Hints and Help for MSX Games
Hints for the hints:
- Key combinations generally must be typed fast, while the proper screen
is displayed, or else you will have to restart the sequence. For example,
in "Yie Ar Kung-Fu II", you must enter the sequence of letters
while the title is on screen. If the demo starts, you will have to reenter
the sequence from the beginning. Practice a little before, 'cause some
combinations are really long.
- Key combinations, like in "Majou Densetsu - Knightmare", must
be hold, that is, they are not key press sequences, but
simultaneous key pressing, which must be kept pressed as required (read
the explanation carefully before starting).
- After typing a password, generally it is required that you press
<Carriage Return> (also called <Enter> in some keyboards).
When a password or key combination must NOT be followed by
<C.R.>, it is explicitly explained so.
- Though passwords and key combinations are written in capital letters
here, they are generally not required to be entered so. Indeed, except
when explicitly denoted, they shouldn't be entered in upper case (using
<Caps Lock> or <Shift> keys, because they could interfere with
the input). Just type the sequences or press the keys as indicated.
Many Spectrum convertions have an annoying code check to
prevent someone that has not finished the first part of a game to play the
sequels. Some of those codes are also here.
After The War - Part I
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After The War - Part II
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After The War - Part II (x), action game. The start code is
11423.
Arkanoid (1986 Taito), a more elaborated version of the
classical game "Breakout". This game has two different secret
combinations. The first gives you a lot of lives: in the title screen, hold
the <Up Arrow> and the <Down Arrow>, press four (4)
times the <Kana> key (called <Code> or <LGRAPH> in
non-japanese machines), then press <Space> and wait till the game
starts. The second combination takes you to the last stage: in the title
screen, hold the <Left Arrow> and the <Right Arrow>,
press four times the <Kana> key, then press
<Space>.
Arkos - Part I
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Arkos - Part II
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Arkos - Part III
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Arkos - Part III (1987 Arcadia), (boring) action game. The start
code is 35098.
Army Moves - Part I
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Army Moves - Part II
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Army Moves - Part II (1987 Dynamic), plataform game. The start
code is 37215.
Crusader (19xx Compile), a plataform game. You
can select the starting stage, holding, in the title screen, the
<Select> key and pressing <Insert> to advance or <Delete> to
return. Press <Space> to confirm the choice.
F-1 Spirit - The Way to Formula 1 (1987 Konami). This game has
five special key-words (enter them in the password screen):
- ESCON: <F5> key allows you, in any select screen, to return
to the main menu. During a race, there is no way, by default, to quit and
return to the main menu, that is, you must end the race. Using this password
allows you to press <F5> key to quit a race instantly and return to
the main menu.
- ESCOFF: this turns off <F5> key to quit a race, that is, the
key has no effect (this is default).
- HYPEROFF: this password speeds up the mechanicians in the pit-stop
boxes.
- MAXPOINT: allows you to access all circuits (normally, you must win
previous races to get access to the next courses).
- MITAIYOENDDEMO: allows you to see the ending demo of this game (not
that reaching it is that hard, but takes some time). The password means
"I want to see the ending demo", in Japanese).
Freddy Hardest - Part I
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Freddy Hardest - Part II
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Freddy Hardest - Part II (1987 Dynamic), plataform game. The
start code is 897653.
Game Over - Part I
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Game Over - Part II
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Game Over - Part II (1988 Dinamic), plataform game. The start
code is 65535.
ゴファー の 野望 ー Episode II ("Go-fa- no Yabou, Episode
II", 1988 Konami), shoot'em up, the sequel to "Gradius 2" and
"Salamander". This game has some secret passwords (press <F1>
key and type them):
- GOOD: makes the game easier.
- HARD: makes the game harder.
- EXPAND: extends the resistance of the shield.
- FIND: marks hidden points with a blinking star.
The Goonies (1986 Konami), plataform game. When you finish a
stage, a password is given. Pressing <Control> and <K> keys on the
title screen will allow you to enter a password and jump to the respective
stage:
- GOONIES
- MR SLOTH
- GOON DOCKS
- DOUBLOON
- ONE EYED WILLY
Gradius (1986 Konami), the shoot'em up game that revived the MSX
soul in the middle of the 1980's. It has lots of secret passwords and four
secret stages. Most passwords can be used only once until you clear all
stages. Generally, only one weapon password may be used in the same stage.
These are the general passwords:
- MISSILE: activates the missiles (level 2).
- DOUBLE: activates the double cannon.
- LASER: activates the laser beams (level 2).
- OPTION: activates the options (2).
- SHIELD: activates the energy shield.
- HYPER: activates the missiles (level 2), the laser (level 2),
two options and the shield. This works only once in a game.
- DOWN: speed down.
- AHO or BAKA: finishes the game (game over).
These passwords do the same as "HYPER", but can be
used even if that has already been used. They can only be used in the correct
normal stage:
- MOMOKO
- CHIE
- AKEMI
- SYUKO
- CHIAKI
- NORIKO
- SATOE
- YASUKO
The secret stages are far more difficult to go through than
the normal stages. I recommend the use of the double cannon, instead of the
laser beam. These are for the secret stage passwords (put your ship in the
indicated locations to enter the secret stages):
KINUYO: the entrance is in a stone cave near the end of stage 2.
HISAE: the entrance is between two "moai" heads in the
middle of stage 3.
Stage 1
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Stage 4 - First Cave
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Stage 4 - Second Cave
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MIYUKI: the entrance to the third secret stage must be activated
before usage. To do so, you must fly through the mountain caves in stage 1
and beginning of stage 4. The entrance is in the second mountain cave of
stage 4.
YOHKO: the entrance is under the top arm of the stage boss. Hint:
enter before the boss completely scrolls in, because it is very difficult
to avoid its shots to reach the secret entrance.
Guardic (1986 Compile), a shoot'em up in a huge maze. The goal
is to defeat the boss ships (there are two in the maze, whose rooms disappear
after the battle, making the third and last boss' room show up). You can buy
power-ups to your Guardic to clear the enemies from a room (the credits
are yellow balls that appear in some rooms). There are two secret screens in
this game, both activated by the sequence of arrows <Left>,
<Right>, <Left>, <Right>, <Left>,
<Right>:
- Practice Mode: enter the sequence in the main title screen.
- Music Mode: after a few seconds, the main title screen goes out
and the high-score screen appears. Enter the sequence in the high-score
screen.
火 の 鳥 ― 鳳凰編 (Hinotori - Houoo Hen, 1987 Konami, Kadokawa
Shoten and Tezuka Productions). The function keys activate special
commands (to exit, press <Space>):
- <F1>: pause the game. Pressing <Home> key will show a
password that allows you to restore the game later. To enter a game or
secret password, press <Home> again.
- <F2>: allows you to "purchase" a new weapon (the
credits are the feathers you collect).
- <F3>: shows the item inventory.
- <F4>: shows the stage map (you lose one map each time you use
this).
- <F5>: shows the world map (you must collect the scroll maps,
one in each stage). It also allows you to go to other stages, if you have a
compass.
In the password input screen, you can enter these secret
passwords (they can be used only once):
- AUTOSHOT: gives you autoshooting.
- DOKODEMOMAP: gives you all world maps (it means "map of
everywhere").
- FULLITEMDAYOON: makes you have one of each item (be carefull, you
will lose items if you already have more than one of any).
- GAOOOOOOOOOOH: gives you ten more lives (Gao is the name of the
main character). There are ten "O" in this password (it's like
someone calling Gaoooo...)
- HANEYOKAGAYAKE: when you destroy a golden totem, it releases a
feather. Most feathers are common, but some give you ten times more credits
(the blinking feathers). This password makes all feathers blink (it means
"feathers, shine!").
- HAYAME: this makes you have up to three ladybugs
("Hayame" is the name of a character of the original animation
movie, she is the reason for Gao's quest...)
- HOIHOIHOINOHOI: gives you infinite compasses (it means "spin,
spin and spin!")
