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{{Infobox Game |
{{Infobox Game |
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− | | |
+ | |title = Life Force |
− | |image |
+ | |image = 479px-Lifeforce_flyer.jpg |
− | | |
+ | |caption = |
+ | |alternate_title = |
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− | |JapaneseName = Life Force |
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− | | |
+ | |european_title = |
+ | |japanese_title = |
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− | |NorthAmericanName = Life Force |
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+ | |developer = [[Konami]] |
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− | |ReleaseDate = JPN 1988<BR>NA August 1, 1988 |
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− | | |
+ | |publisher = [[Konami]] |
− | | |
+ | |series = ''[[Salamander (series)|Salamander]]'' |
− | | |
+ | |director = |
− | | |
+ | |producer = |
− | | |
+ | |designer = |
− | | |
+ | |composer = |
+ | |platform = Arcade<br />NES |
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+ | |release_date = |
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+ | [[File:Flag of Japan.png|22px|Japan]] 1988<br /> |
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+ | [[File:Flag of the United States.png|22px|North America]] August 1, 1988 |
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+ | |media = |
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+ | |ratings = |
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+ | |genre = Horizontal scrolling shoot 'em up |
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+ | |modes = Single player, two players |
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+ | |input = |
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+ | |gallery = |
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}} |
}} |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | ''Life Force'' was in many ways an updated ''Salamander''; some elements, such as levels and bosses, were removed to make space for new content. Interestingly, most of the level graphics and enemy sprites from ''Salamander'' were used in favor of the ones used in ''Life Force'', and it uses the ''[[Gradius]]'' power-up bar. The game was practically identical to the NES port of ''Life Force'', other than being titled ''Salamander'' and featuring an expanded ''Gradius''-like power-up bar. These ports make use of the [[wikipedia:Konami Code|Konami code]], which in this instance increases the number of lives from 3 to 30. |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | ==Plot== |
||
⚫ | ''Life Force'' was in many ways an updated ''Salamander''; some elements, such as levels and bosses, were removed to make space for new content. Interestingly, most of the level graphics and enemy sprites from ''Salamander'' were used in favor of the ones used in ''Life Force'', and it uses the ''[[Gradius]]'' power-up bar. The game was practically identical to the NES port of ''Life Force'', other than being titled ''Salamander'' and featuring an expanded Gradius-like power-up bar. These ports make use of the [[ |
||
+ | Two years have passed since the battle against the Bacterian star system... |
||
+ | To the planet [[Gradius (planet)|Gradius]] which regained peace, an unprecedented crisis has arrived. The unknown super-organism "Life Force" suddenly appeared in space!! It's a gigantic creature which absorbs all substances and continues to grow without stopping. In the meantime, planet Gradius will be absorbed too! People entrust their last hope into the super spatio-temporal fighter [[Vic Viper]]. |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | ''Life Force'' changes the plot from ''Salamander'' by adding an opening text which establishes the game to be set inside a giant alien life-form infected by a strain of bacteria. Stages which featured star field 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 too: |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | ''Life Force'' changes the plot from ''[[Salamander]]'' by adding an opening text which establishes the game to be set inside a giant alien life-form infected by a strain of bacteria. Stages which featured star field 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 too: |
||
*"Speed-Up" to "Hyper Speed" |
*"Speed-Up" to "Hyper Speed" |
||
*"Missile" to "Destruct Missile" |
*"Missile" to "Destruct Missile" |
||
Line 26: | Line 40: | ||
*"Force Field" to "Shield" |
*"Force Field" to "Shield" |
||
− | ==NES== |
+ | ==NES version== |
