With Apologies to Martin Bide*

Colour…

Today’s Blog Post is all about colour. I recently have decided that I might not be as big a fan of colour as I may have thought. This new revelation comes on the heels of pre-ordering a bunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles books two weeks ago. At the time when I sat down and decided that I would order in advance my copies of TMNT Ultimate Collections Volume 2 (Collecting Issues 8-11 and the Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo Micro Series) & Volume 3 (Collecting issues 12, 14, 15, 17, and 19-21) it was recommended that I also purchase TMNT Classics Vol. 1 (Collecting issues 13, 16, and 18). For those who have been reading the paraenthesis this means that to have a complete run of TMNT issues 1-21 purchase of the Classics book would be required and at only $9.46 it was a no brainer and thus it was added to my cart and I proceeded to check-out.

Since that day, I have found out something troubling about the Classics collection. While the Ultimate Collections are present the issues in their original Black and White, for some reason they have decided that the Classics Collection (which would be essential to the completion of my collection) will be colourized. At this point I am torn, until this point I have always enjoyed a full colour comic book, and if you had told a younger Devon Decker that this was the case he would have eagerly went out and purchased the comic book no questions asked. Today, however, after having read the initial Seven issues and the Rafael micro in Black and White in the first Ultimate Collection. It hard for me to understand why you would want to (in a sense) deface that original art by adding colour. Not just that, but when I initially read about The third Ultimate Collection, it became my goal to go out and find the three missing issues. As such I have found and read both issue 13 and issue 18** in their original Black and White and loved how they were presented.

Which brings me to the real point of this post. I initially purchased Classics Collection Volume 1 to complete my collection, and to be able to preserve my copies of Issues 13 and 18 in bag with boards the way god intended . Yet now knowing that what I ordered will be a colourized version I wonder if I should just cancel the pre-order and move on. The fact that I already own 2/3 of the Collection aside, I think that having a full collection where Twenty-Two of the issues are preserved in their original form and Three are in a new colourized form is that still having the complete collection? Personally I feel it isn’t, but I am also known to be a little kooky and eccentric, that’s why I would like the opinions of the internet, to help me decide whether I should keep my pre-order active or kick its Ted Turnered ass to the curb.

I appreciate any advice you may have denizens of the internet and thank you in advance for your assistance.

* He taught me colour science at the University of Rhode Island

** I am aware that the second printing of issue 18 was colourized and appreciate that it is not technically a new trend with TMNT Comics.

Customer Disservice

Here’s a new complaint. I feel I can’t trust the answer I receive if I call a store ahead of time. In today’s world of rising gas prices, I have decided that it would be better worth my dime to call ahead instead of just go out willy-nilly to stores hoping that they have what it is I’m looking for.

This has become a central problem for me because I have recently gotten back into collecting comic books. One of the main reasons why I got out of the game, after cost and sheer madness of the amount books released, was because all of the distribuation of comics is handled by one company*. This company is Diamond Comic Distributors and considering that fact that they are the only one, they don’t have they drive to keep improving themselves as a company and as a result things like, what I am calling, “The Great Comic Crisis of 2012″ occur.  “The Great Comic Crisis of 2012″ or GCC2012 is something that only effects a very small number of Comic Book Collector’s, but I’m part of that 1% and I’m mad as hell and I don’t feel like taking it anymore.

Basically what happened, as I’ve gathered from various news and forum sites, is that half of the IDW (publishers of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) shipment just didn’t make it to one of Diamond’s distribution centers and as a result half of the country will be without IDW comics this week. They have assured us that this issue will be rectified by next Wednesday. This means that I now have a 50 / 50 shot of the book I wanted to get this week, Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, actually being in store and available.

Rather than waste the gas and time to stop and check if the comic book store has the new book I decided that I would break out my trusty phone and call and see if they received the book. I have since called two shops and both gave me less than satisfactory answers.

