Konami Code Explained

The Konami Code (Japanese: コナミコマンド, Konami Komando, "Konami command"), also commonly referred to as the Contra Code and sometimes the 30 Lives Code, is a cheat code that appears in many Konami video games,^[1] as well as some non-Konami games.^[2]

The code has also found a place in popular culture as a reference to the third generation of video game consoles,^[3] and is present as an Easter egg on a number of websites.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

Sequence

In the original code, the player has to press the following sequence of buttons on the game controller to enable a cheat or other effects:

sometimes and is added to the sequence.

History

The Konami Code was first used in the release of Gradius (1986), a scrolling shooter for the NES^[10] and was popularized among North American players in the NES version of Contra. The code is also known as the "Contra Code" and "30 Lives Code", since the code provided the player 30 extra lives in Contra. The code has been used to help novice players progress through the game.^{[11] [12]}

The Konami Code was created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto, who was developing the home port of the 1985 arcade game Gradius for the NES. Finding the game too difficult to play through during testing, he created the cheat code, which gives the player a full set of power-ups (normally attained gradually throughout the game).^[2] After entering the sequence using the controller when the game was paused the player received all available power-ups. The code was meant to be removed prior to publishing, but this was overlooked and only discovered as the game was being prepared for mass production. The developers decided to leave it there, as removing it could result in new bugs and glitches. The sequence was easy enough to remember for testers and simultaneously sufficiently hard to enter accidentally during the gameplay for unsuspecting users.

The Konami Code was thus included in the series' other sequels and spin-offs, with some key differences. The code has been subsequently re-used in a large number of other games and other computer programs.

Examples in video games

Tetris (Tengen version for Nintendo Entertainment System): Entering this code while paused will change the current Tetromino into the I piece, also called a longbar. This can be done only once per new game.^[13]

Tokimeki Memorial

Entering the code allows the player to unlock special features in the game and also extra power ups in the Twin Bee mini game. Similar cheats are applied to other games in the series.^[14]

(Nintendo 64): A Konami code variant was discovered in the game in 2024. The code unlocks all four characters, their outfits, and a hard difficulty mode.^[15]

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Falsebound Kingdom (GameCube): The Konami code can be used during any map to gain gold. This will also trigger hidden dialog of a man shouting Yu-Gi-Oh.^[16]

The Incredibles (THQ and Heavy Iron Studios, Windows, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation 2): Inputting the code into the cheats keyboard "UUDDLRLRBAS" gives the player 25% health, and can be used an unlimited number of times.^[17]

(PlayStation 2): Entering the code during vid-comic play, will dress Qwark up in a pink tutu. In the PlayStation 3 version, whether by accident or design, two debug codes were left in the game by the developers.^[18]

LittleBigPlanet 2 (Media Molecule, PlayStation 3): When entered in the unused arcade machine at the level "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Negativatron" (PlayStation 3 variation of the code), the machine explodes and unveils a square with the numbers "3733 5683", which on a mobile keypad, spell the phrase "free love".^[19]

(Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS): Inputting the code on the title screen results in an animated looping clip of an 8-bit recreation of Adventure Time's creator, Pendleton Ward dancing. To the left of Ward is an 8-bit version of Jake, and to the right, an 8-bit version of Finn.^[20]

BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch): A variation of the Konami Code at the game's menus unlocks the game's more difficult "1999 Mode" from the start.^[21]

Code entry unlocks Revengeance and Very Hard difficulties without passing the game on Hard difficulty.^[22]

Sportsfriends (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4): The code allows to play FLOP, a wiggly variant of Pong. A similar code accesses the hidden game Get on Top.^[23]

Dead by Daylight (Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch): When the code is entered while having one of the Silent Hill characters equipped on the main menu, the game plays a jingle from Gradius and grants the player a charm that can be equipped by characters.^[24]

Fortnite Battle Royale (Windows, MacOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Mobile): The Konami code was used to access the Fortnite Durr Burger minigame at the black hole screen after the end of the Chapter 1 Season X event.^[25] It was only available for a period of 38 hours starting from 7:00pm UTC on October 13, 2019 and was no longer accessible on the start of Fortnite: Chapter 2.

