Lost In Translation/Salamander

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This page is a stub for arcade games that are part of the Lost In Translation series using information based on MAME (version 0.113u2).
For an example of preferred content and layout please refer to Out Run or The Ninja Warriors.


Salamander
Salamander marquee.
No screen shot.
Salamander control panel.
Manufacturer Konami
Released 1986
Control
Method 		8-way Joystick
2 Button(s)
Main CPU 68000 (@ 9.216 MHz)
Z80 (@ 3.580 MHz)
Sound CPU Stereo
VLM5030 (@ 3.580 MHz)
K007232 (@ 3.580 MHz)
YM2151 (@ 3.580 MHz)
Video
Details 		Raster (Horizontal)
256 x 224 pixels
60.61 Hz
2,048 Palette colours
Screens 1
ROM Info 7 ROMs
573,440 bytes (560.00 KiB)
MAME ID salamand · lifefrce · lifefrcj · salamanj

About The Game

Salamander is an horizontally and vertically scrolling arcade video game shoot-em-up featuring simultaneous 2-player action.

While it retained the same basic game-play and feel of its predecessor (particularly the superb and innovative weapons system), Salamander featured both superior graphics and a more imaginative approach to level design. The earliest example of the latter appears towards the end of the very first level, in which imposing, organic obstructions grow before the players' eyes.

The game's third level - the infamous 'lava' level - is another good example of Salamander's superb design; with huge solar flares constantly erupting both above and below the player's ship that must be carefully navigated to avoid instant loss of life. Salamander introduced further variety to the action with the introduction vertically scrolling levels, which alternated with the standard horizontally scrolling levels.

Salamander's weapon power-up system is as follows :

  • SPEED UP : Five speed levels.
  • MISSILE : Press missile button to launch.
  • LASER : Your forward rockets turn into deadly lasers.
  • RIPPLE LASER : Use shoot button to fire.
  • FORCE FIELD : Protect your ship with barriers.
  • MULTIPLE : Increase your fire power by up to four times.

Multiple special powers can be obtained, but the LASER cannot be used in conjunction with the RIPPLE Laser.

Trivia

Released in July 1986.

This game is known in US as "Lifeforce", but it was re-released one year later in Japan as "Lifeforce" (June 1987).

Salamander is the game that inspired Ikeda Tsunemoto (Toaplan>Cave) to develop the 'Danmaku'; the shot patterns seen in "Donpachi" et al.

Note : The kanji on the Japanese version title screen actually reads 'Sa Ra Man Da', meaning 'Sand Gauze Wide Snake'. This is an example of 'ateji', where Japanese artists use the phonetic value of a character to fit the game's name allowing them to write the name in kanji as opposed to a kana.

The first boss in Salamander appears as BRAIN GOLEM in "Kyukyoku Sentai Dadandarn".

Apollon Music released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Original Sound of Salamander - BY-5020) on 16/12/1986.

King Records released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Salamander - Again : Konami Kukeiha Club - KICA-7601) on 25/05/1992.

Sony Music Entertainment released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Salamander Arcade Soundtrack - KOLA-030) on 09/04/2003.

The story between the different versions of Salamander differs. While the story in the arcade original is not entirely clear, the NES version claims a large creature named Zelos (possibly the serpent often pictured on the game's cover art) is preparing to swallow your planet whole, and you must stop it from the inside out. The US arcade follows primarily the same story. the Japanese Lifeforce may have a more surgery-related story, involving the removal of an unwanted virus or microbe from the body. The MSX version of Salamander differs the most from any of these. Basically, a prophecy from long ago comes true when an army attacks Latis and it's surrounding planets. They have created a barrier around Latis, and the only way to undo it is by activating a 'crush below' system created by ancient Latisians.

Updates

Salamander, the original Japanese release, was originally a spin-off of "Gradius", but with a simplified power-up system and overhead stages.

Lifeforce, the US release, is just like the Japanese original only with slightly different color palettes.

Lifeforce, the Japanese re-release, has more organic looking graphics and adopts the "Gradius" power-up system.

