Hey guys, welcome to the text guide for Hack 'n' Slash! If you prefer to watch a video guide, I have that too right here:

First, some important information about how the game works: When you edit the game, you aren't just changing certain variables the devs allowed. The code is written such that if you can find a way to enter an object's code rooms, you can edit all of its actual lua code: the variables, the operators, and the file paths. The only things you can't do are add your own variables, and make new functions. You also can't do silly things like make ">" operators into "if" statements. Because of this functionality, we can abuse the way bombs work to change some file paths and 'wrong warp' to the last room. It is not a glitch.

That said, there is a glitch in the run. I've taken to calling it wall running. If you're next to a cliff, you can walk off it (parallel to the face, walking in the direction of the other side) but hold against the wall at the same time. If you do so, you don't fall and respawn, you can just easily cross. This will be used twice.

If you don't know, you can skip every text box and cutscene by pressing "q". I always mash q to try and be as fast as possible, but if you're worried your keyboard can't handle it, learning to time all the q presses shouldn't be too hard.

I recommend using arrow keys for movement and keeping your left hand with ring finger on q, middle finger on 2, and index on e. It's weird and takes some getting used to but it's extremely ergonomic and covers almost every key you need easily. I'll refer to the arrow keys as u, d, l, and r, for up, down, left, and right respectively, since none of those keys are actually used except in typing. 

I'll try to go through the route in as much detail as possible, but I won't explain why the code edits work. Feel free to figure that out though!

0. Act N/A, Split 0: Enter Filename 0.1. The filename matters! Sorry to those GDQ donation incentives :/. In order for this run to work, you MUST name your character this: content/game/crackercavern/rooms/codepuzzle1

1. Act II, Split 1: Exit Cave 1.1. This split is pretty straightforward. First off, start mashing q as soon as you hit enter on the filename. Wait to start your timer until the screen fades, but then do it immediately. The "ACT II" screen will fade too fast to see, but if you start the timer as soon as the screen fades it's always close enough. 1.2. Once Alice lands in the cave, you want to keep mashing q for the text box that will appear. As soon as you see it, hit l to turn towards the sword and time a press on e to pick it up. Walk down to the door and slash at it as soon as you are in range. Mash q, then as soon as you regain control, slash the door, tap r, and tap q in quick succession. It might take some practice to get this sequence fast while actually changing the variable. Don't get frustrated, you're only 10 seconds in! 1.3. Exit the room. Stay close to the inside edge of the corner to save a small amount of time. 1.4. Follow the path and push the block down. As soon as it starts moving, hold r until it's no longer in your way, then walk down towards the next one. As soon as you're in range, slash it, tap r, then tap q. Hold d to push the block down once, then mash q hard. 1.5. As soon as the text box shows to enter the fairy's name, press enter, then immediately begin walking out the cave. Split as soon as you hit the loading zone.

2. Act II, Split 2: Finish Forest 2.1. You want to head down-left into the gap between the walls. This is faster than heading all the way around. However, make sure you don't hold l during the load, because the game will think you went back through and take you into the entrance cavern. Moral of the story: YOU CAN HOLD DOWN DURING THE LOAD, BUT DO NOT HOLD LEFT. 2.2. Follow the path to the left and as soon as you're in range, slash the block. Get the top value to 4, either by tapping r quickly 4 times or holding it until you see 4. Push it upwards, then once it's past the rest of the line, leave to its left. 2.3. Go left and take the first upwards turn. Follow the path over the bridge and up the path that ends near 3 bushes. Go left until you come to the bridge. Walk across, staying near the bottom of the bridge. Go under the rock and immediately hold up to wall run off it. If the crow hits you, no worries- there's only 2 places you can take damage and you have 3 hearts. 2.4. Walk around the bushes, either above them or below them, it doesn't matter. Get close enough to the blocks that the spiked turtle charges you and breaks one. Preferably, he breaks the top one, but it doesn't matter. Move behind the turtle, and slash the top block in the next line. Make sure the top variable is at least 2, then push it forwards and leave to its bottom. Follow the path upwards into the fairy woods. 2.5. Walk forward. As soon as Alice stops and Bob flies forward, start mashing q. Then head straight upwards into the next loading zone. The next place you need to be is through the loading zone to the left. Maneuver around the corner (stay as close as possible for speed and to dodge the turtle) and head straight to the loading zone. Getting hit by the turtle is a small time loss but is negligible. 2.6. Welcome to the Infinite Woods. The camera here is pretty weird, but once you're used to it it shouldn't be a problem. Every decision here is a fork in the path, and taking the wrong one will result in an infinite loop. Luckily for us, the path is always the same. Follow the path down-left, then at the next fork go straight left. Then, go up-left, then straight up, then up-left, then left, then down-left, then down, then down-right, then right, then up-right. Basically, head upwards and then follow a circular path. There should be a cave at the end of the up-right path. Enter it, then split when the game starts fading out.

