Contents
- Information
- Rules
- Individual level results
- Full game run results
- Hints and tutorials
- Legacy leaderboards
At least as early as Grey Cat's contest in 2005, or even dating back to the high scores list on the game's official website in the late 90s, there were people attempting Claw speed runs in some capacity or other. The game generally lends itself well to the idea, but there are several caveats to consider, arguably the biggest of which is how many aspects of the game are directly dependant of the frame rate.
With that in mind, members of the Claw speedrunning community helped formulate these rules to ensure fair competition while keeping it as simple as possible. We would like to thank Pappy and Phatzo, especially.
- For consistency purposes, all runs must have 60 fps in-game to be considered valid (check with MPFPS).
- Video recording is mandatory, preferably also at 60 fps.
- Only single-segment runs are allowed, no loading at save points.
- Runs not started directly from New Game must not use more than 10 ammo, 5 magic claws, 3 dynamites and 6 lives (unless more are gained within the level).
- Timing method is RTA (Real Time Attack) and a timer (Livesplit or equivalent) must be seen in the recording up to the hundredths, e.g. 3:13.37.
- For individual level runs, the timer starts after the loading screen fades out and ends when Claw touches the map piece or boss warp at the end of the level.
- For full game runs, the timer starts when selecting New Game -> La Roca, and ends when the screen fades out after the final gem is collected.
- 100% runs must show the perfect screen at the end (or the best possible, in case perfect score is unattainable) to be considered valid.
For a more detailed explanation of the frame rate issue, as well as instructions on how to set up everything needed for your first speed run, including the tools for timing and video recording, please consult the excellent quickstart guide provided by Simpson1225.
These are the top times for single level runs. You are, of course, welcome to post new submissions, preferably through our Discord server, or directly via email. Remember that video proofs are now required, as per the rules above.
RECORDS:
- Shortest time, any%: BorisHR (0:14.65 on level 11)
- Shortest time, 100%: BorisHR (5:38.42 on level 1)
- Longest time, any%: Pappy (3:33.15 on level 14)
- Longest time, 100%: Andokai Camanis (13:14.70 on level 9)
- Longest winning time, any%: Simpson1225 (3:00.19 on level 14)
- Longest winning time, 100%: BorisHR (12:34.34 on level 9)
- Smallest difference between #1 and #2, any%: 0:00.26 (on level 6)
- Smallest difference between #1 and #2, 100%: 0:12.13 (on level 6)
- Biggest difference between #1 and #2, any%: 2:29.12 (on level 9)
- Biggest difference between #1 and #2, 100%: 0:49.07 (on level 7)
These are the top times for full game runs. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, any% means completing the game as fast as possible (or, in other words, the quintessential speed run), while 100% refers, of course, to a perfect score playthrough of the entire game.
Note that 'perfect' technically refers to the maximum attainable score, as in some levels it is either outright impossible to achieve perfect score, or it involves reloading the game at save points, which is of course in conflict with the speed run rules.
Pappy has started a series of Claw speed run tutorials, the first of which covers basic movement, while the rest focus on strategies for specific levels (only La Roca is currently available). Additionally, consider these general hints:
- Get as familiar as possible with the level you're speed running on. Play through it with cheats on and memorise where all the powerups/enemies/shortcuts are. Additionally, map shots for all levels are available in our Downloads section, consult them if necessary.
- Try to run uninterrupted for as long as possible, as you get a speed boost. If you stop, or bump into an enemy, the boost is lost. Jump over enemies if possible, or use magic claws.
- By all means pick up catnip if it's available, as it makes you about 30% faster. But don't go out of your way to get it, if you spend more than 3-4 seconds trying to get catnip it usually isn't worth it. (Unless of course it would enable you to take a major shortcut.)
- If you die, the timer will continue to run through Claw's death animation. Since this takes a few seconds, you may want to consider restarting if you die.
- Magic claws are precious, use them wisely. Not only do they kill all enemies in their path instantly, they can be cast while running (if you jump a little bit as you fire), so you can easily fire one off without breaking your speed boost.
- For advanced players, extended dynamite jumps can be used to outstanding effect if executed successfully in the right time and place.
For archival purposes, we have kept the old leaderboards from Grey Cat's Claw Speed Runs contest. It started in late 2005 on La Roca only, but was quickly extended to The Footpath and soon after to all 14 levels of the base game, and even select few custom maps created specifically with racing in mind. The first such level, Cross Country, was again designed by Grey Cat.