The first, The Toy Vault located in the Warwick Mall, the place I usually go because you get your comic in a nice bag for no extra cost and its right on my way home from work. The person I spoke with on the phone needed me to repeat the title of the book twice, before he then asked an off-phone employee if they received a new TMNT Book this week.I could hear the off-phone employee initially answer yes, then  correct his statement to, no we just received another copy of Volume 1. The initial employee then came on and told me no. I was understandably put off by this development so I decided that I would call another local area comic shop, hoping to have some better service.

The name of this second shop is The Time Capsule, and they are my preferred shop if I am looking for back issues of Ninja Turtles. In fact since December I have picked up Twenty-One Issues of the original TMNT releases from there alone. I also know that they are always going to have variant covers since they order a higher concetration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics each month. Yet when I buy a new book it is just out there on the shelf and I need to supply my own bag** plus it isn’t on my way home and would add time to my commute. I called and asked if they had received the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles book. The guy on the phone again had to ask someone and off-phone I heard was there a new Turtles book this week, the response was no there was new turtles book this week. Then he came back and said that there was no new turtles book this week.

Now I’m sorry but when I go to the publishers website (http://idwpublishing.com/news/article/2246/) and on the front page is a story about how I can pick up Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 in stores 3/7/2012 it upsets me that a call to the comic shop results in me being told there isn’t a new turtles book this week. I’m sorry but their business is comic books and they should at least have some idea about the books that are coming out each week. Yes Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 isn’t part of the ongoing series it is a tie-in book to a larger crossover event by IDW. Still when I worked at Blockbuster and Hollywood Video I was aware of more than just the big name films coming out each week and if something happened to push back a release date then I made damn sure I knew why so I could inform my customers. To be told that a new Turtles book didn’t come out this week when clearly it did is just disheartening. To me it signals the death of the Comic Book Guy who spend his days in his shop keeping up on the latest releases and reading everything he could so that he could have that information at his disposal to either assist his customers or crush them under their own ignorance***.

The worst part is even though I was told by both shops that they don’t have the book. Due to the wishy-washy responses I still feel the need to go to the comic book store and see if they have received copies of Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1. A quick search of the internet also tells me that the final issue of Kick-Ass 2 is out today so at least I have an excuse for still going to the shop. Plus if I’m really lucky maybe I can pick up a copy of Honey Badger #1 because let’s face it we all know that the Honey Badger is a nastyass that doesn’t really give a shit.

*There is a chance that distribution is handled by more than one company, however in my rage I was unable to find any evidence to support this.

**Occassionally if I ask then The Time Capsule will provide me with a bag for my comics, though since it is not a Guarantee like at the Toy Vault I still count this as a negative

***In the experience of my youth this is usually the case, for some reason Comic Book Store Owners get off on making customers feel like idiots for not knowing the latest ret-con of the Marvel or DC Universe. In adulthood however this has very rarely been the case.

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Nine)

Leap Year R-R-R-REMIX!!!!

Yesterday I paid homage to the Konami code. Today I’m going to share my favorite variation on the old faithful.

Day Twenty-Nine

Gradius III

1991 / SNES

Unlock Full Options

Code: ???

Hold up, HEY! This is amazing! If in the second sequel to Gradius you think you’re going to kick ass like its in older brother and drop the Konami code to make yourself the king then (as somebody already alluded too… thanks a lot GEOFF) you are SORELY mistaken. Sure you can pause the game and then enter: “Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A” and the screen will indicate that you have fully powered up your ship. However when you’re sitting pretty thinking that you’re gonna kick ass, and then you hit start to unpause…

 Your ship supernovas and you are dead.

What? You’re asking yourself, but Devon you said that I can unlock full options for my ship, you lied to me. The truth is that yes I have lied many, Many, MAny, MANy, MANY times. Yet this is not one of them, Seriously, I hope you’re enjoying yourself because I am definitely enjoying myself.

