Difference between revisions of "Salamander"

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[[File: Salamander_logo.png|500px|center]]
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----
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{{GameInfobox
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|title = Salamander
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| bordercolor = black
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| background = #f8f8f8
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| image = Salamander_title.png
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| width = 256px;
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| imagecaption = Title screen
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| imagescalepx = 200px
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| developer = [[Konami]]
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| music = Yoshiaki Hatano<br/>Miki Higashino
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| program  = Hiroyasu Machiguchi<br/>Mitsuo Takemoto<br/>Toshiaki Takatori<br/>Ikuko Minowa
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| art = Jun Sakurai<br/>Miki Yoshikata<br/>Ikuko Bando
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| releasedate = '''Arcade JP:''' July 4, 1986<br/>'''Arcade NA:''' August 1986<br/>'''Famicom:''' September 25, 1987<br/>'''PC Engine:''' December 6, 1991<br/>'''Sega Saturn/PS1:''' June 19, 1997 / July 6, 1997<br/>'''PSP:''' January 24, 2007<br/>'''PS4:''' November 27, 2015<br/> '''Switch:''' February 20, 2020
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| previousgame = [[Knightmare]]
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| nextgame = [[Vs Gradius]]
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}}
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'''Salamander''' is a horizontal-scrolling shoot-em-up developed by [[Konami]] in 1986, and is the first spin-off in the Gradius series. It introduced a simplified power-up system, two-player cooperative gameplay and both horizontally and vertically scrolling stages.
  
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In 1987, the game was rereleased as '''Life Force'''; This brought back the power-up bar, along with some changed music tracks and redrawn enemies/backgrounds.
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__TOC__
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{{clear}}
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==Gameplay Overview==
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===Controls===
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''Salamander'' is a 2-button shooter (3-button for Life Force). There are 6 stages, after completing all of them the game loops back to stage 1.
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*'''A button:''' Fires the player's main weapon.
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*'''B button:''' Fires the player's missiles.
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=== Weapons ===
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Instead of capsules, enemies drop modules that activate automatically. Excess modules can be picked up for 2k each.
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Module !! Effect
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|-
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| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Sala_ModuleSpeed.png|65px]]<small><br>'''Speed Up'''</div></small> || Increases movement speed. Can be stacked up to 5 times.
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|-
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| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Sala_ModuleMissile.png|65px]]<small><br>'''Missile'''</div></small> || 2-way missile. Travels across the ground and ceiling.
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|-
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| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Sala_ModuleRipple.png|65px]]<small><br>'''Ripple'''</div></small> || Energy ring that becomes wider as it travels. Cannot pierce through enemies or be used with Laser.
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|-
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| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Sala_ModuleLaser.png|65px]]<small><br>'''Laser'''</div></small> || Laser that increases with length when holding down the button. Cannot be used with Ripple.
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|-
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| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Sala_ModuleOption.png|65px]]<small><br>'''Option'''</div></small> || Orb that mimics weapons and movement. Can be equipped up to 4 times.
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|-
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| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Sala_ForceField.png|65px]]<small><br>'''Force Field'''</div></small> || Shield protecting the front of your ship. Absorbs a certain amount of hits and can be equipped up to 3 times.
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|}
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===Loops===
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''Salamander'' loops infinitely. Upon a completion of a loop, the player is stripped of all their power-ups. Suicide bullets start appearing at loop 3, difficulty maxing out by loop 4. Almost every stage has changes.
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===Stage 1===
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Every other loop has different wall formations, membrane respawns faster.
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===Stage 2/5===
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Asteroids are randomized per loop and spawn faster.
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===Stage 3===
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Fire wheel placement is randomized per loop.
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===Stage 6===
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Extra moai and turrets, ground lasers randomized per loop.
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{{clear}}
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==Version Differences==
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===Life Force (US)===
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North American version of Salamander; The changes made are mostly cosmetic.
 +
 +
Differences include the following:
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*Starfield backgrounds were replaced with the webbing background used in stage 1.
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*Most power-ups were given new names:
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**''Speed Up'' > ''Hyper-Speed''
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**''Missile'' > ''Destruct Missile''
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**''Ripple Laser'' > ''Pulse Laser''
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**''Force Field'' > ''Shield''
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*''It's a Power Up!'' header on the tutorial screen was changed to ''Weapon Selection''
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**Additional Power Up descriptions in the tutorial were removed, leaving only the names visible.
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*Voice clips were overhauled to match the updated power-ups and stage themes.
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**Additional voice clips describing enemy weaknesses/stage hazards were also added.
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*Staff roll is omitted, the game instantly begins the next loop after the ending cinematic.
 +
 +
===Life Force (JP)===
 +
Revamp of Salamander (JP) released in 1987.
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*The game has overall been retextured to look more organic.
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*Power-up system was changed to a ''Gradius''-style meter.
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**1P meter uses a arrangement of ''Speed > Missile > Pulse > Laser > Multiple > Shield''; 2P meter is arranged as ''Missile > Laser > Multiple > Pulse > Speed > Shield''.
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**Taking power-ups no longer grants a score bonus.
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*Stages 2, 4, and 5 have new music tracks:
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**''Fly High'' > ''Thunderbolt''
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**''Starfield'' > ''Slash Fighter''
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**''Burn the Wind'' > ''Combat''
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*Extend system added: First at 70,000 points, then every 200,000 points.
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[[Category:Horizontal_orientation]]
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[[Category:Option_mechanic]]
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[[Category:Vertical_orientation]]
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[[Category:Environmental_hazard_mechanic]]

