Pause buffering

Pause buffering, not to be confused with buffering, refers to repeatedly opening and closing the pause menu and executing inputs during the brief window that the game is unpaused, in order to make precise tricks less difficult. This can also be done with Snapshot Mode, which is known as snapshot buffering.

Snapshot buffering is often preferred when executing button inputs since there is no delay when exiting Snapshot Mode, unlike with the pause menu, where it can be difficult to time the button inputs to ensure they do not occur while the game is still unpausing. However, for precise joystick maneuvers where no button presses are needed, such as those used for capless trickjumps, the delay can be useful for preparation, making pause buffering the preferred option.

Snapshot buffering can also be used to get a better look at something happening quickly in the game. This is often used by trickjumpers to gauge the accuracy of a trickjump attempt, since the circle displayed when Mario bonks is a precise indicator of how much one missed the jump by.