The good people at Konami by the year 1991 had realized that their little code was becoming a commonly known part of their releases. Not ones to have their work jeopardized by cheaters, Konami decided to send them all a message, and what better forum then the follow-up to the game that first introduced the Konami code to the world. When people went out and bought the game, loaded up, and promptly entered the Konami code to pwn the game they themselves were pwned and went on playing the game with their tail between their legs.

I know what you’re saying you’re saying “Devon you’re not getting any closer to explaining how I super power my ship!” Well you’re right but I want to set the stage, I want to get you excited and angry before my big reveal, that is why I am sitting here just typing and typing away to make you want it more. I am a realist though so I will now get this show on the road.

Konami despite wanting to send a message to the cheaters of the world, still needed a way for te play testers so that they could get through the game to test things. Konami always an intelligent company decided after looking at the new SNES controller realized they could still keep the code in game utilzing the the new shoulder buttons.

In order to get full options just pause the game and enter the following “Up, Up, Down, Down, L, R, L, R, B, A, Start” this will also activate everything except when you unpause the ship will not explode and you can continue the game as the uber ship you always wanted to be.

There you have it folks the last code of Codesmas, I personally enjoy this code because it rewards the player for thinking outside of the box, and as a result I decided I would save it for last. I hope you have enjoyed reading this month of codes as much as I enjoyed writing. God speed and see you on the floopty-doop.

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Eight)

 

This is the culmination of the entire month of codes. Today’s code is one I wanted to share many many many times. It would have been the easiest code to use on those days when I couldn’t think of a single code to use. Instead of falling back on this code I instead dug through my entire collection to find a game with a code that was worthwhile, and sometimes I wouldn’t even find that (again I direct the attention of the class to Cybernator). Still somehow I was able to make it through the first Twenty-Seven days of the month and save this code for day Twenty-Eight.

Day Twenty-Eight

Various

1986 / Various

The Konami Code

Code: “Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left Right, B, A, Start”

This phenomenon of the Konami code began with the NES port of Konami’s Gradius. During play testing the game was deemed to hard so the programmers added a code which when entered while the game was paused gave the player a full-set of power ups. Fortunately for the annals of gaming history those same programmers forgot to remove the code and thus the most influential code in all of Video Games was born… The Konami Code.

Though the code had its start in Gradius it didn’t receive real notoriety until the release of another arcade port to the NES: Contra. Again playing an arcade game built to coax the quarters out of the pockets of America’s youth was somewhat lackluster on a home console, luckily with the use of the Konami Code you could go from the measly Three lives that was initially given at the start of the arcade game, you could start off the game with Thirty lives which is more than enough to give the forces of Red Falcon a run for their money. Not only that but the code could be utilized in a Two-Player game by adding in the Select button before hitting Start on the title screen.

After Contra the Konami Code or small variations thereof found themselves in video games across almost all of the platforms from appearing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time on the SNES to be able to choose to start the game with 10 lives in the options menu. Castlevania: Bloodlines on Genesis to access expert mode. Nemesis on Game Boy will give the player full options. The code has even been adapted to be be entered on the Nintendo Wii, Playstation and TurboGrafx 16, with “B” and “A” being replaced by “1″ and “2,” “O” and “X,” and “II” and “I” respectively. Perhaps my favorite is in the Game Boy Advance Castlevania title Harmony of Dissonance  where entering the code would allow you to play as the original Destroyer of Dracula Simon Belmont in the Boss Rush Mode.

In fact calling the code the Konami Code could almost be considered obsolete as the code has now become so ingrained in the American Culture that it is now featured in games that aren’t produced by Konami in Homage. There are also a number of websites on the internet that will yield interesting results if you enter the code on them, substituting the Enter Key for Start.

Truly the Konami Code is one that has had a long lasting effect on the entire topography of gaming. In fact this month February 2012 Twenty-Six years after Gradius was released on NES the code was featured in Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS where entering the code will unlock access to touch screen selection in the PES shop.