Tips and tricks

Bypass The Mini-boss In Stage 6

In stage 6 (Zelos's fortress if you're playing Salamander or the brain area if you're playing Lifeforce), there is a mini-boss section consisting of multiple boss ships that fire sets of 4 lasers. Move your ship all the way to the top of the screen and you will be safe until this section ends. This glitch does not work in the Japanese re-release version of the game (the one with a purple background in attract mode).

Series

  1. Nemesis (1985)
  2. Salamander (1986)
  3. Gradius 2 (1987, MSX)
  4. Vulcan Venture (1988)
  5. Nemesis 3 - The Eve of Destruction (1988, MSX)
  6. Gradius III - Densetsu Kara Shinwa-e (1989)
  7. Gradius - The Interstellar Assault (1991, Nintendo Game Boy)
  8. Nemesis '90 Kai (1993, Sharp X68000)
  9. Salamander 2 (1996)
  10. Solar Assault - Gradius (1997)
  11. Solar Assault - Revisited (1997)
  12. Gradius Gaiden (1997, Sony PlayStation)
  13. Gradius IV - Fukkatsu (1999)
  14. Gradius Generation (2002, Nintendo Game Boy Advance)
  15. Gradius V (2003, Sony PlayStation 2)
  16. Gradius Neo (2004, NTT DoCoMo i-mode Phones)
  17. Gradius Neo Imperial (2005, NTT DoCoMo i-mode Phones)
  18. Gradius Wide (2007, NTT DoCoMo i-mode Phones)

Staff

Game Programmers
Hiroyasu Machiguchi
Mitsuo Takemoto
Toshiaki Takahori
Ikuko Minowa
Video Graphics Designers
Jun Sakurai
Miki Yoshikata
Ikuko Bando
Sound Editors
Yoshiaki Hatano
Miki Higashino
Engineer
Yasushi Furukawa

Cabinet and Artwork

  • Salamander arcade cabinet.

  • Lifeforce arcade cabinet.

  • Salamander flyer.

  • Lifeforce marquee.

  • Lifeforce flyer.

Ports

Consoles
Nintendo Famicom (1987)
NEC PC-Engine (1991)
Sony PlayStation (1997)
Sega Saturn (1997, "Salamander Deluxe pack Plus")
Sony PSP (2007, "Salamander Portable")
Computers
Sharp X68000 (1986)
MSX (1987)
Commodore C64 (1988)
Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1988)
Amstrad CPC (1988)

