History Main / SoftReset

Although it has different meanings depending on the type of technology, this is mainly about the video game version, which is restarting the game without rebooting the system (i.e. a Hard Reset). This is mostly to save power (especially in handhelds) and time (especially in disc systems, which have long boot-ups). Modern consoles tend to have this built into the system, where pressing a specific button brings up a menu that allows you to quit your current game and return to the system menu.

[[AC: UsefulNotes/{{Arcade|Game}}]]

[[AC: Consoles]]

** This combination is very useful when SaveScumming - going through the main DS menus takes longer, after all.

[[AC: Games]]

* Subverted with ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld'' - while it ''claims'' to have one in the manual, the combination listed doesn't actually work.

* The UsefulNotes/GameBoy may have been the TropeMaker for the second form. Since the startup process took up extra energy, this was likely a way to save battery life. The combination is Start, Select, A, and B all at once. The Game Boy Color and the Game Boy Advance had this as well.

* Like the UsefulNotes/GameBoy, SNES cartridges have a reset line that can hardware reset the system, as well as the cartridge itself, in the case if it uses a co-processor. Of course, since the SNES has a physical reset switch, activating this through software was rare.

** On the UsefulNotes/NintendoDSi, a quick press of the power button will take you to the system menu.

* The [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]] and [[UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn Saturn]] both had requirements set by Sega where pressing Start+A+B+C (Saturn) or Start+A+B+X+Y (Dreamcast) would cause the game to return to the title screen, or, if already at the title screen, the system boot menu.

* Some {{Creator/Konami}} games on UsefulNotes/PlayStation 1 have the Start / Select / L1 / L2 / R1 / R2 input too. These include ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial Private Collection'', and ''Tokimeki Memorial Taisen Puzzle Dama''.

# Choosing to return to the title screen from one of the game menus. This is so common that [[PeopleSitOnChairs it doesn't really need examples]] (save for any game that [[PlayingWithATrope plays with it]]).

Although it has different meanings depending on the type of technology, this is mainly about the video game version, which is to restart just the game without having to reboot the system (i.e. a Hard Reset). This is mostly to save power (especially in handhelds) and time (especially in disc systems, which have long boot-ups). Modern consoles tend to have this built into the system, where pressing a specific button brings up a menu that allows you to quit your current game and return to the system menu.

# Choosing to return to the title screen from one of the game menus. This is so common, it doesn't really need examples (save for any game that [[PlayingWithATrope plays with it]]).

A SoftReset can have the effect of leaving [[UsefulNotes/RandomNumberGenerator the randomization values]] the same as they were before the restart, whereas a game or system with hardcoded starting values will return to the first string of values on hard reset.

* The UsefulNotes/GameBoy may have been the TropeMaker for the second form. Since the startup process took up extra energy, this was likely a way to save battery life. The combination is Start, Select, A and B all at once. The Game Boy Color and the Game Boy Advance had this as well.
** [[http://fms.komkon.org/GameBoy/Tech/GameBoy.gif Schematics show]] that the cartridge was in charge of the reset line of the processor. This meant the software was responsible for resetting the device, or at least handling the input.

* Nintendo DS games instead have the combination of Start, Select, L and R, almost certainly because Start and Select got moved to the other side of the system.

** A notable exception is ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', which had a way to return to the title screen from the pause menu.
** Both ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' and the UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' has it. ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', however, does not.
** ''VideoGame/TheLastRemnant'' on the PC has this by hitting Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R.

* The button combination that quits out of a mode in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and sequels is L+R+A+Start. If it's a single player mode like Target Smash/Blast, it's just Z.
** Unless you were using the Wii Remote and/or the Nunchuk in Brawl. The remote alone was A+B+1/2+"+", and plus the Nunchuk was Z+B+1+"+".
* People grinding raid reputations in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' usually use a soft reset found under the raid leader's "Reset instances" button that has a fundamentally similar effect. This would reset all the trash before a boss, letting you kill them multiple times, doesn't work when the boss dies however, because that turns off the respawn timer until the hard resets, when the bosses come back too.
* Some games used Start + Select to boot back to the main menu or perform a similar reset function, these include:
** The ''Videogame/{{Tekken}}'' series
** Home versions of ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution''
** The first two ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'' games.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterRancher Monster Rancher 2]]'' has a SoftReset by pressing start and select for about 10/20 seconds (to avoid accidental pressings).
* Some (but not all) {{Creator/Konami}} games on UsefulNotes/PlayStation 1 have the Start / Select / L1 / L2 / R1 / R2 input too. This include, among others, ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial Private Collection'', and ''Tokimeki Memorial Taisen Puzzle Dama''.
* ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld'' '''claims''' to have one in the manual. However, the combination listed doesn't actually work.
* In ''VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai,'' both the second and third game have soft reset methods. The second game requires all four shoulder buttons pressed along Select and Start. The third game reduces it to Select and Start only.
* The ''Franchise/MegaMan'' games (or at least the ''VideoGame/MegaManX Collection'') has the L1 + R1 + Start + Select to go back to the game launcher.