Note that these results are not guaranteed to have been achieved at 60 fps and were timed using MPSTOPWATCH instead of Livesplit or other external timer. As such, they cannot be compared against the current leaderboards.
| Level 1 -- La Roca |
 | 1:14 | Artur |
 | 1:16 | Teo phil |
 | 1:19 | Proximity |
 | 1:21 | boss-96 |
 | 1:22 | Treasurer |
| Level 3 -- The Footpath |
| 1:55 | Artur |
| 1:59 | Teo phil |
| 2:08 | Grey Cat |
| 2:11 | Proximity |
| 2:14 | Pw |
| Level 5 -- The Township |
| 1:57 | Artur |
| 2:03 | Teo phil |
| 2:19 | boss-96 |
| 2:20 | Pw |
| 2:26 | Danio |
| Level 7 -- The Docks |
| 2:34 | Artur |
| 2:40 | Teo phil |
| 2:48 | boss-96 |
| 2:52 | Proximity |
| 2:58 | Pw |
| Level 9 -- Pirates' Cove |
| 3:50 | First |
| 4:04 | Teo phil |
| 4:13 | Proximity |
| 4:34 | Pw |
| 4:48 | boss-96 |
| Level 11 -- The Caverns |
| 0:14 | Artur |
| 0:15 | First |
| 0:19 | Teo phil |
| 0:20 | boss-96 |
| 0:21 | Wujomaro |
| Level 13 -- Tiger Island |
| 3:17 | boss-96 |
| 3:19 | Proximity |
| 3:25 | Teo phil |
| 4:21 | Zuczek |
| 4:39 | Grey Cat |
| Custom Level -- Cross Country |
| 1:56 | Artur |
| 1:57 | Proximity |
| 1:58 | Pw |
| 2:01 | boss-96 |
| 2:07 | Matik |
|
|
| Level 2 -- The Battlements |
| 1:57 | Artur |
| 2:03 | Teo phil |
| 2:04 | Wujomaro |
| 2:08 | Proximity |
| 2:09 | Pw |
| Level 4 -- The Dark Woods |
| 2:01 | Teo phil |
| 2:10 | Pw |
| 2:16 | Artur |
| 2:25 | Proximity |
| 2:25 | boss-96 |
| Level 6 -- El Puerto del Lobo |
| 2:35 | Artur |
| 2:44 | Proximity |
| 2:45 | Teo phil |
| 2:50 | Pw |
| 2:58 | boss-96 |
| Level 8 -- The Shipyards |
| 3:00 | Artur |
| 3:04 | Pw |
| 3:15 | Teo phil |
| 3:17 | Wujomaro |
| 3:30 | boss-96 |
| Level 10 -- The Cliffs |
| 2:57 | Teo phil |
| 3:03 | Proximity |
| 3:11 | Grey Cat |
| 3:27 | boss-96 |
| 3:39 | Pw |
| Level 12 -- The Undersea Caves |
| 3:40 | Proximity |
| 3:49 | Teo phil |
| 4:14 | boss-96 |
| 4:16 | Pw |
| 5:07 | Zuczek |
| Level 14 -- The Temple |
| 3:18 | Artur |
| 3:42 | Teo phil |
| 4:10 | boss-96 |
| 4:15 | Pw |
| 4:30 | Grey Cat |
| Custom Level -- Siege Cat |
| 1:11 | Artur |
| 1:15 | boss-96 |
| 1:16 | Proximity |
| 1:25 | Swistak |
| 1:26 | Pw |
|
RECORDS:
- Overall best player: Artur
- 2nd place: Teo phil
- 3rd place: Proximity
- 4th place: Pw
- 5th place: boss-96
- Shortest time: Artur (0:14 on level 11)
- Longest time: Zuczek (5:07 on level 12)
- Longest time that is nevertheless a win: First (3:50 on level 9)
- Biggest difference between #1 and #2: 24 seconds (between Artur and Teo phil on level 14)
© 2004-2026 Grey Cat, Zuczek and Teo phil. Header art by TaurusII. Best viewed using Firefox at 800x600 (or higher). Claw © 1997 Monolith Productions, Inc. and Takarajimasha.
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