What was the first cheat you knew?

[taylorknoxx]

Don’t worry I shall kick off this entry with mine, which will not be Contra as that would be too weak to initiate any thread or life as its usage much like Nintendo’s Mario has been whored out and then whored out a little more . Well going back when men were men, women were sassy controllers of men and the mega-drive was in full fully awesomeness I had revenge of Shinobi. Although I was totally mint at said game and could play blindfolded, facing away from the T.V, with my elbows whilst eating pudding. My life changed when I found out about the double 0 sound test cheat which was just leave 00 on the sound test and it becomes a symbol for infinity, amazingly infinite shuriken’s of course I used it as Olympic athletes use steroids as “performance enhancers” and never looked back since. In terms of code I’ve forgotten it now but I’m sure if I was to sit down in front of the Sonic: the hedgehog I could probably punch in the code rain-man style to the delight of surrounding Las Vegas goers.

[Dreamcast]

Don’t worry I shall kick off this entry with mine, which will not be Contra as that would be too weak to initiate any thread or life as its usage much like Nintendo’s Mario has been whored out and then whored out a little more . Well going back when men were men, women were sassy controllers of men and the mega-drive was in full fully awesomeness I had revenge of Shinobi. Although I was totally mint at said game and could play blindfolded, facing away from the T.V, with my elbows whilst eating pudding. My life changed when I found out about the double 0 sound test cheat which was just leave 00 on the sound test and it becomes a symbol for infinity, amazingly infinite shuriken’s of course I used it as Olympic athletes use steroids as “performance enhancers” and never looked back since. In terms of code I’ve forgotten it now but I’m sure if I was to sit down in front of the Sonic: the hedgehog I could probably punch in the code rain-man style to the delight of surrounding Las Vegas goers.

I believe it was twisted metal 2 when I was 5 or something like that. Hold down R2 and L2 and press up down left right right left down up.


If I'm wrong, I will update my first cheat I ever used.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

At some point I discovered the fairly well-known Space Invaders 2600 two-shots trick where you start your game while holding down the select switch. I guess that would be the first cheat I ever used.

I also used to play Pitfall! backwards, running from right to left, which makes most screens easier. I guess that's more of a sneaky tactic than a cheat, though.


...word is bondage...

[DigitalSpace]

Hmm, I think that Hard Drivin' fanboy (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109922) is back.

Anyways, if it counts, mine would be the warp zones in SMB 1.

Otherwise, it was most likely the Konami code, though I can't remember where I used it first.

[diskoboy]

Mine was the learning the code for fighting Mike Tyson in Punch Out, long before I bought the game for myself.

007-373-5963

Still remember it, even though I haven't played the game in almost a decade.

[j_factor]

I think it was Keith Courage, level select cheat. If I recall correctly, you hold down all four buttons and press up on the d-pad 8 times.

[Cornelius]

I also used to play Pitfall! backwards, running from right to left, which makes most screens easier. I guess that's more of a sneaky tactic than a cheat, though.


...word is bondage...
This is actually a strategy/tip recommended by David Crane, designer of Pitfall.

My first would be stealing extra guys from the other player in Bubble Bobble (press start or select, I forget). Not sure if that counts, though. If not that, then it would indeed be the Konami code used on Contra (which I always have and probably always will suck at).

[Hwj_Chim]

IDKFA and IDDQD from DOOM!

[Mr. Smashy]

I'm guessing that it was the "hold A, press start" continue trick on Super Mario Bros. for the NES.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Probably the ColecoVision version of PITFALL, if you moved towards a wall then timed it so you turned around away from the wall and you did it just right you would notice slowly a ticking sound would begin, I realized that
very slowly my man was being pulled towards the wall to the point that eventually he would get pulled right through to the other side of the wall!
Also if I remember correctly this only worked in one direction and it was definitely a glitch because I could repeat it at will and I showed others, it took a few tries sometimes but since then I have been fascinated with game tricks, glitches, cheats etc................

[xaer0knight]

i think it was Mega Man 1.. well it was more of a sneaky attack. (worked against certain bosses in Wiley's Castle in Mega Man 2)

Push Pause repeatedly when your bullet hit your the enemy.. Causing the bullet to hit multiple times :-D

(Rygar had a lot of exploits/glitches too)

[Leo_A]

I never knew things like the 2 shots in Space Invaders trick until recent years. I think my earliest ones were the BARRY cheat for The Lion King on the SuperNes to gain access to invincibility, level select, etc. And hitting the finish line tower just right in Top Gear to be bounced back to finish 1st and 2nd.

[Dreamc@sting]

I believe the first cheat code I knew and that will always be embedded in my brain will be from Aladdin on the Genesis, A, B, B, A, A, B, B, A, A, B, B, A!!! w00p skip to next level

[FrakAttack]

The Galaga arcade "no shooting" trick.

