This level is unique in the fact that you can traverse almost the entire length of it without leaving your vehicle.  For that reason, two saved films will be provided; one, a normal playthrough, and another, using the “speedrun” tactic and exiting the vehicle only when necessary.

Normal playthrough – File Share (slot 3) (37:59 in length)

Speedrun – File Share (slot 4) (12:38 in length)

Gameplay Tips

This level is a special case – it is probably the easiest in the entire game to complete on Legendary. I’m a fairly average player and, when I forced myself to rush through it, I was able to complete it in just under thirteen minutes.  Other than the very last section, the entire level can be completed in a Warthog. Since I discuss the major battles in the full article, I’ll just post the tips here that will help you to complete the level quickly. Download the saved film if you want to see the exact routes that I took – all of them are fairly obvious, however.

Speedrunning Tsavo

There are only four times during the level that you should have to exit your Warthog, and only one time when you have to slow down.

• In the lakebed encounter, you’ll need to pull over next to the rock in order to wait for the Phantom to leave. A Brute and a few Grunts are next to the rock, but your gunner should dispatch them fairly quickly. Watch out for any stray grenades. Try to position your gunner at an angle for him to take out the Grunt on the Plasma turret in the Phantom. This should cause the Phantom to leave. After that, continue on your way.

• In the very next area, pull off to the right of the buildings on your right (the ones with the marines). Inside, you’ll find a grav lift. Pick it up and get back in your ‘hog; continue to pull around the buildings the way that you are facing now – if you back up, the Chieftain will hit you with his Fuel Rod Cannon.

• When you reach the shield door, jump out of your ‘hog, as it slides to a stop. Pass through the shield door, and chunk a grenade at the generator; then, get back in your ‘hog as quickly as possible. The gunner usually gets out at this point and I find it best to continue without him – otherwise, he’ll fire at the enemies ahead of you before they’ve actually seen you, and this causes you to get hit more than you have to.

• When you reach the barricade at the bridge, you’ll notice a small gap in between two barricades on the left-hand side. Place the grav lift before the gap – if you place it in the gap, then the ‘hog won’t fit and it’ll get caught on the barricades as it tries to rise.

• At the second-to-last encounter, I find it easiest to ditch the ‘hog and steal one of the Brute’s Choppers. You’ll need to take out the Brutes. Typically, one of them will throw up a Bubble Shield, and if you’re quick enough, you can melee each one to death before they make a move at you. Watch the saved film for an idea of how to do this. Grab a Chopper and, hopefully, you’ll get a checkpoint. Head down and to the right, and boost across the field so that the other Choppers don’t hit you. Again, you’ll have to watch the saved film for the exact route, but there is a little incline that you can boost up that will put you on a ridge that lets you boost past the Wraiths without taking too much damage.

• Here’s the tricky part – you need to get far enough past the Wraiths so that they lose interest in you – but not so far that the enemies ahead charge you.  Ditch the Chopper and look to your right: you’ll find a sniper rifle. Grab it and use it in combination with your BR to take out the advancing Brutes. If the Wraith is still shooting at you (sometimes it won’t lose interest, no matter how far you advance), just make wide paces from left to right while you’re sniping, and hopefully, it won’t hit you. I usually get lucky after a few tries and I make it past the Wraith without it continuing to attack me.

• There’s a grav tower to the right with more Sniper ammo at its base. Pick up the ammo and lift up. With a little patience, you should be able to hit every Brute at the shield door from here. If you run out of ammo, there is usually a Beam Rifle on the ground nearby.