Welcome to the 32 Dangerous Cheat Codes, a brand new series that will run daily between November 24 and December 25. Join us as we discuss the hazardous ramifications of some of your favorite cheat codes. Today we're tapping into one of the most temping cheat codes of all time. With a simple click of a few buttons, you'll be transported to the very end of Twin Cobra. But is this code too good to be true? Find out now when you check out the newest episode of the 32 Dangerous Cheat Codes.


This is Tim. He's a little impatient. He's the kind of guy who yells at loading screens and wants all of the characters unlocked the moment he turns on a game. He doesn't want to grind through a role-playing game or buy better weapons over time; he wants it all right this second. Unfortunately, the real world doesn't work like that, so here he is pacing, burning off some of that nervous energy the only way he knows how.

Game developers know exactly how Tim feels. Some of the most popular 8- and 16-bit games featured cheat codes that would warp our hero right to the end of the game. Forget about learning the basics, memorizing boss patterns and honing your skills with the power-ups, because these codes allow you to see the game's ending without even needing to pick up the controller.

As cheat codes go, this is a powerful one. This is great for somebody who want to see how Twin Cobra ends, but don't have the time nor energy to actually shoot their way through all the levels. And since most retro games pack all of their story bits at the very beginning and end, lazy gamers can get the whole experience without even getting their hands dirty.

In the case of Twin Cobra, seeing the ending was as simple as pressing Up, Down, Right, Left, A, B, C and then the Start button. If you do it correctly, the screen will flash and you'll be treated to a pretty cool retro cinema. It's a cool trick, but definitely hard to justify for your first playthrough.

So you remember how Tim was pacing back and forth? Well, he's the kind of guy who would probably want to use this kind of cheat code in real life. He's sick of waiting and just wants to see how it all ends. But real life isn't a video game, and the end of your story is not when you defeat the boss and save the princess. The end of your story is death. No ending, no cinema, no special prize ... just the silence of death. Live your life, make new friends, work a job you hate and enjoy every second of it. Because it beats the hell out of the alternative.