The iconic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of Tetris, long considered an insurmountable challenge, has been conquered by a thirteen-year-old gaming sensation. Willis "Blue Scuti" Gibson achieved the unimaginable, reaching level 157 and unlocking what enthusiasts are now calling the "final killscreen."
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Tetris Evolution: Breaking Limits with "Rolling" Technique
The NES Tetris version, notorious for its difficulty, presented a formidable challenge even for seasoned players, with most experts struggling to surpass level 38. However, the gaming community witnessed a paradigm shift in 2021 with the introduction of the "rolling" technique. This innovative strategy, utilizing the bottom of the controller, propelled players into uncharted territories and set the stage for a flurry of new world records.
As players pushed the limits of Tetris, exploring previously undiscovered levels, they stumbled upon anomalies like corrupted colors, ominously dubbed "Charcoal" and "Dusk." A detailed investigation revealed a potential game crash at level 155, introducing a new kill screen that halted players' progress, leading to widespread speculation about the game's ultimate frontier.
Comments from Tetris Enthusiasts
The Tetris community rallied behind Blue Scuti as he made history, breaking the seemingly insurmountable record. Comments flooded in from enthusiasts, expressing admiration for the prodigious feat and the supportive nature of the community.
- "What a beautiful video. Congrats to Scuti, and to the whole community who made this possible."
- "The community tuning into his stream to watch him break a record and cheer him on, despite trying to break it themselves, is so wholesome."
- "The way everyone was so hype for Scuti even though they're all technically competing against him, it's super wholesome and heartwarming."
- "The fact that he didn't even break stride after missing the first opportunity is unto itself a huge testament to his character."
- "This is utterly insane and there's no way Alexey Pajitnov could have ever predicted this is where Tetris would be after over 3 decades. I am genuinely excited to see who will be the first madlad to reach total rebirth and truly finish Tetris! Amazing as always, aGameScout!"
- "Thor Aackerlund deserves credit as one of the biggest legends in Video Game History for not only accomplishing the first Level 30 killscreen and taking 7 years before it could be beat, but also winning the original 1990 Nintendo World Championship in the youth category at the age of 13!"
- "It's so cool how the very last level is pure blood red, it gives me 'final boss' vibes and it probably wasn't even intentional."
- "The thing I love the most about the community is how people are supportive, instead of competitive. Sure, they both went for the record of being the first one to crash, but when Blue won, there wasn’t animosity. There was celebration that it was achieved."
- "I didn’t even know about this scene, now I’m crying in joy for Scuti."
A particularly poignant moment came in December 2023 when Blue Scuti faced off against Justin "Fractal" Yu, the reigning Classic Tetris world champion. The two engaged in a riveting race to reach the new kill screen and declare victory over Tetris. Blue Scuti emerged triumphant, achieving the milestone in level 157, capping off an extraordinary journey that captivated the gaming world.
Witness the remarkable run and the historic achievement by Blue Scuti in the video here:
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