Level looping: Difference between revisions

Level looping
AKA	Looping; Half Loop
Difficulty	Easy to Very Hard (level dependent)
Possible in	The Enchanted Earth; Pools Of The Ancient Dead; The Lake; The Crystal Caves; The Haunted Ruins; The Gallows Gauntlet; The Ghost Ship; The Time Device; Zarok's Lair
Used in	The Enchanted Earth; The Crystal Caves; The Haunted Ruins; The Gallows Gauntlet; The Ghost Ship; The Time Device
Obsolete	No

Latest revision as of 16:09, 5 March 2025

Level looping is a glitch widely used by speedrunners of the original MediEvil. There are multiple uses of level looping in the game. Some are used to skip to the exit of the level. Others are used to skip an enemy encounter or an area of the level which should be completed to progress.

It is one if the hardest glitches to learn and master, and can often mean the end of a speedrun if not performed correctly.

How it works

Using the inventory glitch, it is possible to get out of bounds and essentially "fall" to a different location in the level. If you stand on an edge and use the inventory glitch, you are able to fall off the edge and out of bounds, into the darkness. As the inventory is open, you are able to skip the death triggers, which would kill you in normal play.

If you close the inventory while you are falling, you will die instantly and be put back at the spot from which you jumped; however, if you hold and then close the inventory, you will not die. In fact, you will be teleported to the top of the level, where you will be able to use the directional buttons and the analog stick to move about whilst falling, as well as dashing, which is required for some loops to be performed successfully.

The initial fall until the teleportation at the top of the level lasts 13 seconds. From there, to reach a floor again takes another 13 seconds, completing a full level loop in 26 seconds.

Level looping is possible in any level where you can drop out of bounds. The levels where looping is normally used in speedrunning are the following:

Failing some level loops can result in Dan being stuck out of bounds or in an area that is impossible to leave, requiring the player to reset the level. Such loops are the one in The Enchanted Earth, The Haunted Ruins, and The Ghost Ship.

If you stop moving or release the directional buttons or analog stick while falling, Dan will die.

Half loop

There's a version of the regular level looping which can be performed in half the time, 13 seconds instead of the usual 26 seconds. Performing it requires the exact same steps, the main difference is that Dan will reach the floor immediately after the initial fall instead of being teleported at the top of the level. It is unknown why half loops can happen, but they are more difficult to perform than regular loops due to the high movement precision necessary to reach very specific coordinates where the half loop happens.

Known half loops are in the following levels:

Looping tips

A good indicator that you're at the edge of a platform is when you see Dan stumbling.
Moving while falling using the directional buttons instead of the analog stick gives you higher precision and control.
Initiating a level loop using the analog stick is easier than using the directional buttons.
You can switch from analog stick to directional buttons while dashing. After a dash, you have about 1 second of time to release the analog stick and press the directional buttons without dying.
The easiest loop is the one in The Time Device. You can use this loop to practice your technique.

Specific loops

In this section, you will find the details on how to perform known level loops and half loops.

The Enchanted Earth

The Enchanted Earth loop is a fairly difficult one. It requires practice and getting used to to perform it consistently. The community refers to it as a loop, but it is actually a half loop. It was originally discovered by NoobKillerRoof on October 29, 2014, by accident, while he was performing the Method 1 setup. From that first accident, several adjustments were made to ensure consistency. It is, as of today, the most consistent of all the half loops.

To execute it, you must reach the second platform on the trees that lead to the dragon bird.

Once you're in front of the platform, follow one of the methods below.

Method 1

Difficulty: Medium

Jump on the platform, and using side steps ( + direction) align yourself past the right pillar of the platform, at the very edge.
Holding the club, pay attention to the clouds on the right of the platform. You will reach a bigger cloud. Wait for the tip of the club to touch it.
Perform the inventory glitch to drop forward, off the platform, without dashing.
Close the inventory when you see the chests of gold, while holding Right ().
Dan will eventually disappear from the screen while falling. When he reappears, quickly switch direction to Up-Right ( + ).
If done properly, the screen will go entirely black and the UI will disappear. The music will also stop playing, and shortly after you will see the loading screen. You've performed a half loop!