The next time you play yourself a video game then take the time to enter the Konami Code, you never know what it might unlock and you will be taking Four seconds to show your respect and admiration for the history of gaming.

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Seven)

The Twenty-Seventh day mean one thing the end of the Arc. Yes in the new tradition of Comic Books I decided that for the month of codes I would include a brief overarcing theme that I would pepper throughout. It was a little reward for those who were paying attention, on days that were part of the Nines table, I would feature codes from a series of games. From the beginning it was decided that this would be the only series that would have multiple game represented. Unfortunately like all arcs it is time for this one to come to an end.  If you haven’t figured it out yet then it is time for the “BIG” reveal.

Day Twenty-Seven

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

1994 / Genesis

Level Select

Code: When the white fades from the Sega Screen enter “Up, Up, Down, Down, Up, Up, Up, Up”

Yes Sonic the Hedgehog 3, while it was the first Sonic game to feature a battery backed save, it was also the first Sonic game to feature an “unsolvable” puzzle. This puzzle existed in the Fourth Zone Carnival Night. Eventually you reach a spinning cylinder and can nogt continue. This puzzle is solved if you press up and down in the correct rythmn, however  there is nothing in game or in the manual indicating that you can influence the spinning cylinders in Zone 4.

This meant that for many the farthest they ever got was Zone 4. Well maybe not for many, but definitely for me. I got so frustrated I just stopped playing the game altogether because I could not for the life of me figure out how to proceed past that point. Luckily this game didn’t abandon its roots when it learned how to record your progress and still included a level select code.

The code is entered on the Sega screen, eventually the white will fade and that is when you enter the code. It takes some practice but once you figure out the timing it will become second nature. When entered correctly you will hear a ding confirming your proper inputting skills. Then when you get to the title screen scroll down and you will eventually reach the sound test option.

In Sonic 3 this is the place to go in order to select your level. Just choose the Sound Test option and you’ll be brought to that now familiar menu that we had come to enjoy in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As an added bonus you get to see three zones that were scheduled to be part of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but that were scrapped for time. These levels would later be included in the sequel Sonic and Knuckles. This allows Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to reminder us of the times when rather than hold back a game in order to finish it, developers would put out an incomplete product to meet release date.

With this code you will be able to explore the two levels after Carnival Night Zone: Icecap and Launch Base. Seriously can you believe that the Third game in the series only has six zones, that’s the same amount as the First game, except that Sonic 3 only has Two acts per zone, so that means that Sonic 3 is one of the shortest in overall length of the game released on the Genesis. Of course when added to Sonic and Knuckles to unlock Sonic 3 and Knuckles, you get to experience the game as it was originally intended.  Not only that but it is the only game that allows you the opportunity to play as Hyper Sonic, the Super Saiyan Level 2 of Super Sonic, by allowing you to convert the Chaos Emeralds into their Super Emerald Form and then activating them all by completeing their bonus stages.

I digress though by going into talk about Sonic and Knuckles. Its a shame that no month has Thirty-Six days or I could have continued the arc. Still with the use of today’s code you’ll be able to make sure that this never happens to you.

PROTIP: Next Time direct Scott Pilgrim to The World According to Devon

 

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Six)

To start today’s post I will take 5 minutes to make a list, in order, to the best of my ability.

And 7:13 PM Go!

 

1. Bulbasaur
2. Ivysau
3. Venusaur
4. Charmander
5. Charmeleon
6. Charizard
7. Squirtle
8. Wartortle
9. Blastoise
10. Caterpie
11. Metapod
12. Butterfree
13. Weedle
14. Kakuna
15. Beedrill
19. Magikarp
20. Gyrados
21. Nidoran
22. Nidorina
23. Nidoqueen
24. Nidorino
25. Nidoking
26. Zubat
27. Golbat
28. Geodude
29. Growler
30. Golem
31. Macho
144. Dratini
145. Dragonaire
146. Dragonite
147. Articuno
148. Zapdos
149. Moltres
150. Mewtwo
151. Mew

 

 

 

And Time!

