Day two of Summer Games Done Quick 2021 offered even more fantastic speedruns to enjoy, all while raising money for Doctors Without Borders. From some chill runs in the early morning to a handful of primetime bangers, SGDQ 2021 day two was abundant with quality speedrun entertainment. Whether you’re into retro Nintendo speedruns or incredibly complex glitches, SGDQ 2021 day two had a run for you. Although we weren’t able to watch every speedrun on the schedule, we had a great time chilling on the couch and taking in the gaming splendor. After indulging in the GDQ goodness, we’ve whipped up a list of our favorite speedruns from SGDQ 2021 day two. If you’re looking for a fun run to watch, dive right in with any of our recommendations!
If you want to watch any of the speedruns mentioned below, you can check out the replays on Games Done Quick’s Twitch channel or their YouTube channel. As always, this list is simply a subjective smattering of our favorite runs. There were so many fantastic speedruns during SGDQ 2021 day two, so we highly recommend scrubbing through the entire day’s offerings and check out anything that catches your eye. With that said, here are our picks for the best speedruns of SGDQ 2021 day two.
The Best Speedruns of SGDQ 2021 Day Two
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (Any%, Dead on Arrival) by Mattmatt
Who would’ve thought that Max Payne, the game series that popularized slow-motion shooting, would be a great speed game? Blasting his way through this fan-favorite gritty detective shooter, runner Mattmatt utilized precise shooting, classic movement tricks like super-jumps, and even pizza-based glitches to gain the upper hand. Despite the use of some over-powered tricks, this run still provides a hefty challenge, with lots of enemy encounters and tight trick jumps. We had a great time watching Mattmatt blaze through Max Payne 2 on the ultra-tough Dead on Arrival difficulty, as it kept the energy high during the early hours of SGDQ 2021 day two.
Final time: 31:54
Nintendogs (All Beginner Contest Golds) by ZooKetra
Do you like dogs? If so, consider this one of the must-watch speedruns of SGDQ 2021. In this quick and silly showcase of the Nintendo DS dog training simulator, runner ZooKetra guided his black labrador to success in three unique challenges. Using the game’s voice commands, as well as many pets and belly rubs, ZooKetra and his doggo were able to prove their prowess and gain three gold medals. Lighthearted, entertaining, and featuring some surprisingly hyped moments, this run of Nintendogs was a playful way to start the morning at SGDQ 2021 day two.
Final time: 16:56
Batman: The Video Game (Any%) by junkyard_dave
The original Batman game on NES is a bit clunky, kinda weird, and super challenging. Despite dealing with a handful of headaches throughout their run, speedrunner junkyard_dave and his commentator offered an upbeat and enjoyable performance. Clocking in at just over 10 minutes, this super quick retro speedrun offers some tight platforming, calculated gadget use, and a few quick-kills on bosses. If you like Batman, 8-bit platformers, or speedrunners with an affable attitude, give this one a watch!
Final time: 11:16
Gimmick! (Best Ending, Glitchless) by Ryan Ford
Gimmick! is an underrated platforming game developed by Sunsoft, starring a horned hero who defeats foes with stars and speed. Runner Ryan Ford gave us a satisfying showing of this Famicom fun-fest, displaying the game’s quirky bouncing-star mechanics and speed with some significant gaming skill. This was a “Best Ending/Glitchless” speedrun, so in addition to finishing the game without using glitches, Ryan had to collect all the hidden items in each level. That resulted in some wickedly impressive star-jumps, impromptu problem-solving, and overall impressive movement. If you’ve never heard of Gimmick!, consider this an excellent introduction.
Final time: 13:17
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Any%) by LaserTrap_
LEGO games don’t pop up at GDQ marathons very often, so it was nice to see the Nintendo DS version of LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga on the schedule this year. Although LEGO games are pretty easy when played casually, the speedrun routes have a surprising amount of glitches and optimizations, making this a trick-heavy run. Using a variety of movement glitches, character-swapping, and precise platforming, runner LaserTrap_ was able to smash through the vast universe of Star Wars in just under 30 minutes. As an added bonus, the cutscenes that are non-skippable are pretty funny, with awkward animations and signature LEGO humor. We had a blast watching LaserTrap_ live the Jedi dream, and we hope to see more LEGO games at future Games Done Quick marathons!
Final time: 28:31
Super Mario Odyssey (Talkatoo%) by Dangers
On the final day of last year’s SGDQ marathon, speedrunner Dangers completed a “World Peace” route of Super Mario Odyssey, and this year, they have returned to show off the “Talkatoo%” route. This speedrun category is similar to Any%, only requiring the runner to collect the least amount of moons needed to beat the game. However, there’s an added restriction, as you can only collect the moons that the bird Talkatoo gives you hints for. This results in a randomized route that requires a lot of improvisation, game knowledge, and platforming skill. With cheeky commentary, lots of puns, and some seriously impressive gameplay, Dangers once again proved why Super Mario Odyssey is a fantastic speed game. If you like randomized speedruns or speedrun bingo attempts, check out this quirky run!
Final time: 1:46:03
Paper Mario (Stop ‘n Swop & Glitch Exhibition) by JCog
There are glitchy speedruns, and then there’s this Paper Mario “Stop ‘n Swop” speedrun, which is in a league of its own. For starters, the beginning of the run involves doing a glitch in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which writes a specific string of code to the Nintendo 64 expansion pack. Then, using technology originally designed for Banjo-Kazooie, JCog switches the game cartridges, loading up Paper Mario. This allows him to warp to the credits in Paper Mario by using another glitch, completing the lengthy RPG in just over 25 minutes. While it might not be the most traditional speedrun showcase we’ve seen at SGDQ, this immensely complex run of Paper Mario requires a ton of precise movements, technological know-how, and a bit of luck to boot. If you have any interest in glitches, game design, or how the Nintendo 64 console works, watch this run. As an added bonus, there’s a Paper Mario glitch exhibition at the end, providing even more wacky tricks. This is a truly unique speedrun and well worth your time.
Final time: 26:12
Those are our picks for the best speedruns of SGDQ 2021 day two! By the end of day two, SGDQ 2021 has raised nearly $300,000 for Doctors Without Borders. That donation total is sure to skyrocket as we get further in the week, thanks to the generosity of viewers like yourself.
We’ll be back with more SGDQ 2021 coverage throughout the week, picking out our favorite speedruns as each day closes. If you’re looking for even more speedruns to watch, check out the list of our favorite runs from day one of SGDQ 2021! You can also follow our live coverage on Twitter (@official90skid). Have fun and enjoy the marathon!
