Crash Course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvUgfyZk2dU
(updated, easier strats)
Now you're thinking with loading zones. And portals.
Works on all versions, with a slight variance of the hug skip between PAL and NTSC.
Estimated times were measured from the world checkpoint right after going back from AoE to entering the cutscene outside ant agony.
Deaths are fine until you go through the portal. In the Psychetron, instead of going around the area, you can hug the wall on the right and go through the regular tunnel. That was found as this video was getting uploaded, but it's still a good backup strar in case you die trying to do the skip (going through the lab isn't faster after dying, it's a bigger area inside than outside).
Glitching the hug cutscene (PAL): Before the FMV keep moving forward. As you skip the FMV, keep mashing jump and moving forward to do it.
NTSC strats for the hug skip are still being developed.
Steps:
1. Glitch the hug cutscene.
2. Take Cortex to the entrance with a giant purple N on it.
3. Put Cortex on the thin platform next to the camera (left side is less cluttered, that's where I'll be using this).
4. Jump on him, and then off of him on top of the purple N.
5. Prepare the long jump the super hard way (slide jump off of the platform and land back on it).
6. Long jump to the bowl in the middle of the lab exterior. (it's weird, but you can't really describe it any different)
7. Make your way up using double jumps and bodyslams.
8. Enter the portal room from the inside, exit through the door, and then actually enter it.
9. Go through the portal.