How a Twitch streamer shattered the Super Mario 64 speedrun record with 120 stars
Historic Speedrun Achievement
The Super Mario 64 speedrunning community witnessed a monumental achievement when Twitch streamer Allan ‘Cheese’ Alvarez reclaimed the 120-star world record with a time of 1:38:25, shaving off three precious seconds from the previous benchmark.
During his January 28 livestream, the Counter-Logic Gaming competitor executed pixel-perfect movements through all 15 courses, demonstrating why this 1996 platformer remains the gold standard for speedrunning excellence.
What makes this accomplishment particularly impressive is the razor-thin margin of victory. In elite speedrunning circles, improvements are typically measured in fractions of seconds, making Cheese’s three-second advantage a substantial lead.
The Competitive World of Speedrunning
Super Mario 64 continues to dominate speedrunning leaderboards decades after its release due to its precise movement mechanics and highly optimized routing possibilities. The game’s physics engine allows for advanced techniques like BLJ (Backwards Long Jumping) and precise wall kicks that separate elite runners from casual players.
Cheese’s emotional reaction upon defeating Bowser wasn’t just about this single run – it represented the culmination of approximately 3,000 hours of practice. Top competitors like Cheese maintain spreadsheets tracking every movement, star collection route, and potential time save across the game’s diverse courses.
For those new to speedrunning, the 120-star category represents the game’s most comprehensive challenge, requiring collection of every star while maintaining flawless execution throughout the entire 90+ minute duration.
Advanced Speedrunning Techniques
Achieving world-record pace in Super Mario 64 requires mastering several advanced techniques:
- Camera Optimization: Proper camera angles can save 0.5-1 second per star
- Movement Chaining: Combining jumps, dives, and slides maintains momentum
- Star Route Efficiency: The optimal order varies by runner’s strengths
Common mistakes that cost precious seconds include:
- Miscounting jumps in Tick Tock Clock
- Suboptimal bomb-omb positioning in Whomp’s Fortress
- Failing to maintain speed during Bowser throws
For aspiring speedrunners, Cheese recommends focusing first on 16-star runs to build fundamental skills before attempting the marathon-like 120-star category. The current record will likely stand until another competitor discovers new optimizations or executes existing routes with even greater precision.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Twitch streamer loses it after regaining Super Mario 64 world record How a Twitch streamer shattered the Super Mario 64 speedrun record with 120 stars