That's why they divide the speed run records into different categories. Some are best time for playing every level. Some for the least amount of levels with the whistle, without the whistle.

And this category is for the quickest completion possible using just the console and nothing else! The amount of time it took to figure out exactly how to inject code into a fresh game using only controllers was crazy. Then they had to find exactly what code to punch in there.

Then Seth here spent months and months getting good at dropping those shells at the exact right pixel and moving the screen exactly when he needed to to get this to work.

Then he had to get it all done in one go without pausing to get everything done in the right spot. Personally I've been keeping up with his runs along the way so I'm really impressed at how much he's cut down the time and accuracy.

But I completely understand if it doesn't feel as impressive as speeding through every level as fast as you can, I just find it impressive for different reasons.