- ILOVEHINOTORI: this will make you invulnerable (though you still
can be crushed by the scenario scroll).
- KINOOOIHITODANE: gives you all square stones (it means
"yesterday was a good day!").
- KOKOWADOKO: makes you have up to six maps (it means "where is
here?")
- METALSLAVE: makes you have two hundred feathers.
- NANDANANDANANDA: when you die, you don't lose a life (it means
"what, what, what?")
- SUPERBALL: gives you all round stones.
- TURBO: gives you maximum speed up.
- ULTRABOX: makes you have nine boxes.
- ENDDEMOGAMITAINA: you can see the ending demo of the game by
entering this password (it means "I want to see the ending demo").
Description of the items:
- Box: you can continue the game, after you have lost your last life,
by pressing <F5> key. If you have a box, you won't lose your items
when you continue.
- Compass: allows you to select another stage. Press <F5> key,
select with the arrow keys and press <Space> to go to the chosen stage
(you lose the compass, except if you have got it using the corresponding
secret password).
- Ladybug: each ladybug gives you two more shots (without any one,
there may be up to two shots on the screen).
- Map: stage map.
- Scroll Map: world map.
- Slippers: speed up.
Jack Chan, The Protector (?), a fighting game.
You can advance one stage pressing <1>, <T> and <O> at the
same time.
仔猫の大冒険 ー チビちゃんがいく (Koneko no Daibouken -
Tchibitchan ga iku ["kitten's great adventure - Tchibitchan is
going"], also known as "Cat Adventure", 1986 Casio), a
plataform game, "Super Mario" clone. Your character can become
invulnerable (except for abyss falls) if you hold <Up Arrow>,
<Left Arrow>, <Right Arrow>, <Select> and
<Space> keys, until the game starts.
魔城伝説 (Majou Densetsu - Knightmare ["legend of the
supernatural castle"], 1986 Konami), an action/shoot'em up game. It has
a lot of secrets, like hidden magical boxes on the ground and secret
passages that allow the main character, Popolon, to move through the screen
edges. The game can become really hard at some stages. To help you, there
are three special key combinations available, which cannot be used at the
same time (you may choose only one):
- Hold <Left Arrow>, <Right Arrow> and <N> key, then press
and hold <Select> key until the game starts. This will give you 25
lives in the beginning, instead of 2.
- Hold <Left Arrow>, <Right Arrow> and <I> key, then press
and hold <Select> key until the game starts. Now, when you press the
<Select> key in the game, Popolon will become invisible for a while.
You can use this only three times.
- Hold <Left Arrow>, <Right Arrow> and <Y> key, then press
and hold <Select> key until the game starts. Just like in the previous
key combination, when you press <Select>, Popolon will become
invisible for a while, but you can use this trick as many times as you want.
The following is a brief description of some items you may
find in the game:
- Power-up Capsule: floating sphere, has a large "P" in
the center. When you shoot at this item, it shifts its colours: black
(points), blue (speed-up, cumulative), cyan (shield), red (temporary
invulnerability, but you cannot fire, just "step on" the enemies),
white (temporary invisibility, like that given by the special hints).
- Magical Box: square, found on the ground, has a "?"
printed when closed. When you shoot enough at them, they open, revealing
their contents: barrier (grey block, cannot be destroyed), chess tower
(cyan, points), chess knight (blue horse-head mega bomb, destroys all
enemies on the screen), chess queen (red, freezes the screen and enemies for
a while), chess king (yellow, gives an extra life).
- Weapon Capsule: gleaming floating sphere. When you shoot at it, the
weapon icons shift. Some weapons have two levels (you can take two capsules
to make them stronger or more numerous). Only one weapon can be used at a
time (when you choose another one, the previous is lost).
Navy Moves - Part I
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Navy Moves - Part II
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Navy Moves - Part II (1989 Dinamic), action game. The start code
is 53817.
Phantis - Part I
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Phantis - Part II
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Phantis - Part II (1987 Dinamic), plataform game. The start code
is 18757.
Salamander (1987 Konami), as already explained, needs the
Gradius 2 game cartridge active at cartridge slot 2 to show the true
ending.
