Software:Salamander (video game)

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Short description: 1986 video game
Salamander
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)
Programmer(s)Hiroyasu Machiguchi
Composer(s)Miki Higashino
Hidenori Maezawa
Shinya Sakamoto
Satoe Terashima
Atsushi Fujio
SeriesGradius
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, cooperative
Arcade systemKonami GX400

Salamander (沙羅曼蛇（サラマンダ）, Saramanda), retitled Life Force (ライフフォース, Raifu Fōsu) in North America and in the Japanese arcade re-release, is a scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Konami. Released in 1986 as a spin-off of Gradius, Salamander introduced a simplified power-up system, two-player cooperative gameplay and both horizontally and vertically scrolling stages. Some of these later became normal for future Gradius games. In Japanese, the title is written using ateji, which are kanji used for spelling foreign words that has been supplanted in everyday use by katakana. Contra, another game by Konami was also given this treatment, with its title written in Japanese as 魂斗羅 (kontora).

Salamander was followed with a sequel in 1996 titled Salamander 2.

Gameplay

The first player controls Vic Viper and the second player takes the reins of debuting spacecraft Lord British, which is sometimes referred to as "Road British" due to the ambiguity of Japanese-to-English romanization. The game features six stages which alter between horizontal and vertical scrolling.

Players are allowed to continue from where they leave upon death instead of being returned to a predefined checkpoint as per Gradius tradition. There are no continues in single player mode, and two in the two-player mode. The number of continues can be changed through DIP switches. The player gains power-ups by picking up capsules left behind by certain enemies, as opposed to the selection bar used in other Gradius games. However, the Japanese version of Life Force keeps the selection bar.

Many of the power-ups can be combined. For example, an option fires a second (or third) salvo of missiles or ripple/plutonic lasers if these power-ups have been attained. The ripple and laser, however, are mutually exclusive. The only power-up that can survive the ship's destruction is the options (called "multiples" in the English release), they followed the exact flight path of the player's ship and fired when they did, but were otherwise invulnerable. Upon the ship's destruction, the options float in space for a brief time before disappearing; the new ship can grab and retain them.

Development

The arcade version of the game was released under its original title in Japan and Europe, and as Life Force in North America. The Japanese and European versions are nearly identical, but the American version changes the game's plot by adding an opening text that establishes the game to be set inside a giant alien life-form which is infected by a strain of bacteria. Stages that feature starfield backgrounds were changed to the web background from Stage 1 to maintain consistency with the organic setting of the plot. The power-ups are also given different names, with the "Speed-Up" becoming "Hyper Speed", the "Missile" becoming the "Destruct Missile", the "Ripple Laser" becoming the "Pulse Laser" and "Force Field" becoming the "Shield". Narration is added to the beginning of each stage, detailing the area of the alien's body which the player is currently inhabiting such as "Enter stomach muscle zone" or "Bio-mechanical brain attack".

Konami later released an enhanced version of Salamander in Japan in 1987 bearing the American title of Life Force which further fleshes out the organic motif. All of the backgrounds and mechanical enemies are completely redrawn and given organic appearances. The power-up system was also modified, with the Japanese Life Force using the same power-up gauge as the original Gradius. Some music tracks have been completely changed for this release and the power-up gauge is arranged differently for both players.

Ports

Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum

Ocean Software on their Imagine label, released licensed versions of Salamander for computer systems by Spectrum, Commodore and Amstrad in 1988. The Spectrum and Amstrad versions were generally criticized, but the Commodore 64 version was highly praised by the critics of the day, particularly Zzap!64. Though missing two of the six stages, the simultaneous two player mode and gameplay being much easier than its arcade counterpart, the Commodore port is generally considered to be one of the best arcade conversions on this system.

Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System

Salamander was ported to the Family Computer in Japan in 1987. Instead of being a direct port of Salamander, elements were taken from the original Salamander and the Japanese Life Force re-release, and some elements, such as levels and bosses, were removed to make way for new content. Most of the background graphics and enemy sprites from Salamander are used in favor of those used in Life Force, though the Gradius-style power bar is used in place of the original instant pick-up system. The same year, North America received a port as well for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The NES version is practically identical to its Famicom equivalent, other than not having the multiple endings, having two option power ups instead of three, and being titled Life Force. The North America version was later re-released for the Virtual Console on February 16, 2009 for the Wii,[10] on January 23, 2014 for the Nintendo 3DS [11] and August 21, 2014 for the Wii U.[12] The European version is titled Life Force: Salamander on its cover and was released on November 22, 1989. The NES version makes use of the Konami Code, which increases the number of lives from three to 30. The first two levels of Life Force were profiled in the second issue of Nintendo Power, issued in 1988. Several issues later the entire game was re-profiled.

MSX

The MSX port of Salamander (沙羅曼蛇, Saramanda) is significantly different from the original and any other ports. New to this port is a graphical introduction that introduces human pilots for each ship, as well as names for each stage. The levels are notably longer than the arcade original, and the player is forced to start from a pre-defined checkpoint upon death of either pilot, instead of starting where he left off. After level two, the player can choose the order of the next three stages. In addition, the player can collect "E" capsules by destroying certain enemies. Collecting fifteen will permanently upgrade one of the available weapons on the power-up bar. Some weapons allow the player ships to merge, one player controlling movements and the second player controlling weapons. Instead of the Vic Viper and the Lord British Space Destroyer, the ships are known as the Sabel Tiger and the Thrasher; piloted by human characters named Iggy Rock and Zowie Scott. The story takes place in the year 6709 A.D and has 2 different endings. The MSX version was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in Japan on January 12, 2010.[13] It was later released for the Wii U's Virtual Console on July 20, 2016.[14] They were also made available for the Project EGG on Windows Store on May 19, 2015.

PC Engine

A version for the PC Engine was released on December 6, 1991. Based on the arcade version of Salamander, changes on this port include starting from a pre-defined checkpoint upon death in 1 Player mode, faster enemy animations, and improved music. In Japan, the PC Engine version was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console on September 11, 2007, for PlayStation Network on July 21, 2010 and for the Wii U's Virtual Console on October 22, 2014, and also for the Project EGG con Windows Store on March 3, 2014. It was released in North America on November 16, 2017 for the Wii U Virtual Console.[15][16][17] The PC version is on the TurboGrafx-16 Mini released in 2020 and is the sole title from the compilation that is excluded from the Japanese model while being included in the North American and European ones.[18]

PlayStation and Sega Saturn

A compilation titled Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus was released in Japan for the Sega Saturn on June 19, 1997, and for the PlayStation on July 6 of the same year. The compilation includes Salamander, the Japanese version of Life Force, and Salamander 2.[19] Konami announced that the PlayStation version would be released in the U.S. as part of a bundle with Gradius Gaiden,[20] but this release was later cancelled.[21]

Mobile Phones

Salamander was released for mobile phones in 2003.

PlayStation 4

All three arcade versions (Salamander, and the American and Japanese adaptations of Life Force) were ported to the Arcade Archives on November 27, 2015 in Japan exclusively for PlayStation 4.[22] It was later released worldwide in Spring 2016.[23] It was published by Hamster Corporation.[23]

PlayStation Portable

Another compilation of the Salamander series, titled Salamander Portable, was released for the PlayStation Portable on January 24, 2007 in Japan. The PSP compilation features all three games previously included in the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus, as well as Xexex and the MSX version of Gradius 2 (a.k.a. Nemesis II, which is unrelated to the arcade game Gradius II: Gofer's Ambition).

iOS

On December 20, 2010, an application called PC Engine Game Box was published in the App Store which served as a portal to download classic PC Engine video games. Among the downloadable titles is the PC Engine version of Salamander for a fee.

Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection

The arcade version is included on Konami's Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection released in April 2019 in digital-only format for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.[24][25] Initially, the compilation in Japan only had the Salamander version of the game, while everywhere else featured the American Life Force instead.[26][27] In June 2019, Konami added for free the Japanese versions of the respective games on the western Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection.[28] Only the Salamander version can be played in this addition, as the Japanese Life Force is not part of the compilation. Conversely, the American version of Life Force was added to the collection in Japan in that same update.

Reception

Reception (ports)
Review scores
PublicationScore
C64NESPCZX
ACE881[29]
AllGameStarStarStarHalf star[30]
Crash79%[31]
CVG93%[32]65% (CPC)[32]65%[32]
Sinclair UserStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[33]
Your Sinclair8/10[35]
4/10[36]

In Japan, Game Machine listed Salamander on their August 15, 1986 issue as being the second most successful table arcade unit of the month.[37] It went on to be the top-grossing arcade game on Japan's Gamest charts between September and October 1986.[38]

In 1997, Electronic Gaming Monthly rated the NES version the 76th best console video game of all time, calling it "one of the coolest shooters ever, and ... one of the first big two-player simultaneous shooters on the NES." They particularly noted that the graphics in the fire stage were "mind-blowing back in the day".[39]

Anime

Volume 1 cover

Salamander (沙羅曼蛇, Saramanda) is a 1988 OVA mini-series by Studio Pierrot, directed by Hisayuki Toriumi. There were three episodes released on VHS and Laserdisc between February 25, 1988 and February 21, 1989. The series was licensed by a British company Western Connection. The series is not canon, however; as the MSX Gradius series states that the events with Gofer take place over a two-hundred year period following the crisis with Zelos and his Salamander Armada. In this mini-series, it is revealed that the Bacterians capture sentient life to create leaders for their space armada. They capture sentient life via a dark fog going through space that changes inorganic matter into organic matter (the large brain-like final bosses in the games); and that they are a crystal-like life-form in origin. Noriko Hidaka provided the voice of the protagonist Stephanie. In the anime, the Lord British Space Destroyer was named after one of the protagonists, Ike Lord British of planet Latis; thus making it Lord British's Space Destroyer.

Releases
  • Vol. 1: Salamander (沙羅曼蛇, Saramanda) (based on Salamander)
  • Vol. 2: Salamander: Meditating Paula (沙羅曼蛇 瞑想のパオラ, Saramanda Meisō no Paora) (based on Gradius)
  • Vol. 3: Salamander: Gofer's Ambition (沙羅曼蛇 ゴーファーの野望, Saramanda Gōfā no Yabō) (based on Gradius II)