Method 2 (Faster)

Difficulty: Very Hard

Jump on the platform and wait until the platform covers a good amount of the right cloud.
Perform the inventory glitch to drop forward () while dashing, off the platform. Close the inventory quickly.
Hold Up-Right ( + ) and count to 6 (if you are speedrunning, use your timer for more precision).
Switch direction to Right (). If done properly, you should land exactly 11 seconds after dropping from the platform.

This method is not recommended for beginners. You should attempt it only if you're very comfortable with level loops.

The Haunted Ruins

This level has two separate loops that can be performed in a useful way to skip significant parts of the level.

Loop 1

Difficulty: Medium

The first loop is easier than the second and can be a half loop if your timing and directions are right. The video for reference shows the full loop. Notice the moment when the direction is switched on the controller because the half loop was missed.

From the start of the level, run forward (do not dash) until you reach the edge of the bridge.
Align Sir Dan with the line in between the ground's texture.
Perform the inventory glitch and fall forward.
When the ground disappears from the screen, close the inventory.
Dash Up () 7 times, wait one second, and dash again 1 or 2 times. Hold Up.
If done properly, you will hit the half loop spot and land in a room with demons and a life fountain.
If you see the sky flickering, you missed the half loop. Switch direction to Up-Left ( + ) and hold it.
You will land on top of a roof by the entrance of King Peregrin's throne room.
Carefully align yourself to the edge of the roof over the door.
Look for your shadow. When it disappears, you can safely drop off the roof and you will glitch through the door, into the room below.

Loop 2

Difficulty: Hard

The second loop is harder than the first. So far, there's no known half loop. It can be performed from the Stone Golems' fighting arena.

Run into the first wall on the top side of the arena.
Side step to your left while facing the wall until Dan stumbles.
Perform the inventory glitch and run forward.
If done properly, you will start falling. Hold Down () and dash 9 times, then keep holding Down.
Shortly after, you will see the castle textures flashing on the screen.
Switch direction to Left () and dash twice. Switch direction to Up-Left ( + ) and dash 4 times. You should see a structure passing on the screen while dashing. If needed, dash a fifth time.
If performed properly, you will land in the catapult area by the exit door, or on the mountain by its side.
If you landed on the mountain, carefully run towards the catapult area.

If performed incorrectly, this loop can soft-lock you, and you will need to restart the level.

The Crystal Caves

Difficulty: Medium

The level loop in The Crystal Caves can be performed in two ways and can be a half loop. The perfect positioning for the half loop is currently unknown, but the method described below can often result in a half loop.

From the start of the level, walk to the top right and perform the inventory glitch to fall into the water below, running.
Looking at the yellow flashing arrow at the bottom of the inventory menu, wait for it to flash 4 times, then close the inventory.
Dash Up 4 times (), 1 time Right (), 3 times Down (), and 1 time Left (), then hold Left until you land.
If the timing is right, you will perform a half loop. If you're slightly off, you will perform a full loop. In either case, you will land in the room where the level exit is.

To be more precise with the directions, right after the first dash Up, you can switch from the analog stick to the directional buttons without dying, if you are fast enough.

The Gallows Gauntlet

Difficulty: Very Hard

Main article: Dragon Gate Skip

Although this level does not normally have an area where you can drop out-of-bounds, it is possible, with very high precision, to clip through the floor and perform a level loop. This method is used to skip the Dragon Gate and it is known as the Gallows Gauntlet Skip, or GGS.

The Ghost Ship

Difficulty: Hard

The level loop in The Ghost Ship is the only loop that does not require the inventory glitch. The reason for this exception is that the invisible death plane that normally is in a level outside of the map bounds, does not extend to the side of the ship where the loop is executed. Jumping out of bounds does not kill Dan like it normally would in other levels.

