The internet lies: cheat code edition

What ones are you saying don't work?

 

Johnny Bazookatone has a "Debug Mode" string right next to its list of valid passwords. As far as I can tell, you can't actually activate it via password on the Saturn version (maybe on another of the ports?). If I had to guess, the intention was to use the same password as for cheat mode, but to give the extra feature if you put trailing spaces.

It lets you pick your level and shows your position when the game is paused.

 

OK, here's my favorite cheat code so far: debug mode for Shinobi Legions. 40 buttons!
https://32bits.substack.com/p/under-the-microscope-shinobi-legions

I tested it in the NTSC-U and PAL versions. I expect it works in the NTSC-J version as well.

 

Can't believe nobody guessed that one :-D

 

Welp I got the code in at least! If others have a better idea for how to present it in a sane way then be my guest. The actual feature set will have to wait for another day. I'm reminded of the Shinobi 3 mega drive codes which also involve setting specific options in the options menu.
Shinobi Legions/Hidden content - Sega Retro

 

OK, the situation with Gungriffon is confusing.

Retro has these, which are correct:

Code (Text):

1. Invincibility: Left, Right, B, C, C
2. Unlimited ammunition: B, B, B, C
3. Unlimited jumps: Up, Right, Down, Left, Z
4. Unlock all missions: Y, Y, A, Y, Y
5. No enemies on radar: B, B, B, Down, C
6. No targeting "rectangles": Left, Right, C, A
7. View ending: Down, Up, Right, A, Left
8. Change camera height: Down, Left, C, C

GameFAQs and ConsoleDB have a few others that are right:

Code (Text):

1. Increased difficulty: Down, C, C, A
2. Tackle/ramming attack: Right, Right, B, C, A
3. Double hit points: X, Y, Z, Up, Down
4. Turret lock / no auto centering: B, B, B, Up, C

The game also recognizes these - I haven't figured out what they do yet:

Code (Text):

1. Unknown 1: Left, Right, Right, B, C
2. Unknown 2: Left, Down, Right, Up, Z
3. Unknown 3: X, Z, Down, Left, A
4. Unknown 4: C, A, Up, X, Z

 

GameFAQs has some passwords for Criticom that don't work on Saturn: as far as I can tell, IIGS; EELJ; FENG; and CSLB don't do anything.

The TTAM password is right for viewing endings. The game also recognizes these on the Load/Save screen:

• GENF
• JELE
• IICS
• POWR

But I don't know what they do!

 

The Internet is right about the "Tantalus bike" cheat code for Manx TT Superbike:
https://xcancel.com/memory_fallen/status/1775515305181061202

But I think the game meant for the code to be longer. The Japanese version (and presumably the others) is reading from the list of buttons at 0606cd54:


Each time you put one in correctly, the counter at 0606cd4c goes up. If you mess up, it resets to 0. You get a sound effect if you make it to 8.

However, later when the game goes to see which bike to select, it only checks to see whether 0606cd4c is nonzero!

 

It's the inverse of the sheep code which would make sense as an additional code.

EDIT - alas, doesn't work on the PC version. There doesn't appear to be any way to get the Tantalus bike on PC. The only code I ever got to work was the sheep code, plus I discovered a command line to get the super bikes unlocked.

 

Here's a new one: Hold A+Start while beginning a race in Gale Racer to change your rearview mirror ornament to Flicky:
https://32bits.substack.com/p/bonus-more-sonic-in-gale-racer

 

You mean A+B+Start.

 

Whoops, messed up my own code!

 

Here are 60 (!) cheat codes for Solar Eclipse / Titan Wars:
https://32bits.substack.com/p/under-the-microscope-solar-eclipse

I tested all the bonus stage ones, and the normal stage ones all seem to work as expected. I couldn't figure out some of the powerup ones, and there seem to be two for the credits?

 

A lot spell out words relevant to the code, maybe we can use that to make some educated guesses? I'll add it to the 'for studying' list. You're too fast @Bo102010 , I hoped to have figured out what was going on with Deep Fear by now, and added detail to Shinobi. I have done neither of those things, and here's 60 more! :-D

EDIT - for the record, here are the words for the non level warps

1. RASCAL
2. RALLY
3. DRACULA
4. BULLY
5. BUSY
6. SALAD
7. BALL (Guide-able weapons)
8. LADY (Tracking weapons)
9. DUD (Detonating weapons)
10. SCUD
11. ALL
12. BUDDY (9 lives)
13. RAZZ

And for the two 'videos' ones

25. DUC ALL
26. DUC BAD (is there a bad ending?)

 

Danthrax from Sega Saturn Shiro pointed out a few helpful resources:
https://www.absolutcheats.com/sat/solar-eclipse-cheats
https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3122-tips-tricks-issue-024-february-1997/

"Rally Mode" for example - I put in the code but couldn't tell what it did (like Black Squirrel, I don't know the game well). But this says "Your ship will have rapid acceleration, and can decelerate until it hovers in place."

 

Here's one where the code's effect was known, but not the code itself:
https://xcancel.com/memory_fallen/status/1779136372793548889