RTA Guide/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.

v • d • e RTA Guide

Platforms	Nintendo 64 • Virtual Console • Emulator

Categories	0/1 Star • 16 Star • 70 Star • 120 Star • 31 Star • 50 Star • All ! Boxes • Nonstop

General Gameplay	Movement Guide

Courses and Stars

Castle Movement	Lakitu Skip • LBLJ • SBLJ and DDD Skip • 50 Star Door and Endless Staircase BLJs

Bob-omb Battlefield	Big Bob-omb on the Summit • Footrace with Koopa the Quick • Shoot to the Island in the Sky • Find the 8 Red Coins • Mario Wings to the Sky • Behind Chain Chomp's Gate • BoB 100 Coins

Whomp's Fortress	Chip off Whomp's Block • To the Top of the Fortress • Shoot into the Wild Blue • Red Coins on the Floating Isle • Fall onto the Caged Island • Blast Away the Wall • WF 100 Coins

Jolly Roger Bay	Plunder in the Sunken Ship • Can the Eel Come out to Play? • Treasure of the Ocean Cave • Red Coins on the Ship Afloat • Blast to the Stone Pillar • Through the Jet Stream • JRB 100 Coins

Cool, Cool Mountain	Slip Slidin' Away • Li'l Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work • CCM 100 Coins

Big Boo's Haunt	Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry-Go-Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • BBH 100 Coins

Hazy Maze Cave	Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • HMC 100 Coins

Lethal Lava Land	Boil the Big Bully • Bully the Bullies • 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces • Red-Hot Log Rolling • Hot-Foot-It into the Volcano • Elevator Tour in the Volcano • LLL 100 Coins

Shifting Sand Land	In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall on the Four Pillars • Free Flying for 8 Red Coins • Pyramid Puzzle • SSL 100 Coins

Dire, Dire Docks	Board Bowser's Sub • Chests in the Current • Pole-Jumping for Red Coins • Through the Jet Stream • The Manta Ray's Reward • Collect the Caps... • DDD 100 Coins

Snowman's Land	Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins • Into the Igloo • SL 100 Coins

Wet-Dry World	Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows & Sky • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins • Quick Race Through Downtown! • WDW 100 Coins: With Secrets / With Reds

Tall, Tall Mountain	Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom • TTM 100 Coins

Tiny-Huge Island	Pluck the Piranha Flower • The Tip Top of the Huge Island • Rematch with Koopa the Quick • Five Itty Bitty Secrets • Wiggler's Red Coins • Make Wiggler Squirm • THI 100 Coins

Tick Tock Clock	Roll into the Cage • The Pit and the Pendulums • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp • Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • TTC 100 Coins

Rainbow Ride	Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere Over the Rainbow • RR 100 Coins

Castle Stars	BitDW • BitFS • BitS • Bowser Battles • TotWC • VCutM • CotMC • PSS • SA • WMotR • HMC Toad • Upstairs Toad • Tippy Toad • 15/50 stars MIPS

RTA Guide/Platform Differences

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