Tetris Effect

Entering the code at the launch screen enables a second screen accepting a code. Inputting the number "06061984" (representing June 6, 1984, the "birth date" of Tetris) will then unlock the "1984" level.^[26]

Anno 1800 (Ubisoft Blue Byte, Windows): Entering the code within the gameworld spawns hundreds of random animals flying through the air and chaotically bouncing off the terrain.^[27]

This spiritual sequel to Castlevania developed by Koji Igarashi lets players enter a "1986 Mode", which makes the game's controls more similar to the more-difficult Castlevania series, by entering the Konami Code at a menu screen.^[28]

Ultrakill (Windows): Unlocks a cheat menu, with cheats bound to keyboard commands.^[29]

Insaniquarium Deluxe (Windows, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, mobile phone, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, PDA): Entering the code in the main menu unlocks the secret "Sandbox Mode".^[30]

Examples outside of video games

• Entering a version of the Konami code in the Opera Browser in versions between 19 and 54 used to activate hidden advanced settings.^{[31] [32]}
• A variation of the Konami code is used to reset the Netflix program on some devices.^{[33] [34]}
• Entering the code on the Overwatch website will make several icons of the in-game spray of the playable character D.Va appear along with her voice actor saying "up up down down left right left right b a start". In the lore of Overwatch, she is a gamer.^[35]
• Entering the code on any Discord Error 404 website will unlock a secret game of Snake.^[36]
• Entering the code on the 2016 Marks and Spencer Christmas food ordering site results in some festive creatures popping up.^[37]
• Entering the code on the Megaport website enables a Snake-like game which the user can play.^[38]
• Entering the Konami Code on the Bank of Canada's website for the commemorative $10 dollar bill plays a chiptune version of the Canadian national anthem and drops commemorative $10 notes.^[39]
• Entering the code on a Google Hangouts conversation and pressing enter used to change the background of the conversation typed in.^[40]
• Reciting the code to Google Assistant will cause it to say either "Cheat mode enabled.", or "You destroyed the Vile Red Falcon and saved the universe. Consider yourself a hero" with a trophy emoji or a similar response.^[41]
• Reciting the code to Apple's virtual assistant Siri will cause her to give one of three responses: "Cheater!", "Nerd." or "I'm getting dizzy...". The user will need to say "enter" instead of "start," as this will confuse Siri in thinking a timer is being set.^[42]
• Reciting the code to Amazon's Alexa will cause her to say: "Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding! Great job, you've secured all the power-ups!", "Sorry, so close, no power-ups for you." or "Super Alexa mode, activated. Starting reactors, online. Enabling advanced systems, online. Raising dongers. Error. Dongers missing. Aborting."^[43]
• Entering the code on the WWF-UK website will cause the panda logo to spin.^[44]
• Entering the code on the Twitch Creator's Dashboard brings up several advanced options for the program.^[45]
• At one point, the Facebook website contained an Easter Egg where after entering the Konami code, a lens flare would be generated whenever the user would scroll or click anywhere on the page.^[46]
• The Chromebook Pixel has an Easter egg where inputting the Konami Code would cause the lights on an LED strip on the lid of the computer to blink rapidly.^[47]
• The code was part of the secret URL for the Linus Tech Tips "Verified Gamer" program to counter the Great GPU Shortage.
• Within the Unreal Engine 5 demonstration program Valley of the Ancient, entering the Konami Code will cause the giant robot within it to dab.^[48]
• Typing upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart on some Palm/HP webOS devices enables developer mode.^[49]
• Three Fisher-Price toys, one modeled after a game controller, one modeled after a Game Boy, and one modeled after a Nintendo Switch (which show various lights and sounds when the buttons are pressed) present a special sequence of lights and sounds if the Konami code is entered.^[50]
• King Candy in the film Wreck-It Ralph uses the Konami code to access a locked portion of the code of Sugar Rush.^[3]
• Social media platform Twitter changed its logo from the then usual blue bird, to the Doge meme for a supposed late April Fools Day prank in 2023. Since then, if the Konami code is entered on the home page, the logo present in the top left corner will spin.^[51]

External links

• Video about the Konami Code from the G4 TV show Cheat!

