Hidden Configuration Menu

Like a lot of games from this era, there is a menu where you can set your options to begin the game. The command is given in the instruction manual, so it's possible that many players missed it if they didn't have it. 

At the title screen: hold the Select button, then press Start. This will enter the hidden configuration menu, which is the first of three hidden menus, but the only one that is allowed to be accessed during a valid run submission. 

- ![Game Manual, p.9](https://ia601402.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/29/items/snes_Thunder_Spirits_USA/Thunder_Spirits_USA_jp2.zip&file=Thunder_Spirits_USA_jp2/Thunder_Spirits_USA_0009.jp2&id=snes_Thunder_Spirits_USA&scale=1&rotate=0)

KumaKhan22

Thunder Spirits

Super Nintendo

Easy

Normal

Hard

Maniac

Please select the appropriate difficulty option on the configuration menu (press Start + Select at the title screen). Difficulty can be ultimately determined due to the difference in enemy ships, etc.