[Bigjobs]

In terms of code I’ve forgotten it now but I’m sure if I was to sit down in front of the Sonic: the hedgehog I could probably punch in the code rain-man style to the delight of surrounding Las Vegas goers.

Up, C, Down, C, Left, C, Right, C, Hold A, Start for the debug. Replace C with A and you've got your level code. I haven't played Sonic in years, but that sequence is etched in my brain even deeper than the Konami code...

Oh yeah...Also Vectorman on the Genny. I remember thinking they were so clever because they spelled out phrases. C-A-L-L-A-C-A-B or A-B-R-A-C-A-D-A-B-R-A.

ABACABB...BLEED, KANO BLEED!

[Trevelyan]

ditto sonic, you held A and then it was up, down, left, right, then hit start or something like that. I remember the one mentioned above too!

[Sniderman]

Activision Decathlon for Atari 2600 - Pole Vault event. After you release the pole, you'll "fly" if you tap the button. (All you're doing is jumping over and over again - so you'll continue to rise without "arcing over" until you want it to.) I stumbled across this glitch on my own and never shared it with my friends. They thought I was some sort of pole vault god or something.

[digitpress Jim]

I would have to say some of my first codes where back in the day, the classic Sonic the Hedgehog code as mentioned above and also the infamous ABACAB Mortal Kombat blood code on Genesis. Oh and how could I almost forget, after watching The Wizard I used those cheats from Super Mario Bros. 3 to find some of the warp whistles...god I love those games and the movie The Wizard =)

Digitpress Jim

[Dastardly Dylan]

hmm..i think the first cheat i ever knew was in Contra..the 30 lives cheat.

[RASTAN]

First cheat code I knew was IKARI's A, B, B, A, START command to continue that ridiculously long and difficult game (due to slow movement and bad hit detection no less) for the Famicom/NES. Second cheat of course would be the 30 Lives trick for CONTRA.

[bust3dstr8]

The Konami code for Gradius.

[diskoboy]

Actually, I stand corrected....

My first "cheat" was figuring out that every time you fired in the VCS version of Defender, your ship would disappear, the quickly reappear. You could fly through all the enemy ships. So, basically, if you fired fast as hell, you could basically live forever.

And someone brought up "the great rainbow" from Space Invaders.... I've been gaming for 30 years now, and I didn't find out about that until around 1999, when I discovered it completely by accident.

[Kejoriv]

↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

[mills]

First cheat code I knew was IKARI's A, B, B, A, START command to continue that ridiculously long and difficult game (due to slow movement and bad hit detection no less) for the Famicom/NES. Second cheat of course would be the 30 Lives trick for CONTRA.

This was also my first code, except it was simply A B B A, start was not necessary. Another fun fact, you could use the code anywhere EXCEPT for the last boss X(.

[retroman]

i would have to say Super Mario Bros, and the warp zones. or the Metroid code Justin Bailey.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[pugmagician]

The first code I remeber using that was built into a game was Doom for the PC
IDDQD and IDKFA, used the NES and Gameboy game genies way before that though

[Sanriostar]

I think it was the Hiding Spot in Pac-Man, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

[Ajax]

First cheat I can remmember is the $999999 cheat for sim city (SNES version)

you have to hold on the L or R when taxes come in, then lower everything to 0, then go back into the tax window, put them all at 100 again then release the L or r presto you are stinking richo.

[crazyjackcsa]

19 65 9 17 which would be the level select code for Sonic 2.

And if that's wrong... I guess I don't know it anymore.

That was the first that came to mind. I can still here the music in the sound test mode. DULLARD is the other one from Mortal Kombat. Pretty cool thread, brings up some memories.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[NeoZeedeater]

2600 Space Invaders double shot might have been my first.

[darkhades]

I guess my first cheat would be the unlimited 1-up trick in Super Mario Bros. Thank you Nintendo Power.

[taylorknoxx]

[Not the first one but a glitch/cheat I discovered and have not seen on the net was on GTA (the original game). Required for my spectacular find, is a wanted level and a rocket launcher whilst in san andreas. Go to sunview to the far right where there are two bridges crossing over to market. Go to the bridge that has the hotel with a swimming pool just to its right and next to the bridge is a little sandy beach area. Just wait there with the cops who don’t come down the stairs but run back and forward shooting above you, face the hotel then spin to face the bridge. Eventually a cop car should appear which gets stuck in the corner between the bridge and the road next to you and just fire a rocket into the corner. What starts is this infinite explosion and the points/cash hits 999999999999999 or whatever the max is as far as I was concerned it read “you rock your title as King of Kool is official, stand outside and rejoice in your greatness and forget the huge loss you suffered at worms by the chap you thought was your best friend”.

