Why did this happen to me?

Because they set the level select screen as the error handler.

 

Actually I don't want to open another topic, because my question is a bit different.

So, when I was a little child, I used to play Sonic 1. Sure I never knew what the debug code was and I even didn't know, what it meant.
Well, I was on the title screen, I always took the cartridge a 'bit' out and put it in again. This was leading me to an illegal instruction error. So I figured out getting rid of it by pressing C all the time - which didn't work on all illegal instrucions I made. So when the title screen was moving again, it started automacially the game with... debug mode turned on!

How and why did this happen? =P

 

I remember being 10 or something and getting really frustrated with one of 3D blast's bosses. Wound up punching the Genesis and lo and behold "You have reached the super secret level select" or whatever popped up. It was a nice way to help calm me down. I haven't seen that screen since, the BARRACUDA code doesn't display the message.

 

After I first bought the game, it went straight to the level select screen. I didn't even bump my Genesis, but I did get the game used. I think it's awesome that the error trap is the level select screen, though after I picked a level the game locked up...

 

If you force the emulator to load any other game savestate you will able to do the same effect as "hit the Genesis".

 

oh man! Cart tipping memories as a kid. I was always curious why 3D blast acted the way it did. I guess you learn something new every day, huh?

 

I had an extremely fucked up and worn out copy of 3D Blast and it would almost always send me to the level select screen. Of course it might have been because the Genesis I was using was dying. I can't really remember as it was a long time ago.

 

I actually figured it out by mistake. I thought it froze so I was going to pull it out, but when I touched it "WELCOME TO THE LEVEL SELECT" then when I selected Green Grove, all the graphics were glitchy.

 

Oh, wow, that's cool. The "You found the secret level select" music is the same as the "No Way!" music from s&k.

 

I had more fun screwing up the music on Sonic Spinball via the cartridge partial pull method. The tracks would get out of sync and it sounded like a cool but quirky remix. I especially liked the odd remix of the options screen.

 

Since reading this I've tried the cart tipping and still haven't come across the Level Select. I can still access it the traditional way through the button combo, but for some reason my Genesis will not comply.

Who among us HASN'T pulled the cartridge while in Music Select and replaced it with a different cart, completely remixing the track or turning it into a noisy mess of "clungggggggggggggggggg" and "beep! beep! beep!".

 

I just tested this for myself with my Genesis + 32X and it actually worked after 3 or 4 times. Interesting...does anyone know of any other Genesis games that do this?

I recall unlocking the level select screen a few times in Jurassic Park on accident (internet didn't exist then so I didn't know there was actually a code) and that was very awesome, considering Jurassic Park is one of the shittiest and hardest games I ever owned.

 

AAAHHH HELL YES! I always wondered how this worked, I remember the flicking the cart technique being used many a time.
Are there any other MD/Genesis games that have a similar effect?

 

Me, as well. I started playing Sonic on my brother's Genesis, and was always respectful of the game carts.

I did once trigger the S3D level select by accident, though. We would often play using third party controllers, and they're pretty cheap so they have really short cords. It's not difficult to accidentally tug the system, then, when moving the controller around.

'WELCOME TO THE SECRET LEVEL SELECT!'

'WTF? What'd I do?'

It was enough to make one begin to believe in voodoo and poltergeists. =P

 

I've triggered 3D Blast's level select by accident on a few occasions. It's cool to know the reason, I guess.

Now if only I could figure out the significance of the word "BARACUDA..."

 

Maybe the developers were big Heart fans?