MagicEngine

[GameMasterZer0]

[Tutorial] How To Find Energy/Health (Unknown Search)
Written By GMO/GameMasterZer0 of Team CMP/CodeMasters-Project

In today’s lesson, we are going to search for the infamous energy/health/health points/HP/vitality/life… whatever your game calls health. Now health can be represented by many things in-game such has bars, hearts, meters, etc. The current issue we are having is saying, “Hey, I see three hearts! It must mean 3-Hit Point!” WRONG! You see three hearts, but we do not know the value of each heart. We are going to find this health address with an unknown search and determine the value of each heart.

Today’s example will be Bonk’s Adventure!

Let us start the game and notice on the top-left corner of the screen, there are three hearts.


Right-click the screen, click on MISC, and click on CHEAT, and start an unknown search


Now that the unknown search has begun, continue to play the game and get damaged by an enemy


Let us head back to the cheat menu and click on the – button

We got about 111 results, and we want lower that results number

[GameMasterZer0]

Continue to play the game and get damaged by an enemy again


Let us head back to the cheat menu and click on the – button again

We got about 18 results, and we definitely can do better.

Continue to play the game and get damaged by an enemy yet again


Let us head back to the cheat menu and click on the – button yet again

We got about 6 results. We can definitely try the testing phase now.

[GameMasterZer0]

In the cheat menu, click on the first address F821B2 to highlight it and then click on the Add button. You can add a description if you like, but most importantly put an X in the blank slot next to “Freeze Value”. Resume playing the game to see if you can lose any health.

Unfortunately, the game screen froze and the game needed to be reset. Disable or remove F821B2 from your list; I disabled and made a note it froze the game.

Let us try the next address F82DB4 and put an X in the blank slot next to “Freeze Value”.


Resume playing the game to see if you can lose any health


Congratulations!
We have found a working health code. Since we had to restart the game, the current value 15 is the current full health. So if we take 15 and divide by 3… Each heart is worth 5 health points! Now, the reason I stated current health points is because in some games you can increase your health points and gain additional hearts. Let us test this theory out and add an additional 5 to the value making it 20 to see if we get an additional heart…


The result is still three hearts, but at least we tried.
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My Turbo GrafX-16/ PC-Engine Code Database Click HERE
My Turbo GrafX-CD/ PC-Engine CD Code Database Click HERE

[GameMasterZer0]

Another good example we can use would be
Neutopia!

It uses a bar system similar to hearts and would make an excellent example.


On the top-middle, of the screen, you see LIFE is represented by bars, but what is each bar valued t?


Before we continue with the tutorial, I am going to create a Save State for later.
Right-click the screen, click on SAVE STATE, and pick any slot available. Continue with the tutorial.

Right-click the screen, click on MISC, and click on CHEAT, and start an unknown search


Continue to play the game and get damaged by an enemy


Let us head back to the cheat menu and click on the – button

We got 106 results, but we want to lower that

[GameMasterZer0]

Continue to play the game and get damaged by an enemy again


Let us head back to the cheat menu and click on the – button

Oh we got 14 results!! Let us get damaged some more.


Let us head back to the cheat menu and click on the – button

Seven results!!! We can start testing…

[GameMasterZer0]

Bypassing quite a number of unsuccessful codes…

The final address F834C5 is a working life address!

I am going to disable the code, and take the X off the Freeze Value slot. Right-click the screen, click on LOAD STATE, and pick the previously created Save State. You should be at full life now.


Enter the Cheat men, and observe the cheat you found and the value is at 40.

40 divided by five bars equals 8 points per Life bar.

Your current Life code is F834C5:40. What I mean by current is the code is not complete. If you play the game you will eventually get Life upgrades from the labyrinths and hidden monks. Also, it’s important to keep the Life code updated because your current Life affects your Flame-Throwing Wand’s Spell Rank. You want that spell at full power always.
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My Turbo GrafX-16/ PC-Engine Code Database Click HERE
My Turbo GrafX-CD/ PC-Engine CD Code Database Click HERE

[GameMasterZer0]

To see what your Life code should really look like, add the code F8352E:128 for Max Life Bars.


Let us do some math real quick. 16 bars times eight life points each equals 128. Some we are going to update the current value of your Life code



Congratulations!
Your Life code is now complete.
F834C5:128
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My Turbo GrafX-16/ PC-Engine Code Database Click HERE
My Turbo GrafX-CD/ PC-Engine CD Code Database Click HERE