There are multiple ways to perform this loop. The one below has good visual clues that make the loop easier:

At the start of the level, run past the few pirate crew members and over the railing. Aim for the second hatch from the top row.
Jump over the railing again, outside of the ship and immediately hold Right and Down ( + ).
Dan will start falling and spinning. Holding the club, pay attention to its tip until it is perpendicular to the bottom of your screen. You can also use the Dragon Armour or Dan's feet as visual clues.
When the club is aligned, switch direction and hold Right ().
If done correctly, you should land where the Ghost Ship Captain would normally be, and from there touch the bowsprit, where the invisible level exit is.

If you switched direction too early or too late, you can adjust it by using the directional pad. If you land on the sides of the ship, you have performed the loop incorrectly and the only way to try again is to quit the level and restart.

The Time Device

Difficulty: Easy

This is the easiest of all the useful loops in the original MediEvil. If you are practicing loops, this is the one you want to use for this purpose. It can be performed at the very start of the level to reach the exit directly, and it has very clear clues for directions and timing.

As you gain control of Dan at the start of the level, side step to the Right ( + ) and reach the edge of the bridge.
Perform the inventory glitch and fall, running.
Close the inventory when you see the bridge "stuttering". Notice that this stutter only happens if you perform the glitch for the first time in the level.
Using the analog stick, go towards Up-Right ( + ), following the bridge. It will disappear and the rails and gate will start flashing on the screen.
When you see the exit gate and the rails, using the analog stick, move Dan so that the rails are perpendicular to the bottom of the screen.
Once the rails are perpendicular, hold the direction you have until the screen fades to black, generally Down ().

