Super Speedrun Bros. The Lost Levels

by JC Fletcher { Apr 20th 2009 at 6:15PM }

Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (or Super Mario Bros. 2, if you prefer) is brutally difficult. For most of us, just completing the game is out of the question, much less completing it in under an hour. We're proud to say that we completed it once, but it took a week -- and two people.

But YouTube user sprocket2005 managed to complete the All-Stars version of this ridiculous game, or at least through 8-4, in 8 minutes and 35 seconds. Even if it is a tool-assisted speedrun, this is an amazing achievement. More importantly, it makes for an impressive video -- which you can see after the break. It might make you want to download the Famicom Lost Levels on the Virtual Console and try it for yourself.

[Via Destructoid]

Tags: snes, speedrun, super-mario-bros-2, super-mario-bros-lost-levels

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Feba @ Apr 20th 2009 6:51PM

Eh, for a TAS, I'm unimpressed. Too many times slowing down, hesitating, missteps. Probably not more than a few seconds off the time overall, but the entire point of TAS is to get things absolutely perfect. Would be a very impressive speedrun played normally, though.

Nincodedo @ Apr 20th 2009 7:40PM

Agreed. I mean, not that I can do any better but for every second that you're not at a full on sprint, its another second you're losing.

HotLimit @ Apr 20th 2009 6:59PM

How can I get it on my DS?

mko @ Apr 21st 2009 10:33AM

Legally you cant. If you have a flashcard however, you can use SNEmulDS.

Artheido @ Apr 20th 2009 7:27PM

I don't enjoy tool-assisted speedruns. They don't show skill as the person just saves state continuously and reloads it when they slip-up/slow-down until they get it perfect which could take... days. You don't see the whole picture and so the term 'speedrun' I feel shouldn't be used as there is no 'speed' (nor 'run') to repeating something over and over again. I'm sure everyone gets my point.

However, a TAS is supposed to 'wow' you by showing a perfect run (they wow me when I don't know it's a TAS), this doesn't as Feba mentioned. Too many slow downs, step backs etc.

I didn't even know Joystiq post speedruns (included low quality ones like this D:).

Mics @ Apr 20th 2009 7:28PM

I love how the game has to give you a little Viagra boost at the end before the Princess will kiss you, as if saving her from the clutches of a fire-breathing turtle dragon thingy wasn't man enough for her. I guess size does matter. What a bitch.

(01) @ Apr 22nd 2009 5:56PM

If Viagra is needed, it seems like more of Mario's problem than Peaches. Just saying.

Matias @ Apr 20th 2009 7:38PM

I completed it under an hour, it wasn't that hard, except for the flying squids in those platforming areas.

Of course that was after 10 years of frustration, one day I picked it up again and at last I ended it.

Santos L. Halper @ Apr 20th 2009 7:57PM

Yeah JC, lost levels is a hard game but why are you comparing your regular playthrough with his tool assisted one? He didn't have to worry about restarting any levels or panicking at a certain jump. This was easy for him so I don't see why your so impressed.

Dreich Awress @ Apr 20th 2009 8:05PM

I enjoy TAS videos if they're entertaining, if the game has a unique skill that makes it easier, if a special rule is being enforced, or if there are a lot of interesting glitches being abused. This isn't a very entertaining TAS.

mattrod288 @ Apr 20th 2009 11:25PM

This TAS is honestly pretty boring.

RupeeClock @ Apr 21st 2009 2:06AM

"Even if it is a tool-assisted speedrun, this is an amazing achievement."

You're missing the point of Tool Assisted Speed Runs.
Besides, you REALLY should've checked to see this hadn't been done before, because it has, and it's been doing even faster.

http://tasvideos.org/1031M.html
http://tasvideos.org/1042M.html

Lakkus @ Apr 21st 2009 8:54AM

what game is this? All-Stars version? what is that, i've never heard of it. I downloaded the lost levels one from the VC so I thought that's what the title was referring to.

anyone wanna inform a noob?

Dreganfyre @ Apr 21st 2009 9:25AM

Super Mario All-Stars is an SNES game that includes Super Mario Bros 1, 2 and 3 AND The Lost Levels all in one cartridge, with few changes other than updated graphics, and the ability to save.

He's playing through the version of The Lost Levels in All-Stars, but it should be more or less the same as the VC one that you have.

More info and a more complete list of changes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_All-Stars

Lakkus @ Apr 21st 2009 9:30AM

well thank you very much Dregan.

you are cool, you should go here --> wiiunite.org

Tristan @ Apr 22nd 2009 9:14AM

Notice at 8:09 he jumps off lava, i'm just saying thats not what a speedrun is about, nor even play the game without cheating, which to me looks like what is happening.

I played through the lost levels before , i enjoyed it , this one just reminded me how short the levels really where.

But yah this one was pretty unimpressive.