Alphanumeric strings, when entered into a specific device connected to a Super Nintendo Entertainment System, altered the behavior of the “Super Mario World” game. These modifications ranged from granting invincibility to changing character attributes or level layouts. For instance, a user could input a sequence that allowed Mario to always possess a Cape Feather, bypassing the need to find the item in the game.
Such alterations provided players with the ability to experience familiar games in novel ways, circumventing difficulty, enabling exploration of previously inaccessible areas, and fostering experimentation with game mechanics. The popularity of these codes during the 16-bit era stems from the increased replay value and expanded possibilities they introduced to gaming experiences, particularly at a time when games were less forgiving and offered fewer in-game assistance features.