Welcome back to your weekly digest of all things speedrun! This week’s scene was full of milestones, memorable breakdowns, and a healthy dose of community love—from Donkey Kong elephants to Mario Kart wall rides. Let’s get into it.
🎥 Feature Spotlight
“The History of the Whomp’s Fortress Tower” by Pannenkoek2012
Kicking things off is a deep dive by none other than Pannenkoek2012. His newest video on the evolution of Whomp’s Fortress Tower in SM64’s ABC category is a must-watch. Known for obsessively detailed analysis, Pannenkoek walks us through a forgotten but critical piece of Mario history. It’s educational, nostalgic, and, as always, a bit mind-bending.
▶️ Watch here
🏆 World Record Highlights
It’s been a massive week for world records:
- GoldenEye 007 (N64) – Caverns A – 1:00 by Ilari Pekkala
A legendary game gets another shakeup with this Untied World Record. Breaking the 1:00 barrier on Caverns A is no joke. Ilari continues to push the boundaries of one of speedrunning’s most iconic titles. - Donkey Kong Bananza Any% – 1:27:07 by Jhay
DK may be back on top, but this run had less monkeying around and more elephant action. Jhay’s new WR adds to the momentum this game’s been building in the last few months. - Pokemon Sapphire Glitchless – 1:56:29 by AmoebaUK
A clean, commentary-filled run of this GBA classic. Anyone interested in Pokémon routing or glitchless fundamentals will enjoy this showcase. - The Operative: No One Lives Forever Any% – 59:56 by Dvark09
Long believed impossible, the sub-hour finally falls. A huge accomplishment for a game that rarely sees the spotlight. - Mario Kart World is on fire this week, with multiple records:
- Rainbow Road – New wall ride shortcut (3:59.336)
- Bowser’s Castle – First sub-2:14 (2:13.909)
- All Cup Tour – 1:43:01 by Meester Tweester
- 30 Tracks (Classic) – 1:20:51 by Valerdu78
If you’re not following the Mario Kart World scene… you might want to start.
🔧 Tech & Community Moments
- GDQVods Website MIA?
Several users noticed that the GDQVods site hasn’t updated for SGDQ. No word yet from the webmaster. Hopefully, it’s just a delay, but a reminder of how dependent we are on community tools. - New Runner Spotlight: Lord-Zippy
A wholesome post this week from a new runner showing off their minimalist but effective speedrun setup. Welcome to the grind, Zippy! - Rogue Squadron 3D – Any% 58:12 by RolledPork
Childhood dreams meet modern PBs. From nostalgia to the #2 leaderboard spot in just two weeks—truly inspiring.
🧂 Spicy Discussions
- Favorite Disaster Runs?
The community lit up in response to a discussion on chaotic marathon runs. The standout? A Pokémon HeartGold Baton Pass race from ASM that had everything: bad RNG, crashes, and glorious improvisation. If you enjoy speedrunning chaos, the comment section is pure gold. - Best GDQ Speedruns for Newcomers?
One redditor asked for GDQ recs for their spouse. Suggestions ranged from Untitled Goose Game to Celeste to TASBot showcases. Great intro list to get someone hooked. - What Does “TAS” Really Mean?
A classic newbie question sparked a helpful explanation on the difference between Tool-Assisted Speedruns and standard emulation runs. Friendly reminder: it’s okay to ask—everyone starts somewhere.
📢 Ongoing & Upcoming
- Fangame Marathon 2025 (July 23–27)
It’s happening now! Tons of creative indie and fan-made games are being showcased. Don’t miss it if you love the quirky side of speedrunning.
🎮 Clip of the Week
Glacier Stratum Skip – DK Bananza
Juan4uta shows off a slick new skip that’s got the DK community buzzing. Also: discussions are heating up about whether the boss floor clip is worth routing in. Time will tell.
🐸 Meme of the Week
“Who needs a snake when you’ve got an elephant?”
A perfect line from a Donkey Kong Bananza fan celebrating the chaotic charm of the game’s current meta. It’s as ridiculous as it is adorable.
That’s all for this week’s wrap-up! Whether you’re grinding for your next PB, binging marathon VODs, or just enjoying the ride, keep racing, glitching, and saving those precious seconds.
⏱️ Stay fast,
— PacePals.gg
Source: reddit.com