ToolAssisted

Toolassisted refers to the use of external software or hardware tools to plan, execute, and verify actions in a game with a level of precision beyond what a human can normally achieve. In the context of speedrunning, tool-assisted speedruns (TAS) employ emulators and related tooling to input sequences frame by frame, test routes, and optimize playthroughs to minimize time or achieve specific goals. The practice also extends to research, debugging, and demonstration of mechanics in various games.

Common tools and methods include save states, frame-advance control, input recording and playback, scripted inputs, memory inspection, and sometimes patching or romhacking. These techniques enable meticulous routing, glitch discovery, and validation of in-game behavior. Toolassisted work is often used for preservation, education, and entertainment, as well as for documenting optimal strategies that may be impractical for human-only play.

Distinctions and reception vary by community. Toolassisted runs are typically not submitted to the same leaderboards as human-only runs and are often categorized separately or excluded from official timing records. Proponents emphasize educational value, reproducibility, and the study of game design, while critics argue that TAS does not reflect human skill and should be clearly differentiated from real-time play. Ethics and rules around toolassisted submissions differ among games and organizations, with emulation-based work sometimes restricted for certain competitions.

Notable aspects include the historical emergence of TAS in the 1990s and later developments such as tool-assisted demonstrations on real hardware through projects like TASBot. These examples illustrate the boundary between theoretical optimization and practical, human-playable performance.