Kill 'em all speed run times

Guide

Following on from the Kill 'em all speed runs page, here are some of my Legendary and Heroic times to compete with if you're interested (attained in the Xbox version of the game). For each level, challenges are listed in order of increasingly severe restrictions. Weapon restrictions are usually indicated by listing the weapons allowed (e.g. "Plasma pistol + plasma rifle"), but sometimes I say which ones I'm forbidding (e.g. "No sniper rifle").

Times added recently will appear in red bold. If a time is described as 'provisional', that means I've only done a few attempts so far and I'm hopeful of managing a decent improvement later. I've done a bunch of provisional times just to help get the ball rolling for this new page.

If you'd like me to try a particular speed challenge to compete against (with certain weapons restrictions or whatever), drop me an email and maybe I'll give it a shot if it sounds interesting.

Level 1: The Pillar of Autumn

Plasma pistol + plasma rifle

Legendary 8:29, a run you can see in BCM22 (and my commentary includes some tactics talk you may find useful). When I posted a provisional time in 2007, I only managed 12:11! Even allowing for the fact that I didn't put too much work into that, I'm wondering how I was so slow.

Heroic 7:22. I did this after having spent a lot of time on Legendary. Blimey, what a difference. There were way fewer enemies and I barely had to bother about taking cover. Luxury! I didn't spend long trying to get a good time; I just did a couple of runs to get a half-decent time in case anyone wants something to compete with.

Level 2: Halo

Assault rifle, vehicles used for personal transport only

Legendary 48:40. A pretty good time I thought, and I even managed to keep most survivors alive. Did well in the first half of the level but got a bit held up later in the hillside survivor area where it can be quite hard to tackle the Elites. There's definitely scope for pushing harder, but it's a scary and stressful business taking on all those eight-footers, so nuts to that for the time being! I need to recuperate…

Heroic 30:30 (provisional).

Level 3: The Truth and Reconciliation

Unrestricted

Heroic 25:30. I used a sniper rifle and plasma pistol most of the way.

Plasma pistol + plasma rifle

Heroic 27:40.

Assault rifle

Heroic 30:10. Faster than I was expecting, based on my plasma combo time. But those reds can be a real pain to bring down with that popgun, and you'll be looking forward to the next medkit! Still a lot of fun though, and if you want any AR tips I can offer some here.

Level 4: The Silent Cartographer

No vehicles

Legendary 35:30 (provisional).

Heroic 20:54.

Level 5: Assault on the Control Room

No sniper rifle, no vehicles

Legendary 63:30.

Heroic 42:25. I mainly used the pistol, plasma pistol and rocket launcher.

No health loss

Legendary 113:10. But I'm hopeful of being able to take around 10 minutes off that if I push a bit more, particularly in the second phase (after leaving the final Marines behind).

Level 6: 343 Guilty Spark

Unrestricted

Heroic 18:38 (provisional).

Level 7: The Library

Unrestricted

Heroic 42:43 (provisional). Mostly used shotgun and pistol. Almost blew myself up in an almighty chain reaction in the last battle, triggered by my grenade. It started a good way off but I misjudged how many loose grenades were littering the ground, and the explosions quickly got closer. "Well this isn't good" I thought, and before I knew it, my ears were ringing and I was down to a single bar of health. But luckily the Flood had been taken out too, and I was able to recharge after running for cover. Not a run to be proud of.

No health loss

Legendary 67:20. I was hoping to shave maybe 5 minutes off that time with a bit more aggression. But then I dropped the venture in annoyance after being blown up once too often by a carrier form that impossibly materializes behind you; a rare bit of poor level design that's simply unfair.

Level 8: Two Betrayals

No health loss

Legendary 81:00. Probably my best speed achievement so far. For chat on this see my section on the perfection challenge.

Level 9: Keyes

Unrestricted

Heroic 36:32 (provisional).

Level 10: The Maw

Unrestricted

Heroic 23:31 (provisional).