If there is a game out there, chances are someone will have attempted a speedrun of it and likely set the world record. With players finishing Elden Ring in record time, the world of speedrunning is clearly alive and well. The ability to get to the end of a game as quickly as possible is something that has become a global phenomenon over the years, with titles like Doom being perfect for a run given that it's already quite fast when played casually. Speaking of which, someone has now managed to complete the reboot in less than 20 minutes.
In a video uploaded to YouTube yesterday, Seeker TV set a new world record for speedrunning the 2016 release of Doom, with an unbelievable time of 18:26. The video has now been posted to the Speedrun.com database, which means it's been confirmed and is officially recognized as the top run. Seeker also holds the world record in for Elden Ring and Deathloop. All three speedruns were done in the "Any%" category, which means the player can get to the end without making true progress, such as collecting items or defeating bosses. They can even skip whole levels. In this case, the runner even managed to skip the final boss fight.
Given the fast and brutal gameplay of Doom, to see someone running through it at lightning speeds is impressive to watch. Of course, much of the run does require the player to move "out of bounds," which allows them to bypass entire sections of the game. Doing a speedrun this way means that it's possible to manipulate the physics and overall engine, which can be extremely tricky to pull off, especially when going quick, but is a necessary part in allowing the player to shave off valuable seconds and frames.
With Seeker TV now saying they reckon they can get a "sub 18" run, it's likely they will return to give it another go. The Doom series on the whole has been given a new lease on life, not only with the 2016 release, but with Doom Eternal, which is considered the better of the two new ones. Of course, the originals will always be beloved, with the first entry being one of the most influential FPS games ever made.
In terms of where the series goes from here, id Software has recently started hiring for an unannounced project. Whether this will be a new Doom game or even another installment in the dormant Quake franchise remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to what the studio comes up with next.
Doom 2016 is out now for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Google Stadia.
Source: Speedrun