Hey guys, I have taken a look at the records both at regular SSBB and PM and have noticed that the runs can be improved significantly. I will mainly focus on the SSBB story mode, as I have played it a couple of times (and also because PM story mode freezes at some specific locations...). It doesn't seem like this forum is too active, but I guess it would only be fair to share everything I have at the moment, and eventually discuss new strats if possible.

First things first. I think we shouldn't specify that the runs is, or has to be, on easy mode. This is because any other difficulty would produce close results, and an any% run is only about trying to do it as fast as possible, regardless of which difficulty it is being played at. The strats I have is very similar to those that a Japanese player known as "Key2019" had, when he made a segmented run of this game on intense which clocked in at 1:50 (in-game time). The main difference between my strats, is that I don't use Stickers (I see this as semi-New Game+). I would only allow the use of stickers if you delete all of your data at the game so you don't have any stickers and use only those you get during the run (which is a really unviable strategy, but could work. The bat would be the best sticker, then the Beam Sword). Anyways, I want you to take notes on the run Key2019 did and try to replicate most of the skips he uses, on the difficulty you want to play at (probably Easy). Here's a link the the first part of his run:

Note that on the Skyworld level, right after Mario joins you and you fall down onto the Purple moving platform, I glide beneath the stage (saves a lot of time). You should also practise that. I also use Sheik's Side-B much more frequent to get onto ledges quickly, especially on the Halberd ship. Lastly, I only use Meta Knight throughout the entire Great Maze, this can be optimized.

Here's a list of the places where you can skip battles, "Easy/Medium/Hard" means how difficult it is, in my experience it is to pull of the skips. Skyworld (last area, with Pit, Hard) The Battlefield Fortress (lots of places, with Meta Knight, Hard) The Path to the Ruins (at the very beginning, with Lucas, Easy) The Wilds I (while climbing on mountainside, with Meta Knight, Easy) The Wilds II (Staged fight #3, with Pit, Medium) Entrance to Subspace (After destroying the 3 portals, with Meta Knight, Hard)

¤The research facility (at the end, with Pikachu, only on Very Hard/intense difficulty, slightly luck reliant)

In the Great Maze you can quit the story mode and re-enter it to skip backtracking, it is very helpful. My current PB is at 2h 19m 40s on Easy, which is quite a bit better than the best one here. I think a more optimal run would be at 2:18, as I did some big mistakes and had a horrible Tabuu fight. I didn't record the run, since I lack the equipment, but I'll figure something out eventually. Hope this helps!