RTA Guide
The ultimate goal of this guide is to serve as a central hub for all of the relevant knowledge needed to get started with and improve at Super Mario 64 Real-Time Attack (RTA) speedruns. Eventually, all external links on this page will be replaced with their own wiki pages.
Choosing a Platform
To submit to the official leaderboards, you will need to use one of the supported platforms; N64, Emulator or Virtual Console.
Platform Differences
The primary differences between the platforms comes down to lag, loading and level of competition. For a more detailed listing of version differences, including regional differences, check out the Game Versions page. If you're a beginner, starting out on Emulator is recommended because it's the easiest to get into and requires least amount of investment. However, if you plan on taking the game more seriously, the majority of the top competition across all categories is on the original console, N64. Virtual Console is a less popular option, but is still available for play and submission to the leaderboards. The reasoning for the platform preferences within the SM64 community is complicated, but Drogie's video below does a good job explaining the thought process and history behind the way things are.
As an example of the impact of lag and loading has on each platform, Tabascoth put together a TAS 120 Star Run, and played it back on each. See the video below for the results.
Setup Guides
The N64 buying guide covers everything you need to know to get set up to play on console, including information on game versions, platforms, TVs and monitors, and peripherals like input displays, Gamesharks and Everdrives.
The Emulator setup guide is a comprehensive walkthrough of the process to download install the proper emulator version (Project 64 v1.6) and choosing the best setting and plugins to maximize gameplay and visual performance.
The Wii softmodding guide is a video tutorial to softmod your Wii. The video is for Majora's Mask, but the process is the same for any Virtual Console game.
Leaderboard Verification
For a run to be accepted on the official leaderboards, video proof must be provided. While something as simple as pointing a camera at your TV is sufficient, if you plan on playing the game often or you plan on livestreaming your runs, the convenience and quality offered by a proper capture solution can be worth the cost. Here are some pages to help you figure out what you need to record or livestream your runs:
Here is some more information about submitting runs to the official leaderboards:
Category Guides
Before committing to a particular category, check out the Movement Guide to learn Mario's movement options.
Category Extensions
Useful Links
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