Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Quiz

Answer: Gradius

"Gradius" was originally released by Konami as an arcade game in 1985. When porting the game to the NES, Kazuhisa Hashimoto found out that the game was incredibly hard. To make his job of porting and playtesting the game a bit easier, he designed the now famous code. Pausing the game, entering the code, and then pressing start to resume the game allowed for Hashimoto to instantaneously have almost all the power ups available in the game instead of having to acquire the powerups gradually throughout the game.

As Hashimoto forgot to remove the code later on, it was included in the official release of the game and quickly discovered by players. Dubbed the Konami Command in Japan and the Konami Code in the West, it was due to the difficulty of "Gradius" that the code became so popular. For many players, like for Hashimoto, it was the only way to beat the game.

Answer: Thirty lives

When entering the Konami code at the start screen the player will start the game with thirty lives instead of three. Considering that a single hit by an enemy will kill your character those extra lives sure come in handy if you want to stand a chance of progressing to the later levels.

Both players will start with thirty lives if the code is entered before selecting Two Player mode (by pressing Select at the title screen). If one player nevertheless runs out of lives very quickly, press A and B together to steal lives from your partner.

Answer: Destroys the player's ship

As the Konami code had gained notoriety, Konami decided to play a little trick on gamers. In "Gradius Galaxies" - and in "Gradius III" on the Super NES before it - entering the Konami code when the game is paused activates all the powerups, but also immediately destroys the player's ship when resuming the game, consequently losing the powerups again.

However, using the L button and R button instead of left and right on the directional pad gives all weapons without any penalty. In another variation Down Down Up Up Right Left Right Left A B gives all power ups at the cost of one life (deducting one life instead of destroying the ship).

Answer: The code needs to be entered in reverse

"Gyruss" requires the player to enter the Konami code in reverse: B A Right Left Right Left Down Down Up Up. The reward for entering the code at the title screen is thirty lives. The game is an arcade-style shoot 'em up with a twist. The perspective is in pseudo-3D whereby you seem to look into the distance and objects gradually increase in size as you come closer.

The player's ship can move along the edge of the screen to avoid oncoming objects and gain the best shooting vantage. At the time of the original arcade release in 1983 such 3D-effects were quite an accomplishment.

Answer: True

In a room in the Abyss, about three quarters into the game, the Konami code needs to be entered to reveal a hidden chest which contains Life Fruit, four of which will increase your life gauge. Luckily there is an inscription of the code on the wall in the room where the code needs to be entered, so players unfamiliar with the Konami code will not be at a loss.

The game itself is unique in the way that it requires actual sunlight to play. The game cartridge has a UV-sensor and the game's only weapon, the Gun del Sol, will be charged with solar power relative to the amount of sunlight detected. As most enemies can only be defeated by sunlight, you'd better make sure to go outside to play.

Answer: Instead of pressing B A, press X O instead

Because the Playstation consoles lack A and B buttons, the O button and X button are used instead.

One of the Playstation games that makes use of the code is "International Superstar Soccer Deluxe", where entering the code will cause the referee to be turned into a dog. And a Playstation 2 game where the code works is "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". If the code is entered at the game clear screen Snake will say "What do you think you're doing!?" or "STOP FOOLIN' AROUND KID!" It is no help to get you through the game, but a nice easter egg for those familiar with the code.

Answer: True

Due to its popularity, the Konami code is found in many games released by video game companies other than Konami. One of the first games not by Konami to include the code was the Japan-only "Cosmic Epsilon" in 1989 where the only result was a message saying "I am not Konami."

But even more than twenty years after the code was originally designed, we can still find it back in some games. "Assassin's Creed III", released at the end of 2012, is one example, with the code confirmed to be working for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. In the game, return to Davenport Homestead after Sequence 6. Hide around the corner at the back of the mansion and whistle. Approach the turkey that has appeared and enter the Konami code. The turkey will now don an assassin's hood and start following you around.

Answer: Beastie Boys

While all the answers are available as secret characters in Electronic Arts' "NBA Jam", it is the Beastie Boys you can play with after entering the Konami code. To play with J. Cole and 9th Wonder enter Up, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, A, B. For team Republicans with George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, John McCain and Dick Cheney press Right 13 times followed by A. For team Democrats with Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Al Gore, and Bill and Hillary Clinton press Left 13 times followed by A.

In another NBA game, "NBA Give 'n Go", developed by Konami for the Super NES, the code unlocks Super Difficulty Level. After making the game easier with the code in Gradius, Contra and other games, Konami felt it appropriate to use the same code to give gamers an even harder challenge in this game.

Answer: Hyperdimension Neptunia

The line is sometimes spoken by Neptune, the main character of the game "Hyperdimension Neptunia", before she performs the attack Neptune Break.

"Hyperdimension Neptunia" is a take on the console war between Playstation 3, Wii and Xbox 360, each represented in the world of Gamindustri in the form of a region and its goddess. The region Lastation and goddess Noire represent Playstation 3. Lowee and goddess Blanc stand for the Wii, whereas the Xbox 360 take shape in the region Leanbox and goddess Vert. A fourth region is called Planeptune - with the main character Neptune as its goddess - and supposedly represents the Sega Neptune, a proposed Sega console that never got beyond the prototype stage.

A similar quote is sometimes spoken by EVA during the interrogation scene in "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater". The lines spoken by EVA are "Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right... I don't remember the rest!"

Rudolf, the father of the main character Battler of the visual novel "Umineko: When They Cry" on the PC pulls Battler's ears up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, while at the same time saying which way he is pulling.

The words "up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right" are spoken in the game "Plants vs. Zombies" (PC) by Crazy Dave when he tries to explain to the player the weakness of the final boss Dr. Zomboss. He then realises Dr. Zomboss has no discernible weaknesses and moves on.

Answer: The Moldy Peaches

The line "Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start" is followed by "Just because we use cheats doesn't mean we're not smart". The song was released in 2001 and then re-released in 2008 after it gained popularity due to its use in the film "Juno" with Ellen Page and Michael Cera.

Michael Cera also starred in "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World", a film with numerous references to popular culture, including music from the "The Legend of Zelda" game series and fighting moves from the "Street Fighter" series.

To come full circle, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game" (for Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network) that tied in with the film also makes use of the Konami code. Entering the code while holding the left and right triggers (L2 & R2 on the PS3) will result in the player committing suicide in exchange for money.