There is a certain breed of gamers whose abilities are beyond that of the normal gamer, and who, once easily defeating a game that they enjoy, impose further restrictions to achieve some extra challenge. Like for example, beating a game (say, Contra) without continuing.
Then there are the total freakshow nutjobs at Speed Demos Archive that take a video game and so utterly destroy it that you just have to stare in awe. I’m talking getting 100% in Super Metroid in 55 minutes, or beating the original Resident Evil using just the knife in little over an hour. These people are crazy. Granted, these aren’t just any feats of ability, but strictly what are called “speed runs” where the player beats the game as fast as possible, though other restrictions like doing a “no-death run” at the same time are common as well.
Seeing the Contra: Shattered Soldier speed run inspired me to pull that one back out of the stack and finally beat it with an S-rank (a perfect run through the game, no deaths and 100% each level). It’s something I’ve been trying off and on for the two years I’ve had the game, and the many, MANY times I’ve played through it (try 20+) is a testament to how good a game it is. Anyway I highly recommend if you take games seriously to check out the videos there, and then take out your favorite games and do something new with them.