Navigation

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This glitch is widely used by speedrunners. There are multiple uses of level looping in the game. Some are used to skip to the exit of the level. Others are used to skip an enemy encounter or an area of the level which is should be completed to progress.
+{{Infobox glitch
+|name = Level looping
+|aka = Looping<br>Half Loop
+|difficulty = Easy to Very Hard <small>(level dependent)</small>
+|possiblein = [[The Enchanted Earth]]<br>[[Pools Of The Ancient Dead]]<br>[[The Lake]]<br>[[The Crystal Caves]]<br>[[The Haunted Ruins]]<br>[[The Gallows Gauntlet]]<br>[[The Ghost Ship]]<br>[[The Time Device]]<br>[[Zarok's Lair]]
+|usedin = [[The Enchanted Earth]]<br>[[The Crystal Caves]]<br>[[The Haunted Ruins]]<br>[[The Gallows Gauntlet]]<br>[[The Ghost Ship]]<br>[[The Time Device]]
+|obsolete = No
+}}
+'''Level looping''' is a [[MediEvil/Glitches|glitch]] widely used by [[Speedrunning|speedrunners]] of the original ''[[MediEvil (1998)|MediEvil]]''. There are multiple uses of level looping in the game. Some are used to skip to the exit of the level. Others are used to skip an enemy encounter or an area of the level which should be completed to progress.
-Using the inventory glitch, it is possible to get out of bounds and essentially "fall" to a different location in the level. If you stand on an edge and use the inventory glitch, you are able to jump off the edge and out of bounds, into the darkness. As the inventory is open, you are able to skip the death triggers, which would kill you in normal play.
+It is one if the hardest glitches to learn and master, and can often mean the end of a speedrun if not performed correctly.
+==How it works==
+Using the inventory glitch, it is possible to get out of bounds and essentially "fall" to a different location in the level. If you stand on an edge and use the inventory glitch, you are able to fall off the edge and out of bounds, into the darkness. As the inventory is open, you are able to skip the death triggers, which would kill you in normal play.
 If you close the inventory while you are falling, you will die instantly and be put back at the spot from which you jumped; however, if you hold {{B|C}} and then close the inventory, you will not die. In fact, you will be teleported to the top of the level, where you will be able to use the directional buttons and the analog stick to move about whilst falling, as well as [[The Daring Dash|dashing]], which is required for some loops to be performed successfully.
@@ Line 9: / Line 20: @@
 Level looping is possible in any level where you can drop out of bounds. The levels where looping is normally used in speedrunning are the following:
 *[[The Enchanted Earth]]
-*[[Pools Of The Ancient Dead]]
+*[[Pools Of The Ancient Dead]] (obsolete)
-*[[The Lake]]
 *[[The Crystal Caves]]
 *[[The Haunted Ruins]]
+*[[The Gallows Gauntlet]]
 *[[The Ghost Ship]]
 *[[The Time Device]]
-Failing some level loops can result into Dan being stuck out of bounds, requiring the player to reset the level. Such loops are the one in '''Enchanted Earth''', '''Haunted Ruins''', and '''Ghost Ship'''.
+Failing some level loops can result in [[Sir Daniel Fortesque|Dan]] being stuck out of bounds or in an area that is impossible to leave, requiring the player to reset the level. Such loops are the one in The Enchanted Earth, The Haunted Ruins, and The Ghost Ship.
 If you stop moving or release the directional buttons or analog stick while falling, Dan will die.
 ===Half loop===
-There's a version of the regular level looping which can be performed in half the time, 13 seconds instead of the usual 26 seconds. Performing it requires the exact same steps, the main difference is that Dan will reach the floor immediately after the initial fall instead of being teleported at the top of the level. Half loops are more difficult to perform than regular loops due to the high movement precision necessary to reach specific coordinates where the half loop happens.
+There's a version of the regular level looping which can be performed in half the time, 13 seconds instead of the usual 26 seconds. Performing it requires the exact same steps, the main difference is that Dan will reach the floor immediately after the initial fall instead of being teleported at the top of the level. It is unknown why half loops can happen, but they are more difficult to perform than regular loops due to the high movement precision necessary to reach very specific coordinates where the half loop happens.
 Known half loops are in the following levels:
@@ Line 29: / Line 40: @@
 ===Looping tips===
+* A good indicator that you're at the edge of a platform is when you see Dan stumbling.
 * Moving while falling using the directional buttons instead of the analog stick gives you higher precision and control.
 * Initiating a level loop using the analog stick is easier than using the directional buttons.
 * You can switch from analog stick to directional buttons while dashing. After a dash, you have about 1 second of time to release the analog stick and press the directional buttons without dying.