Now that is sad to show just how sad it is I will now supply a list of all the original 151 Pokemon in Pokedex order.

1. Bulbasaur
2. Ivysaur
3. Venusaur
4. Charmander
5. Charmeleon
6. Charizard
7. Squirtle
8. Wartortle
9. Blastoise
10. Caterpie
11. Metapod
12. Butterfree
13. Weedle
14. Kakuna
15. Beedrill
16. Pidgey
17. Pidgeotto
18. Pidgeot
19. Rattata
20. Raticate
21. Spearow
22. Fearow
23. Ekans
24. Arbok
25. Pikachu
26. Raichu
27. Sandshrew
28. Sandslash
29. Nidoran (Female)
30. Nidorina
31. Nidoqueen
32. Nidoran (Male)
33. Nidorino
34. Nidoking
35. Clefairy
36. Clefable
37. Vulpix
38. Ninetales
39. Jigglypuff
40. Wigglytuff
41. Zubat
42. Golbat
43. Oddish
44. Gloom
45. Vileplume
46. Paras
47. Parasect
48. Venonat
49. Venomoth
50. Diglett
51. Dugtrio
52. Meowth
53. Persian
54. Psyduck
55. Golduck
56. Mankey
57. Primeape
58. Growlithe
59. Arcanine
60. Poliwag
61. Poliwhirl
62. Poliwrath
63. Abra
64. Kadabra
65. Alakazam
66. Machop
67. Machoke
68. Machamp
69. Bellsprout
70. Weepinbell
71. Victreebel
72. Tentacool
73. Tentacruel
74. Geodude
75. Graveler
76. Golem
77. Ponyta
78. Rapidash
79. Slowpoke
80. Slowbro
81. Magnemite
82. Magneton
83. Farfetch’d
84. Doduo
85. Dodrio
86. Seel
87. Dewgong
88. Grimer
89. Muk
90. Shellder
91. Cloyster
92. Gastly
93. Haunter
94. Gengar
95. Onix
96. Drowzee
97. Hypno
98. Krabby
99. Kingler
100. Voltorb
101. Electrode
102. Exeggcute
103. Exeggutor
104. Cubone
105. Marowak
106. Hitmonlee
107. Hitmonchan
108. Lickitung
109. Koffing
110. Weezing
111. Rhyhorn
112. Rhydon
113. Chansey
114. Tangela
115. Kangaskhan
116. Horsea
117. Seadra
118. Goldeen
119. Seaking
120. Staryu
121. Starmie
122. Mr. Mime
123. Scyther
124. Jynx
125. Electabuzz
126. Magmar
127. Pinsir
128. Tauros
129. Magikarp
130. Gyrados
131. Lapras
132. Ditto
133. Eevee
134. Vaporeon
135. Jolteon
136. Flareon
137. Porygon
138. Omanyte
139. Omastar
140. Kabuto
141. Kabutops
142. Aerodactyl
143. Snorlax
144. Articuno
145. Zapdos
146. Moltres
147. Dratini
148. Dragonair
149. Dragonite
150. Mewtwo
151. Mew

I suppose when you look at how many I got in correct order then it could have been a lot more sad I got 23 out of 151 That number could have been higher and that would have been sad.

All of this now done we can move to the actual code of the day. As you may have guessed its from the original Pokemon

Day Twenty – Six

Pokemon Red Version and Pokemon Blue Version

1999 / Gameboy

99+ Of any item.

In order to take advantage of this code you need to have access to HM 2 Fly, HM 3 Surf, and Cinnabar Island. Then do the following:

First: Put the item you wish to duplicate in the sixth slot in your inventory, and make sure you have a pokemon that knows Fly, a pokemon that knows surf, and preferably a pokemon with a high speed stat as your lead off.