Scion (?), a shoot'em up with multiplane scenario. Press
on the title screen, at the same time, <1>, <5> and <0> keys
to start with 80 lives.
Sol Negro - Part I
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Sol Negro - Part II
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Sol Negro - Part II (Opera Soft), (confusing) action game. The
start code is 2414520.
賢者乃石 - The Stone of Wisdom (Kendjya no Ishi ["stone of
the wise man"], 1986 Casio), a labyrinth game. Your character can become
invulnerable if you hold <Control>, <Y> and <Select> keys on
the "Casio" title screen. Press <Space> and wait until the
game starts. The objetive of the game is to collect pieces of a tapestry.
Hitting the walls with your sword will reveal hidden passages. Collect the
crystal balls, which are used to purchase the pieces of the tapestry in a
special room without enemies (just step on the piece you want and press
<Space> - I'm not sure about this).
Titanic - Part I
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Titanic - Part II
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Titanic (Part I and II) (1988 Topo Soft), action game. The start
code for part II is SUSIE. Both games have a secret key combination
that gives infinite lives: press, at the same time,
<2>+<3>+<5>+<8> any time in the game (just once is
enough to activate the trick).
Twinbee (1986 Konami), a classical shoot'em up. To help
the player, there is a bell inside each cloud. When you shoot at a cloud, the
bell pops out. Shooting at a bell will make it shift its colours, giving you
different things if you can catch them:
- Yellow: score.
- Green: two "options" (they are like shadow copies of your ship,
imaterial, following you and shooting with the same weapon you are using).
- Cyan: speed up.
- White: double shooter.
- Red: shield (a protection barrier that absorbs some shots and impacts).
- Black: destroys your ship.
You will start the game with the options and the shield if
you hold the <Z> key and press <Tab> to start. This combination
only works for one player mode (it automatically selects the mode). In two
players mode, if Twinbee (cyan craft) and Winbee (red craft) have the same
speed, they can join "hand-to-hand" and fire a super blast. Still in
two players mode, if one craft is hit by the other from behind, it will fire
four multidirectional shots. Two good players can have a lot of fun from this
one.
TZR Grandprix Rider (1986 Japan ASCII), motorcycle race game. On
the track screen, press <Esc> and the corresponding password to select
the stage:
- default, no code required
- RAIN
- DUNE
- COLD
- DUSK
- DARK
- BLIN
- DAWN
Warroid (1984/1985 Yellowhorn, released by Japan ASCII Co.), a
robot battle game. You can select the initial stage: enter in the
configuration screen, pressing the <Escape> key. Hold <Select> and
<Backspace> keys and press <Insert> to advance stages or
<Delete> to return stages.
闇 の 竜王 ー ハデス の 紋章 (Yami no Ryuuou - Hadesu no
Monshyou ["Dragon King of Darkness - Hades Figures], also known as
"Leon"), a "Majou Densetsu - Knightmare" clone, except
that the scenario doesn't scroll automatically, it requires you to
"push" it along. To make your character invulnerable, in the title
screen keep <Tab> and <Caps Lock> keys pressed, then press
<Space> or trigger to start the game.
Yie Ar Kung-Fu II - イーガー 皇帝 の 逆襲 (Yie-Gah Koutei no
Gyakushyuu = Counterattack of Emperor Yie-Gah, 1985 Konami), a classical
fighting game. You can start with 94 lives if, on the title screen, you type
the following sequence of keys:
E S S C C C F F F F. The
game will automatically start for one player.
夢大陸 アドベンチャー (Yume Tairiku
Adobentchya ["adventure in the dream continent"], also named
"Penguin Adventure", 1986 Konami), one of the best games ever
made, has many secrets, all explained in a specially
dedicated Page.
Zanac
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Zanac Second Release
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Zanac (1986 Compile, released by Pony Canyon), a very fast
shoot'em up, and hard, too. There are two different releases of this
game, each with different maps, and lots of hints that may help you to reach
the ending:
Page last modified on 2002-May-13 Monday.
Page under construction.