Hotshot

Discovered by HotShotWire

Table of Contents

Description

The Hotshot Glitch is an advanced application of the Anywhere Menu Glitch that allows us to arbitrarily warp from one module (called the Start Module) to another module (called the Destination Module), with certain restrictions.

Standard Hotshots

A Standard Hotshot is used to return to a module that is already in our save file. This is usually done to avoid backtracking, but can also used to perform a Coordinate Warp. For Standard Hotshots, the following effects apply:

There are three ways to perform a Standard Hotshot, and each has a specific save setup that is required.

Neo Hotshots

Description: Neo Hotshots, sometimes called HSS Hotshots, are always consistent and the fastest way to Hotshot in many circumstances. The vast majority of Standard Hotshots in current speedrun routes are done with either this method or Quick Save Hotshots.

Save Setup:

Steps:

  1. When you are ready to Hotshot, activate AMG.
  2. Open the Options Menu and ensure ‘Load Game’ and ‘Cancel’ are both highlighted.
  3. Press ‘Enter’. This cancels the pop-up and opens the Load Game menu.
  4. Press the Options hotkey again (you should hear the click of the menu opening).
  5. Press the up arrow to select “Save Game” on the invisible Options Menu.
  6. Press ‘Enter’, then Escape to both open the save game menu, and avoid loading the save.
  7. On the now visible Save Game menu, use the arrow keys to select the Destination Module save.
  8. Press ‘Enter’, then up arrow, then ‘Enter’ twice. This will overwrite the Destination Module save, and reveal the Load Game menu.
  9. On the Load Game menu, use the arrow keys to again navigate to the Destination save.
  10. Press ‘Enter’, then up arrow, then ‘Enter’. This loads the Destination save and completes the Hotshot.

Additional Notes:

Quick Save Hotshots

Description: The Quick Save Hotshot is the most flexible method for Hotshots and is always consistent. The vast majority of Standard Hotshots done in current speedrun routes are either Quick Save Hotshots or Neo Hotshots.

Save Setup:

Steps:

  1. If your Destination Module save is not a Quick Save, create one there by following these extra steps:
  1. Activate an AMG in the Start Module without using a Quick Save. This can be done by using a Hard Save, loading a Hard Save in the Start Module as described above, or entering the Start Module and activating AMG on that load screen.
  2. Open the Options Menu and ensure ‘Load Game’ and ‘Cancel’ are highlighted.
  3. Press ‘Enter’. This cancels the pop-up and opens the Load Game menu with an Options Menu behind it.
  4. Close the hidden Options Menu via hotkey (‘O’ by default), then Quick Save.
  5. Re-open the Options Menu behind the Load Game Menu via hotkey.
  6. Press Enter to select the Quick Save in Load Game Menu.
  7. Select ‘OK’ on the pop-up to load the Quick Save.
  8. After the load, close any residual menus by hitting Escape several times.

Additional Notes:

Load Menu Hotshots

This method, along with the original form of Main Menu Hotshot is sometimes called a Hard Save Hotshot. It is an enhancement of the Main Menu Hotshot that avoids going to the Main Menu, and works by loading a Hard Save as a Quick Save. This type of Hotshot is not consistent, and thus except for a specific application has been obsoleted by the consistent methods of Hotshot, Neo Hotshots and Quick Save Hotshots.

Save Setup:

Steps:

  1. In the Destination Module save, AMG via a Quick Save.
  2. Open the Options Menu and ensure ‘Load Game’ and ‘Cancel’ are highlighted.
  3. Press ‘Enter’. This cancels the pop-up and opens the Load Game menu.
  4. Open the Options Menu behind the Load Game Menu via hotkey (‘O’ by default).
  5. Use the mouse to select the Start Module save.
  6. Press ‘Enter’. One of two things will happen:

Success: The title of the save changes to “QUICKSAVE”.

Failure: The title of the save remains unchanged.

One unique property of Load Menu Hotshots is that party members whose coordinates would place them out of bounds in the Destination Module are spawned at the location where the Destination Module save was made. This is the niche that gives Load Menu Hotshots their use in speedruns.

Additional Notes:

Forward Hotshots

Aspyr/Steam Version Only

A Forward Hotshot is used to warp to a module that does not exist in the current save file. This can only be done on the updated Aspyr versions of KotOR II (through either Steam or GoG); trying to Forward Hotshot on a Legacy version of KotOR II will crash the game.

The most important effect of a Forward Hotshot is that the MC is replaced by the Dev Character. Since the Dev Character is extremely powerful, all Unrestricted speedruns want to Forward Hotshot as soon possible.

The other effects of Forward Hotshots differ from those of Standard Hotshots:

There is one main method for performing a Forward Hotshot, as well as one niche method that is not currently used.

This was the original form of Hotshot, and along with Load Menu Hotshots is sometimes called a Hard Save Hotshot. This is the slowest and most complicated Hotshot method, but it is the only useful method of Forward Hotshot.

Save Setup:

Steps:

  1. In the Destination Module save, AMG via a Quick Save.
  2. Open the Options Menu
  3. Click on “Exit Game”. This replaces the Alt-F4 Quit pop-up with the Exit to Main Menu pop-up. These look the same, so the only feedback for this is the sound effect.
  4. Use the mouse to highlight “OK” in the pop-up and “Save Game” in the menu simultaneously.
  5. Press Enter. This will open the Save Game menu behind the Main Menu.
  6. Using the up and down arrow-keys, (↑ ↓) navigate to your Start Module save in the hidden Save Game menu. If the save is in your first slot, press ↓ once; in the second slot, press ↓ twice, etc.
  7. With the mouse, click “Load Game” in the Main Menu. One of two things will happen:

Success: The title of the save changes to “QUICKSAVE”.

Failure: The title of the save remains unchanged.

Additional Notes:

Autosave Hotshots

Description: Autosave Hotshots are a special method of Hotshot that loads an Autosave that has been saved over. Since only 12 modules in KotOR II force an Autosave, this method is so situational that it has no current use in speedruns.

Save Setup:

Steps:

  1. Obtain an AMG in the Start Module through either a Quick Save or a module transition. Loading a Hard Save will not allow you to unpause.
  2. Open the Options Menu and ensure ‘Load Game’ and ‘Cancel’ are highlighted.
  3. Press ‘Enter’. This cancels the pop-up and opens the Load Game menu.
  4. Unpause the game, then blindly trigger the module transition (either by walking or otherwise).
  5. After the load, the Load Game Menu should still be there. Use this to load the Autosave.

Special Properties:

Uses

In addition to the standard use of Hotshots to cut out backtracking, Hotshots enable the following: