So next time you fire up a Genesis Mini or an original model 2, try tapping on Bloodlines or the Sonic 2 dance. The old magic still works.

Enable blood (it was censored in some versions) & Cheat Menu How to Enter: At the “ACME PRESENTS” screen, press: Down, Up, Left, Left, A, Right, Down Then, during a fight, hold Start + A + B + C to bring up the cheat menu. From there, you can enable blood, free movement, or turn your opponent into a baby (Babality). Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994) The most ridiculous password – it’s a name.

Play as Mr. X (final boss) or Shiva How to Enter: At the title screen, press: Right, Right, Right, Right, Up, Down, Left, A If done correctly, you’ll hear a police siren. Start a 2-player game, and when selecting characters, hold Up + B on controller 1 and press A on controller 2. Shiva (or Mr. X) will appear. Mortal Kombat II (1994) Blood, babalities, and a hidden fight.

Before the era of downloadable patches and microtransactions, if you got stuck in a video game, you had three options: practice until your thumbs bled, call a expensive hint line, or punch in a cheat code . On the Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive outside North America), cheat codes were an art form. They were often bizarre sequences of button presses, sound test manipulations, or even requiring a second controller.

9 continues (instead of 3) How to Enter: At the title screen, hold Up + A + B + C until the Sega logo appears. Keep holding. When the game starts, check your continues – they’ll say “9”. ToeJam & Earl (1991) No cheat code – but a secret level warp via elevator.

Level Select + Debug Mode How to Enter: At the title screen (where it says "Sonic The Hedgehog 2"), press: Up, Down, Left, Right, Hold A + Start You’ll hear a ring chime. Now hold A and press Start to access the Level Select. While playing, press B to cycle through objects, C to place them, and Up + A to change Sonic’s art frame. Streets of Rage 2 (1992) Unlock the secret boss – and a shockingly difficult fight.