Gradius Wiki
Register
Gradius Wiki
No edit summary
m (Reverted edits by 67.161.32.59 (talk | block) to last version by Fel1230)
Line 76: Line 76:
 
* Stage 4: [[Center Core]]<br />
 
* Stage 4: [[Center Core]]<br />
 
* Stage 5: [[Gau]]<br />
 
* Stage 5: [[Gau]]<br />
* Stage 6: [[Big Core MK I|Big Core X3]], [[Jumping Moai]], [[Zelos Force|Zelos Force (ironically, Zelos simply falls to its death. it does absolutely nothing.)]]
+
* Stage 6: [[Big Core MK I|Big Core X3]], [[Jumping Moai]], [[Zelos Force]]
 
{{col-2}}
 
{{col-2}}
   

Revision as of 00:29, 15 December 2011



Life Force was ported version of "Salamander" that had a lot of updates in both design and plot. It saw a release on the NES and Famicom in 1988 .


Life Force was in many ways a updated Salamander, some elements, such as levels and bosses, were removed to make way for new content. Interestingly, most of the level graphics and enemy sprites from Salamander are used in favor of the ones used in Lifeforce, and it uses the Gradius power-up bar. The game was practically identical to the NES port of Lifeforce, other than being titled Salamander and featuring an expanded Gradius-like power-up bar. These ports make use of the Konami Code, which in this instance increases the number of lives from three to 30.

Vic Viper 1986
Lord British 1986

Differences

Life Forces changes from Salamander in 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 featured starfield backgrounds had them changed with 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".

Famicom

Konami later released an enhanced version of Salamander in Japan 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. The power-up gauge is arranged differently for both players as well.

Both the original Japanese version and the enhanced Life Force release are included in the compilation Salamander Deluxe Pack for the PlayStation and Saturn, as well as in Salamander Portable for the PlayStation Portable.

Stages:


Arcade Version
  • Stage 1: Stomach Muscle Zone
  • Stage 2: Kidney Zone
  • Stage 3: Stomach Inner Chamber
  • Stage 4: Liver Zone
  • Stage 5: Lung Zone
  • Stage 6: Brain Area


NES Version
  • Stage 1: Bionic Germ
  • Stage 2: Volcano
  • Stage 3: Burning Chaos
  • Stage 4: Organic Speed Zone
  • Stage 5: Temple Zone
  • Stage 6: Fortress Zone

Bosses:

Arcade Version
NES Version

Trivia

  • Interestingly, Life Force takes place in Gradius year 6842, two years after Gradius III.
Gradius video games
Gradius series GradiusGradius IIGradius IIIGradius GaidenGradius IV: FukkatsuGradius GalaxiesGradius VGradius ReBirthGradius: The Interstellar AssaultGradius NEOGradius NEO Imperial
Spin-offs Salamander (Life Force) (MSX ver.)• Salamander 2Nemesis 2 (Nemesis '90 Kai) • Nemesis 3Nemesis (Game Boy)Cosmic WarsSolar Assault
Parody games ParodiusParodius Da!Gokujō Parodius!Jikkyō Oshaberi ParodiusSexy ParodiusParo WarsOtomedius (Otomedius Gorgeous) • Otomedius Excellent
Other games ScrambleThunder CrossThunder Cross IISpace ManbowForce Gear
Pachislot Gradius: The SlotCR Parodius Da! EXGokuraku Parodius!
Cancelled Vic ViperGradius ArcSalamander HD Remaster