Three of the Most Ridiculously Complicated Cheats in N64 History
Plus: LEGO scoops a Marvel character's movie look again
We’re all about starting new, ongoing series here at Power Action! Last week, we started one that takes a single pop-cultural artifact and unearths its surprisingly vital place in nerd history. This week, we’re heading back to the video game arena for a look at four of the most complicated cheats in the history of the Nintendo 64 console.
So, how does one define “complicated,” in this context? Well, we’re not looking at glitches that are difficult to exploit—or anything that requires a third-party device or hack. This is about using a standard console controller to make some magic happen, whether it’s an unreasonably complicated button combo or a code you never would have guessed yourself. We begin with everyone’s favorite Mesozoic animal hunter:
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (1997)
Ah, Turok. This stunning first-person shooter had a pretty standard cheat menu, but with a fun gimmick: Codes were comprised of smug phrases with the vowels removed. Infinite lives, for example, were obtained with FRTHSTHTTRLSCK (or For Those That Truly Suck) Invincibility? RLMNDNTCHT (Real Men Don't Cheat).
Then there was "The Big Cheat" (All Weapons, Unlimited Ammo, Invincibility, Spirit Mode, Unlimited Lives, Full Map, Big Head Mode, and Warps). That code: NTHGTHDGDCRTDTRK, or On the Eighth Day God Created Turok. Entering that thing correctly was already tedious; if you only had the code, not the explanation, try committing that one to memory.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (1996)
Oh, boy. Debug Mode can be tons of fun, but I often wondered if it was worth it about halfway through this one.
First, you have to start a new game in the Medium difficulty mode and enter the name "_Wampa__Stompa" (with one space before the first word, and two before the second). Now, start any level and pause. Press and hold C-Up + C-Right + C-Down + C-Left + L + R + Z + D-Pad Left. While holding those, move and hold the control stick halfway left until you hear the sound effect. After that (still holding those buttons), move and hold the control stick halfway to the right until the sound effect returns. Back halfway to the left again, then the right again, and then the left again. The debug text should now appear.
GoldenEye (1997)
OK, to get invincibility, you could just beat the Facility level on 00 Agent in 2:05 or under. For many of us, that’s a heavy lift, so might as well try this insane alternate method instead:
Press start at any point during the game. And when you utilize this cheat, remember that a “+” denotes it being part of a combo, meaning you need to press and hold each in the sequence until you get that next comma. Also, you can’t be slow about it. Obviously, it takes a minute to get a feel for it, but here’s the invincibility cheat: “L Button + Down, R Button + C-Right, R Button + C-Up, L Button + Right, L Button + C-Down, R Button + C-Up, L Button + Right, R Button + Down, L Button + Left, L Button + R Button + C-Right.”
Whew.
By the way, the list above isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia. The highly popular Nintendo 64 controller made for Nintendo Switch will be in stock again this year, and the three games above are all in demand for the console’s Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service. Perhaps, one day soon, we can input these tedious cheats again.
Before we move on, though, might as well watch someone beat Facility in record time real quick:
One more thing for this week: Toys often provide the first official looks at new characters and even plot points in superhero films, and Thor: Love and Thunder is no different. This set was part of a LEGO preview this week:
The biggest reveal: the look for Christian Bale's villainous Gorr the God Butcher. Here’s an even closer look, as well as a comic panel for comparison:
Pretty cool, but I think we’re also ignoring another big reveal on these toys. Two words: Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder.
Google those guys to get really pumped for this one, folks.