Notes and References

1. April 2008 . The Cheater's Hall of Fame - The 'Konami Code': We Must Never Forget . . 63.
2. Web site: Cracking the Code: The Konami Code . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110522201923/http://www.1up.com/features/cracking-code-konami-code . 2011-05-22 . 2008-03-15 . 1UP.com.
3. Web site: Wreck-It Ralph . Tasha . Robinson . November 1, 2012 . November 19, 2012 . .
4. Web site: Fukuda . Miho . 2012-04-09 . 裏技、隠しメッセージ...イースターエッグってどんなものがある? . Tricks, hidden messages... What kind of Easter eggs are there? . 2020-04-08 . . ja.
5. News: Carvin . Andy . June 14, 2010 . Geek Trick of the Week: Newsweek Vs. The Zombies. . . All Tech Considered . June 14, 2010.
6. News: McWhertor . Michael . 2009-04-07 . The Konami Code Makes ESPN.com Magical! . .
7. Web site: Hoffman . Harrison . 2009-05-08 . Konami Code triggers Easter egg on Facebook too . CNET.
8. News: Moore . Matthew . September 17, 2009 . Google easter eggs: 15 best hidden jokes . . London . subscription.
9. Web site: Alan Turing Google Doodle Source Code. GitHub. 2012-07-02.
10. Web site: Garmon . Jay . 6 March 2007 . Geek Trivia: The cheat goes on . 2008-04-16 . TechRepublic.
11. Web site: Edwards . Benj . 2021-08-24 . What Is the Konami Code, and How Do You Use it? . 2022-01-14 . How-To Geek . en-US.
12. Web site: Silverberg. David. 2020-09-27. Cheat Codes Helped Turn the Most Devilishly Difficult Video Games Into Something Actually Beatable. 2022-01-14. Popular Mechanics. en-US.
13. Web site: Tetris (Tengen) Cheats For NES . 2023-06-06 . gamespot.com.
14. Web site: 2017-03-15 . Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You Cheats . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120119141940/https://www.ign.com/cheats/games/tokimeki-memorial-forever-with-you-ps-8884 . 2012-01-19 . 2017-07-05 . IGN.
15. Web site: Stanton . Rich . A Konami code variant in Castlevania has been discovered after a quarter of a century . . . 24 April 2024 . 22 April 2024.
16. Web site: Falsebound Kingdom Cheats. 2020-09-08. YuGiOh! World. 11 October 2015. en-US.
17. Web site: Scalzo . John . 2006-06-22 . The Incredibles Cheat Codes (GameCube) . 2018-03-22 . GamingTarget.
18. Web site: 2012-12-04 . Debug mode in UYA . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160313044807/http://www.insomniacgames.com/community/showthread.php?50471-Debug-mode-in-UYA . 2016-03-13 . 2016-03-12 . InsomniacGames.
19. Web site: 2017-03-07 . PS3 Cheats - LittleBigPlanet 2 Wiki Guides . 2018-08-11 . IGN.
20. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage? - Secret Screen . YouTube.
21. How To Unlock 1999 Mode In BioShock Infinite . https://web.archive.org/web/20130328034608/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/03/25/how-to-unlock-1999-mode-in-bioshock-infinite.aspx . dead . March 28, 2013 . Joe . Juba . 2013-03-24 . 2013-03-24 . .
22. Web site: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Guide Xbox — 360 Cheats . IGN . 2023-10-03.
23. Web site: McElroy . Griffin . 2014-05-07 . How to find Sportsfriends' two secret games . 2014-05-07 . Polygon.
24. Web site: Woodrick . Sam . 2020-06-16 . Dead by Daylight: How to Enter the Konami Code and Unlock the Vic Viper Charm . 2024-04-24 . Game Rant . en.
25. Web site: There's A Konami Code In Fortnite's Black Hole . Riley . MacLoed . October 13, 2019 . October 13, 2019 . Kotaku.
26. Web site: 2021-06-06 . Tetris Effect says it's time to party like it's 1989 (or 1984)! . 2021-06-08 . Tetris.com.