− | [[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 also been completely changed for this release. The power-up gauge is arranged differently for both players as well. |
+ | [[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 also 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 [[ |
+ | Both the original Japanese version and the enhanced ''Life Force'' release are included in the compilation ''[[Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus]]'' for the [[wikipedia:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] and [[wikipedia:Sega Saturn|Saturn]], as well as in ''[[Salamander Portable]]'' for the [[wikipedia:PlayStation Portable|PlayStation Portable]]. |
==Stages== |
==Stages== |
||
⚫ | |||
− | {{col-begin}} |
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− | {{col-2}} |
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⚫ | |||
{| border="1" class="wikitable" |
{| border="1" class="wikitable" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | !Stage!!Name!!Boss |
+ | !Stage!!Name!!Boss!!Music |
|- |
|- |
||
!1 |
!1 |
||
− | |Stomach Muscle Zone||[[ |
+ | |[[Stomach Muscle Zone]]||[[Golem]]||Power of Anger |
|- |
|- |
||
!2 |
!2 |
||
− | |Kidney Zone||[[Zylom]] |
+ | |[[Kidney Zone]]||[[Zylom]]||Thunderbolt |
|- |
|- |
||
!3 |
!3 |
||
− | |Stomach Inner Chamber||[[Intruder]] |
+ | |[[Stomach Inner Chamber]]||[[Intruder]]||Planet Ratis |
|- |
|- |
||
!4 |
!4 |
||
− | |Liver Zone||[[ |
+ | |[[Volcano Area|Liver Zone]]||[[Fortress Valis]]||Slash Fighter |
|- |
|- |
||
!5 |
!5 |
||
− | |Lung Zone||[[ |
+ | |[[Asteroid Hell|Lung Zone]]||[[Gaw]]||Combat |
|- |
|- |
||
!6 |
!6 |
||
− | |Brain Area||[[Zelos Force]] |
+ | |[[Brain Area]]||[[Zelos Force]]||Destroy Them All |
|} |
|} |
||
+ | ===NES=== |
||
− | {{col-2}} |
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− | ;NES |
||
{| border="1" class="wikitable" |
{| border="1" class="wikitable" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | !Stage!!Name!!Boss |
+ | !Stage!!Name!!Boss!!Music |
|- |
|- |
||
!1 |
!1 |
||
− | |[[Bionic Germ]]||[[ |
+ | |[[Bionic Germ]]||[[Golem]]||Power of Anger |
|- |
|- |
||
!2 |
!2 |
||
− | |[[Meteorite Space|Volcano]]||[[ |
+ | |[[Meteorite Space|Volcano]]||[[Fortress Valis]]<br />[[Tetran|Cruiser Tetran]]||Starfield |
|- |
|- |
||
!3 |
!3 |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Burning Chaos]]||[[Intruder]]||Planet Ratis |
|- |
|- |
||
!4 |
!4 |
||
− | |[[Organic Speed Zone]]||[[Giga]] |
+ | |[[Organic Speed Zone]]||[[Giga]]||Fly High |
|- |
|- |
||
!5 |
!5 |
||
− | |[[Temple Zone]]||[[Crash Bam]]<br/>[[Tutankhamon]] |
+ | |[[Temple Zone]]||[[Crash Bam]]<br />[[Tutankhamon]]||Thunderbolt |
|- |
|- |
||
!6 |
!6 |
||
− | |[[Salamander Planetoid|Fortress Zone]]||[[Zelos Force]] |
+ | |[[Salamander Planetoid|Fortress Zone]]||[[Zelos Force]]||Destroy Them All |
|} |
|} |
||
− | {{col-end}} |
||
− | == |
+ | ==New enemies== |
+ | <div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> |
||
+ | *[[Fireball]] |
||
+ | *[[Fire Dragon|Prowler]] |
||
+ | *[[Jelip]] |
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+ | *[[Bamda]] |
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+ | *[[Tubles]] |
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+ | *[[Zacron]] |
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+ | *[[Potato Cell]] |
||
+ | *[[Small Bone]] |
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+ | *[[Stones]] |
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+ | *[[Rush]] |
||
+ | *[[Bibi]] |
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+ | *[[Triangle]] |
||
+ | </div> |
||
+ | ==Gallery== |
||
<gallery> |
<gallery> |
||
− | Life Force Famicom Cover.jpg|Famicom |
+ | Life Force Famicom Cover.jpg|Famicom cover |
− | Life Force NES Cover.jpg|NES |
+ | Life Force NES Cover.jpg|NES cover |
</gallery> |
</gallery> |
||
==Trivia== |
==Trivia== |
||
− | *Interestingly, ''Life Force'' takes place in Gradius year 6842, two years after [[Gradius III]]. |
+ | *Interestingly, ''Life Force'' takes place in Gradius year 6842, two years after ''[[Gradius III]]''. |
− | *The [ |
+ | *The [[w:c:nanoha:Garden of Time|Garden of Time]] in the 2004 anime ''[[w:c:nanoha:Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha|Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' somewhat resembles the Life Force Fortress. |
{{Salamander}} |
{{Salamander}} |
||
{{Games}} |
{{Games}} |
||
− | [[Category: |
+ | [[Category:Arcade games]] |
+ | [[Category:NES games]] |
Revision as of 07:34, 1 November 2019
Life Force (ライフフォース ) is a ported version of Salamander which had many updates in both design and plot. It saw a release on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1988.
