'Perfect' Zelda NES Speed Record Beaten

An anonymous reader writes "The last verified human Legend of Zelda (NES) speed record was 34 minutes. A few months ago, a re-recording emulator was used to make a 'perfect' video which was 31 and a half minutes. A team worked to optimize the path, and using an emulator created a new video which is 26:56, four and a half minutes faster. The video is 14% faster, and is the first Zelda run to be under a half hour. Furthermore, it achieved a sub-27 minute time, which was presumed impossible. Definitely worth checking out - you can grab the BitTorrent version of the AVI replay at Bisqwit's NES time-attack movie page." There's a thread on the NESvideos forum discussing the attempt, but can anyone succinctly explain the exact tricks the team used to speed up their time?

Comments

A whole four minures less!

[orthogonal]

A team worked to optimize the path, and using an emulator created a new video which is 26:56, four and a half minutes faster.

I hate to be a spoilsport, but Ashcroft's eviscerating the 4th amendment in the United States and Blind Blunkett's forcing National ID cards on the United Kingdom and John Howard's government is pushing its own version of the "Patriot Act" in Australia, and these people have time to figure out how to play a perfect game of Zelda?

I guess they truly do live in a fantasy world.

Christ! Look up from your bread and circuses, people! The Tree of Liberty of being chopped down to kindle the fires that will forge your chains.