Latest revision as of 18:14, 28 July 2024

Salamander logo.png
Salamander
Salamander title.png

Title screen

Developer: Konami
Music: Yoshiaki Hatano
Miki Higashino
Program: Hiroyasu Machiguchi
Mitsuo Takemoto
Toshiaki Takatori
Ikuko Minowa
Art: Jun Sakurai
Miki Yoshikata
Ikuko Bando
Release date: Arcade JP: July 4, 1986
Arcade NA: August 1986
Famicom: September 25, 1987
PC Engine: December 6, 1991
Sega Saturn/PS1: June 19, 1997 / July 6, 1997
PSP: January 24, 2007
PS4: November 27, 2015
Switch: February 20, 2020
Previous game: Knightmare
Next game: Vs Gradius

Salamander is a horizontal-scrolling shoot-em-up developed by Konami in 1986, and is the first spin-off in the Gradius series. It introduced a simplified power-up system, two-player cooperative gameplay and both horizontally and vertically scrolling stages.

In 1987, the game was rereleased as Life Force; This brought back the power-up bar, along with some changed music tracks and redrawn enemies/backgrounds.

Gameplay Overview

Controls

Salamander is a 2-button shooter (3-button for Life Force). There are 6 stages, after completing all of them the game loops back to stage 1.

  • A button: Fires the player's main weapon.
  • B button: Fires the player's missiles.

Weapons

Instead of capsules, enemies drop modules that activate automatically. Excess modules can be picked up for 2k each.

Module Effect
Sala ModuleSpeed.png
Speed Up
 Increases movement speed. Can be stacked up to 5 times.
Sala ModuleMissile.png
Missile
 2-way missile. Travels across the ground and ceiling.
Sala ModuleRipple.png
Ripple
 Energy ring that becomes wider as it travels. Cannot pierce through enemies or be used with Laser.
Sala ModuleLaser.png
Laser
 Laser that increases with length when holding down the button. Cannot be used with Ripple.
Sala ModuleOption.png
Option
 Orb that mimics weapons and movement. Can be equipped up to 4 times.
Sala ForceField.png
Force Field
 Shield protecting the front of your ship. Absorbs a certain amount of hits and can be equipped up to 3 times.

Loops

Salamander loops infinitely. Upon a completion of a loop, the player is stripped of all their power-ups. Suicide bullets start appearing at loop 3, difficulty maxing out by loop 4. Almost every stage has changes.

Stage 1

Every other loop has different wall formations, membrane respawns faster.

Stage 2/5

Asteroids are randomized per loop and spawn faster.

Stage 3

Fire wheel placement is randomized per loop.

Stage 6

Extra moai and turrets, ground lasers randomized per loop.

Version Differences

Life Force (US)

North American version of Salamander; The changes made are mostly cosmetic.

Differences include the following:

  • Starfield backgrounds were replaced with the webbing background used in stage 1.
  • Most power-ups were given new names:
    • Speed Up > Hyper-Speed
    • Missile > Destruct Missile
    • Ripple Laser > Pulse Laser
    • Force Field > Shield
  • It's a Power Up! header on the tutorial screen was changed to Weapon Selection
    • Additional Power Up descriptions in the tutorial were removed, leaving only the names visible.
  • Voice clips were overhauled to match the updated power-ups and stage themes.
    • Additional voice clips describing enemy weaknesses/stage hazards were also added.
  • Staff roll is omitted, the game instantly begins the next loop after the ending cinematic.

Life Force (JP)

Revamp of Salamander (JP) released in 1987.

  • The game has overall been retextured to look more organic.
  • Power-up system was changed to a Gradius-style meter.
    • 1P meter uses a arrangement of Speed > Missile > Pulse > Laser > Multiple > Shield; 2P meter is arranged as Missile > Laser > Multiple > Pulse > Speed > Shield.
    • Taking power-ups no longer grants a score bonus.
  • Stages 2, 4, and 5 have new music tracks:
    • Fly High > Thunderbolt
    • Starfield > Slash Fighter
    • Burn the Wind > Combat
  • Extend system added: First at 70,000 points, then every 200,000 points.
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