Cheats have been a part of video games since at least 1983, when developer Matthew Smith added a secret code based on his driver's license number to Manic Miner. As the medium grew mo𝓡re popular, and games more complex, more programmers would add cheats to their games, either to make playtesting easier for themselves or as intentional Easter eggs that players were meant to find.

By the end of the '80s, cheat codes were common enough that gaming magazines like Nintendo Power dedicated coverage to them. Of course, rumors about codes that didn't actually exist also began to fly, a phenomenon that persists to this day.

8 🔥 The Konami Code 💃

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start

We all know the Konami Code is very real. It's left an indelible mark on gaming culture. Also known as the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Contra Code since that was the first game that many players discovered it in, the Konami Code's actual debut came with Gradius, which had released the previous year. In Gradius, it granted a fully-upgraded ship, while in Contra it gave you thirty lives to start with instead of just three. Both were indispensable in surviving their respective games' merciless shoot-em-up levels.

The Konami Code has become so famous that it has been added to games not published by Konami, as well as non-gaming tools including the likes of Google. Of course, that means that you might feel inclined to try the Konami Code in every new game you play. Sure, it probably won't work, but what if it does?

7 L Is Real

Super Mario 64

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario 64 is one of the most-played games of all time, thanks to its initial popularity, remakes, and one of the largest dedicated speedrunning communities in the world. Unlike the previous mainline Mario titles, Mario 64 didn't have a two-player mode that allowed players to alternate attempti🎃ng levels, with Player 2 taking the role of Luigi.

While he was added to the Nintendo DS remake, the taller of the Mario Brothers is nowhere to be found in the original version of Super Mario 64. That didn't stop players from theorizing that he was just very, very well-hidden. Their proof? A smudgy, illegible plaque in Peach's Castle that sort of looks like it maybe reads "L Is Real 2401" if you squint. As , this theory has been fully debunked.

6 🦄 Aliens And UFOs

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Each new 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Grand Theft Auto game is filled with secrets waiting to be discovered in its massive open world. With so much detail and Rockstar Games' penchant for mischief, it's easy to get caught up in virtual conspiracy theories about sasquatches, serial killers, and, of course, aliens.

Mysterious lights can be seen in the sky sometimes during CJ's adventures in and around Los Santos, and some NPCs even talk about alien encounters. As it turns out, though, nothing in the game's code will cause a flying saucer to appear, much less allow you to drive one. The strange lights and oddball NPCs are just part of the game's overall parody of California culture.

5 🦂 B𒁏ring Back Aerith

Final Fantasy 7

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Final Fantasy 7 was revolutionary in many ways, chief among them its shocking plot twist that killed off a beloved character. Nobody saw Aerith's death coming, and her demise is one of the most important moments in the history of video games.

Surely, players thought at the time, there must be a way to revive her. After all, the game wouldn't let you max out her level or learn her unbelievably powerful Limit Break, Great Gospel if it was just going to take her away... right?

Lesser games might have let you reverse Aerith's fate, but dealing with her loss is central to the core theme of the game. Once Sephiroth drops from the ceiling in that climactic encounter, the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:last of the Cetra returns to the Planet for good.

4 The Hidden💖 Triforce ও

The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

The Triforce is the source of ultimate power in the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Legend Of Zelda series. Divided into three parts, each governing the virtues of Wisdom, Courage, and Power, it has the po𒀰wer to g꧟rant wishes and reshape the world when assembled.

Unlike Link's previous journeys in Hyrule, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The Ocarina Of Time doesn't seem to feature the Triforce at all. Even the power-hungry Ganondorf doesn't seem to be after the artifact. This seemed strange to series fans way back in 1998, leading to speculation that there was some secret method to find it. There never was, but that didn't stop players from trying to hunt it down anyway.

3 The Nude Code ✃ܫ

Tomb Raider

Lara Croft could have used a lot of help from cheat codes on her first adventure; infinite ammo, maybe, or invulnerability. Instead - though perhaps predictably - players tried everything they could to hunt down a rumored code that would take off the adventurer's clothes.

While the so-called "Nude Code" wasn't real, and the buzz around it annoyed the game's creators, corporate suits saw dollar signs. Higher-ups at the publisher level leaned on series creator Paul Douglas to add unlockable n𒁏udity in sequelsဣ as a marketing tactic, which he thankfully refused to do.

2 🍌 Sheng Long

Street Fighter 2

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Street Fighter 2 took arcades by storm when it launched in 1991. It launched a genre and a thriving competitive scene all at once, and players couldn't get enough of beating one another silly.

One particular phrase in the game stood out to players eager to unlock a powerful new fighter. When Ryu defeated an opponent, he would tell them, "You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance." Who was Sheng Long? Was he Ryu's sensei? A hidden boss? Rumors flew about unlocking the mysterious martial artist.

As it turns out, Ryu's admonition was just a result of poor localization. His actual phrase in Japanese was something closer to, "You must overcome my Dragon Uppercut (Shoryuken) to stand a chance against me." Sheng Long loosely means "Dragon Uppercut" in Chinese, further proving that Ryu was just bragging about his powerful move.

1 Hold B

Pokemon

There are few moments of anticipation more intense than right after you throw a Poke Ball. It wiggles once... twice... an eternity passes. Will it shake a third time? With the Pokemon break free? If there's any time in gaming when you'd want a good luck charm, this is it.

What likely started as one lucky player sharing their "fool-proof" catch strategy online spawned a habit that persists even now that we know better. Holding down the B button (or hitting it repeatedly, depending on your tastes) doesn't do anything to affect Pokemon's , but it sure does feel good.