[Mobius]

Either the A+Start continue in Super Mario Bros., or the Konami Code in Contra. I forget which came first. Either way, I'm not very original. :(

Around that time, I also learned a code for Rad Racer to skip to the ending, and a glitched password for Rambo that took you to a tiny area you couldn't leave and made you invisible.

[GnawRadar]

First cheat would be for Aladdin on the Sega Genesis...press start and on the pause screen hit A B B A A B B A and you automatically complete the level.

[kataboom]

my first "cheat" was the invisible dot in the atari 2600 adventure game. it was hidden in the dark maze, you grab it, take it to the beginning & you can walk through a wall to see some game credits.

[PentiumMMX]

Some of Diddy Kong Racing's Magic Codes, like JOINTVENTURE, OFFROAD, TIMETOLOSE, and BLABBERMOUTH. Such a special game to me...

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

This is indeed a great thread. It blows me away how young some of you guys are (or how old I am, I guess). Twisted Metal 2? Diddy Kong Racing? Jeez...


I guess my first cheat would be the unlimited 1-up trick in Super Mario Bros. Thank you Nintendo Power.
I'm not sure if it appeared in Nintendo Power first or not, but I remember my friends and I learned about that trick from some prime time TV special about the Nintendo phenomenon, maybe around '87 or '88. One of my friends got his parents to record the show on their VCR and we would watch that section over and over again trying to figure out how to do it. We never could. To this day I still can't do it. It's odd, I'm very good at SMB otherwise, but there's something about the timing of that trick, I just can't get. In fact, I can rarely get more than two or three hops. There was *ONE* time I managed to get going on it and got 15 or 20 lives before missing a jump.

[gooberjones]

Not my first code, but one of my most complicated ones. Debug mode for Star Wars: SOTE on N64 was " Enter name as <space>Wampa<space><space>Stompa then pause the game and hold L,R,Z,Left on the D-pad, and all the C buttons. With them held, move the control stick halfway to the left until you hear a tone, then halfway to the right until you hear a tone, then left, then right, then left one more time and voila!! And it only took both hands for the buttons and your face to move the control stick!

[m117]

down, R, up, L, y, b. I had owned street fighter II for over 2 years before a friend put me on to what I thought was a breakthrough. Not only was it one of the first codes I ever knew, but it allowed the amazing feat of playing Street Fighter II in 2 player versus mode with the same character, or even allowing a variation of the fighters' costume colors. Classic stuff.

[CreamSoda]

The first code I commited to memory...

X, Square, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle

That is the code for the Suburbia level in the original Twisted Metal. :)

The first "code" or "cheat" I used was the warps in Super Mario Brothers though.

[Fuyukaze]

Ikari Warriors 1 and 2.
A, B, B, A, Start

Worked like a charm till the end.

[rbudrick]

Mine was the learning the code for fighting Mike Tyson in Punch Out, long before I bought the game for myself.

007-373-5963

Still remember it, even though I haven't played the game in almost a decade.


It's funny you mention this Mike Tyson code. To this day I can still punch in this Mike Tyson code in 5 seconds with my eyes closed due to the musical tones it lets out when you enter numbers. I will play the game every 3 or 4 years and still test this out.

While I can't remember my first cheat, which must have been in the 2600 days or so, I remember that cheat codes that were deliberately programmed into games didn't dawn on me until the Nintendo Fun Club News issues first came out (this later became Nintendo Power, of course).

Cheats back then amazed me. They just seemed like the coolest secrets EVER! Plus, w/o internet back then, they were only available in magazines and such, so they were few and far apart back then. I used to love to read the chet codes section of magazines just to see what cool cheats were available, even for games I had never played. Those section were always so short!

-Rob

[boatofcar]

007 373 5963

I once accidentally gave this out as my social security number. I didn't catch it until the lady told me I gave her too many numbers.

I remember reading about it in Boy's Life magazine and calling my best friend hysterically to let her know how to get to Tyson.

[Vroomfunkel]

Hmm, not sure - had a load of games on the BBC Micro that had been hacked so you could choose how many lives you wanted and which level you wanted to start on (Chuckie Egg, Mr. Ee! etc) - but not sure that counts.

Otherwise, probably Sim City (Amiga) - pause and type in "Funds" for a quick $10,000. Do it too many times and you get an earthquake though! But if you haven't built anything yet, that's fine ...

Or possibly James Pond on the Archimedes - pause and type "Ywngie J Malmsteen" to get infinite lives. Or something like that.

After that, Sonic the Hedgehog .. up down left right, A+start. Happy days!

[dcescott]

Reading some of these, and I didn't know about Keith Courage's trick. I played through and beaten the game when I got my TG-16. Those were the days before the internet or when Al Gore finally realized the net's potential. Genius.