+* The easiest loop is the one in [[Level_looping#The_Time_Device|The Time Device]]. You can use this loop to practice your technique.
+==Specific loops==
+In this section, you will find the details on how to perform known level loops and half loops.
+===The Enchanted Earth===
+The Enchanted Earth loop is a fairly difficult one. It requires practice and getting used to to perform it consistently. The community refers to it as a loop, but it is actually a half loop. It was originally discovered by {{Speedrun.com User|NoobKillerRoof}} on October 29, 2014, by accident, while he was performing the Method 1 setup. From that first accident, several adjustments were made to ensure consistency. It is, as of today, the most consistent of all the half loops.
+To execute it, you must reach the second platform on the trees that lead to the [[Dragon Birds|dragon bird]].
+Once you're in front of the platform, follow one of the methods below.
+====Method 1====
+'''Difficulty:''' Medium
+{{#ev:youtube|https://youtu.be/Um8xRTL_OV4?si=r5MZdUjfCSfLxTsR&|dimensions=260|alignment=right|||start=536&end=572}}
+# Jump on the platform, and using side steps ({{B|R1}} + direction) align yourself past the right pillar of the platform, at the very edge.
+# Holding the [[Club|club]], pay attention to the clouds on the right of the platform. You will reach a bigger cloud. Wait for the tip of the club to touch it.
+# Perform the inventory glitch to drop forward, off the platform, without dashing.
+# Close the inventory when you see the [[Treasure|chests of gold]], while holding Right ({{B|R}}).
+# Dan will eventually disappear from the screen while falling. When he reappears, quickly switch direction to Up-Right ({{B|U|}} + {{B|R}}).
+# If done properly, the screen will go entirely black and the UI will disappear. The music will also stop playing, and shortly after you will see the loading screen. You've performed a half loop!
+====Method 2 (Faster)====
+'''Difficulty:''' Very Hard
+{{#ev:youtube|https://youtu.be/nJTi2BLxNqo?si=ah8bTx2flOs1I4B2|dimensions=260|alignment=right|||start=447&end=465}}
+# Jump on the platform and wait until the platform covers a good amount of the right cloud.
+# Perform the inventory glitch to drop forward ({{B|U}}) while dashing, off the platform. Close the inventory quickly.
+# Hold Up-Right ({{B|U|}} + {{B|R}}) and count to 6 (if you are speedrunning, use your timer for more precision).
+# Switch direction to Right ({{B|R}}). If done properly, you should land exactly 11 seconds after dropping from the platform.
+This method is not recommended for beginners. You should attempt it only if you're very comfortable with level loops.
+===The Haunted Ruins===
+This level has two separate loops that can be performed in a useful way to skip significant parts of the level.
+====Loop 1====
+'''Difficulty:''' Medium
+{{#ev:youtube|https://youtu.be/Um8xRTL_OV4?si=t1rgtyM6X8n99zc9|dimensions=260|alignment=right|||start=892&end=928}}
+The first loop is easier than the second and can be a half loop if your timing and directions are right. The video for reference shows the full loop. Notice the moment when the direction is switched on the controller because the half loop was missed.
+# From the start of the level, run forward (do not dash) until you reach the edge of the bridge.
+# Align Sir Dan with the line in between the ground's texture.
+# Perform the inventory glitch and fall forward.
+# When the ground disappears from the screen, close the inventory.
+# Dash Up ({{B|U}}) 7 times, wait one second, and dash again 1 or 2 times. Hold Up.
+# If done properly, you will hit the half loop spot and land in a room with demons and a life fountain.
+# If you see the sky flickering, you missed the half loop. Switch direction to Up-Left ({{B|U}} + {{B|L}}) and hold it.
+# You will land on top of a roof by the entrance of [[King Peregrin]]'s throne room.
+# Carefully align yourself to the edge of the roof over the door.
+# Look for your shadow. When it disappears, you can safely drop off the roof and you will glitch through the door, into the room below.
+====Loop 2====
+'''Difficulty:''' Hard
+{{#ev:youtube|https://youtu.be/Um8xRTL_OV4?si=TQFRTNydTmgmFS--|dimensions=260|alignment=right|||start=961&end=992}}
+The second loop is harder than the first. So far, there's no known half loop. It can be performed from the [[Stone Golems]]' fighting arena.
+# Run into the first wall on the top side of the arena.
+# Side step to your left while facing the wall until Dan stumbles.
+# Perform the inventory glitch and run forward.
+# If done properly, you will start falling. Hold Down ({{B|D}}) and dash 9 times, then keep holding Down.
+# Shortly after, you will see the castle textures flashing on the screen.
+# Switch direction to Left ({{B|L}}) and dash twice. Switch direction to Up-Left ({{B|L}} + {{B|U}}) and dash 4 times. You should see a structure passing on the screen while dashing. If needed, dash a fifth time.