* The ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' games (or at least the ''Mega Man X Collection'') has the L1 + R1 + Start + Select to go back to the game launcher.

[[AC: UsefulNotes/SuperNES]]
* Like the UsefulNotes/GameBoy, the cartridges have a reset line that can hardware reset the system, as well as the cartridge itself, in the case if it uses a co-processor. Of course, since the SNES has a physical reset switch, activating this through software was rare.
* A few SNES games by Creator/{{Square|Enix}}soft had that combination.
** ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana''
** ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger''
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''

[[AC: Nintendo Portables]]

[[AC: UsefulNotes/PlayStation]]
* Some (but not all) {{Creator/Konami}} games on UsefulNotes/PlayStation 1 have the Start / Select / L1 / L2 / R1 / R2 input too. This include, among others, ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial Private Collection'', and ''Tokimeki Memorial Taisen Puzzle Dama''.
* The first two ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'' games had ''start + select''.
* ''[[VideoGame/MonsterRancher Monster Rancher 2]]'' has a SoftReset by pressing start and select for about 10/20 seconds (to avoid accidental pressings).
* [=PlayStation=] games by Creator/{{Square|Enix}} had Start, Select, L1, L2, R1 and R2.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII VIII]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX IX]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics Tactics]].''
*** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' had it too, but was a funny case--if one SoftReset after having gained a NewGamePlus, the NewGamePlus option would show up on the title screen. Essentially, as long as you'd cleared the game once, you could have an NG+ ''any time you wanted,'' while keeping the data from the last save you played. No more having to play the game multiple times to get certain dresspheres!

** ''[[UpdatedRerelease Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX]]'' on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 has something that seems unusual at first: L1 + R1 + Options + Touchpad press.

[[AC: UsefulNotes/PlayStation2]]

* The ''"VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'' games let you return to the start menu by pressing Start and Select at any time, even during a song.

[[AC: UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable]]
* The PSP has a Home button that lets you go straight to the PSP main menu.

[[AC: UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16]]
* The [=TurboGrafx=]-16 had a soft reset activated with select + run.

[[AC: Other/Various]]
* The [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]] and [[UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn Saturn]] both had requirements set by Sega where pressing Start+A+B+C (Saturn) or Start+A+B+X+Y (Dreamcast) would cause the game to return to the title screen, or, if already at the title screen, the system boot menu.
* ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' games let you return to the main menu by pressing Start and Select at the same time.
* The button combination that quits out of a mode in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and sequels is L+R+A+Start. If it's a single player mode like Target Smash/Blast, it's just Z.
** Unless you were using the Wii Remote and/or the Nunchuk in Brawl. The remote alone was A+B+1/2+"+", and plus the Nunchuk was Z+B+1+"+".
* People grinding raid reputations in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' usually use a soft reset found under the raid leader's "Reset instances" button that has a fundamentally similar effect. This would reset all the trash before a boss, letting you kill them multiple times, doesn't work when the boss dies however, because that turns off the respawn timer until the hard resets, when the bosses come back too.
* Start + Select in ''Videogame/{{Tekken}}'' games will typically boot you back to the main menu.
** Ditto with home versions of ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution''

* Like the GameBoy, the cartridges have a reset line that can hardware reset the system, as well as the cartridge itself, in the case if it uses a co-processor. Of course, since the SNES has a physical reset switch, activating this through software was rare.

* Perhaps recognizing the need for SaveScumming in ''VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai,'' both the second and third game have soft reset methods. The second game requires all four shoulder buttons pressed along Select and Start. The third game reduces it to Select and Start only.

* Perhaps recognizing the need for SaveScumming in ''VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai,'' both the second and third game possesses soft reset methods. The second game requires all four shoulder buttons pressed along Select and Start. The third game reduces it to Select and Start only.

* Perhaps recognizing the need for SaveScumming in WayOfTheSamurai, both the second and third game possesses soft reset methods. The second game requires all four shoulder buttons pressed along Select and Start. The third game reduces it to Select and Start only.

** ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' has it, but ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' does not.

** ''Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Final Mix'' on the PS4 has something that seems unusual at first: L1 + R1 + Options + Touchpad press.

* Some (but not all) {{Creator/Konami}} games on UsefulNotes/PlayStation 1 have the Start / Select / L1 / L2 / R1 / R2 input too. This include, among others, ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''TokimekiMemorial Private Collection'', and ''Tokimeki Memorial Taisen Puzzle Dama''.

** On the Nintendo {{DSi}}, a quick press of the power button will take you to the system menu.

* Some (but not all) {{Konami}} games on UsefulNotes/PlayStation 1 have the Start / Select / L1 / L2 / R1 / R2 input too. This include, among others, ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''TokimekiMemorial Private Collection'', and ''Tokimeki Memorial Taisen Puzzle Dama''.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII VIII]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX IX]]'' and ''[[FinalFantasyTactics Tactics]].''

* The button combination that quits out of a mode in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and sequels is L+R+A+Start.