Cheat Mode

Cheat mode button inputs. The first half sets cheat mode to true. The second half sets cheat mode to debug.

Cheat mode is a variable in the game code that can be toggled between true, false, and debug using specific controller inputs. When enabled, it allows the player to access a variety of cheat functions, such as unlocking power cells, flying, activating free camera mode, and more. The code exists in all retail copies of the original Jak and Daxter trilogy, as well as Jak X: Combat Racing, and can be activated in each game.

When *cheat-mode* is set to true, it is referred to simply as cheat mode.

When *cheat-mode* is set to debug, it is referred to as debug mode.

Technical

On retail game copies, the *cheat-mode* variable is set to false by default. By holding R3 on the controller then inputting Up > Up > Down > Down > Left > Right > Left > Right > Cross > Cross > Square > Circle > Square > Circle, cheat mode will then be set to true.

Once set to true, performing the same sequence in reverse while still holding down R3 will change the value to debug, enabling debug mode.

On a related note, two additional codes are activated when the game boots with extra debugging memory allocated. This unlocks the advanced in-game debugging menus, commonly referred to as dev mode.

Discovery

Kuitar shares his discovery of the cheat mode button sequence in the Jak Speedruns Discord server.

The existence of cheat mode was initially discovered by Luminar_Light and ImJustATester.

On March 3, 2018, Kuitar discovered the button sequence to enable cheat mode via the game controller.

Later on that same day, Kuitar and Vaser would discover the secondary button sequence to enable debug mode.