Life Force was in many ways an updated Salamander; some elements, such as levels and bosses, were removed to make space for new content. Interestingly, most of the level graphics and enemy sprites from Salamander were used in favor of the ones used in Life Force, and it uses the Gradius power-up bar. The game was practically identical to the NES port of Life Force, 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 3 to 30.
Plot
Two years have passed since the battle against the Bacterian star system...
To the planet Gradius which regained peace, an unprecedented crisis has arrived. The unknown super-organism "Life Force" suddenly appeared in space!! It's a gigantic creature which absorbs all substances and continues to grow without stopping. In the meantime, planet Gradius will be absorbed too! People entrust their last hope into the super spatio-temporal fighter Vic Viper.
Differences from Salamander
Life Force changes the plot from Salamander by adding an opening text which establishes the game to be set inside a giant alien life-form infected by a strain of bacteria. Stages which featured star field 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 too:
- "Speed-Up" to "Hyper Speed"
- "Missile" to "Destruct Missile"
- "Ripple Laser" to "Pulse Laser"
- "Force Field" to "Shield"
NES version
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 also 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 Plus for the PlayStation and Saturn, as well as in Salamander Portable for the PlayStation Portable.
Stages
Arcade
Stage | Name | Boss | Music |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Stomach Muscle Zone | Golem | Power of Anger |
2 | Kidney Zone | Zylom | Thunderbolt |
3 | Stomach Inner Chamber | Intruder | Planet Ratis |
4 | Liver Zone | Fortress Valis | Slash Fighter |
5 | Lung Zone | Gaw | Combat |
6 | Brain Area | Zelos Force | Destroy Them All |
NES
Stage | Name | Boss | Music |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bionic Germ | Golem | Power of Anger |
2 | Volcano | Fortress Valis Cruiser Tetran |
Starfield |
3 | Burning Chaos | Intruder | Planet Ratis |
4 | Organic Speed Zone | Giga | Fly High |
5 | Temple Zone | Crash Bam Tutankhamon |
Thunderbolt |
6 | Fortress Zone | Zelos Force | Destroy Them All |
New enemies
Gallery
Trivia
- Interestingly, Life Force takes place in Gradius year 6842, two years after Gradius III.
- The Garden of Time in the 2004 anime Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha somewhat resembles the Life Force Fortress.
Gradius video games | ||
Gradius series | Gradius • Gradius II • Gradius III • Gradius Gaiden • Gradius IV: Fukkatsu • Gradius Galaxies • Gradius V • Gradius ReBirth • Gradius: The Interstellar Assault • Gradius NEO • Gradius NEO Imperial | |
Spin-offs | Salamander (Life Force) (MSX ver.)• Salamander 2 • Nemesis 2 (Nemesis '90 Kai) • Nemesis 3 • Nemesis (Game Boy) • Cosmic Wars • Solar Assault | |
Parody games | Parodius • Parodius Da! • Gokujō Parodius! • Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius • Sexy Parodius • Paro Wars • Otomedius (Otomedius Gorgeous) • Otomedius Excellent | |
Other games | Scramble • Thunder Cross • Thunder Cross II • Space Manbow • Force Gear | |
Pachislot | Gradius: The Slot • CR Parodius Da! EX • Gokuraku Parodius! | |
Cancelled | Vic Viper • Gradius Arc • Salamander HD Remaster |