Soundtrack Releases

Album Name Catalogue No. Released Publisher Comments
MIDI Power ver.2.0 X68000 Collection KICA-7611[1] 1993-01-21 King Records Inc. CD version.
Thunder Cross 276A-7703[2] 1989-05-21 King Records Inc. CD version.
Symphonic Poem Gradius III KICA-1010[3] 1990-06-05 King Records Inc. CD version.
MIDI Power Pro Best Selection KICA-7670[4] 1995-08-04 King Records Inc. CD version.
MIDI Power Pro 5 ~Salamander~ KICA-7837[5] 1998-02-04 King Records Inc. CD version.
Salamander Arcade Soundtrack KOLA-030[6] 2003-04-09 Konami Music Entertainment Inc. CD version.
Salamander ~Again~ KICA-7601[7] 1992-03-25 Konami Music Entertainment CD version.
Perfect Selection Konami Shooting Battle KICA-1136[8] 1993-12-22 King Records Inc. CD version.
Perfect Selection Konami Shooting Battle II KICA-1171[9] 1995-11-22 King Records Inc. CD version.
Konami GM Hits Factory II KICA-1131[10] 1993-10-21 King Records CD version.
Kukeiha Club pro-fusion ~Salamander~ KICA-7702[11] 1996-05-22 King Records Inc. CD version.
Konami All-Stars 1993: Music Station of Dreams KICA-9016~8[12] 1992-12-24 King Records 3 CD version.
Konami Ending Collection KICA-1046~7[13] 1991-10-21 King Records 2 CD version.
Original Sound of Salamander BY12-5020[14] 1986-12-16 Apollon Music CD version.
Original Sound of Salamander KHY-1012[15] 1986-12-16 Apollon Music Cassette version.
The Konamic Game Freaks 28XA-135[16] 1987-03-25 Alfa Records CD version.
The Konamic Game Freaks ALC-22911[17] 1987-03-25 Alfa Records Cassette version.
The Konamic Game Freaks ALR-22911[18] 1987-03-25 Alfa Records Vinyl version.
The Konamic Game Freaks SCDC-00064[19] 2001-02-07 Scitron Digital Content Inc. CD version.
Konami Game Music Vol.4 A-JAX 28XA-201[20] 1988-03-10 Alpha Records CD version.
Konami Game Music Vol.4 A-JAX ALC-22922[21] 1988-03-10 Alpha Records Cassette version.
Konami Game Music Vol.4 A-JAX ALR-22922[22] 1988-03-10 Alpha Records Vinyl version.
Game Sound Legend Series "Konami Game Music Vol.4 ~A-JAX~" SCDC-00472[23] 2005-11-23 Scitron Digital Content Inc. CD version.
KONAMI GAME MUSIC SPECIAL 28XA-214[24] 1988-08-25 Alfa Records CD version.
KONAMI GAME MUSIC SPECIAL ALC-28103[25] 1988-08-25 Alfa Records Cassette version.
Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander - Battle Music Collection BY30-5180[26] 1987-11-21 APOLLON CD version.
Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander - Battle Music Collection KSF-1506[27] 1987-11-21 APOLLON Cassette version.
Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander - Battle Music Collection AY25-0015[28] 1987-11-21 APOLLON Vinyl version.
Winbee's Neo Cinema 3 ~Tokimeki side~ KICA-7674[29] 1995-10-05 King Records Inc. CD version.
Salamander ~Again~ KICA-7905[30] 1998-09-23 King Record Co., Ltd. CD version.
MIDI Power ver.2.0 X68000 Collection KICA-7908[31] 1998-09-23 King Record Co., Ltd. CD version.
Original Sound of Salamander (MSX Version) BY12-1123[32] 1988-08-05 Apollon CD version.
Original Sound of Salamander (MSX Version) KHY-1035[33] 1988-08-05 Apollon Cassette version.
Konami Special Music Golden Treasure Chest 220A-7721~3[34] 1989-12-21 King Records Inc. 3 CD version.
Kukeiha Club & Konami Kukeiha Club Best Vol.2 KICA-7890[35] 1998-09-04 King Records Inc. CD version.
Psygnosis: The Future Is Now N/A[36] 1997-01-01 Psygnosis CD version.
Konami Addiction ~For Electro Lovers~ UPCH-1606[37] 2008-05-21 Universal Music CD version.
The Konamic Game Freaks SCDC-00465[38] 2005-11-23 Scitron Discs CD version.
Salamander Remixes KICA-7819[39] 1998-01-21 King Records CD version.
Thunder Cross KICA-2306[40] 1993-05-21 King Record Co., Ltd. CD version.
Salamander OVA 1: Salamander Original Soundtrack K32X-7108[41] 1988-02-21 King Record CD version.
Salamander OVA 2: Meisou no Paola Original Soundtrack K30X-7148[42] 1988-12-21 N/A CD version.
Salamander OVA 3: Gofer no Yabou Original Soundtrack K30X-7159[43] 1989-02-21 N/A CD version.
Beep Special Project - Konami Game Music Sono Sheet N/A[44] 1987-03-01 Softbank Publishing Vinyl version.
Beep Special Project - GAME SOUND COLLECTION N/A[45] 1988-01-01 Softbank Publishing Vinyl version.
pia-com I / Piano x Computer Game DERP-10005[46] 2009-11-25 Dog Ear Records CD version.

