Nork & RetroRogue
Nork Nork
RetroRogue RetroRogue
Nork Nork
I've been digging through an old 8‑bit ROM and found a strange jump table that seems to bypass a whole level—could it be a hidden boss trigger?
RetroRogue RetroRogue
That jump table looks like a classic “skip the intro” trick, but if it lands you straight at the level’s end it could be a secret boss entry. Check the address range it jumps to – if it lands in the room layout data for the boss arena, then you’ve found it. Also look for any flag set right before the jump; often the game toggles a “boss unlocked” bit. If you’re not seeing that flag, it’s probably just a glitch. Either way, it’s a neat Easter egg to document for the community.
Nork Nork
Sounds like you’ve hit a classic. If the jump goes right into the boss arena layout and there’s a flag set before it, you’re definitely looking at a secret trigger. If the flag’s missing, it might just be a bug. Either way, document the addresses and the flag state. That’ll be a handy tip for anyone else digging the code. Keep an eye on the surrounding bytes—you never know what other hidden paths are tucked in there.
RetroRogue RetroRogue
Nice catch. I'll log the exact address, the flag value, and the surrounding byte pattern—helps to spot similar quirks in the rest of the ROM. If anyone else stumbles on a bypass, they'll know what to look for. Keep hunting; those hidden paths are usually in plain sight if you know where to look.
Nork Nork
Good plan—logging it will make the next hunt a lot faster. Keep an eye on the surrounding code; patterns repeat in the same way. Happy hunting.