Uploaded January 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This video examines a stretch of the game through 5 screen transitions that... theoretically... should take the same amount of time for both players. Note that there are some confounding factors in making this comparison. The run on the left was recorded at 30 fps in Retro graphics mode, while the one on the right was recorded at 60 fps in Modern graphics mode. However, there should be no difference in gameplay.
I tried to start the freefalls simultaneously in the same position, but the run on the right hits the screen transition first. I believe this is due to having more downward velocity because of the different timing that the players used when jumping off of the wall.
In spite of hitting the first screen transition 4 frames earlier than the player on the left, the player on the right lands 4 (or possibly 5, depending on the animation) frames *later* than that player.
How did the player on the left manage to freefall 8 frames faster than the player on the right? It is possible that the left player is running at an accelerated framerate. (62 or so fps would be very hard to visually identify.)
Nonetheless, 8 frames of advantage over 6.3 seconds would translate to about 34 seconds over the course of a 27 minute speedrun.
This video examines a stretch of the game through 5 screen transitions that... theoretically... should take the same amount of time for both players. Note that there are some confounding factors in making this comparison. The run on the left was recorded at 30 fps in Retro graphics mode, while the one on the right was recorded at 60 fps in Modern graphics mode. However, there should be no difference in gameplay.
I tried to start the freefalls simultaneously in the same position, but the run on the right hits the screen transition first. I believe this is due to having more downward velocity because of the different timing that the players used when jumping off of the wall.
In spite of hitting the first screen transition 4 frames earlier than the player on the left, the player on the right lands 4 (or possibly 5, depending on the animation) frames *later* than that player.
How did the player on the left manage to freefall 8 frames faster than the player on the right? It is possible that the left player is running at an accelerated framerate. (62 or so fps would be very hard to visually identify.)
Nonetheless, 8 frames of advantage over 6.3 seconds would translate to about 34 seconds over the course of a 27 minute speedrun.
![Marble Madness (NES) 2:44.271 [Former WR]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GOwIOSXzOuk/mqdefault.jpg "Marble Madness (NES) 2:44.271 [Former WR]
Obsoleted by: https://youtu.be/N3kClJGzapk
This video shows a clear of Marble Madness in 2:44.271, and its comparison to the previous world record. The time saves here come from the new bounce strategy at the beginning of the Intermediate race, and the best Aerial Race Ive ever had. (Gold split).
The Silly Skip is still in place as well, although it is a little bit short of perfect due to the bird patterns slowing me down.")