+# If performed properly, you will land in the catapult area by the exit door, or on the mountain by its side.
+# If you landed on the mountain, carefully run towards the catapult area.
+If performed incorrectly, this loop can soft-lock you, and you will need to restart the level.
+===The Crystal Caves===
+'''Difficulty:''' Medium
+{{#ev:youtube|https://youtu.be/Um8xRTL_OV4?si=T704iJ5N2n54QaCX|dimensions=260|alignment=right|||start=742&end=767}}
+The level loop in The Crystal Caves can be performed in two ways and can be a half loop. The perfect positioning for the half loop is currently unknown, but the method described below can often result in a half loop.
+# From the start of the level, walk to the top right and perform the inventory glitch to fall into the water below, running.
+# Looking at the yellow flashing arrow at the bottom of the inventory menu, wait for it to flash 4 times, then close the inventory.
+# Dash Up 4 times ({{B|U}}), 1 time Right ({{B|R}}), 3 times Down ({{B|D}}), and 1 time Left ({{B|L}}), then hold Left until you land.
+# If the timing is right, you will perform a half loop. If you're slightly off, you will perform a full loop. In either case, you will land in the room where the level exit is.
+To be more precise with the directions, right after the first dash Up, you can switch from the analog stick to the directional buttons without dying, if you are fast enough.
+===The Gallows Gauntlet===
+'''Difficulty:''' Very Hard
+{{Main article|Dragon Gate Skip}}
+Although this level does not normally have an area where you can drop out-of-bounds, it is possible, with very high precision, to clip through the floor and perform a level loop. This method is used to skip the Dragon Gate and it is known as the Gallows Gauntlet Skip, or GGS.
+===The Ghost Ship===
+'''Difficulty:''' Hard
+{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VeDA8wiTjk|dimensions=260|alignment=right}}
+The level loop in The Ghost Ship is the only loop that does not require the inventory glitch. The reason for this exception is that the invisible death plane that normally is in a level outside of the map bounds, does not extend to the side of the ship where the loop is executed. Jumping out of bounds does not kill Dan like it normally would in other levels.
+There are multiple ways to perform this loop. The one below has good visual clues that make the loop easier:
+# At the start of the level, run past the few [[Pirate Crew|pirate crew members]] and over the railing. Aim for the second hatch from the top row.
+# Jump over the railing again, outside of the ship and immediately hold Right and Down ({{B|R}} + {{B|D}}).
+# Dan will start falling and spinning. Holding the [[Club|club]], pay attention to its tip until it is perpendicular to the bottom of your screen. You can also use the [[Dragon Armour]] or Dan's feet as visual clues.
+# When the club is aligned, switch direction and hold Right ({{B|R}}).
+# If done correctly, you should land where the [[Ghost Ship Captain]] would normally be, and from there touch the bowsprit, where the invisible level exit is.
+If you switched direction too early or too late, you can adjust it by using the directional pad. If you land on the sides of the ship, you have performed the loop incorrectly and the only way to try again is to quit the level and restart.
+===The Time Device===
+'''Difficulty:''' Easy
+{{#ev:youtube|https://youtu.be/Um8xRTL_OV4?si=4HYrXlTEYVZxRFx_|dimensions=260|alignment=right|||start=1158&end=1187}}
+This is the easiest of all the useful loops in the original ''MediEvil''. If you are practicing loops, this is the one you want to use for this purpose. It can be performed at the very start of the level to reach the exit directly, and it has very clear clues for directions and timing.
+# As you gain control of Dan at the start of the level, side step to the Right ({{B|R1}} + {{B|R}}) and reach the edge of the bridge.
+# Perform the inventory glitch and fall, running.
+# Close the inventory when you see the bridge "stuttering". Notice that this stutter only happens if you perform the glitch for the first time in the level.
+# Using the analog stick, go towards Up-Right ({{B|U}} + {{B|R}}), following the bridge. It will disappear and the rails and gate will start flashing on the screen.
+# When you see the exit gate and the rails, using the analog stick, move Dan so that the rails are perpendicular to the bottom of the screen.
+# Once the rails are perpendicular, hold the direction you have until the screen fades to black, generally Down ({{B|D}}).
+==Navigation==
+{{MediEvil gameplay}}
+{{Speedrunning}}
+[[Category:Glitches]]
+[[Category:Glitches in MediEvil (1998)]]

Level looping
AKA	Looping Half Loop
Difficulty	Easy to Very Hard (level dependent)
Possible in	The Enchanted Earth Pools Of The Ancient Dead The Lake The Crystal Caves The Haunted Ruins The Gallows Gauntlet The Ghost Ship The Time Device Zarok's Lair
Used in	The Enchanted Earth The Crystal Caves The Haunted Ruins The Gallows Gauntlet The Ghost Ship The Time Device
Obsolete	No