Billy Mitchell has cold, dead eyes. He has the catchphrases of a motivational speaker, the darting gaze of a petty criminal, and the flowing locks of a small-time cult leader. This is no coincidence, for he holds a small flock of disciples in his thrall. For a brief period in the early ’80s, Mitchell was famous for holding the high score-records of several arcade games – all-time classics from what is now known as the golden era of retro gaming. For these feats, he is still revered.

But times change, and records get broken. The King of Kong is a documentary that chronicles Mitchell’s pathetic attempts to hang on to the last of his world records. A new challenger, Steve Wiebe (pronounced ‘Wee-bee’), arrived on the scene around the turn of the century, toppling Mitchell’s record on Donkey Kong. This achievement was great therapy for Wiebe, who had recently lost his job and was going through a painful career change.

But there was a complication: the all-volunteer high-score record society, Twin Galaxies, had Mitchell on its panel of judges. The other judges were all his friends, in awe of his legend. This film is also Wiebe’s odyssey, his quest for recognition. Wiebe made his first claim for the crown with a videotape submission. Mitchell’s response? To send two of his cronies over to Wiebe’s house to take apart his arcade cabinet, looking for signs of tampering. Without permission. In some circles, such behaviour would be considered ‘home invasion’.

Then things really started to escalate. With his initial videotaped world record rejected, Wiebe flew across the USA to the annual classic gaming convention to break Mitchell’s record in person. Mitchell responded with a (probably doctored) tape of his own. But Wiebe stuck to his guns, and through extraordinary persistence and the boundless support of his family, he eventually won over the Twin Galaxies crew.

Yet the fate of that one crucial entry in the Guinness Book of Records isn’t what makes this film entertaining. No, it’s the extreme character studies on display. These people are freaks. You’ll see men who watch dozens of videotapes a week in their spare time, poring over footage from around the world for signs of tampering or forgery. You’ll see heartache and despair as those who lack the right stuff see their hopes of achieving a fabled ‘Kill Screen’ shattered.

You’ll see some skilful, punchy editing, but above all you’ll see some very, very skilful documentary making. The creators of this movie earned the trust of everyone in it: the innocent Wiebe family, the eccentric Twin Galaxies referees, and most of all Billy Mitchell himself. He must have imagined them beholden to his charms as he rambled with the deadpan sincerity of a bus-shelter nutcase. His heartbreak is greatest of all, as he witnesses his flock straying, and starting to worship a new master of the dark arts. It’s amazing human drama, and it’s all real.

Technical descriptions of the gameplay of Mario’s very first outing are clear and functional, but kept to a streamlined minimum. The flashy, outer-space visuals that periodically illustrate world record tallies contrast starkly with the grimy world of the aging, bearded champions. The King of Kong makes a strong case for growing up, but it’s ultimately a heartwarming comedy. It feels like it stretches a tad too long in the final act, but make no mistake – you will leave the cinema on a high.

The King of Kong will get you in ‘the zone’. It’s a rush.