In some games, specific actions (like visiting a room with fireflies) can "prime" the game's memory to produce favorable random events later 1.2.4 . A pre-saved file allows the runner to begin just before the RNG event without re-playing the setup.
Before you even start your first serious run, create a save file that is 100% fresh but has all the skipable cutscenes already bypassed. For many RPGs, this means a save right after the "unskippable tutorial" but before you allocate your first stat point. You will use this to start every "Reset" attempt without watching the intro logos.
The role of the save file defines how a run is categorized on leaderboards like Speedrun.com. New Game (NG):
Save File Manipulation: Writing History Before the Run Starts speedrunners save file
Open SpeedRunners to verify that all characters, levels, and modifiers are successfully unlocked.
Speedrunners rarely practice by playing the entire game. Instead, they use specialized save files to isolate and master specific segments.
“The higher difficulties require a mastery of skills and even playing stages multiple times to memorize where every trap and shortcut is was essential to remain competitive.” DualShockers · 8 years ago Troubleshooting and Backups In some games, specific actions (like visiting a
In certain titles, saving and loading can reset a character's vertical velocity to zero, allowing for precise, risky drops or stopping instantly on a tiny ledge. 2. Practice and Segmented Runs: The "Save State" Advantage
to practice a late-game skip, they simply load a pre-configured save file and get to work. The Technical Magic: Manipulation and Glitches
While standard runners manipulate in-game save files, Tool-Assisted Speedruns (TAS) operate on a different level. A TAS uses emulators that work with . These are not just game saves; they are snapshots of the emulator's entire memory and state at a specific frame. This allows the TAS creator to experiment and correct mistakes with precision. As one TAS guide notes, you will make and reload save-states more than anything else while creating a TAS, highlighting its centrality to the process. For many RPGs, this means a save right
Open Steam, right-click SpeedRunners in your library, select Properties , go to the General tab, and toggle off Keep games saves in the Steam Cloud .
Save files in speedrunning are far more than mere bookmarks for progress; they are critical tools for . Whether it's bypassing hours of gameplay or manipulating a game's state for a specific world record attempt, the "save file" is the foundation of competitive play. 1. The Anatomy of a Speedrun Save
These are native save files created by the game itself (e.g., a .sav file). These are required for console running (NES, SNES, N64) and are often used for "segmented" runs.