Game Genie: Should I get one?

[Weevil]

Hey guys!

I'm starting to get 'serious' about acquiring a nice Mega Drive collection and was wondering if a Game Genie would be a good or a useless addition.

A friend (who wishes to stay anonymouse) modded mine with a 60Hz switch, so I should be able to play US games once I start importing. And I have a Mega Key 2 for playing japanese games which goes well so I don't think I need to use the Game Genie for playing imports...


I don't really know what other use Game Genies have... is it worth seeking out one for a couple of euros or would you say they're just dust-collectors?

[eddiespruce]

Well, if you want to use some cheat code for games, I guess you could pick one up for cheap. However, if you already have a Mega Key 2 like you said, and have no reason for cheating in games, then I wouldn't bother picking it up.

[Barone]

IMO it depends on how much time you have to play your games... If you have enough time to play them till "exhaustion" and like to be able to take a little more from it (like hidden characters, level selecting, time/bonus/etc changes...) then you need a Game Genie. Or if you aren't a hardcore gamer but want to finish the rock hard games using no more than a few hours...

Otherwise, no, it will be just a dust collector for you.

[Clessy]

Not really. Cheating is lame and most of this eras games had good cheats built into them.

[Thunderblaze16]

I don't have one but I say use them AFTER you beaten the game, cause having the feeling of beating a great game with cheats codes feels really, blah and lousy.

[havok666]

I don't mind them for unlimited lives or continues codes. I personally don't have time to play till "exhaustion" for some games that are unforgivably difficult.

[Obviously]

I got one to play around with because one of my retro game stores was selling it with the book for a few bucks. It mostly collects dust but it's a part of the collection and didn't cost much, so meh.

[Baloo]

The best use of the Game Genie is for the region lock bypass codes on later-released Genesis games a la Alien Solider and Mega Man: The Wily Wars.

[Genesis Knight]

I bought mine when I was a kid and haven't used the thing in years and years.

[Mista_Ed]

I don't mind them for unlimited lives or continues codes. I personally don't have time to play till "exhaustion" for some games that are unforgivably difficult.

i couldnt agree with you more on that!!

i have a game genie, and its ideal for just that reason - makes it much easier to actually enjoy tough or frustrating games...i dont think id have got off the first two levels of contra without it haha

i have limited time on my MD... i simply cant spend hours and hours mastering every game in my collection...so yeh - get one!! theyre useful!!

[Smii]

Don't get a Game Genie. Get an Action Replay 2 - the only decent product Datel ever made.

But do get a Game Gear Game Genie. If you own a rare still functional GG, it will talk to you - providing many seconds of vague amusement. Maybe.

WDQ5WEh3Yxs

(Skip to about 1:10 :P)

[TheSonicRetard]

The best use of the Game Genie is for the region lock bypass codes on later-released Genesis games a la Alien Solider and Mega Man: The Wily Wars.
I disagree. The best use of the Game Genie is to access parts of games which were removed, but still exist in the cart. Example: Hidden Palace Zone in Sonic 2, or the Blob's buzz-saw move in Clayfighters.

I say go for it.

[ooXxXoo]

Don't get a Game Genie. Get an Action Replay 2 - the only decent product Datel ever made.


Are you kidding?..

Mine here....I'll go with the SMS Action replay, the best..

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/oooXxXooo/HPIM1668.jpg


.....

[Smii]

Ok, you're right. "Only" decent product was a bit harsh; I do have most of those, too ;) But excluding the Saturn Action Replay, every one of their products I've owned for consoles newer than the MD has been a bit crap. CDX is better than nothing, but very poor compatibility considering they used to cost £40, my PSX AR never worked right (not that I've used it often) the PS2 one was just terrible (updates were fussy, mainly because their website never worked :P dvd region-freeinator never worked, 16gb card corrupted some of my saves :mad: the Mega Drive emulator might have redeemed it, but it would crash whenever it felt like it.) And the DS Action Replay... just went and made online multiplayer pointless. (It's one thing to cheat at single player games, you're only cheating yourself & blah - but what do people gain from cheating at multiplayer? It's just sad.)

[ooXxXoo]

I agree, anything newer than MD or SNES is yukie...




.

[QuickSciFi]

I used my Game Genie as a pass-through cart for my JP Darwin 4081. It'll work wonders this way with many JP carts. As for using it as a cheat device, I don't really cheat in video games, but I guess some people can have some fun with endless lives in Contra or the sort.

[108 Stars]

Don't get a Game Genie. Get an Action Replay 2 - the only decent product Datel ever made.

I agree; do not get a Game Genie, but an Action Replay Pro 2. Basically, the Action Replay series is like the successor of Game Genie, Game Genie became outdated when Action Replay came. And the AR Pro 2 is the best on the Mega Drive. The SNES even got a Pro 3, but I don´t know what was better about it.

[Kyle]

I agree; do not get a Game Genie, but an Action Replay Pro 2. Basically, the Action Replay series is like the successor of Game Genie, Game Genie became outdated when Action Replay came. And the AR Pro 2 is the best on the Mega Drive. The SNES even got a Pro 3, but I don´t know what was better about it.
Where does one find these for sale? I have a Game Genie and use it for the reasons stated earlier. My gaming time is often limited to 30-60 mins daily. I'd rather play games through than replay the first level repeatedly.

[Crackdown]

I got an Action Replay for my Megadrive recently just so I could use it to play imports.

[Jesse813]

Hey guys!

I'm starting to get 'serious' about acquiring a nice Mega Drive collection and was wondering if a Game Genie would be a good or a useless addition.

