Hey there, a player who used to run this years ago here. My spider-sense tingled and your question brought up to my attention. The banning of emulation, from what I remember many years ago, was likely due to some inaccuracies, whether graphical ones like characters sprite suddenly disappearing in cutscene/dialogue moments or perfomance one like the speed loading slightly faster than that it does in console. This ban was in place years before I joined, so keep in mind. However, those caveats happened in earlier emulators. Emulation has improved over the years, so is the accuracy of many games that 1:1 match their respective original hardware.

Zewwy, after looking at your most recent PB of this game and doing a bit of extensive run test on both console and the most up to date emulator on my spare time, I can firmly believe your run is valid! Everything what I tested runs and plays exactly like what it looks in actual hardware.

Overall, I agree with the people who brought up the question. I don't see the point of banning emulators for this game anymore as emulation has improved over the years, getting the actual cart, hardware and capture cards gets more expensive each year, and that creates an accessibility barrier to new players. Every speedrun group should be welcoming to new runners as it helps communities to grow, so that emu rule needs its long overdue revaluation and reconsideration. I hope explained everything from my experience as much as I could. If anyone has anything else to add to the subject, don't be afraid and feel free to ask. If the mod, super mod team and the audience agree or don't agree with my point, that is fine. I tried my best :)

Have you tried holding SELECT before choosing START? ;D

Hey there! Thx for turning on the Bat signal to me. Interesting discovery how the endings work in this game, alec. Essentially, don't score farm forever or the game calls you out of it after beating it. Take one death, preferably at the beginning of one of much later stages, so you can a health box refill when needed.

I can agree the category name should simply be "Beat the game" based on these discoveries, and you can add that into the forums and resources place as reference.

super mods, you make the final veridict! :D

It will happen eventually. I have the feeling they'll do it.

Yea, it is allowed from the looks like. Just make sure you have the Enhancements off, as in keeping the lag and sprite flickering intact. Fair and square.

Welcome aboard, Xtag.

IMO, April, Raph, and Splinter are the most capable to even get to 1:00 hour flat time.

Edit: Leo can be added to that optimal list now.

Nice! I checked and re-timed it as a 50:04 since we split after final hit on the last boss.

Cybergeddon is or was the name of the current WR holder. This is strange now that I see it his times aren't here anymore. Maybe he is under a new nickname as some of you pointed out already.

I believe Bizhawk and SNES9X are the go to emus in terms of accuracy. Those two are the most recommended to run.

Let's close the case here. Passwords are not allowed in any% at all. It should be its own category at best.

Here is what's he refering to. I discovered a couple days ago offline.

I don't think it will be valid. Using password screen during a run in order to bypass something will make it invalid if I recall correctly.