A sound test is a function built into the options screen of many

video games Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

. This function was originally meant to test whether the game's music and sounds would function correctly (hence the name), as well as giving the player the ability to compare samples played in

Monaural Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction (often shortened to mono) is sound intended to be heard as if it were emanating from one position. This contrasts with stereophonic sound or ''stereo'', which uses two separate audio channels to reproduc ...

, Stereophonic and later Surround sound. In modern times, most sound tests function mostly as a jukebox to listen to the game's music, sound effects, and voice tracks for enjoyment outside of the game itself. They are sometimes used as a place to enter cheat codes.

Sound test and cheat codes

Some games feature cheat codes related to the sound test. Usually, songs need to be played in a particular order. For instance, in '' Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', it is possible to select levels in this manner. In some games, a cheat code might be necessary to reach the sound test screen (such as in '' Sonic the Hedgehog 3''), or some other specific method is needed to unlock it, such as "buying" it with earned credit for achievements in-game. In other games, the sound test is unrelated to cheat codes and is often among the last items to be unlocked. Alternatively, in some games the sound test is available from the beginning, and expands as the player encounters new sounds or music during normal gameplay.

Sound Test in Electronic Games

A lot of well known manufacturers like Hasbro and

Mattel Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. The company has presence in 35 countries and territories and sells products in more ...

implement sound testing modes in their electronic handheld games. These are usually activated in manufacture and also people discover them in their own time and share them on video sharing sites like

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

. Games such as

Bop It ''Bop It'' toys are a line of audio games. By following a series of commands issued through voice recordings produced by a speaker by the toy, which has multiple inputs including pressable buttons, pull handles, twisting cranks, spinnable wheel ...

Brain Warp Brain Warp is an electronic audio game designed and showcased by Big Monster Toys, and was manufactured and published by Tiger Electronics and released on June 16, 1996. In this game, players follow the spoken instructions from sound files spoken ...

and the Loopz Shifter have a hidden program on which when entered, the toy starts saying random numbers like "1.36" and then the toy is expecting you to press one of its buttons to advance to the next stage of the test mode. There are also additional sound test modes which allows you to press a button that will make different sound effects. This website details how to access every test mode on all the Bop It games.

References

Video game gameplay Electronic games {{Videogame-gameplay-stub