Mega Cat Studios had the chance to interview the title holder of being the fastest person to finish Super Mario Bros. Any% with a total running time of 4m 54s 798ms, in the speedrunning community, Niftski! He shared his insights and issues with the community as well as some motivations for those who are aiming to enter this community! Here’s how our interview went!
How did you discover speedrunning?
I discovered speedrunning through Bismuth and Summoning Salt’s Super Mario Bros. speedrunning YouTube videos, and it greatly sparked my interest.
What made it interesting for you to check it out?
Super Mario Bros. was a game I grew up playing ever since I was around 5 years old and seeing people speedrun it gave the game a whole new feel and interest.
What were the biggest issues you encountered in the community?
Occasional bad apples and immature people that come along in the community are probably one of the only issues, but pretty much every community in speedrunning has to deal with that.
What would be the best memory or moment you’ve experienced?
Although I’ve beaten this run twice, the day I got my former world record of 4:54.948 in SMB1 Any% is still to this day the best memory I’ve experienced in speedrunning. It is also still to this day the happiest day I’ve ever had in my life.
Should other people also try and check out speedrunning? Why so?
Absolutely. If you are bored of casually playing games you’ve already played many times and want to add a fun and competitive aspect to it, speedrunning is probably the best way to go about that!
What makes the speedrunning community special?
Everyone uplifts and motivates each other while promoting positivity and the hope that they can improve their speedrunning times.
Who do you think would enjoy speedrunning as well?
Members from other gaming communities that take interest in competitive and fun games (like I was at one point with games like CS: GO) would likely also love speedrunning.
How would you describe your experience and stay in the community?
Out of a few other communities, I can say by far that this community is the best and most positive one I’ve ever been in.
What made you stay long in this community?
The friends I’ve made along the way, my interest in the game, and the positivity that has been spread along the way have made me stay with this community.
What are your suggestions for the speedrunning community?
Surround yourself with positive people and always believe in your abilities, as it is very likely that you haven’t even reached your full potential yet.
What is your message to those who admire and watch you?
You can do anything you put your mind to, my world records are not by any means unbeatable and at the end of the day, we are all human!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Always believe in yourself, because at the end of the day, nobody else can achieve things on your behalf 😊
Check out Niftski on Speedrun.com and follow him on Twitch and Youtube to get more updates on his speedruns!
Want to see more of things like this? Or maybe you like cats or the Game Boy or the NES? If you do, let's have a catjam together! Join Mega Cat Studios on Discord for more fun and excitement!
