10 Most Ridiculously Difficult Video Game Cheat Codes

9. Exploding Lara - Tomb Raider II

Crash Bandicoot
Eidos

The pre-reboot Tomb Raider franchise sure had an eccentric approach to cheat codes, as rather than simply input a string of commands, players had to actually perform a set of physical movements while controlling Lara Croft.

As anyone who's played the original four games knows, the controls were never their strong suit, with Lara responding to player inputs in infuriatingly sluggish fashion.

And so, pulling off a sequence of precise movements is a whole lot harder than it really needs to be, ensuring the series' cheat codes are no picnic to execute.

Perhaps the most infamous cheat code in the series - beyond the fake nude cheat, of course - is Tomb Raider II's "exploding Lara" cheat, which does exactly what it says.

The precise sequence varies depending on the version of the game you're playing, but basically entails making a few sidesteps, taking a step back and a step forward, spinning around three times on the spot, and then jumping either backwards or forwards.

It sounds easy enough, but early Tomb Raider's controls felt like wading through treacle, and so making Lara explode - let alone pulling off any of the other cheats - was nothing short of a Sisyphean feat.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.