In an impressive achievement within the speedrunning community, a player known as Bubzia has set a new world record for the 70-star blindfolded run of Super Mario 64. He managed to complete the challenge in a remarkable time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 41 seconds, slicing more than three minutes off his previous record. Bubzia, already renowned for his skills in Super Mario 64, has now raised the bar even higher for fellow speedrunners.
Over the years, speedrunning has grown into a vibrant subculture, with gamers worldwide vying to achieve the fastest times across a multitude of games. Among these, Super Mario 64 remains a beloved favorite. Ever since it was launched on the Nintendo 64 back in 1996, enthusiastic fans have been racing to complete the 3D platformer as swiftly as they can. Though the game is nearing its 29th anniversary, players continue to discover ways to fine-tune their strategies and save valuable seconds. Taking things further, some competitors have added layers of difficulty, like attempting to finish the game while blindfolded.
The accomplishment of collecting 70 stars without seeing the screen might seem unimaginable to many, yet Bubzia showcased his extraordinary abilities in a streamed performance on March 19. As he shattered the previous record, the tension was palpable. Bubzia shared his feelings of triumph and relief with viewers, illustrating the intense dedication his record required.
Saying he’s “done” with 70-star challenges for the moment, Bubzia is now aiming for an even more formidable goal: the 120-star blindfolded record. At the moment, he holds the top time of 11 hours, 22 minutes, and 42 seconds in this daunting category. Interestingly, Bubzia mentioned he lost some time during the Rainbow Ride portion of his record-breaking 70-star run, hinting that there might be potential for even faster runs in the future.
Accomplishing a 70-star run in such a short time is difficult enough without a blindfold. Bubzia’s feat underlines his profound mastery of Super Mario 64. It’s noteworthy that he has also set world records in other categories of the game, including the 1-star and 31-star blindfolded runs.
The evolution of speedrunning in Super Mario 64 opens the question of what other records might be challenged. As boundaries are continuously pushed, the leeway for errors decreases, bringing these attempts ever closer to the theoretical limits of speedrunning. It’s a captivating time for community members and fans watching the unfolding history in these virtual worlds.