References

  1. ↑ "Life Force Review". 26 August 1988. https://www.nintendotimes.com/1988/08/26/life-force-review/. 
  2. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (Wii PCエンジン)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wii_salamander_vc/. 
  3. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (Wii ファミリーコンピュータ)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wii_salamander_fc_vc/. 
  4. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (Wii MSX)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wii_salamander_msx_vc/. 
  5. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (PSN PCエンジン)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_pspps3vita_salamander_arch/. 
  6. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (3DS ファミリーコンピュータ)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_3ds_salamander_vc/. 
  7. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (PC)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_win_salamander_egg/. 
  8. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (Wii U ファミリーコンピュータ)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wiiu_salamander_fc_vc/. 
  9. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 (Wii U PCエンジン)". Konami. http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wiiu_salamander_vc/. 
  10. ↑ "One WiiWare Game and One Virtual Console Game Added (and One Surprise Coming) to Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo of America. February 16, 2009. https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/MAJvPmo4G3odfJt-TGey8nBuh5CNlw6R. 
  11. ↑ "Life Force for Nintendo 3DS - Nintendo Game Details". https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/life-force-3ds/. 
  12. ↑ "Life Force for Wii U - Nintendo Game Details". https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/life-force-wii-u/. 
  13. ↑ "Wii | Virtual Console バーチャルコンソール". https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/12.html. 
  14. ↑ "沙羅曼蛇 | Wii U | 任天堂". https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/20010000023067. 
  15. ↑ Diente, John (February 4, 2018). "Konami Releases TurboGrafx-16 Games For The Wii U, Even Though It's Already 2018". https://www.techtimes.com/articles/220240/20180204/konami-releases-turbografx-16-games-for-the-wii-u-even-though-its-already-2018.htm. 
  16. ↑ "SALAMANDER". https://www.konami.com/games/ca/en/products/dl_salamander_tg_e/. 
  17. ↑ "Salamander for Wii U - Nintendo Game Details". https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/salamander-wii-u/. 
  18. ↑ "Konami Releases Game Lineup Trailers for TurboGrafx-16 Mini Console". 8 August 2019. https://www.ibtimes.com/konami-releases-game-lineup-trailers-turbografx-16-mini-console-2811606. 
  19. ↑ Leadbetter, Rich (September 1997). "Salamander Pack". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (23): 24–26. https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n24/mode/2up. Retrieved November 2, 2019. 
  20. ↑ "Gradius Gaiden: The Classic Shooter Returns". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (101): 108. December 1997. 
  21. ↑ Kalata, Kurt (11 September 2017). "Gradius Gaiden". http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/gradius-gaiden/. 
  22. ↑ "『沙羅曼蛇』がPS4"アーケードアーカイブス"で11月27日に配信決定！ - ファミ通.com". Famitsu. https://www.famitsu.com/news/201511/20093523.html. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Arcade Archives SALAMANDER". http://store.playstation.comp/en-bh/product/EP8908-CUSA03937_00-HAMPRDC000000001. 
  24. ↑ Kohler, Chris (19 April 2019). "Konami's New Arcade Collection Could Have Been A Lot Better". https://kotaku.com/konamis-new-arcade-collection-could-have-been-a-lot-bet-1834179761. 
  25. ↑ "Konami 50th Anniversary Arcade Classics, Castlevania, and Contra collections announced for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". March 20, 2019. https://gematsu.com/2019/03/konami-50th-anniversary-arcade-classics-castlevania-and-contra-collections-announced-for-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc. 
  26. ↑ "アニバーサリーコレクション". https://www.konami.com/games/50th/ac/. 
  27. ↑ "Anniversary Collection". https://www.konami.com/games/50th/ac/. 
  28. ↑ "Konami's Castlevania, Contra And Arcade Collections Now Include Japanese Game Versions". June 18, 2019. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/06/konamis_castlevania_contra_and_arcade_collections_now_include_japanese_game_versions. 
  29. ↑ "World of Spectrum" (JPG). http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ACE/Issue05/Pages/ACE0500042.jpg. 
  30. ↑ Miller, Skyler. "Life Force - Review". allgame. http://allgame.com/game.php?id=265&tab=review. 
  31. ↑ "World of Spectrum" (JPG). http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue49/Pages/Crash4900091.jpg. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 "World of Spectrum" (JPG). http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=C+VG/Issue107/Pages/CVG10700071.jpg. 
  33. ↑ "World of Spectrum" (JPG). http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue070/Pages/SinclairUser07000046.jpg. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "World of Spectrum" (JPG). http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=TheGamesMachine/Issue13/Pages/TheGamesMachine1300040.jpg. 
  35. ↑ "Reviews: Salamander". Your Sinclair (36 (December 1988)): 44–5. 10 November 1988. https://archive.org/details/your-sinclair-36/page/n43/mode/2up. 
  36. ↑ "Salamander". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/salamanderkonami.htm. 
  37. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (290): 21. 15 August 1986. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19860815p.pdf#page=11. 
  38. ↑ "ゲーム人気度ベスト10". Gamest 4 (November 1986): 75. 18 October 1986. https://archive.org/details/gamest0004/page/n80/mode/1up. 
  39. ↑ "100 Best Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (100): 113. November 1997.  Note: Contrary to the title, the intro to the article (on page 100) explicitly states that the list covers console video games only and U.S. releases only, thus why the arcade and PC Engine versions and Salamander Deluxe Pack are not included in the ranking though the listing mentions all of them.

Bibliography

  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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