BREAKING NEWS - HOLY GRAIL STATUS WORLD RECORD FOR "Super Mario Brothers 1" (NES) As reported October 16th, 2006
Super Mario Bros. Just the name alone conjures up memories for gamers young and old. Back in 1985 this Legendary title was released with the Nintendo Entertainment System world wide! Nowadays, it seems like you're hardpressed to find a Nes on EBay that DOESN'T have this game coming with it. [And if it doesn't say it's included in the auction, you shouldn't be surprised to find it added as a "Bonus" item.
Super Mario Bros. had it all! Catchy music, lots of secrets to be found, original enemies, easy gameplay, and the story that everyone can relate to... The underdog hero [In this case 2 Italian plumbers from Brooklyn named Mario & Luigi] overcoming evil at all odds in a foreign land and rescuing the Princess who's trapped in a castle by an evil tyrant.
But what inspires someone to want to play a classic like this as fast as possible? Some would say the challenge factor of navigating each level without losing a life. Others would say it's a nice diversion that adds more replay value. Then of course, there's the good old Competition factor. The kind that comes up when your best friend says they can play it faster and better then you can... and the desire to prove them wrong. From such simple premises as these, "speed running" games became the new way for gamers to show their skills off.
Let's rewind a moment, back to 2003 in November. It was around this time that things began to get heated up in this title as Rodrigo Lopes [Who hails from Brazil] began it all with a then record of 6:22. [He's since improved to 5:12] A few hours later things got even more interesting with the announcement of Aaron Collins run at 5:28 and then Cam Allen's submission at a svelte 5:20 [He also later improved to 5:12]. But the competition didn't stop just there!
When 5:20 came on the scene, we only could speculate just how much faster a run could be, but not be 100% certain. Fast Forward a few months to May of 2004 when a upcomer Scott Kessler from Monroe, NC came out of nowhere with a time of 5:13, an improvement from his phenomenal 5:17 a short while earlier. This got heads turning as the pathway to run got tighter and tighter. The questions at this point were getting split between "How fast is this going to get?" to "Who's going to manage to beat this run?!" At 5:13, this is no easy feat! A gamer has to have great reflexes, be able to conquer nerves, make solid moves and memorize the most optimal path for victory.
But much like any big record, once you achieve it, you essentially paint a bulls-eye on your chest and everyone takes aim for it. Within a few more months began to face some serious competition from Three gamers, Trevor Seguin, Carlos Krueger and Andrew Gardikis who all managed to secure a phenomenal time of 5:09. It was at this point that the gaming communities REALLY began to buzz. Discussions now were focused on how to possibly improve what was almost human perfection, considering that this kind of time meant there was virtually no mistakes whatsoever. At this point, a general agreement came to be, that if ANYONE managed to get 5:08, it would not only be next to impossible, but it'd be a high end 5:08.. and essentially as elusive as the Holy Grail itself.
A year and a bit has passed since Andrew Gardikis submitted his 5:09 run in 2005, but we knew that he and others were trying to improve their run and obtain the Holy Grail. Many a person cursed and fretted as victory has come so close, but managed to elude their grasps... that is.. until a few weeks ago. A message on MSN Messenger in the early morning.. a tape Priority Couriered to my door... a stop watch into my hands and a piece of paper showing a time of 5:08... and the tape queued into place.
5 seconds doesn't seem like much, but it's akin to the difference in speed when you jump from a 56k modem to a Cable Modem or DSL line. But that analogy doesn't do justice the incredible precision that went into Scott's run. Once false move, one slip of the thumb or illtimed jump and suddenly a 5:09 time or higher is the result. And then there's those crucial final seconds that can be the bane of any player. But you know what... why don't I break it down and show you just what I mean, as we get ready to go down the road that all gamers of all skillsets aim for;
The Road To Glory------------------------
0:20 - Things are off to a GREAT Start as Scott manages to nail the flag just a TOUCH under 21 seconds!
1:02 - Down the Warp pipe we go, faster and faster goes Mario's flow!
1:30 - It seems things are pretty even at this point, but then remember, it only takes a tenth of a second to make or break one more second! And believe me, Scott is cutting her fine!
2:13 - And just like that, Down the SECOND Warpzone Pipe Scott goes, just a seeming precious second ahead of the game, but can he keep it up?!
2:57 - Hop, hop, run, leap, grab, hop, run, repeat! This eerie mantra seems to carry Scott through 8-1 nicely as hejust manages to maintain a 1 second lead over Trevor Seguin. But will this lead continue to hold up under pressure..?
3:32 - Good gravy! While Soctt runs a solid 8-2, virtual clockwork at its finest! The 1 second lead seems to have disappeared as Scott and Trevor are tied! But remember folks.. it only takes a tenth of a second to make or break a second
4:08 - And quicker then a blink of an eye, Scott manages to navigate the treacherous pathway of Hammer Bros. and Bullet Bills aplenty and regain his 1 second lead! Now if there was only a way to be able to escape the wrath of those fireworks... not that any gamer achieving sub 10 minute times doesn't deserve them!
4:30 - Here we go! 8-4! The true make it or break it level! One false move and you're in the lava, overshooting a necessary pipe, or slipping into an enemy! Scott starts off fighting strong as he navigates his way through the pitfalls and perils to the First of 4 pipes.
4:38 - PHEWF! Careful navigation across the Styx like river and some careful controller work means Scott hits the coin block and hops up to the awaiting pipe WITHOUT inadvertently doing a wall jump glitch. Believe me, with my luck, I'd be pulling the glitch off every single time without meaning to... either that, or my nerves at this point would be so shot, the sweat from my body would be flooding the house!
4:46 - The final PIPE to go down into! I can only imagine what's going through Scott's head at this point! He's so close to 4:47 as he goes in that even "I" get nervous!
5:06-5:07 - This is it folks. These 2 seconds right here are the difference between a gamer throwing down a controller in frustration in anger or preparing to lift it in celebration. This is the point where you confront Bowser for the final time [or first in this case] and must decide.. do you risk it all and try to jump over him, praying he doesn't throw death dealing hammers at you, or do you try to run under him if tries to jump? It's a split second decision to say the least. I also suspect for a lot of gamers, these 2 seconds seem to go in slow-mo.
5:08!!! - ......... [Checks stop watch] ...... [Repeats timing of run another 10 times] ....... [Borrows another stop watch from a local school and retimes it]....
O.O;;
I am stunned.. I am floored.. I am the Walr... er.. scratch that.. Every single timing of this run shows a SOLID 5m08s! Well, there was the one timing that I clocked at 3h39m48s, but that was when I inadvertently fell asleep and woke up with a start, so that doesn't count ^^;;
And there you have it folks.... the freaking Holy Grail of Nes Achievements! The first person who ever sent me a tape was Scott and that was for his 5m13s run... so it's all too surreal to be able to see this.
Scott had taken a long break from gaming, and only recently started coming back with killer runs on games no one was ever expecting to see, so I guess this run shouldn't have been a surprise.. but it still was!
Scott Kessler has proven himself a force to be reckoned with on the Nes platform and for anyone who had doubts, this does tend for fortify the concept quite nicely.
On behalf of Twin Galaxies, it is with tremendous honour that I may congratulate Scott Kessler for achieving the Holy Grail with his 5m08s run Super Mario Brothers! A feat that may be duplicated, but never surpassed!
To all those who are now inspired to compete, I wish you the VERY best of luck to you.
Mr. Kelly R. Flewin
Twin Galaxies Senior Referee