External Links

References

  1. ↑ MIDI Power ver.2.0 X68000 Collection (CD) at the VGMdb
  2. ↑ Thunder Cross (CD) at the VGMdb
  3. ↑ Symphonic Poem Gradius III (CD) at the VGMdb
  4. ↑ MIDI Power Pro Best Selection (CD) at the VGMdb
  5. ↑ MIDI Power Pro 5 ~Salamander~ (CD) at the VGMdb
  6. ↑ Salamander Arcade Soundtrack (CD) at the VGMdb
  7. ↑ Salamander ~Again~ (CD) at the VGMdb
  8. ↑ Perfect Selection Konami Shooting Battle (CD) at the VGMdb
  9. ↑ Perfect Selection Konami Shooting Battle II (CD) at the VGMdb
  10. ↑ Konami GM Hits Factory II (CD) at the VGMdb
  11. ↑ Kukeiha Club pro-fusion ~Salamander~ (CD) at the VGMdb
  12. ↑ Konami All-Stars 1993: Music Station of Dreams (CD) at the VGMdb
  13. ↑ Konami Ending Collection (CD) at the VGMdb
  14. ↑ Original Sound of Salamander (CD) at the VGMdb
  15. ↑ Original Sound of Salamander (Cassette) at the VGMdb
  16. ↑ The Konamic Game Freaks (CD) at the VGMdb
  17. ↑ The Konamic Game Freaks (Cassette) at the VGMdb
  18. ↑ The Konamic Game Freaks (Vinyl) at the VGMdb
  19. ↑ The Konamic Game Freaks (CD) at the VGMdb
  20. ↑ Konami Game Music Vol.4 A-JAX (CD) at the VGMdb
  21. ↑ Konami Game Music Vol.4 A-JAX (Cassette) at the VGMdb
  22. ↑ Konami Game Music Vol.4 A-JAX (Vinyl) at the VGMdb
  23. ↑ Game Sound Legend Series "Konami Game Music Vol.4 ~A-JAX~" (CD) at the VGMdb
  24. ↑ KONAMI GAME MUSIC SPECIAL (CD) at the VGMdb
  25. ↑ KONAMI GAME MUSIC SPECIAL (Cassette) at the VGMdb
  26. ↑ Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander - Battle Music Collection (CD) at the VGMdb
  27. ↑ Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander - Battle Music Collection (Cassette) at the VGMdb
  28. ↑ Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander - Battle Music Collection (Vinyl) at the VGMdb
  29. ↑ Winbee's Neo Cinema 3 ~Tokimeki side~ (CD) at the VGMdb
  30. ↑ Salamander ~Again~ (CD) at the VGMdb
  31. ↑ MIDI Power ver.2.0 X68000 Collection (CD) at the VGMdb
  32. ↑ Original Sound of Salamander (MSX Version) (CD) at the VGMdb
  33. ↑ Original Sound of Salamander (MSX Version) (Cassette) at the VGMdb
  34. ↑ Konami Special Music Golden Treasure Chest (CD) at the VGMdb
  35. ↑ Kukeiha Club & Konami Kukeiha Club Best Vol.2 (CD) at the VGMdb
  36. ↑ Psygnosis: The Future Is Now (CD) at the VGMdb
  37. ↑ Konami Addiction ~For Electro Lovers~ (CD) at the VGMdb
  38. ↑ The Konamic Game Freaks (CD) at the VGMdb
  39. ↑ Salamander Remixes (CD) at the VGMdb
  40. ↑ Thunder Cross (CD) at the VGMdb
  41. ↑ Salamander OVA 1: Salamander Original Soundtrack (CD) at the VGMdb
  42. ↑ Salamander OVA 2: Meisou no Paola Original Soundtrack (CD) at the VGMdb
  43. ↑ Salamander OVA 3: Gofer no Yabou Original Soundtrack (CD) at the VGMdb
  44. ↑ Beep Special Project - Konami Game Music Sono Sheet (Vinyl) at the VGMdb
  45. ↑ Beep Special Project - GAME SOUND COLLECTION (Vinyl) at the VGMdb
  46. ↑ pia-com I / Piano x Computer Game (CD) at the VGMdb

The contents of this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
The sources used include MAME (version 0.113u2) and history.dat (revision 1.28 - 2008-10-18).
Please see http://www.arcade-history.com for credits.

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