SGDQ 2022 has breached the halfway point, as day four of the seven-day-long marathon has come to an end. Over the course of the day, we got to see some excellent speedruns of mostly retro games, with a few new favorites as well. It’s been awesome to watch Summer Games Done Quick as they raise funds for Doctors Without Borders, proving that the gaming community is both skilled and selfless. After another gratifying day of speedruns, we’re even more pumped for the rest of the week.
We had a great time checking out SGDQ 2022 throughout day four, catching speedruns whenever our schedule allowed. There were some truly fantastic speedruns that we wanted to highlight, so if you’re looking for a fun run to watch, consider these a good choice. That said, we’re only scratching the surface here, as there were dozens of amazing speedruns presented during SGDQ 2022 day four. Be sure to check out the entire day’s offerings and binge-watch all of the runs that we missed!
Our Favorite Speedruns of SGDQ 2022 Day 4
To watch replays of these speedruns (and the rest of SGDQ 2022 day four), you can find videos on the GamesDoneQuick YouTube channel and Twitch VODs. We’ll do our best to update this article with videos and links as they become available!
Mario Party (Mini-Game Island Any%) by duck
There’s a lot to love about Nintendo’s seminal party game franchise, Mario Party, but our absolute favorite aspect of any entry is the selection of mini-games. This speedrun of the N64 classic sees speedrunner duck going through a gauntlet of various mini-games, racing through the solo mini-game island mode as fast as possible. Straightforward as can be and ultra-nostalgic, this speedrun was a lighthearted way to kick off the fun of SGDQ 2022 day four.
Final time: 39:15
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Any% Console) by Maxylobes
Although we usually catch him speedrunning horror games at GDQ marathons, at SGDQ 2022 day four, runner Maxylobes presented us with a cathartic and laid-back run of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on GameCube. Speeding through the Any% route, Maxylobes slew hundreds of orcs while playing as iconic characters like Legolas, Gandalf, and Samwise. Exceptionally comfy and wholesome as can be, this mostly glitchless speedrun checked all the boxes and provided some positive energy at the start of the day.
Final time: 1:38:30
Pac-Man World 2 (Any% Race) by Katie4 and McKiddy
Ever since Pac-Man debuted in arcades back in 1980, the franchise has tried to capitalize with numerous spin-offs to varying degrees of success. Pac-Man World and Pac-Man World 2 stand out as engaging console games that contain all the staples of a good Pac-Man game, including pellets, ghosts, and addictive gameplay, plus a whole extra dimension of platforming goodness. In this Any% speedrun race, runners Katie4 and McKiddy demonstrated a crash course in lightning-fast Pac-Man gameplay, emphasizing the title’s Sonic the Hedgehog-esque dash roll. Bouncing around each level like a yellow pinball, both runners exchanged the lead several times, resulting in an exciting and close race.
Final time: 41:42
PowerSlave Exhumed (Any%) by Kaos_Wulf
First-person shooters developed in the late-1980s and 1990s have an undeniable charm to them, so we were excited when Kaos_Wulf sat down to speedrun PowerSlave Exhumed, an Egyptian-themed shooter that was first released in 1996. Like Doom, Quake, and other FPS games of the time, PowerSlave features lots of neat movement tricks, including grenade-boosts, strafe-jumping, and more. Kaos_Wulf brought sufficient destruction to the temple-filled city of Karnak as they collected relics, gained new abilities, and minced up bosses in the blink of an eye. Coming in at just under 30 minutes, this underrated FPS speedrun is worth watching over your next lunch break.
Final time: 28:23
Knuckles’ Chaotix (Beat the Game) by Hibnotix
Growing up as a Sega Genesis kid with a 32X attachment, we were often greeted with confused looks whenever we brought up Knuckles’ Chaotix. This Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off featuring our favorite echidna is one of the lesser-known entries in the beloved franchise, so we were glad to see runner Hibnotix show it off during SGDQ 2022 day four. Showing off the game’s unique side-kick mechanic, Hibnotix boomeranged through stages, pulling off flashy clips at blistering speeds. Whether you’ve played this quirky spin-off or never even heard of it, the speedrun of Knuckles’ Chaotix is a wholly impressive display of speedy Sonic gameplay.
Final time: 58:19
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Any% Original Mode) by spikevegeta
Despite its colorful visuals, cheerful music, and eccentric cast of playable characters, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is one of the most difficult games that we’ve ever played. Runner spikevegeta put this punishing platformer in the ground, rolling, pogo-jumping, and swimming through the game’s lush levels. Utilizing various character-specific abilities, like Dixie Kong’s double jump and Diddy Kong’s impressive swimming speed, spikevegeta sailed through the tumultuous terrain with impressive speed. If you’re not bopping your head along to the wonderful tunes, you’ll probably be enamored with the gameplay. Either way, we recommend checking this run out, especially if you’ve felt the pain of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze‘s pitfalls before.
Final time: 1:27:30
Super Mario Sunshine (Shine Challenge) by SB_Runs
3D Super Mario speedruns are always a great time, and given the summer theme of SGDQ, Super Mario Sunshine was an excellent way to finish off day four. In this divisive platformer, Mario must clear his name while vacationing on the beautiful Isle Delfino by cleaning up the island with a water-spewing jetpack. Like the Super Mario Odyssey speedrun from SGDQ 2022 day three, this 120 Shine category run shows off every area in Super Mario Sunshine, requiring the runner to collect 94 mission-based Shines and dozens of blue coins. Although an unfortunate mistake in the first hour forced SB_Runs to switch to the Any% category, they still put on a great show and showed off plenty of impressive tech. Throughout his trek to collect as many shines as possible, SB_Runs pulled off some wildly difficult movement tricks, slipping and sliding through this sunny gauntlet of obstacles. If you want to see some expertly played Super Mario Sunshine, look no further than this awesome speedrun from SGDQ 2022 day four.
Final time: 2:59:24
As day four ended at SGDQ 2022, the donation tally raised upwards of $860,000! Coming in just shy of $1 million at the halfway point of the marathon, we’re certain that SGDQ 2022’s total funds will surpass $2 million by the finale. There are still three days left of speedrunning goodness, leaving plenty of time for the donations to pour in.
Those were some of our favorite speedruns of SGDQ 2022 day four, but the show’s far from over. Be sure to check back for more daily SGDQ 2022 recaps in the coming days. You can also follow us on social media (@official90skid) for live reactions to memorable SGDQ moments. Enjoy the marathon!
