{{One Button Challenge Infobox}}

The '''One Button Challenge''', '''OBC''' for short, is a [[challenge]] where the player is only allowed to use one button (e.g. the B Button) on the N64 controller, and you get ''unlimited'' presses of that one button. Because we can only use one button, there are tons of restrictions and disadvantages involved with this challenge. The Joystick does ''not'' count as a button, so it ''can't'' be used.

The One Button Challenge is unique in that it aims to only allow ''one'' button, and ''everything else'' is off-limits. While in other challenges, like the [[A Button Challenge]], ''only one button'' is off-limits, (i.e. the A Button) and ''everything else'' is allowed.
==Buttons==
The Nintendo 64 Controller has '''14''' different buttons.

(Excluding the joystick since it is ''not'' a button.)

'''The D-Pad Buttons'''

The D-Pad Buttons have no use during normal gameplay and therefore can't be used to control Mario.

'''The L Button'''

The L Button has no use during normal gameplay and therefore can't be used to control Mario.

'''The R Button'''

The R Button is used to switch between Lakitu Cam and Mario/Fixed Cam.

Switching camera modes only adjusts the camera angle and therefore ''can't'' be used to control Mario.

'''The C Buttons'''

The C Buttons allow the player to adjust the camera and enter or exit First-Person Mode.

While entering First-Person mode ''does'' change Mario's action, it doesn't let him move around and therefore ''can't'' be used to control Mario in a useful way.

'''The Start Button'''

The Start Button is used to pause the game and therefore can't be used to control Mario.

'''The A Button'''

The A Button lets Mario jump.

While jumping ''is'' fundamental in ''normal play'', without using the joystick, the A button only lets Mario jump ''in place and'' therefore ''can't'' be used to move Mario ''horizontally''.

'''The B Button'''

The B Button lets Mario punch in water or on land and throw an object while holding it.

Punching moves Mario forward slightly which ''can'' be used to control Mario in a useful way because punching lets him move around ''horizontally''.

Even though the B Button is the only usable button in the ''One Button Challenge'' that actually allows us to collect stars, it still presents ''tons'' of restrictions.

'''The Z Button'''

The Z Button lets Mario crouch.

While crouching can let Mario backflip, (which we can't do with just the Z Button) and crawl. (which we can't do without using the joystick) We ''can't'' do any of these when restricted to just one button, and therefore the Z Button ''can't'' be used to control Mario in a useful way.
==Disadvantages==
Because we can only use one button, there are a '''ton''' of disadvantages and restrictions involved using this playstyle.

- Our only reliable method of moving forward (i.e. punching) is ''extremely'' slow, which leaves Mario vulnerable to enemies and other obstacles that would normally be simple to avoid with all the buttons.

- Mario can only move ''forward'' with just the B button, not backwards.

- Vertical movement can only be done in ''specific circumstances''.

- Mario can only turn in specific situations. (e.g. getting hit by an enemy)

- Mario can only go up slopes in specific circumstances. (e.g. being burned and running up a slope)

- We cannot progress through the game in a full-game run, because we either can't get past the title screen, (If we choose ''any other button besides start'' as the button to use) or scroll through the starting textboxes. (If we choose ''start'' as the button to use.) Therefore, this challenge can only be analyzed on a ''single-star basis''.

- ''Most'' courses just result in Mario just reaching a dead-end where he can't move anywhere or falls to his death.

- Mario cannot perform ''any actions or move'' while holding objects other than just ''throwing'' the object.

- Any kind of platforming is virtually ''impossible'' due to not being able to ''jump or move quickly.''
==Stars==
'''3''' stars have been collected in the One Button Challenge so far, all of which being in ''Shifting Sand Land''.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7VhlsqeeqI</ref>

*[[Shifting Sand Land|SSL]] - ''[[In the Talons of the Big Bird]]'': Since we can't use one of the tornadoes near the four pillars because we have to be on the ''first mission'' to get this star, we can instead have a Fly Guy redirect Mario’s angle towards a pillar, then burn Mario to have him run up the pillar. From there, we can have Mario punch off the pillar to land on the Fly Guy and twirl onto the pyramid and land with a precisely manipulated angle. After punching into the water and redirecting Mario's angle with slopes and a Pokey, we can then punch to one of the pillars which is near a Crazy Box. After waiting for Klepto to move into position, we then use the Crazy Box to jump into Klepto, and fall onto the star. This star takes just over '''18 minutes''' in total.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLy7W8JncJE</ref>

*[[Shifting Sand Land|SSL]] - ''[[Shining Atop the Pyramid]]'': By using the tornado to get onto a pillar, then using a Fly Guy to get on the pyramid, we can then use another Fly Guy to burn Mario and have him run up the pyramid to the small cubby with the star. Because Mario’s angle is facing slightly towards the star, by punching the wall next to the star over and over for '''2 minutes straight''', Mario eventually gets close enough to the star to collect it. This star takes over '''22 minutes''' to collect.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnQPy0SZF24</ref>

*[[Shifting Sand Land|SSL]] - ''[[100 Coin Star|100 Coins]]'': Because we can’t collect enough coins normally, we instead have to use the [[Breaking-disappearing Cork Box glitch|Breaking/Disappearing Cork Box Glitch]] to collect extra coins, combined with manipulating Goomba RNG (to make them move to redirect Mario’s angle) by repeatedly punching or having Mario fall asleep and then wake up (to create sand particles) to help collect enough coins to reach 100. This star takes over '''8 hours''' to collect in total with over '''9,000''' B Presses. It took Pannenkoek2012 over '''3 months''' to create the TAS for it.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9vXR0jy4mI</ref>

==References==
<references />{{Challenges}}

One Button Challenge

2026-01-19T19:28:21Z

Fefe:

2025-10-29T20:55:11Z

Fefe:

{{One Button Challenge Infobox}}

The '''One Button Challenge''', '''OBC''' for short, is a [[challenge]] where the player is only allowed to use one button (e.g. the B Button) on the N64 controller, and you get ''unlimited'' presses of that one button. Because we can only use one button, there are tons of restrictions and disadvantages involved with this challenge.

