diff --git a/defs.h b/defs.h
index 5c47308..c716d81 100644
--- a/defs.h
+++ b/defs.h
@@ -817,6 +817,7 @@ extern tiletype_t fakeblock;
 extern int gtime; 
 extern int timer;
 extern int gamemode;
+extern int showhelp;
 extern SDL_Color red;
 extern SDL_Color black;
 extern SDL_Color blue;
diff --git a/globals.h b/globals.h
index 77fe83b..bd44a52 100644
--- a/globals.h
+++ b/globals.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ int numlevels;
 int maxlevid;
 
 int gamemode; // easy or hard?
+int showhelp; // show help text?
 
 spriteinfo_t spriteinfo[MAXPTYPES];
 
diff --git a/rc.c b/rc.c
index cc306ae..c4a7e4b 100644
--- a/rc.c
+++ b/rc.c
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv) {
 
 
 	gamemode = GM_NORM; // default
+	showhelp = B_TRUE; // default
 
 
 	// try to get hiscores
@@ -7813,6 +7814,7 @@ void dotitlescreen(void) {
 	char svnver[MIDBUFLEN];
 	SDL_Surface *titlebg;
 	SDL_Surface *cointext, *text, *text2, *easy, *norm, *ver;
+	SDL_Surface *help, *helpon, *helpoff;
 	SDL_Event event;
 	SDL_Rect area;
 	int timer = 0;
@@ -7838,6 +7840,9 @@ void dotitlescreen(void) {
 	text2 = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_TITLE], "Select game mode:", red);
 	easy = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_TITLE], "Easy Mode", red2);
 	norm = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_TITLE], "Normal Mode", red2);
+	help = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_TITLE], "Hints:", green);
+	helpoff = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_TITLE], "Off", green2);
+	helpon = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_TITLE], "On", green2);
 
 	sprintf(svnver, "v0.%d",REV);
 	ver = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_VER], svnver, greenish);
@@ -7980,6 +7985,48 @@ void dotitlescreen(void) {
 			}
 			SDL_BlitSurface(norm, NULL, screen, &area);
 
+			// help on/off
+			area.x = 320 - 100 +2;
+			area.y = 480 - 50 +2;
+			SDL_SetColors(help, &black, 1, 1);
+			SDL_BlitSurface(help, NULL, screen, &area);
+
+			area.x -= 2; area.y -= 2;
+			SDL_SetColors(help, &red, 1, 1);
+			SDL_BlitSurface(help, NULL, screen, &area);
+
+			// "on"
+			area.x += (help->w+10)+2;
+			area.y = 480 - 50 +2;
+			SDL_SetColors(helpon, &black, 1, 1);
+			SDL_BlitSurface(helpon, NULL, screen, &area);
+
+			area.x -= 2; area.y -= 2;
+			if ((showhelp == B_FALSE) || (texton)) { // on not blinking
+				// normal
+				SDL_SetColors(helpon, &red2, 1, 1);
+			} else {
+				// white
+				SDL_SetColors(helpon, &white, 1, 1);
+			}
+			SDL_BlitSurface(helpon, NULL, screen, &area);
+
+			// "off"
+			area.x += (helpon->w+10)+2;
+			area.y = 480 - 50 +2;
+			SDL_SetColors(helpoff, &black, 1, 1);
+			SDL_BlitSurface(helpoff, NULL, screen, &area);
+
+			area.x -= 2; area.y -= 2;
+			if ((showhelp == B_TRUE) || (texton)) { // off not blinking
+				// normal
+				SDL_SetColors(helpoff, &red2, 1, 1);
+			} else {
+				// white
+				SDL_SetColors(helpoff, &white, 1, 1);
+			}
+			SDL_BlitSurface(helpoff, NULL, screen, &area);
+
 			// level description
 			if (gamemode == GM_EASY) {
 				int x,y;
@@ -7987,7 +8034,7 @@ void dotitlescreen(void) {
 
 				desc = TTF_RenderText_Solid(font[TEXTSIZE_TITLE2], "Permenant armour and extra time (-50% score penalty)", black);
 				startx = 320 - (desc->w/2);
-				starty = 240 + (desc->h)*3;
+				starty = 240 + (desc->h)*2;
 				for (x = startx-1 ; x <= startx+1; x++) {
 					for (y = starty-1 ; y <= starty+1; y++) {
 						area.x = x; area.y = y;
@@ -8219,6 +8266,10 @@ void handletitleinput(int key) {
 			gamemode = GM_EASY;
 		} else if (key == SDLK_DOWN) {
 			gamemode = GM_NORM;
+		} else if (key == SDLK_LEFT) {
+			showhelp = B_TRUE;
+		} else if (key == SDLK_RIGHT) {
+			showhelp = B_FALSE;
 		} else if ((key == SDLK_z) || (key == SDLK_RETURN)) {
 			playfx(FX_1UP);
 			titledone = B_TRUE;
diff --git a/shared.c b/shared.c
index 3fce813..938f415 100644
--- a/shared.c
+++ b/shared.c
@@ -502,7 +502,8 @@ int loadlevel(int wnum, int lnum, int wantmonsters) {
 			int delay;
 
 			if (level->initm[i].id == P_HELP) {
-				if (gamemode != GM_EASY) continue;
+				// is help disabled?
+				if (showhelp == B_FALSE ) continue;
 				strncpy(name, level->initm[i].help, MIDBUFLEN);
 			} else {
 				sprintf(name, "Monster-%d",i);