GameShark

A physical GameShark device for use with the Nintendo 64.

The GameShark is a cheating device designed for the Nintendo 64 console. GameShark is frequently used to hack Super Smash Bros., similar to how the Action Replay is used to hack into Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Apart from simply cheating at the game, it is useful for accessing content that is not normally available, such as the debug menu. Common examples include fighting in typically unaccessible stages (such as Final Destination, the "demo" stage, and beta versions of Dream Land) and playing as a normally non-playable character (such as Metal Mario, Master Hand, Giant Donkey Kong, or a member of the Fighting Polygons).

The use of GameShark with Super Smash Bros. can also trigger numerous glitches, the most common one forcing the player to play as Mario in the 1P Game even after the GameShark has been removed. The only known way to undo these glitches is to erase the game data.

Abilities in Super Smash Bros.

The result of using several GameShark codes simultaneously. Here, the device can make non-playable characters playable on a playable stage. From left to right: Metal Mario, Polygon Captain Falcon, Master Hand, and Giant Donkey Kong on Saffron City.

By using a GameShark for Super Smash Bros., a player can do the following things:

Characters

Users are able to play as non-playable characters using this this device. It includes:

• Master Hand
• Metal Mario
• Fighting Polygon Team
  • Users can play as the polygon versions of every character in the game.
• Giant Donkey Kong

Stages

• Duel Zone
• Final Destination
• Kirby Beta Stage 1
• Kirby Beta Stage 2
• Race to the Finish

Other Features

• Users have the ability to see the Congratulations screens of every character in the game. However, if they attempt to view the Congratulations screen of a non-playable character, the game will crash.
• Users can adjust the damage percentage of every player.
• Users can go to any stage of 1P mode.
• Users are able to make CPUs walk, run, stop, or attack.
  • There is also a "demo" option that makes the player literally do nothing. The animation won't play and the player can't attack or touch it.

System Debug

• The player can play all sound effects, including ones not included in the final game.
• The player can test match-end animations.
• The player can watch "New Character Signals" for every character.

Uses in Project 64k and Mupen 64K

Gameshark is used often in emulators to unlock characters and stages instantly, as it is usually difficult to save with emulators in online play. To solve this, the "unlock all characters" and "Mushroom Kingdom" (to unlock item switch) cheats are switched back off and on at the beginning of the match. Failure to do this usually causes a desynch, as the first player is playing with a different set of codes than the second player and so on.

Trivia

The GameShark was originally designed for the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn and released in 1996, with the Nintendo 64 version being released in 1997.