Summer Games Done Quick, a week-long charity livestream event benefiting Doctors Without Borders, has showcased impressive speedruns of various titles, including a notable performance in Kirby Air Ride. During the event's opening night, speedrunner Bluekandy completed a unique challenge in the 2003 GameCube racing game, setting a new world record in the process.
The "No Dupes" category, introduced via a donation incentive, required Bluekandy to use a different racer and vehicle combination for each of the game's 18 Air Ride courses. This presented a significant challenge, as Kirby Air Ride features a wide variety of distinct vehicles, from those with high aerial maneuverability to nimble ground-based racers, and even a particularly slippery star-like vehicle. Each character also possesses unique stats, contributing to the complexity of high-level play.
Bluekandy demonstrated exceptional mastery of the game's mechanics, employing expertly crafted character and vehicle builds tailored to each course. For instance, the runner utilized Rick with the Rex Wheelie on Waveflow Waters to navigate its tight turns effectively. Success in the run also involved strategic enemy engagement to increase the player's maximum speed, with Bluekandy executing maneuvers like backward bomb throws to hit multiple enemies simultaneously and maximize speed boosts.
The speedrunner's final time of 37 minutes and 54 seconds for the "No Dupes" category significantly surpassed the previous record of 39 minutes and 51 seconds, though the new record is pending official confirmation on Speedrun.com. Setting and obliterating a world record on the GDQ stage is a rare occurrence, making this run particularly noteworthy.
This performance underscored the hidden depth of Kirby Air Ride, a game that might appear simple due to its accessible two-button control scheme. The true complexity lies in mastering the interplay between characters, vehicles, tracks, and power-ups to maintain momentum in fast-paced races. Bluekandy's run served as a compelling demonstration of the high level of skill and dedication required to master the game's nuances. Summer Games Done Quick continues through Saturday, July 11, with streams available on Twitch and YouTube.