Bioshock Infinite doesn’t launch until tomorrow (expect a review as soon as I finish the game myself,) but someone has already figured out a neat “cheat” that will grant you immediate access to the game’s hardest difficulty mode.
The game’s ultra hard “1999 Mode” is usually unlocked once you complete the game for the first time, but those looking for a challenge right away can unlock the extra difficulty immediately by inputting the classic Konami Code at the game’s title screen. If you’re too young to remember the Konami Code (or if you’re too old and your memory has started to go,) here’s a refresher:
Xbox 360: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, then A.
PS3: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Circle, then X.
PC: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, (key mapped to “Cancel”,) then (key mapped to “Confirm.”)
Ken Levine, Irrational Games’ Creative Director, said that the “1999 Mode” was designed with “old-school gamers” in mind, so it makes sense that it’d be unlocked using the most famous cheat code from the 8 and 16 bit eras. The 1999 Mode reportedly features more aggressive enemies, scarcer ammo and resources, and limited respawns.