Second: Fly to Viridian City and go to leave via the northmost exit. Before you leave located to your left you will see an old man.

Third: Speak to this old man and he will ask if you are in a hurry, answer No and he will teach you how to catch pokemon. Watch his entire demonstration.

Fourth: Fly to Cinnabar Island, then walk to the east coast and surf directly along the coast, do not go out into the deeper water. Surf up and down the coast until a battle activates.

Five: When the battle commences it should either be a high level pokemon or a glitchy looking rectangle man named M. Either run or battle.

Six: Once the battle is over go to your inventory and check the sixth item, it should show a glitchy looking symbol in the Right hand column, this indicates that you have more than Ninety-Nine items in stock. As you use items this will eventually show Ninety-Nine and will then go down numerical accordingly.

This can be used to quickly level your pokemon if you duplicate Rare Candy and it will mean that you can have a never ending supplies of Master Balls.

There you go ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the code and happy hunting and remember

GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL!

2. Nidorina
3. Nidoqueen

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Five)

25 days into this Month of Codes and I’ve been able to dole out codes like a pedophile doles out candy to unsuspecting children, today though I was at a complete loss. It was a strange feeling not having a cheat code readily available. Then as I thought and thought and thought about what would be an appropriate code for the day. It suddenly came to me. What better code to showcase on a day when I myself was drawing a blank then a code that may or may not work depending on which version of the game you own.

Confused? Now you know how I felt earlier.

Day Twenty-Five

Maniac Mansion.

1990 / Nintendo Entertainment System

Microwave The Hamster

That’s right reaching forward from the past on the wings of time its Maniac Mansion, whose sequel was mention way back on Day Two. Maniac Mansion is a great game for those who like the point and click genre and definitely something I would recommend to anyone who enjoys video games. However if you are going to give it a try then my recommendation is to hunt down a copy of the original 1987 PC release or one of the various remakes available online. If you’re really industrious then you could find a copy of Day of the Tentacle where you can play the original on the computer in Weird Ed’s Bedroom. Only in the most dire of circumstances should you play the NES version.

The reason is that Nintendo censored everything it could get its hands on. Dialog was changed to make it sound less graphic, graffiti that in the initial release gave hints to an in game puzzle was eliminated, and various scenic elements deemed to sexual for the NES were also removed.

Somehow while they were terminating everything that might warp the minds of their core audience, the Big N missed something that absolutely spit in the face of there “Thou Shalt not use the word ‘Kill’ in a video game” commandment.  In Maniac Mansion you are able to pick up and interact with almost everything in the game, including Weird Ed’s pet Hamster. Now the Hamster is really only useful so that you can get the item behind him, that is unless you are playing as one of the resident musicians you can start the game as Syd or Razor

Razor

OR

Syd

 

To clarify further Syd is the Male looking like he plays Keyboard as a member of Huey Lewis and the News and Razor is the Hot Red Head. Remember that now.

As Musicians in the Eighties these two are HARDCORE they know how to party and as a result they don’t even blink an eye when you suggest that they put the Hamster in the Microwave in the kitchen, nor do they flinch when you tell them to then turn on said Microwave, effectively nuking the furry little red herring item. As an added bonus if you give the ashes of the Hamster back to Weird Ed he will “kill” you right on the spot. In truth while the character will die, you are still able to play as them with the added bonus of said character being both invisible and invincible.

The problem with this code comes if you live in a PAL region where Nintendo was intelligent enough to notice and fix their mistake. Though this was not the only time they were able to fix it. After they sold out of the initial run of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) cartridges, Big N made LucasFilm Games (they hadn’t yet evolved into LucasArts) and Jaleco the games publisher eliminate it in future North American releases as well.  As a result this little gem is one of the only cheat codes I’m aware of that can only be accessed in certain releases of the game.

Thus in summation in order to take advantage of this code you must

1. Find one of the original 250,000 carts released in North America.
2. Choose Razor or Syd as one of your Three characters.
   

