Thunder Spirits

A Super Nintendo port of Thunder Force AC... which is an arcade port of Thunder Force III for the Genesis.

Configuration Mode


Holding Select and pressing Start on the title screen brings up a basic config screen.

Configuration Mode (expanded)


Upon beating the game, memory address is changed from  to, which expands the config screen with more options: ship quantity, point bonuses, and audio tests. For immediate access, use the following game enhancer codes:

JP version
 * Game Genie:
 * Pro Action Replay:

NA version
 * Game Genie:
 * Pro Action Replay:

Debug Mode


There's a hidden third options screen called Debug Mode, which has three more options: a stage select, credits modifier, and zombie mode (invincibility). It can only be reached with game enhancer codes. Enter these codes plus the corresponding code in the section above.

JP version
 * Game Genie:
 * Pro Action Replay:

NA version
 * Game Genie:
 * Pro Action Replay:

Pause cheat
While paused, press Select x10, L, R, R, Select. The following features are now available:


 * A - upgrade/add weapons
 * B - downgrade/remove weapons
 * X - add support guns
 * Y - add shield
 * R - self-destruct

Genesis leftovers
At least a few unused areas contain text, code and other data from Thunder Force III for the Genesis. They are easy to spot by the hex values, the commonly used 68000 opcode. One of these blocks begins at offset.

JP version Name Entry oddities
The programmers likely originally intended only for three empty spaces, AAA, and SEX to be replaced with EMI on the name entry screen. However, this check is poorly implemented: it checks for any of the first two, then any of the last, rather than just the correct last. This means the following passwords are all replaced with EMI, substituting . for space:

 

Title screen
The wings on the ship are different. License text was added to the very bottom of the screen, too.