Hmm, I just finished up a review of Galoob’s excellent Game Genie for the Genesis (look for it on Sega-16 tomorrow), and it got me thinking about “game enhancers” in general. Long the butt of jokes and criticism, they have nevertheless managed to sustain themselves and even evolve, right alongside the industry. Since 1990, we’ve gone from Game Genie to Game Shark to Pro Action Replay, and I estimate that it’s only a matter of time before we see them appear on store shelves for the Xbox 360 and its next gen brethren. Despite all the negative vibes heaped upon them, their longevity signifies one single, undeniable fact:

People like to cheat.

Sure, I guess those that do aren’t considered “hardcore” and badass and such nonsense. I ask you though: who really cares? At this stage of the game, does it really matter if I had to beat Chronicles of Riddick using a cheat code or game enhancer? Are the hardcore police going to beat down my door and taser my ass until I admit guilt and beg for mercy? Honestly folks, what’s the big deal?

I guess it was once a matter of pride, back when I was in high school and it was of the utmost importance to be the first to beat a particular title. Such was the insanity that made me play through Super Hydlide on the Genesis and Drakken on the SNES. It was always a contest to find harder and longer games to beat them a pulso, as we say in Spanish, which can best be translated as “cold turkey.” Yep, back then it was something you took seriously and carried around like a medal. See him? He’s the guy that 1-credited Double Dragon 2!

Nowadays, it’s a different story. I simply haven’t the time nor the inclination to suffer through Chakan. What’s that Galoob? You have an invincibility code for me? I’ll take it, along with a side of infinite potions! As time passes and my old school skills fade like sand sculptures at high tide, it becomes less and less important how I beat a game. These days, I just want to beat it, period. For that reason, I have a slew of cheat devices and use them all. That’s right, I admit it. Am I a scrub? Maybe. Am I less hardcore than those who don’t use them? Probably. One thing’s for sure, I’ll still have all my hair when I hit forty, and my kids won’t learn so many obscenities (at least not from me).