10 GENIUS Ways Players Beat Video Games

2. Almost Never Using The Jump Button - Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64
Nintendo

Considering that Mario's original moniker was "Jumpman," it's fair to say that jumping remains one of his most prominent actions throughout the iconic platformer franchise.

But that only encouraged players to see if they could complete the "A Button Challegnge" - that is, beating Super Mario 64 without ever making Mario perform a single jump.

The crowned king of this challenge is Scott Buchanan aka "pannenkoek2012," who has taken advantage of every dirty trick in the book in order to progress through the game without jumping.

While Buchanan hasn't quite beaten the game yet without use of the A button, as of 2020 he's whittled it down to just 19 presses - a far cry from the literally several-hundred inputs even a well-skilled player would make over the course of the game.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.