Tool-assisted speedrun

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A tool-assisted speedrun or tool-assisted superplay (TAS; /tæs/) is generally defined as a speedrun or playthrough composed of precise inputs recorded with tools such as video game emulators. Tool-assisted speedruns are generally created with the goal of creating theoretically perfect playthroughs. This includes but is not limited to the fastest possible route to complete a game and/or showcasing new ways to optimize existing world records.

TAS requires research into the theoretical limits of the games and their respective competitive categories. The fastest categories are those without any restrictions and often involve a level of gameplay impractical or even impossible for a human player, while those made according to real-time attack rules serve to research limits doable by human players.

The TAS developer has full control over the game's movement, per video frame, to record a sequence of fully precise inputs. Other tools include savestates and branches, rewriting recorded inputs, splicing together best sequences, macros, and scripts to automate gameplay actions. These tools give TAS creators the ability to perform with precision and accuracy beyond what a human player can do.