Who doesn’t love video game cheat codes? There are so many that have become iconic in the world of gaming, and even more that we all wish we could use in real life. The thing is, it’s not just you and I that would use game cheats, there are more than a few game characters that would as well.
I’m not just talking about aesthetic cheat codes like a big-head mode either (although I’m sure some of these people would love that), I’m talking about those cheats that make someone unstoppable. Heck, even some ordinary enemies in games feel like they’re using cheats, so they wouldn’t be above it.
10 Bowser
If the Super Mario movie has taught us anything, it’s that Bowser will do anything to get his hands on Peaches. It is that very thing that makes it clear the iconic villain would be willing to use a few cheat codes to finally defeat that plumber and his pesky mustache.
He’s actually tried to use invulnerability cheats before, although they’ve ended up not working out in the long run. You’ll never convince me that Bowser doesn’t actively use an infinite lives cheat, since he always manages to come back again and again.
9 Aerith Gainsborough
There's a popular fan theory that Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Aerith has knowledge of the events of the original game, and may have resurrected herself through the Lifestream. This means that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is actually a kind of sequel to the original game, and, yes, Aerith is a cheater. She gave herself infinite lives and max wisdom, for sure.
The theory could be wrong, but it would bring a whole new level of depth to the changed events of the Remake timeline. That cool theory doesn’t matter, everyone’s favorite flower girl isn’t quite as pure as she may seem.
8 Handsome Jack
You already know that Handsome Jack would be the kind of person who would activate every cheat code possible, even if they conflicted with one another. He’d just want as much ammo as possible to be able to make fun of anyone who crossed his path.
He’d be laughing hysterically at big head mode, and then laughing all over again once he realized he’d turned on paintball mode as well. Forget any cheats that actually made his life easier, Handsome Jack might be the one character who actually cares more about cosmetic cheats.
7 Leon Kennedy
Even with his super-serious remake appearance in Resident Evil 4, I still think Leon would be the kind of guy to run around with an infinite ammo cheat on. He just seems like the type who'd wants to bask in all of his action-hero glory for as long as he can, and never running out of bullets is a perfect way to do that.
Even worse, he’d probably just run around with a rocket launcher that mysteriously always has a rocket loaded in it even after firing one. Who needs creative cheats when Leon could use the ones that the developers add into most of their games anyway?
6 Luigi
Luigi would use cheats if he could, because we all know it’s time that he stepped out of his brother’s shadow. Forget Mario actually jumping on the moon, my guy Luigi would be breaking out that moon-jump cheat code to leave his brother in shame.
All will be forced to bow at the might of Luigi’s ridiculously high leg-flailing jumps. Mario might be Jump Man, but once Luigi is done with him, the green plumber is going to be The Jump Man. Or he’d do something silly like spawn himself a car, that sounds like a Luigi move.
5 Sephiroth
Sephiroth is also on the whole actually having the same consciousness from the original game theory, so the One-Winged Angel is already using an extra lives code. Anyone with multiple boss forms and potential survival in the lifestream has to be using one, right?
Maybe I’ve been wrong the whole time. Maybe both Sephiroth and Aerith are actually using a second quest cheat, like the Zelda code from the original Legend of Zelda, and it’s been right in front of our faces the entire time. Probably not, but wouldn't that be cool?
4 Link
Link would absolutely go all the way and give himself complete invulnerability for his adventures. I’ve played Breath Of The Wild, I know how shockingly common it is to be struck by lightning in the middle of an adventure, and I know just how much damage it can do (14.5 hearts without armor, I've checked).
He wouldn’t even have to worry about recovering any pesky memories and finding any actual story. Link could just mosey on right to the castle and take on Calamity Ganon and his blights right from the start, and he wouldn’t even need the skill of a speed runner who’s sunk far too many hours into the game.
3 Mega Man
Mega Man has always struck me as just a twisted little guy. Because of that, I have a feeling the sick little hero would use the classic blood code from Mortal Kombat, so he could relish the destruction his little lemon shots were dishing out.
Most of his enemies are robots, but they could lose oil or something. It would shift the Mega Man games from friendly action adventures to a much more serious mission since when he finally got Wily, he’d be giving him the Max Payne treatment.
2 Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn already feels like he’s using cheat codes pretty much any time you fight him in any of the Mortal Kombat games. He’d be the type to load up on as many cheats as he could, specifically something that gave him super armor and enhanced speed.
It would take Shao Kahn from feeling unfair and making him truly unfair as glowing hammer after glowing hammer connects with your chosen fighter’s head. I’m sorry for giving everyone flashbacks to those horrible boss fights, but if I had to remember those awful moments, you do too.
1 Commander Shepard
If anyone remembers the days of playing Age Of Empires 2 and enjoying all those goofy cheat codes, you’ll probably know exactly what I think Commander Shepard would use. Who needs to focus on raising an army across the galaxy when you can spawn an army of sports cars with bazookas?
Mass Effect would be a very different epic of a story if Shepard charged into his final battle on Earth with an army of blue sports cars by their side. Somehow, even though it sounds ridiculous, it’s totally the kind of thing that you can picture in Mass Effect.