3. Act II (Technically, we're in Act III now), Split 3: Puzzles Done 3.1. Mash q on load-in for the text box, then follow the path down into the cell. Slash the door, attempt to change the variable, then tap q. Wait for the scientist to arrive. 3.2. As the scientist gets close, start alternating on e and q. The scientist will disappear and you will have a new item, the Loupe. Walk straight towards the Code Post and hit 2 to enter the code room. Walk to the first code structure on the right, slash it, hit r, tap q, then leave the code room. Slash the cell door, tap r, tap q, then follow the path out of the room. 3.3. Mash q. Follow the path, go up the stairs, push the chair up out of your way and head out the door. You don't need to talk to the scientist and you shouldn't be anywhere near her.

4. Act IV, Split 3: Puzzles Done 4.1. For the first chamber, follow the path. There's a port in the wall on the left. As soon as you can, slash it, tap r, tap q, and keep following the path. When you walk through the cell door, mash q. The door will close and immediately open (The puzzle is already solved) but Bob still has text. Follow the path out of the room. 4.2. For the second chamber, follow the path all the way into the cell. Walk toward the Code Post and use the Loupe to enter. Slash the red pyramid, change the string from "ran" to "free" and leave the code room. Follow the path out the door. 4.3. For the third chamber, follow the path all the way into the cell. Ignore the port in the wall. Once you enter the cell, mash q, then walk up to the Code Post. Tap e, scroll down to 5, then mash enter or space into the code room. Once in, slash the code structure straight to your right, tap r, tap q, and leave the code room. Follow the path out the door. 4.4. This puzzle looks pretty intimidating, but we can skip most of it. Follow the path to the fork, go right, go up, go left, and head towards the nearer of the two blocks that are out of place. Slash the first block, tap r, tap q, and push it up. As soon as it starts moving you can head down, left, and up to the next one. Do the same to that one, and once it starts moving, Loupe the code post. The pyramids you want are Dark blue and Light blue. Change the one with a value of "1" to "3" and the one with a value of "3" to "1." Leave the code room, and head back towards the first block you pushed. Walk between the two blocks and follow the path. Use the right side of the port to be at the same x coordinate heading down every time. Once you're next to the Code Post, hold r to wall run onto the bridge, then walk to the right and hold u to wall run over the cliff. Follow the path out the door. Split.

5. Act IV, Split 4: Wrong Warped 5.1. Mash q for text. Follow the path to the scientist. Don't stop walking towards the stairs down, but as you pass her, tap e and q to get the bombs. Drop a bomb immediately (it's on 3), then keep walking and drop a bomb at the max range of the other's explosion. Stand over the one you just dropped. The first one should explode, opening the code room for the second bomb, which you should fall into. 5.2. Go to the bottom right signpost, tap e, and scroll down to 4. Change the "is" structure to an "is not" and leave the code room. Leave the signpost room. Plant a bomb immediately and stand on the edge of its range. YOU MUST GET HIT. 5.3. You are now in Alice's lua file. Head straight left. You want the signpost that is one above of straight left. Tap e, and scroll to 8. If there is no 8, or 8 is not a "gettable," you're at the wrong sign post. 5.4. Slash the light blue pyramid, and change it's value from "entityPath" to "name". Leave the code room. The game will freeze. This is the game trying to save. Don't hold any keys and it will save faster. 5.5. Once you're back in Alice's lua, start heading towards the exit but drop a bomb on the way. Stand about two diamonds away (diamonds are on the floor pattern, this is the bomb's maximum explosion range) and get hit. 5.6. You are now in Codepuzzle1.lua. Take a step towards the top signpost, tap e, and scroll to 11. Mash enter or space into the code room. Once inside, head to the light green pyramid (be careful not to fall into the exit portal) and open the value editor. Delete everything except "content/game/" and then add "dourtower/rooms/princesschambers". It should now read "content/game/dourtower/rooms/princesschambers". Close the editing table, leave the code room, leave the signpost room, leave Alice's lua, leave the cave through the exit to the puzzles from Split 3. Here comes the big kicker! 5.7. Go back through the door you just came from. Assuming you typed everything correctly... 5.8. Welcome to the final room! Walk to the right, and as soon as the "You're here." text appears, split.

Congratulations! Good luck runners.