Uploaded October 2012 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
I still don't understand how to do this consistently, but you can use avoid quite a number of these hacking minigames with a careful manipulation of the MAVI. It doesn't work on every one--and some seem to activate but not trigger the necessary events.
Run up to a console or panel and press a combination of "1" to turn on the MAVI and "E" to hack the console rapidly, activating the hack and canceling out of it before it fully engages. Somehow it skips the process by confusing the game.
I assume that this works by tricking the game into ending the hacking sequence without "disengaging" and failing it, meaning that the default state for hacking a console is success unless you quit out or fail it.
This trick is fairly easy to do and can save 5-10 seconds per hack if done right, which could add up in the course of a speedrun. The difficulty comes from determining how exactly to get the glitch to work consistently--or specifically which hacks can be skipped.
It's worth noting in using this, some consoles seem to act like you've successfully hacked them, but they don't activate the triggers they're supposed to, such as unlocking doors. I have no idea why this is, but it could mean that it's impossible at the moment to remove every single instance of hacking from a speedrun.
In my experimentation, I found a few more glitches with these consoles, largely involving crouching, jumping, and falling while trying to access the console. Crouching, jumping out of the crouch, activating and disengaging the panel seems to place the camera inside of Kate's now-missing head and stifle your ability to move. Falling while activating and deactivating the console permanently locks Kate in place.
I still don't understand how to do this consistently, but you can use avoid quite a number of these hacking minigames with a careful manipulation of the MAVI. It doesn't work on every one--and some seem to activate but not trigger the necessary events.
Run up to a console or panel and press a combination of "1" to turn on the MAVI and "E" to hack the console rapidly, activating the hack and canceling out of it before it fully engages. Somehow it skips the process by confusing the game.
I assume that this works by tricking the game into ending the hacking sequence without "disengaging" and failing it, meaning that the default state for hacking a console is success unless you quit out or fail it.
This trick is fairly easy to do and can save 5-10 seconds per hack if done right, which could add up in the course of a speedrun. The difficulty comes from determining how exactly to get the glitch to work consistently--or specifically which hacks can be skipped.
It's worth noting in using this, some consoles seem to act like you've successfully hacked them, but they don't activate the triggers they're supposed to, such as unlocking doors. I have no idea why this is, but it could mean that it's impossible at the moment to remove every single instance of hacking from a speedrun.
In my experimentation, I found a few more glitches with these consoles, largely involving crouching, jumping, and falling while trying to access the console. Crouching, jumping out of the crouch, activating and disengaging the panel seems to place the camera inside of Kate's now-missing head and stifle your ability to move. Falling while activating and deactivating the console permanently locks Kate in place.
![Floor Assassin [glitch] - Dark Storm VR Missions](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SUTlA6qJOuA/mqdefault.jpg "Floor Assassin [glitch] - Dark Storm VR Missions
Tactical Underground Stealth Action. This crazy-looking glitch lets you drop yourself down into the floor and sneak up on unsuspecting land-based mammals.
On any flat surface, cycle rapidly between crouching and prone. (Sometimes you may need to move a bit as well.) If done correctly, youll sink into the floor and end up in a crouching position with just your head cresting above the tiles. When you stop moving, youll drop back down into the depths from which you inserted yourself. You can also easily perform Physics Crushes while in the ground, since its incredibly confusing for the game.
Physics Crush: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d3BqWrZqf0 ]
This likely happens because of confused hitboxes, with the crouch position not placing Amber quite right when switching to prone. Repeated switching exacerbates the problem and pushes her into the ground. I believe she doesnt fall straight through because the tiles are actually cube-shaped assets that appear invisible from the inside, feeding into the illusion that Ambers walking on nothing sometimes.
The glitch isnt supremely useful because the ground doesnt act to impair the vision of guards, meaning you get caught out even when they shouldnt be able to see you. Additionally, cover doesnt help you either, because it typically doesnt extend through the floor. The soldiers will see you at the bottom of their cone of vision, underneath any wall or pillar. Still, its a funny glitch thats simple to pull off even if its far too slow for any speedruns or time trials.
Otherwise, its important to point out that you cant do this on stairs and sloped surfaces, at least as I can gather from my testing.
These clips were recorded in Prototype 0.6.7.
Despite the video, I actually enjoy this game a lot even in this pretty glitchy state, and Id love to see it finished. If it looks interesting to you, be sure to check out the Kickstarter or download the demo on Steam and try it yourself.
Kickstarter: [ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1201252455/dark-storm-ascension ]
Steam: [ http://store.steampowered.com/app/395150/ ]")
