast pace, and multiple playable vehicles, it’s a perfect racing game for speedrunning. This three-way race of the “All Trophy Races” category was easily one of the best speedruns of AGDQ 2022 day four, presenting talented and competitive runners with tons of skill. Tridenttail, Sweenerdog, and Obiyo all played at the top of their game, pulling off tight turns, consistent boost chains, and even some crazy out-of-bounds shortcuts. The race was one of the closest we’ve ever seen at a GDQ event, with the runners finishing in mere seconds of each other. For fans of both N64 games and speedrun races, we can’t recommend this Diddy Kong Racing race enough.
Final time: 23:37
By the end of AGDQ 2022 day four, the marathon has already raised over $1 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The donations this year have been pouring in, ramping up the donation total at a surprising rate. With three days left in the marathon, there’s a good chance that AGDQ 2022 could bring in upwards of $2.5 – $3 million when all is said and done. Either way, we love to see the generosity of the community in full force.
We’ll be continuing our coverage of AGDQ 2022 as the week progresses with daily recap articles, so keep stopping by for our favorite speedruns and other AGDQ 2022 news. If you’re watching the marathon live, come stop by our Twitter and chat with us as we react live. We’ll be back tomorrow with more AGDQ 2022 coverage, so enjoy the marathon and get some sleep!
