Gaming
parallel universe
What does parallel universe mean?
Ghostly duplicate regions of an SM64 level that exist because the game truncates Mario's position coordinates. Build enough speed and you land on collision in a 'PU', a copy of the map far outside the real one.
"He BLJs into a parallel universe and uses the phantom floor to clip onto the platform above."
Origin
Super Mario 64. Coined and popularised by pannenkoek2012's A Button Challenge research; abbreviated PU.
Frequently asked questions
What does parallel universe mean in Super Mario 64?
They're SM64's phantom copies of the map, created when Mario's coordinates overflow beyond the normal range.
How do you use parallel universe in a sentence?
"Speedrunners exploit parallel universes to reach spots that look impossible."
Where does the SM64 parallel universe idea come from?
It arises from how the game handles position values overflowing, spawning duplicate 'PU' versions of the level grid — famously explained in speedrunning glitch analyses.
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