27. Uslenghi . Fabiano . 2020-02-26 . Konami Code: Der Erfinder des berühmtesten Cheatcodes aller Zeiten ist tot . Konami Code: The inventor of the most famous cheat code of all time is dead . . 2022-07-17.
28. Web site: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Has Been Hiding a Secret, Extra-Difficult 1986 Mode . Joe . Skrebels . February 9, 2021 . February 9, 2021 . .
29. Web site: ULTRAKILL Cheats Menu - How to use it and what it can do - YouTube. .
30. Web site: Insaniquarium Cheats . ign.com.
31. Web site: 28 June 2014 . Use Konami Code to Enable Power User Settings in Opera - Techdows . 30 December 2016 . Techdows.com.
32. Web site: 2018-12-29 . Opera Secret Power User Settings Mode and Konami Code – AskVG . 2023-04-21 . www.askvg.com . en-US.
33. Web site: Rhee . Ed . 2013-08-02 . How to access hidden Netflix streaming settings . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140604093116/http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-access-hidden-netflix-streaming-settings/ . 2014-06-04 . 2018-03-22 . CNET.
34. Ameripug . Captain . 2012-08-26 . The Xbox 360 Netflix App Uses A Form Of The Konami Code To Change Settings - News . https://web.archive.org/web/20120828045403/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/26/the-xbox-360-netflix-app-uses-a-form-of-the-konami-code-to-change-settings.aspx . dead . August 28, 2012 . 2018-03-22 . Game Informer.
35. Web site: Overwatch. Overwatch. en-US. 2018-03-22.
36. Web site: Discord 404. Discord. en-US. 2021-06-12.
37. Web site: M&S Christmas Food. 2016-12-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20161214174841/https://christmasfood.marksandspencer.com/. 2016-12-14. bot: unknown. 2018-03-22.
38. Web site: Megaport. 2020-06-12. www.megaport.com.
39. Web site: Explore the New $10 Note . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190710132429/https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/commemorative-notes/banknote150/ . 2019-07-10 . 2019-05-19 . . en-US.
40. News: Obias . Rudie . 18 March 2016 . 10 Google Hangouts Easter Eggs . . 25 September 2017.
41. Web site: Burns . Matt . 19 March 2014 . Google's Konami Code Easter Egg Unlocks 'Cheat Mode' . 10 January 2018 . TechCrunch.
42. News: Hein . Buster . 2013-05-31 . Siri Knows You're A Dirty Cheater At Video Games [Easter Egg] ]. en-US . Cult of Mac . 2018-10-08.
43. Web site: Earl Wells III . Robert . 2021-04-29 . What is Super Alexa Mode? The Secrets of the Elusive Alexa Easter Egg . 2020-07-17 . . en.
44. Web site: Homepage. WWF. en. 2018-03-22.
45. Web site: Twitch has hidden features you can access with the Konami code . Ian . Bourdeau . December 7, 2019 . December 7, 2019 . .
46. Web site: Hoffman . Harisson . 2009-05-08 . Konami Code triggers Easter egg on Facebook too . 2020-10-23 . CNET.
47. Oliverez-Giles . Nathan . February 22, 2013 . Google's Pixel Chromebook Has a Konami Code Easter Egg . Wired.
48. Web site: Unreal Engine 5's Demo Has A Small Konami Code Easter Egg, And Dabbing Is Involved . Darryn . Bonthuys . May 28, 2021 . May 28, 2021 . .
49. Casey . Eoghan . Cheval . Adrien . Lee . Jong Yeon . Oxley . David . Song . Yong Jun . Forensic acquisition and analysis of palm webOS on mobile devices . Digital Investigation . 1 July 2011 . 8 . 1 . 37–47 . 10.1016/j.diin.2011.04.003 .
50. Web site: Oxford . Nadia . December 17, 2018 . The Famed Konami Code from Contra Works on a New Fisher Price Toy . December 17, 2018 . USGamer.
51. Web site: Gairola . Ananya . April 4, 2023 . Twitter's New Doge Logo Hides A Secret 'Spin' Code: Here's How You Can Unlock It . July 26, 2023 . Benzinga.

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