Trick? Using a turbo dpad to break all the records in Track and Field. All except the archery and skeet shooting contest, pure skill

[parker619]

up down left right hold a and press start

the famous sonic 1 cheat would probably be the first cheat i knew:D

[jb143]

I had to think of this for a while but outside of all the Super Mario Brother's ones I'd say it was getting to the second quest in the Legend of Zelda by entering your name as ZELDA. Does that count as a cheat?

[Dire 51]

The "rebuild the bridge instantly" trick in Superman (2600).

[Gapporin]

The first cheat I learned was the "Up + 1 + 2" code for the Sega Master System. A lot of different SMS games used that (or a variation of it, like Up + 1) as a code. The most well-known example is probably the way to access the Snail Maze game on SMS consoles with an earlier version of the BIOS. But it also worked for After Burner (more continues), Zillion II (again, more continues) and others. It got to the point where I was just pressing Up + 1 + 2 on every game I played just to see if anything good would happen.

I probably also exploited the Zillion "infinite health" glitch back then as well.

[Nebagram]

WE5T 0NE0 0000 0000. God I had fun with that one. :)

[fairyland]

Food Fight for the Arcade, there was something on the one in my arcade that would allow free games. I forgot how it was done as I would just press both 1P and 2P buttons and jiggle the joystick until I got a free game.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[8bitgamer]

I used to "cheat" at the arcade Asteroids by leaving one rock floating, then flying up the screen and shooting saucers that would appear every couple of seconds. It was easy to rack up high scores and tons of extra lives that way.

That particular strategy was part of the reason Atari came up with Asteroids Deluxe.

[YoshiM]

I think my first cheat (that I attempted) was the Galaga no enemies firing trick. I read about it in an issue of Joystik magazine-basically shoot all the bad guys but leave two bees from either bottom corner. Wait about 20 minutes and the bees will stop shooting then for the rest of the game the enemies won't shoot. I never did get the cheat to work-I basically ran out of time as my parents were leaving.

After that it was the Konami code for either Contra or Life Force (I can't remember which I use the code for first).

[Half Cab Leroy]

The first code that I remember using was the level select code for Sonic 1 on the Genesis.

[Leo_A]

This is indeed a great thread. It blows me away how young some of you guys are (or how old I am, I guess). Twisted Metal 2? Diddy Kong Racing? Jeez...


I'm not sure if it appeared in Nintendo Power first or not, but I remember my friends and I learned about that trick from some prime time TV special about the Nintendo phenomenon, maybe around '87 or '88. One of my friends got his parents to record the show on their VCR and we would watch that section over and over again trying to figure out how to do it. We never could. To this day I still can't do it. It's odd, I'm very good at SMB otherwise, but there's something about the timing of that trick, I just can't get. In fact, I can rarely get more than two or three hops. There was *ONE* time I managed to get going on it and got 15 or 20 lives before missing a jump.

Its not necessarily age. Not everyone had subscriptions to gaming magazines growing up. It wasn't until I first went online in 1998 or so that I had access to this information, so I was unaware of cheats in games besides Game Genie codes and a few things I managed to stumble across on my own. I'm sure I'm not the only one here.

[Three-P]

The old Konami code on Gradius. (Worked on a couple other Konami games, too.)

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, B, A.

The Ikari Warriors continue code was a close second. All you gotta do is enter the name of one of the cheesiest bands, ever after losing your last life. It also worked on Ikari Warriors II-Victory Road. A guilty pleasure of mine.
(ABBA-A, B, B, A. Get it?)

[SeverThe7th]

IDKFA and IDDQD from DOOM!

seconded, or thirded (in case anyone else has co-signed)

[Goblin]

Miner 2049er for the Atari 800
213-782-6861 <-Big Five Software's phone number

[smokehouse]

The generic Konami code used on Contra...

At first I did not know it was a Konami only code so for a few months or so I tried it on every game I played...:)

Hey...I was a kid in 5th grade...I was just a gaming newb at the time...

[Haoie]

Ah, I like this topic.

My very first cheat, and my memory is hazy on this, was probably that for invincibility in Commander Keen 2.

Man, that was way back in 1992 or something when I first learnt of it. It seems like an eternity ago.

[smokehouse]

Ah, I like this topic.

My very first cheat, and my memory is hazy on this, was probably that for invincibility in Commander Keen 2.

Man, that was way back in 1992 or something when I first learnt of it. It seems like an eternity ago.

Holy crap..Commander Keen...I haven't thought about that game in years...

[Cornelius]

Commander Keen was totally ... keen. Great games.

[Sothy]

A friend showed me how to use that staircase in super mario bros to keep hitting the turtle shell and get a crazy number of lives.

Second was probably the konami codes.