Summer Games Done Quick 2015: Day 5 Highlights and Day 6 Runs to Watch

If you missed them, be sure to check out highlights from Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4 of Summer Games Done Quick 2015.

Summer Games Done Quick 2015 heads right into the weekend, Friday upping the ante on some truly intense speed runs across some of the best (and most interesting) video games. Games Done Quick continues to raise money for Doctors Without Borders today and through the weekend, easily surpassing the $500,000 mark. Shacknews is looking back at the best highlights across the week and here are the best runs from Thursday.

Day 5 Highlights

Shovel Knight low-percentage shovel only (PC)

Earlier this year, Yacht Club Games decided to drop in on Awesome Games Done Quick 2015 and witness their game get torn to shreds by plucky speed runner Capndrake. Yesterday, Yacht Club returned to watch MunchaKoopas attempt the same, only with a twist. He would attempt to finish the game solely with the shovel and do so in less than 50 minutes. For those that want a sprinkling of informative developer commentary to go along with their speed runs, it doesn't get better than the Shovel Knight runs.

Mega Man 4 race (NES)/Mega Man 10 hard mode (Wii)

The Blue Bomber had quite a block of games on Thursday, but no two runs stood out more than the traditional NES-style games that were on display. Mega Man IV was not only on the docket, but it was time for a race to the finish between speed runners almondcity and Chelney. Both streamers went neck-and-neck all the way through Dr. Cossack/Dr. Wily's castle, with few obstacles able to trip them up. It comes right down to the wire and may be one of the tightest races in GDQ history.

And yet more impressive was the more recent Mega Man 10, with viewers raising enough money to have speed runner usedpizza run through the game on Hard Mode. Mega Man games are already hard enough on their own, but when the enemies and obstacles are upped as much as they are, it becomes an exercise in masochism. Even the Robot Masters have whole new attacks. So watch as usedpizza tries to get through in under 42 minutes and be amazed.

Day 6 Runs to Watch

Dustforce DX (PC) - 11:51AM PT

It's immensely difficult to narrow down which speed runs to watch for Friday, because the day is packed. But here's a game that was designed with speed runs in mind. Now is Dustforce DX's time to shine, as the sweeping platformer demands every ounce of precision to avoid dangerous spikes and clean up every speck of dirt. It's one of the most underrated platformers of the last five years and a speed run is often its greatest showcase, so don't miss the virtual ballet of Dustforce.

I Wanna be the Boshy (PC) - 1:41PM PT

Yes, it's another masochistic fan-made game in the vein of I Wanna be the Guy. In many ways, Boshy is far more sinister with its trap placement and its demand for perfection. And just like IWBTG before it, it gets downright unfair at points. But won't stop speed runner witwix from giving it a shot.

Super Mario Bros. 3 warpless race (NES) - 4:36PM PT

With no warp whistles at the ready, Super Mario Bros. 3 still stands in the annals of history as one of the more challenging 8-bit Mario efforts. But cujiihsv and whenchukaattacks will also be racing each other, trying to get through each and ever SMB3 level in the game faster than their opponent. SMB3 was another crowd-pleaser at AGDQ earlier this year and a two-man race is a recipe for a fantastic Friday afternoon.

Summer Games Done Quick will air all week on Twitch. To donate, be sure to visit the Games Done Quick website.

Ozzie Mejia

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?