The One Button Challenge is unique in that it aims to only allow one button, and everything else is off-limits. While in other challenges, like the [[A Button Challenge]], only one button is off-limits, (i.e. the A Button) and everything else is allowed.

The Joystick does ''not'' count as a button, so it ''can't'' be used.
==Buttons==
The Nintendo 64 Controller has '''14''' different buttons.

(Excluding the joystick since it is ''not'' a button.)

'''The D-Pad Buttons'''

The D-Pad Buttons have no use during normal gameplay, and therefore can't be used to control Mario.

'''The L Button'''

The L Button has no use, and therefore can't be used to control Mario.

'''The R Button'''

The R Button is used to switch between Lakitu Cam and Mario/Fixed Cam.

While this ''can'' sometimes be convenient, it only adjusts the camera and therefore ''can't'' be used to control Mario in a useful way.

'''The C Buttons'''

The C Buttons allow the player to adjust the camera and enter or exit First-Person Mode.

While entering First-Person mode ''does'' change Mario's action, it doesn't let him move in any way, and therefore ''can't'' be used to control Mario in a useful way.

'''The Start Button'''

The Start Button is used to pause and unpause the game, and therefore can't be used to control Mario.

'''The A Button'''

The A Button lets Mario jump.

While jumping ''is'' fundamental in ''normal play'', without using the joystick, the A button only lets Mario jump ''in place'', and therefore ''can't'' be used to control Mario in a useful way.

'''The B Button'''

The B Button lets Mario punch.

Punching moves Mario forward slightly, and therefore ''can'' be used to control Mario in a useful way because punching lets him move around.

While the B Button is the only button in the ''One Button Challenge'' that actually allows us to collect stars, it still presents ''tons'' of restrictions.

'''The Z Button'''

The Z Button lets Mario crouch.

While crouching can let Mario backflip, (which we can't do with just the Z Button) and crawl, (which we can't do without using the joystick) we ''can't'' do any of these when restricted to just one button, and therefore the Z Button ''can't'' be used to control Mario in a useful way.
== Disadvantages ==
Because we can only use one button, there are a '''ton''' of disadvantages and restrictions involved using this playstyle.

- Our only method of moving forward (i.e. punching) is ''extremely'' slow, which leaves Mario vulnerable to enemies and other obstacles that would normally be simple to avoid.

- Mario can only move ''forward'', not backwards.

- Vertical movement can only be done in ''specific circumstances''.

- Mario cannot turn in a reliable way. (e.g. moving the joystick)

- Mario cannot move up slopes in a reliable way. (e.g. Frame Walking or Jump Kicking up slopes)

- We cannot progress through the game in a full-game run, because we can't start the game, or scroll through the starting textboxes. (If we choose ''start'' as the button to use.) Therefore, this challenge can only be performed or analyzed on a ''single-star basis''.

- ''Most'' courses just result in Mario just reaching a dead-end where he can't move anywhere, or falls to his death.

- Mario cannot use ''any actions or move'' while holding objects other than just ''throwing'' the object.

- Any kind of platforming is virtually ''impossible'' due to not being able to ''jump or move quickly.''

- Mario cannot move to ''many'' parts of courses due to the limited movement options we have with ''just the B Button''.
==Stars==
Only '''3''' stars have been collected in the One Button Challenge so far, all of which being in ''Shifting Sand Land''.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7VhlsqeeqI</ref>

'''In the Talons of the Big Bird'''

By punching into the quicksand near the tornado (which we can't use since we have to be on the ''first mission'' to get this star which doesn't have the tornado near the pillar), we can have the Fly Guy hit Mario to redirect his angle towards the pillar, then burn Mario to have him get up the pillar. From there, we can have Mario punch off the pillar to twirl onto the pyramid with a manipulated angle. After punching into the water and redirecting Mario's angle with slopes, we can then use knockback to redirect Mario's angle towards the pillar. After getting redirected a few more times by a Pokey, we can then use the Crazy Box to jump into Klepto, and fall right onto the star. This star takes just over '''18 minutes''' in total.

'''Shining Atop the Pyramid'''

By using the tornado to get on the pyramid, we can then use the Fly Guy to burn Mario and have him run up the pyramid next to the small cubby with the star. Then, by punching the wall next to the star over and over for '''2 minutes straight''', Mario eventually reaches the star to collect it. This star takes over '''22 minutes''' to collect.

'''100 Coins'''

We can collect this star by using the Breaking/Disappearing Cork Box Glitch to collect infinite coins, combined with manipulating RNG by punching (to create sand particles) to reach 100 Coins and once again using enemy knockback to redirect Mario's angle. This star takes over '''8 hours''' to collect in total with over '''9,000''' B Presses. It took Pannenkoek2012 over '''3 months''' to create the TAS for it.

<references />{{Challenges}}