super mario bros speedrun record minus world

The Art of Speedrunning: A Look at Super Mario Bros.' Minus World Record

In the world of speedrunning, few records have sparked as much debate as the recent achievement in Super Mario Bros., specifically the completion of the game's infamous Minus World. For those unfamiliar, the Minus World is a glitchy area of the game that allows players to bypass certain levels and warp to new areas. The community is adamant that this record-breaking speedrun utilizes only known and native tricks of the game, but some argue otherwise.

One point of contention is the seemingly reckless behavior of Mario throughout the run. It appears as though he collides with numerous obstacles, including piranha plants and fireball columns, and even performs a few impressive wall-jumps towards the end. However, proponents of the record claim that these actions are not only intentional but also necessary to achieve the desired outcome.

For the lay audience, however, there is no shortage of criticisms. Some argue that the run starts too quickly, with others pointing out what they perceive as excessive use of 'lag frames.' Lag frames refer to instances where the screen is redrawn, but the controller is not polled for input. This can occur when an emulator is used to play a game, and it's something that sets emulators apart from consoles.

According to modder pigat09, who has worked extensively on speedrunning projects, lag frames are handled differently depending on the console or emulator being used. In most cases, the controller is polled for input almost every time the screen is redrawn (approximately 60 times per second). These button presses are based on the original frames recorded by the console and can be played back on the actual hardware.

The speedrun in question works off of a 'movie' submitted to and approved by TASVideos, which is essentially a series of recorded button presses that, in theory, could be played back on the original console. While it's not possible to use this sequence on an emulator playing the game, it can be done on the original hardware.

For those interested in creating their own auto-controller for speedrunning, pigat09 has provided a step-by-step guide with parts list and explanation for converting an Arduino Duemilanove board into a working device. The guide also covers how to fetch and load the code powering the auto-speedrun onto the board.

Ultimately, whether or not this record-breaking speedrun is legitimate will continue to spark debate among the gaming community. However, one thing is certain: the art of speedrunning continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in the world of video games.

Super mario bros speedrun record minus world