Speedrun

A Speed Run is a play-through of a game with the intention of completing it in the shortest amount of time possible. Unlike the Three Heart Challenge, optional upgrades are acceptable but are generally ignored if the amount of time they save is less than the time it takes to obtain them. Most speed runners attempt to break record times by using a variety of glitches to save time. Additionally, many speed runners prefer to play with the NTSC version of the game over the PAL version as it supposedly runs faster. This may be because of the 60Hz versus 50 Hz issue. A video of the gameplay is usually required to verify that a record was truly broken.

Speed Runs prove to be difficult challenges for the players involved with no reward other than the Community-related bragging rights. TSA, once a speed run contender, has become a very familiar name for his record setting. Many of his records have since been broken, but his pioneering accomplishments have withstood the test of time.

Current Speed Run Records for the Zelda Series

 * The Legend of Zelda: The fastest completion time with Up+A warps is 31 minutes and 37 seconds by Rodrigo Lopes on June 12th, 2006.
 * The Adventure of Link: The fastest single-segment completion time is 1 hour, 13 minutes and 5 seconds by Kristian 'Arctic_Eagle' Emanuelsen on August 1, 2009. The fastest completion time with deaths and Up+A warps is 57 minutes and 59 seconds by Rodrigo Lopes on April 10, 2009. The fastest 100% run is 1 hour, 9 minutes and 23 seconds by Kristian Emanuelsen on May 8, 2009.
 * A Link to the Past: The fastest single-segment completion time is 1 hour, 35 minutes and 45 seconds by Philippe 'Wak' Brisson on June 12th, 2009. The fastest single-segment 100% time is 2 hours, 0 minutes and 1 second by Philippe 'Wak' Brisson on July 31st, 2007.
 * Link's Awakening: The fastest single-segment completion time is 1 hour, 30 minutes and 36 seconds by John 'Maur' De Sousa on September 1, 2005.
 * Ocarina of Time: The fastest completion time is 2 hours, 26 minutes and 56 seconds by Lloyd 'Manocheese' Palmer on July 31, 2007. The fastest 100% run is 6 hours and 35 minutes by Oskar 'YautjaElder' Lundquist on July 4, 2007.
 * Majora's Mask: The fastest single-segment completion time is 2 hours, 3 minutes and 4 seconds by Daniel 'Jiano' Hart on September 6, 2009. The fastest 100% run is 6 hours and 55 minutes by Peter 'Dragorn' Branam-Lefkove on August 5, 2005.
 * Oracle of Ages: N/A
 * Oracle of Seasons: The fastest completion time is 2 hours, 6 minutes and 40 seconds by Tomas 'Tompa' Abrahamsson on November 19, 2005.
 * The Wind Waker: The fastest completion time is 6 hours and 42 minutes by Mike 'TSA' Damiani on April 18, 2005.
 * Four Swords Adventures: The fastest total completion time is 3 hours, 02 minutes and 45 seconds. Each level was done separately by different people. The fastest times of each can be seen on [Speed Demo Archive]
 * The Minish Cap: The fastest single-segment completion time is 2 hours and 45 minutes by Mike 'TSA' Damiani on March 3, 2005.
 * Twilight Princess: The fastest single-segment completion time is 3 hours and 56 minutes by Daniel 'Jiano' Hart on April 19, 2009.