Nintendo Wii Fanboy

The internet has made it easy to find cheats for games, but we miss the tips pages from game magazines, when the discovery of a new code could inspire you to go back to an old game. These codes aren't exactly new, but oldness is the essence of the Virtual Console! We're bringing back the classic codes every week on The VC Advantage.

There is a notable lack of pirate-themed games on the Virtual Console. It's not that there aren't enough swashbuckling games on supported systems-- there's everything from the good (Uncharted Waters) to Sküljagger (Sküljagger).

It makes it hard for us to do our job, which is writing a thematically-appropriate VC Advantage on Talk Like a Pirate Day. So, in the absence of real high-seas adventure, here are cheats for a couple of vaguely pirate-esque games. Just go with it.

Bonanza Bros. (GEN):
Invincibility Glitch: Bonanza Bros. is a game about two burglars-- the pirates of the land. In order to flout even the game's laws and take advantage of a glitch, just step on a rake right before you're about to be hit by a bullet. You'll turn invincible until your next item pickup.

Super Metroid (SNES):
Refill Energy Tanks: Everybody knows about this one already, and it's not much of a cheat, but more of a secret. But Super Metroid is rife with Space Pirates-- the pirates of space-- and thus fits perfectly in today's VC Advantage.

To refill your energy tanks, you can use the "Crystal Flash" technique, which requires at least 10 Missiles, 10 Super Missiles, and 11 Power Bombs. It also requires that you have less than 49 Energy. Select Power Bombs and activate the Morph Ball. Hold L, R, Shoot, and down. You'll detonate a whole bunch of stuff and regain energy.

[Codes via GameFAQs]