   PROTIP: Don't pick both

3. As Syd or Razor get the Hamster from Weird Ed’s room.
4. Go to the Kitchen, Open Microwave, Use Hamster with Microwave, Close Microwave, Turn On Microwave

There you have it folks, now you understand why I recommend tracking down a copy of the original PC release. Not only because it has a much easier interface, but because that way you ensure that you’ll get all the grody content that is Censored from the Nintendo release and you can Microwave a Hamster.

Just a reminder Razor and Syd are professional video game characters, do not attempt to microwave Hamsters at home, not because its dangerous, but mostly because the cleanup is a bitch

 

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Four)

It’s Friday Night and I just got paid, I don’t have time to sit and type about a code its time for HYPERMODE

Day Twenty-Four

Guitar Hero 2

2006 / PS2

Enable Hyper Mode

Code: At the title menu hit these keys in the following order:

“Orange, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Orange, Blue Orange Yellow”

 

O Boy! O Boy!

Some say it makes the game harder, some say it makes the game easier. All I know is that it makes the notes move faster on the scrolling fret bar. If you ever enable and then want to disable it (without shutting off the system) just enter the code again.

O Boy! O Boy!

There’s the code of the day, now go enjoy your evening. Me? I got places to do and people to go. GOODNIGHT!

 

 

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Three)

After the lengthy rant I went on yesterday I decided that today I would keep it simple today. Thus I present

Day Twenty-Three

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble

1996 / SNES

Access Cheat Code Entry

Code: At the game select screen highlight the game you want to cheat on and then enter ” ‘L’, ‘R’, ‘R’, ‘L’, ‘R’, ‘R’, ‘L’, ‘R’, ‘L’, ‘R’ “

This is cheat code I only ever used once. Truth is I only know this code because I was flipping through a Nintendo Power Magazine while shopping at Stop and Shop and there in the “Classified Information” pages was this little gem. In order to commit it to memory I put the code to a little ditty, or to be relevant should I say diddy. Either way I had already cleared Donkey Kong Country 3 with 103% so I didn’t feel bad using a cheat code.  Unfortunately when I got home I remembered the code to access cheat entry, but sadly only remembered one cheat code: “MERRY”

The “MERRY” code was unique in that it makes all of the Bonus Levels Christmas themed. There’s Christmastized background music and the stars that are required to be collected in some Bonus Stages  have been swapped out Christmas ornaments. Though I think stars are more Christmas themed but who am I?

I know that other codes exist, in fact the magazine listed them all, but I couldn’t for the life of you tell you what they are. I’m sure a quick Google search or visit to Gamefaqs would be able to share some more codes with you. For now I’ll stick to “MERRY”. It just makes me feel, I don’t know, merry?

“AND YOU’LL HEAR ME EXCLAIM, ERE I DRIVE OUT OF SIGHT, HAPPY CODESMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!!!!”

Month of Codes (Day Twenty-Two)

Anyone who has been in regular contact with me over the past week will be able to attest to the fact that I have been stricken with a case of Shell Shock. Friends, Relatives, Co-Workers, Strangers on the Street, that guy who works at the Comic Book store (You know the one) would all stand up and testify that I have been more obssessed with the Ninja Turtles than even Oroku “The Shredder” Saki. I have bought something like Fourteen back issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles books (FROM THE EIGHTIES!) and best of all I’ve only spent like Twenty Dollars doing it.

Today is especially exciting because it is the first week of what I am personally calling Ninja Six-Pack. The reason is that starting today and for the the next Five weeks there will be Five brand new Ninja Turtles comic books released. This makes me giddy as a school girl, because it means that I will be given an even bigger chance to feed my addiction.

It was only a matter of time before this Tumultuous Tsunami of Terrapin Love was able to smash through into Codesmas and have an effect on the code of the day. When I was reading one of my back issues yesterday and saw a two page splash advertisement for this game then I knew I could no longer deny my true feelings. Without further ado let the Onslaught of Obsession continue!

