View source for Konami code

The '''Konami code''' or '''Konami command''' (コナミコマンド) is a cheat code which regularly appears in video games. Originally left in by accident by [[Konami]] developer Kazuhisa Hashimoto in the [[Famicom]] port of the 1985 arcade shooter, ''[[Gradius]]'', it rose to fame with its inclusion in the [[NES]] version of ''Contra'' (where it was often dubbed the "Contra code" or "30 lives code", almost necessary for players to have a chance of beating the game). It has subsequently been used in a wide variety of products, both those published by [[Konami]], and others, becoming perhaps the most recognised cheat code in video gaming.

==Description==
In its original form, the Konami code is:

{{up}} {{up}} {{down}} {{down}} {{left}} {{right}} {{left}} {{right}} {{B}} {{A}} ({{Button|text=START|bgcolour=FF3A6D|textcolour=FFFFFF}})

This code was chosen due to being relatively easy for game testers to remember, but difficult to input accidentally. In Famicom ''Gradius'' the code is to be entered while the game is paused, and if successful, will upgrade the weapons of the Vic Viper ship, making the stage easier to complete. The {{Button|text=START|bgcolour=FF3A6D|textcolour=FFFFFF}} is technically optional; the state of ''Gradius'' changes after {{A}} but {{Button|text=START|bgcolour=FF3A6D|textcolour=FFFFFF}} is required to unpause the game and see the effects. As a result, not all games include it in their implementations.

Many minor variants exist such as exchanging {{B}} and {{A}} for {{2}} and {{1}} or {{II}} and {{I}} for consoles which lack those buttons, or swapping {{left}} and {{right}} for shoulder buttons. Nintendo consoles such as the Famicom have the {{A}} and {{B}} buttons reversed, so some implementations re-reverse these buttons, emulating the ''layout'' of the code, but not the button names themselves.

It is not unusal to see further deviations from the code, such as inverting the directions or requiring more button presses, though at this point one could argue they are no longer Konami code variants.

==Use in NEC games==
While there are some exceptions, for many years, the Konami code was restricted to just Konami games, becoming more mainstream after the dawn of the internet and knowledge of such a code became more widespread. As such, comparatively few games for NEC consoles implement the code.

{{multicol|
===[[PC Engine]] / [[TurboGrafx-16]]===
*''[[Detana!! TwinBee]]''
*''[[Dragon Egg!]]''
*''[[Gradius]]''
*''[[Parodius Da! Shinwa kara Owarai e]]''
*''[[Somer Assault]]''
*''[[Veigues Tactical Gladiator]]''

===[[PC Engine SuperGrafx]]===
*''[[Daimakaimura]]''
*''[[Madou Ou Granzort]]''

===[[Super CD-ROM²]]===
*''[[Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou]]''
*''[[Martial Champion]]''
*''[[Pachio-kun 3 Pachislot & Pachinko]]''
*''[[Pachio-kun Warau Uchuu]]''
*''[[Tokimeki Memorial]]''

===[[PC-FX]]===
*''[[Akazukin Cha Cha: O Sawagase Panic Race]]''
}}

==References==
{{SegaRetro}}
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[[Category:General interest]]