Hey everyone! I've got some exciting info to share!

After working on some TASes in FCEUX, I've mapped out every single WR route possible and have listed every possible scenario below with video proof! (AND YES, 1:01 IS POSSIBLE)

Also, regarding Simplistic's forum post, I can confirm that DK NES uses 11-frame framerules (0.183 seconds at NES console framerate of 60.0988138974405 fps)

Now for the TAS times!

(all routes are no L+R, with ladder glitch in stage 1 and fast elevator cycle in stage 2)

Routes:

fastest route = 1:01.781 (3713 frames)

• good barrel, good spring/4400 IGT, 4 rivet tricks

2nd fastest = 1:01.964 (3724f, 1 framerule slower than fastest)

• good barrel, medium spring, 4 rivet tricks

• bad barrel, good spring/4400 IGT, 4 rivet tricks

• 3rd fastest = 1:02.147 (3735f, 2 framerules slower than fastest)

• good barrel, bad spring, 4 rivet tricks

• bad barrel, medium spring, 4 rivet tricks

• 4th fastest = 1:02.230 (3740f, 0.45 seconds lost in stage 3 due to 2 less rivet tricks)

• good barrel, good spring/4400 IGT, 2 rivet tricks

5th fastest = 1:02.330 (3746f, 3 framerules slower than fastest)

• bad barrel, bad spring, 4 rivet tricks

6th fastest = 1:02.413 (3751f, 0.45 seconds + 1 framerule slower than fastest)

• good barrel, medium spring, 2 rivet tricks

• bad barrel, good spring/4400 IGT, 2 rivet tricks

7th fastest = 1:02.596 (3762f, 0.45 seconds + 2 framerules slower than fastest)

• good barrel, bad spring, 2 rivet tricks

• bad barrel, medium spring, 2 rivet tricks

• 8th fastest = 1:02.779 (3773f, 0.45 seconds + 3 framerules slower than fastest)

• bad barrel, bad spring, 2 rivet tricks

In conclusion:

• bad barrel loses a minimum of 11 frames/1 framerule compared to good barrel

• medium spring loses a minimum of 11 frames/1 framerule compared to good spring

• bad spring loses a minimum of 22 frames/2 framerules compared to good spring

• using 4 rivet tricks saves up to 0.45 seconds compared to using 2 rivet tricks

• getting 1:02 requires ladder glitch and at least 2 rivet tricks

• getting 1:01 requires ladder glitch, 4 rivet tricks, medium or good spring regardless of stage 1 barrel (not to mention good RNG)

Other notes:

• rivet trick has a 1- or 2-frame window depending on subpixel(?) - unclear on theory but 2 frame window is possible

• after final rivet trick, turning 4-5 frames is optimal before holding up to climb ladder (depends on rivet trick window)

• turning 1 frame late on rivet trick makes mario fall

• ladder glitch is frame-perfect

• left press after ladder glitch to land on the top platform has a 3-frame window (also discovered by mrbanana14)

• stage 2: 4400 igt is only possible with frame-perfect movement AND good spring (impossible with medium spring, bad spring, or slow movement)

• barrel, spring, and enemy positions can be manipulated by changing the frame you start holding left or right at the beginning of a level, still random though

• you must be holding L+A and R+A to jump in a direction, holding L or R then letting go and pressing A will only result in a vertical jump

• stage 2 elevator cycle has a 21 frame window

• holding A for 1 frame gives the same jump distance as holding A for 10 frames - all jumps are the same

• spring type is randomly determined and every spring that spawns is randomly generated, but you can identify them by their locations below:

Notable runs: (all runs use ladder glitch, RT = rivet tricks)

2011 Pokey 1:03.78 - good barrel, good spring (no 4400), 2RT (TAS for this scenario: 1:02.230)

2017 Graystripe 1:02.36 [invalid] - good barrel, good spring (4400), 2RT (TAS: 1:02.230)

2019 Anon10333 1:03.33 - bad barrel, medium spring, 2RT (TAS: 1:02.596)

2019 SoloQ 1:03.30 - good barrel, bad spring, 2RT (TAS: 1:02.596)

2020 NawidNation 1:02.763 [invalid] - bad barrel, good spring (no 4400), 4RT (TAS: 1:01.964)

2023 Ryu 1:03.233 (current wr) - bad barrel, good spring (no 4400), 2RT (TAS: 1:02.413)

2025 Tanishy 1:03.100 (switch wr) - bad barrel, good spring (no 4400), 2RT (TAS: 1:02.413)

Let me know if I need to make any updates or corrections! Hope you find this helpful! :D

coolio

Excellent work and writeup! Thanks for this

I noticed that i'm only mentioned once in the post, so I wanted to make sure that you knew I originally created the 1:01 TAS, and proved it possible. You did an excellent job on the explanation, and it's great that it's explained better that I ever could have.

@mrbanana14 do you have a link to your 1:01 TAS?

It's on the forums, i'll try to find it

Here:

@mrbanana14 thanks for showing me this! I'll be sure to include this in the video I'm working on. Do you know what the exact frame count is on the TAS, from start frame to end frame? Just want to confirm if 1:01.750 is the accurate time.

3725 frames or 1:01.98 seconds. I'm just really bad at timing