A friend (who wishes to stay anonymouse) modded mine with a 60Hz switch, so I should be able to play US games once I start importing. And I have a Mega Key 2 for playing japanese games which goes well so I don't think I need to use the Game Genie for playing imports...


I don't really know what other use Game Genies have... is it worth seeking out one for a couple of euros or would you say they're just dust-collectors?

never hurts to pick one up w/ as cheap as they are and its fun to experiment w/ the cheats :)

[QuickSciFi]

I'm not sure how much any of the other devices herein mentioned cost in Europe, but here in the States, they're nowhere near the GameGenie (3 to 5 bucks, online or Brick N Mortar). That's kind of why I for it. But if something other, like the Action Replay, is more affordable in Europe, then by all means.

[Chibisteven]

Easy acess to Sonic 3's level select, so you can hear Sonic 3 jingles without SFX that was the real reason I got a Game Genie and to see things that were different or only possible with a Game Genie. Though, it quickly become a cheating device. Now emulators and PAR codes are all the rage for seeing instersting effects on games.

[The Jackal]

I have the original PAR, the PAR2 and the Game Genie. The PARs are rare and can go for silly prices online, but the PAR2 is the most featured cheat cart there is; you can put in as many codes as you want instead of being limited to just 4 with the mk1 PAR or Game Genie. Game Genie's cheap and more favoured by the hacking community, so there's more codes and support for it. The PARs however, allow you to search/make your own codes.

[lumclaw]

Can't beat its price point. GameGenie is so easily found in the States, might well try it. Dunno about other devices or regions.

[Kyle]

Yeah, paid 99 cents for a Game Genie. Would need some convincing for a $50 upgrade to the PAR2. The PAR exclusive codes I normally want to use are emulator (RAM) specific.

[StarMist]

Yes, for your less favourite games. Many codes are less cheating than distorting: look up a list of official (not homebrew) Mario 3 codes and you'll find alternate jumps, always get certain items (which you might set to inferior items like the frogsuit), and so forth--things odd enough cheating is neither here nor there. Plus level selects and limited invincibility can be a way of bypassing early levels you can beat whenever you want w/o the investment of time. Lastly, you might be able to make your own just by dicking around with the numbers and letters, and the amount of codes made by more capable inventors available on the internet dwarfs what was created during the console's lifespan--much of which stuff will not be for cheating.

[TmEE]

Yeah, paid 99 cents for a Game Genie. Would need some convincing for a $50 upgrade to the PAR2. The PAR exclusive codes I normally want to use are emulator (RAM) specific.
PAR2 CAN do RAM codes :P

[Kyle]

PAR2 CAN do RAM codes :P
Darn, I guess I'll have to set up a search then to see if I can ever snag one of these for a decent price.

[108 Stars]

Well, he said:


A friend (who wishes to stay anonymouse) modded mine with a 60Hz switch, so I should be able to play US games once I start importing.

So he is obviously from PAL territory. And around here, PAR 2 is more common than Game Genie. And it should not cost 50 $, but more like 15 - 25 including box, manua and codebook.

[The Jackal]

Well, he said:So he is obviously from PAL territory. And around here, PAR 2 is more common than Game Genie. And it should not cost 50 $, but more like 15 - 25 including box, manua and codebook.Really?! Ebay sellers make it out to be RARE!!1 and expect 25 GBP + for it (one twat wanted 100 one time)! And you don't get that many pop up on there either!

[108 Stars]

You´ve gotta wait for auctios, not BIN. I´ve seen several end in that price range.
I also visit German forums, there are sometimes PAR 2 for sale from members, and they never ask too much either. It´s just the question if you can be patient or want it now. :)

I bought mine back in the day, and Datel sold it with a free copy of Ishido.

[KnightWarrior]

How about the GG Code for Streets of Rage 3 that let's you play as Ash

[tz101]

Of course, get a GG for Mega Drive. They are super cheap and easy to find. Exploring previously beaten games with cheats is always fun.

[llj]

I only have one to play a handful of imports. I only use it for cheats when my creampuff siblings and friends can't keep up with me in two player co-op games.

[Bones Justice]

Game Genie is also good for sports games. You can find codes to change period lengths, change the playclock, or change how many points scoring plays are worth. It's a good way to handicap in multiplayer matches.

I also agree that the Game Genie is a good way to level select for games that don't allow you to save. Often when I'm playing games on the road, I have to stop playing on a moments notice which could be frustrating if I had just spent thirty minutes getting to a certain point in the game!

The only real cheat I can remember using was for Mortal Kombat 2 or 3 back in the nineties. I was the only one that knew or could do fatalities when everyone was over for the holiday. So I put in the Game Genie code that allowed one-hit fatalities; after that everybody wanted a turn.

[TheSonicRetard]

Game Genie is also good for sports games. You can find codes to change period lengths, change the playclock, or change how many points scoring plays are worth. It's a good way to handicap in multiplayer matches.

I also agree that the Game Genie is a good way to level select for games that don't allow you to save. Often when I'm playing games on the road, I have to stop playing on a moments notice which could be frustrating if I had just spent thirty minutes getting to a certain point in the game!

The only real cheat I can remember using was for Mortal Kombat 2 or 3 back in the nineties. I was the only one that knew or could do fatalities when everyone was over for the holiday. So I put in the Game Genie code that allowed one-hit fatalities; after that everybody wanted a turn.

Incidentally, with regards to MK2 on the genesis, you can use "Player 1 always fights {character}" codes and jump into a 2 player game to play as normally unplayable characters, namely Kintaro, Shao Kahn, Jade, Noob Saibot, and Smoke. They're all very screwed up and will cause the game to crash occasionally, but back in the day it was one of the coolest uses I found for my game genie.