Remember the good ole days... when the Konami Code was Godlike and impossibly difficult games can be won with an "invincibility code" or" Unlimited Ammo"? I do. In fact, when I was younger, I actually had a binder with a collection of all the cheat codes and password needed to finish any game I played on my NES. Even SNES, Genesis and PS1, PS2 had them, and they made the game fun at times.

Where have they all gone? Now-a-days, the only thing you can do it get a virtual trophy or points. Big Deal. Plus, in order to get a new outfit or pretty colored gun, you still have to play through the whole game first. Afterwards you can get this "bonus" just so you can play through the game again. How does that make any sense? The game would be more rewarding if I can get my hands on that "bonus" while playing the game for the first time. Not the second time, on Super-extreme-hard mode. Why would I torture myself by playing this impossible mode of the game to get this weapon or outfit? After playing that mode, I dont wanna go through the game again. Just betaing the game without throwing my controller through the screen would be rewarding enough. Most of the games today dont even have that high of a replay value anyway, hence the reason Gamestop makes so much money off trade-ins. Players get bored and give their games back to the retailer for something new anyway. So much for that shiney new weapon or sexy outfit you just spend your last bit of sanity on.

Developers need to re-establish the real Cheat Codes. The passwords and button configurations that gave me reason to wanna play games. Take GTA for example. EVERYONE used the chat codes and the game was so much more fun afterwards. Otherwise, it would not have had any replay value because the missions were repetative and boring. But add in unlimited ammo, tanks, health and rocket launchers and BAM! people couldn't out the game down if they wanted to.

I have to work long hours and I honestly dont have the time to dedicate hours and hours to any one game. I have been called a cheater because I always try to use the strategy guide for my games. Really??? Does that really make me a cheater... or just more efficient? Since my time is valuable and limited, I have to make the best use of it and a strategy guide does that for me. Why wonder aimlessly around, looking for a clue to a puzzle that was 3 caves, 2 towns and 5 hours ago? Or why miss out on the best weapons and armor in side quests that I would normally miss because they aren't obvious in the games main storyline? This just re-establishes my need and want for the return of cheat codes. Give me that password that restores my health or mana. Give me an extra thousand dollars to buy back my inventory that I just sold to get that key to open the dungeon just to find out later that the secret entrance was right around the corner or inside a tree.

I really think players would be happy to see some cheat codes return. Maybe not in the capacity as they were in the past. (Every game had them) But at least let me have that option, just in case I cant seem to beat that Boss or find that item I desperately need. So much playing time would be saved and we would be able to finish the game and maybe even consider replaying it, now knowing that if we get stuck, there are codes to help make things easier.

Now I know everyone will come after me saying I want the challenge taken away from games which is not true. I just want the option to jump into an army of enemies and slaughter them all wihtout fear of dying, just for the fun factor alone. Give me millions of money to buy the biggest house and best weapons so the replay value of my games would skyrocket. Bring back some of the fun that cheat codes brought to GTA and Contra! I dont care about a PS3 trophy or Gamerpoints... reward me with invincibility or infinite ammo!

Ahhh... the good ole days. UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, B, A, START ;)