Super Mario 64 120 Star Speed Run (1:48:06 World Record)

I have always had mixed feelings about speed runs. While they are cool to watch with amazement at the speed and precision require to accomplishment such a feat, I also have to wonder how many other great games these people miss out on all because they want that perfect time. Speeding through a game kind of defeats the purpose. How can you enjoy a video game when all you are aiming for is to get through it as fast as possible? It would be like fast forwarding through The Godfather or speed reading The Divine Comedy. It just makes hardly any sense at all.

Well, enough with my mini rant about speed runs. What are your opinions on them?

I like them when they are not tool assisted. Just because I feel its the gamer testing himself. When its tool assisted it's still cool and all but I feel then they are just doing something half assed.

A speed run is cool, so long as it isn't tool-assisted. Then you're just cheating.

How can you enjoy a video game when all you are aiming for is to get through it as fast as possible? It would be like fast forwarding through The Godfather or speed reading The Divine Comedy. It just makes hardly any sense at all.

Well, enough with my mini rant about speed runs. What are your opinions on them?

A speed run is cool, so long as it isn't tool-assisted. Then you're just cheating.

That was pretty cool. "Cheating", lolz. Speed runs aren't an official sport, kids.

I could level the same argument to people who play COD/WoW/SF IV/Whatever more or less exclusively for your first point. The second one makes no sense since your first statement would contradict it. In any case, your topic title is confusing since if this was going to be a general speed run thread you might as well say it in the title.

I disagree with your rant against speed runs. A runner obviously wants to perfect his craft. That'd be like saying people aren't allowed to play multiplayer games repeatedly to get better at them, because they could be playing other games instead.

if your talking about Siglimic, its 1 49 06, and he does this all the time, streams on http://www.justin.tv/siglemic#/w/1540854992

Props to the guys who are skilled enough to do these kind of things, but I'd never do them.

it's cool. i'm watching this. i kind of want to do a speed run for a game but don't know what kind.

I did a speed run on Mega Man X several years ago. I uploaded the videos on GameSpot; I don't know if they're still there.

bet he was cursing during the intro

Speed-runners of this caliber are mental.

This guy deserves an award, like a t-shirt or trophy or at least a card from Nintendo. I've been playing this game since I was 5, and I only got 102 stars in all of that time.

Most speedrunners have beaten the games they speedrun normally their first time playing, its just if they feel like its a game they can speedrun well then they plan out a run and spend a long time playing the game to make the run as perfect as possible.

A speed run is cool, so long as it isn't tool-assisted. Then you're just cheating.

I never saw the point in this either.

A speed run is cool, so long as it isn't tool-assisted. Then you're just cheating.

I don't see the point in speed runs but I guess this is the 'new' high score for some so they can say they're the best. For me personally, I like to take my time with games rather than forcing myself into a mind set where if I jump one second too early or too late that run is over and I need to start again. For me that would remove most of the enjoyment of playing a game but I guess some people have to find new ways to challenge themselves.

I don't agree, because to get a really good speed run you must know where pretty much every thing is and the quickest route. So they would have needed to play through the game multiple times normally, nobody buys Super Mario 64 for the first time and says "Right I'm going to try and beat the world record on a game I have never played before!" Anyway I quite like speed runs, I've always wanted to do one on Banjo-Kazooie but I'm still like way over the fastest time.

You may want to change that the world record just changed big time Siglemic took it in 1:46:21 and getting faster he's doing it for the whole month of august 2012 for 12 hours a day on twitch.tv I saw it with my own eyes and he is awesome

@CitizenKane said:

I have always had mixed feelings about speed runs. While they are cool to watch with amazement at the speed and precision require to accomplishment such a feat, I also have to wonder how many other great games these people miss out on all because they want that perfect time. Speeding through a game kind of defeats the purpose. How can you enjoy a video game when all you are aiming for is to get through it as fast as possible? It would be like fast forwarding through The Godfather or speed reading The Divine Comedy. It just makes hardly any sense at all.

Well, enough with my mini rant about speed runs. What are your opinions on them?

I guess I dont understand the confusion over speed runs or disliking them. Its just a goal to do to keep you interested enough in playing the game for the 9000th time. Which apparently the guy in the video prob did, You play the game that many times you gotta do something new to keep the game interesting,

@CitizenKane said:

Speeding through a game kind of defeats the purpose.

Not at all. A game's purpose is fun. If someone derives enjoyment out of a speed run, then the purpose is wholly served.

Mannn I just beat Mario 64 and it took me like 12 hours. I hate this guy.

I love speedruns, both TAS & regular. Regular is great for what it is, and TASes are great since it's the game (ideally) in its most efficient state. Or, in the case of the video above, it's kinda entertaining to watch.

I think someone just beat this world record about a day or two ago. 1:47:23 I believe :D

It seems crazy to me that...

1.) People spend time doing these, and

2.) People care enough to keep track.

I guess it's a continuation of the days when score mattered, but that holds no interest to me either.

I have something of a love/hate relationship with Speed Runs.

I love the display of skill that has clearly been developed over a stupid, dumb, EXCESSIVE amount of time. That's something that I think video games have over movies, books, music, etc. You can get good at them. Real good. I'm not particularly better at listening to music than anyone else on this planet. Except, like, Helen Keller. Because she's dead.

...Aaaaaand I hate how they make me feel inadequate in all of the ways. EVERY. LAST. ONE. My e-peen just disappears. I like my e-peen! It's very supple.