Triggered by seeing Aladdin in today's MOTD, I was taken back to when I first started using cheat codes in games. I remember being told that 'ABBAABBA' skips you to the next level on Aladdin for MegaDrive, and I've NEVER forgotten that code. It's just burned into my brain, probably because it's one of the first cheat codes I ever remember using.

I also distinctly remember the time sensitive, in-level codes you could enter on GoldenEye that were so difficult to enter fast enough, and the Controller Pak-requiring*, chin-operated (if your friends weren't willing to help) codes for Shadows of the Empire.

Anyone got any favourite/memorable codes?

*I might be wrong in thinking this, as I can't find it anywhere when searching, although I'm sure one game required it to use cheats.

Konami code is always memorable. The only way I can beat Contra.

I had a Game Genie for my NES and SNES, so I loved cheats. Was even better near the end, when I understood memory and hex and could make some of my own cheats. (Or at least modify others)

menace690 wrote:

I loved how the Game Genie (I had the NES one) instruction booklet had a section in it telling you how the codes worked, and how to modify them slightly to get different effects.

One day, while randomly entering in characters into the Game Genie, I created a code for SMB3 that forced Mario to enter a pipe if he was at one of its ends. It made World 7 unbeatable, as you'd exit a pipe only to reenter it again without a way to stop it.

I enjoyed finding out that if you held SELECT while pressing X-X-Y-B-A on the stage selection screen in Yoshi's Island (SNES) that you'd be taken to a selection of all the minigames. Including a two-player version of the watermelon shooter.

The money overflow trick in Sim City (SNES) is great. Build all you want and drop the taxes to 0%!

However, my favorite times were had using the Gameshark Pro on the N64. Poking around memory and creating codes was absolutely fascinating. Changing the amount of lines you completed in Tetris 64 gives you a blue screen that scolds you for cheating and told you a code that lets you access hard mode.

dickmedd wrote:

Tell me more about this.

I never really got to experimenting in the way that you're describing, although the only time I owned a cheat 'device' was when I had an Action Replay disc for Playstation. I was always surprised that certain ridiculous cheats wouldn't just crash the game. I remember you could start out with all items in Metal Gear Solid, get to the first truck (it's about 5 minutes in), get into the back wearing the Snow Field cardboard box, and you'd be prompted to enter the second disc, skipping right to the final portion of the game.

About the GoldenEye cheats:

You could unlock cheats in three ways: by beating levels on particular difficulties within certain time limits, or enter codes (a sequence of button presses/combinations) at different menus, which would add them to the cheat option in the main menu. If you activated any of these cheats, it wouldn't let you progress through the game (you'd beat the level but not progress).

The third method was inputting them after you'd started a mission, which would also allow you to progress. I haven't tested it in a while (I think I may have to later), but I distinctly remember it being very unforgiving about speed of entry, which was enhanced by the trickiness of the sequence of button presses (they took a lot of 'rehearsal'). Scroll down to 'Single Player Codes' and see for yourself. I'll try them again for myself later.

I used to always play SimCity 2000 with cheats, and not just the one that gave you a million dollars every year. There was "joke", "gilmartin", "noah", "porntipsguzzardo", and a bunch of others. I never managed to build a successful city without using money cheats—anything bigger than a small town resulted in a bankruptcy spiral sooner or later.

I remember doing the cheats for secret players, powerups, and big head mode in NBA Jam TE on the SNES. Most of the cheats had to be entered at the "Tonight's Match-Up" screen, just before it loaded a game, which made it really tough—several button presses, with no margin for error, entered in a rapid fire two or three seconds. But it was all worth it when you could dunk from anywhere or watch players run around with gigantic heads or tiny bodies (baby mode).

I had no idea GoldenEye let you enable the cheats with button presses. I always unlocked them by beating the levels quickly.

@Squirrel: I suppose most people would. It's just occurred to me that a lot of the time, I was just experimenting with cheats I would read about. It also occurs to me that this was probably because I would buy guide/cheat magazines, the likes of which I can't imagine them selling today. Anyone else remember those? I'm sure they wouldn't have been exclusive to the UK.

@Mossy: I feel like there's some sort of metaphor in the whole Sim City thing. I also feel that certain inevitability about bankruptcy whenever I start a game, although I don't often cheat to fix it.

First was probably hold down-left, hold 1+2, and on the third blink press Start.
Which of course led to the likes of up C down C left C right C A+Start, 1965 9 17 / 1992 11 24 / 1994 10 18, up up down down up up up up, left left left right right right up up up
CBBCCACB also got a bit of use until I got bored with the game. Would have probably been more fun had I actually had a manual with what the parts did.

mossy's discussion also brings to mind the likes of sally shears, glittering prizes, and later, the infamous disco. Or guile and... racerx?
To rights I should have more than just techno burned into my memory, since I did put in a lot of miles on the carrot ship and even the worms clone. But the only other tidbit coming to mind is the alt+254 character and in retrospect, I can't say for sure that wasn't Raptor or SC2k
Speaking of flying and shooting things and cities and places... WE'LL TRYYY TO KILL IT WITH THE FORKLIFT! ... yeh. Those were good times. I actually remember once writing Ambrosia after finding out generally how to trigger the War Games speech clip and alternate intro but not being able to pin either down 100% specifically. But their policy forbid saying anything even about known easter eggs.

menace690 wrote:


Heh. Am I in a very tiny minority that can beat both the Arcade and NES versions of Contra on a single life? :o

I've certainly never seen anyone do it!

menace690 wrote:


Stage 1, 2, 4: Laser
Stage 3: Spread
Stage 5: Machine Gun/Laser
Stage 6: Laser
Stage 7: Spread

For the NES version, use those powerups and if you're really good about getting to the invincibility powerup in Stage 6 and quickly running through the moving spike areas, you're home free. Stage 7 really needs the Spread powerup. Laser can kill faster, but Spread gives you the protection net you need to fight on multiple sides and at the Heart.

For the Arcade, the Laser can get you through the entire game if you're good with the dodging in the second half of Stage 4.

It's been years since I played Contra (either version), so I'd have to relearn the exact enemy/hazards patterns, but I used to have crowds behind me watching me beat Contra at the arcades. Of course, that was 22 years ago...ah, the memories of the Astro Fun Center in Imperial Beach, CA.