Summoning Salt Sets New Speedrunning Record for Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
In a remarkable display of gaming skill combined with fortune, Summoning Salt has set a new world record in the speedrunning community for the classic Nintendo game Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Achieving a time of 1:59, he becomes the first player to complete this challenge under two minutes, a feat that took nearly half a decade of practice and perseverance to accomplish.
The Feat: Mastering Dicey RNG
Summoning Salt’s journey to this new milestone was not simply about sheer skill; it was considerably influenced by good luck regarding the game’s random-number generator (RNG). According to him, Tyson’s behavior during the match provided a “perfect pattern” that is statistically rare, occurring only in approximately 1 out of every 1,600 bouts. This lucky setup allowed him to minimize delays, resulting in a negligible extra delay of only 16 frames (approximately 0.8 seconds) compared to an ideal run. Summoning Salt estimates that achieving this specific timing could realistically occur once every 7,000 to 10,000 attempts.
Upon completing the record-setting run, Summoning Salt expressed his disbelief live on Twitch, revealing, “I thought I’d be a lot more excited about this. Holy shit, dude! It’s over… I’m kind of in shock right now that that just happened.” His subdued reaction starkly contrasts with the excitement the moment typically elicits, highlighting the surreal nature of achieving a long-sought-after goal.
Past Achievements and Progression
This new record topped his previous time of 2:00.00, which was set just eight months earlier. Not only is this latest record a personal triumph, but it also highlights Summoning Salt’s evolution in the speedrunning community as he has been pivotal in driving interest in this age-old game. He previously became the first to break the 2:01 barrier for Tyson in 2020, a milestone that he has since replicated numerous times despite undertaking tens of thousands of attempts.
Historical context adds to this achievement. Before Summoning Salt’s emergence in the speedrunning scene, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! and its records were thought to be nearly insurmountable. He reflected on the competition, noting that for years, the widely accepted benchmark was Matt Turk’s record of 2:13 established in 2007—an achievement that once seemed impossibly fast for any player.
The End of the Road?
Despite his impressive feat and the great likelihood that someone may surpass his record in the future, Summoning Salt has expressed little interest in pursuing further improvements. He stated, “I have no plans to ever improve this time… I am extremely proud to have gotten the first sub 2 ever on Mike Tyson.” His acknowledgment suggests a readiness to step back from the relentless pursuit of speedrunning accolades, emphasizing pride in reaching a landmark rather than an obsession with competition.
Looking Forward in Gaming
Summoning Salt’s achievement is not merely a personal victory but also a significant milestone in the speedrunning community. His record serves as inspiration not only to other speedrunners but also to gamers who seek to push the boundaries of what is achievable in video gaming. With his unique ability to blend skill and a touch of luck, he has cemented his place in gaming history, reminding the community of the unpredictability and intricacies that come with competitive gaming.
In conclusion, Summoning Salt’s record-setting run in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! may inspire a new wave of gamers to explore speedrunning while also highlighting the extraordinary combination of skill, knowledge, and chance that defines the art of this pursuit. As the gaming world waits to see who might break his record, Summoning Salt’s stunning achievement will likely echo in the halls of gaming history for years to come.