Day Twenty-Two

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project

1992 / Nintendo Entertainment System

Auto-Select Mode

Code: Press ”Down’ Five times on the turtle select screen to enable Auto Mode

This code is a strange one, and one that will definately require some explanation. The third arcade style game for the Nintendo Entertainment System, brought us Shell Heads the best of both worlds. Like the first it allowed you to switch turtles whenever one was defeated and like the second game it was actually playable. Not to mention the third game introduced a slew of chracters that had only ever been represented as toys or at most in one episode of the show. In my opinion the Manhatten Project truly represents the pinnacle of Ninja Turtles games.

As I had stated the game let’s you choose whether you stick with the same turtle or switch to another whenever one of them dies. Now I will allows choose Raphael, he’s the best, unfortunately in the video games he can be hit or miss as a character. Usually he deals out the most damage, but also sustains the most. Another reason why I like The Manhattan Project so much is its difficulty and even though I am a die hard Team Raph fan, I can admit that there are some parts that require a character who might dish it out hard but can at least take some serious damage. This means its nice to be able to switch your turtle, sometimes though having choice can be a scary thing, especially when your choices are so limited. If you don’t use the epitome of bad-assery that is Raphael then what are you left with: A Tool, A Nerd, and A Stoner more commonly known as Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Its a difficult choice, luckily that is where Auto select comes into play. When you activate Auto-Select then when your Turtle of choice goes up to that big Terrarium in the sky then instead of being stuck with the difficult choice of picking which Turtle to continue, the game does the heavy lifting for you. Its like having your Pizza and eating it too. What more sometimes auto mode will give you the same Turtle you were just playing as.  The code can even be activated if you have a second player coming along for the ride, the only difference is you will need to press “Down” Ten times instead of Five.

 

The Tool

The Bad Ass

The Stoner

The Nerd

Now that we’ve gotten all of that business about the code of the day out of the way I would like to pontificate for a while on why I enjoy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project so much. While at first glance it is easy to put the blame on the inclusion of such characters as:

Groundchuck

Dirtbag

And who could forget

Head Spinning Bebop!

The game also includes the best plot line ever for a Ninja Turtles game. Check this the Ninja Turtles are enjoying their  vacation on a beach in Florida, yet like the good little April Fanboys that they are they still tune in for her Local new report.

I’m gonna pull a Zack Morris and say TIME OUT! I can get past the Turtles being on vacation in Florida, that doesn’t bother in the least, I mean the Punk Frog episodes take place in Florida so clearly they are able to freely move across state lines as mutated Turtles. The problem I have is that they are somehow able to get Channel Six New York’s broadcast in Florida. There is no way that April would be on a national broadcast TIME IN!

Its a good thing that they did because it is this exact moment that Shedder decides he is going to enact his most heinous crime yet, he not only kidnaps April, but the entire city of Manhattan as well, by causing it to lift from the sea and float in the sky.  He then challenges the Turtles to come and take them both back ( Think of how embarassing it would have been for him had the Turtles not been watching, Seriously!) The Turtles then start out on what is sure to be a long hard battle.

That's what she said?

The game then starts as most TMNT games do, it gets really good though once you get to the end of the level and hear their plan for getting back to New York.

They are going to surf, they intend to surf all the way from Florida to Manhattan, clearly this wasn’t Donatello’s plan. Luckily he gets his voice heard at about the midpoint of Scene 2 and they board an Battleship that will take them the rest of the way to Manhattan, except for the vertical part, they are going to have to figure some other way to do that, Battleships can’t fly.

From there the game is pretty much your standard Ninja Turtles game there is the Bridge Level, The Sewer Level, The Level in Space, The Technodrome level. Still screw The original Arcade game and Turtles in Time this is the game that deserves a remake. A Remake for real!