Changes: Salamander 2

Revision as of 05:03, 30 October 2019

Salamander 2 (サラマンダ2^?) is a scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Konami in 1996. The game is a direct sequel to 1986's Salamander and is part of the long-running Gradius series.

The game is notable as it is the first in the Gradius series to incorporate three-dimensional graphic elements into its base of 2D graphics. It retains all the characteristic elements of its predecessor; two-player simultaneous gameplay, similar enemy and bosses, and inclusion of vertically-scrolling levels.

Story

Space Calendar 0999

The subspace life form "Doom" began it's invasion. His appearance caused distortions in outer space, with various star systems pioneered by mankind coming into the subspace. Those who barely escaped started fighting back, with their mother planet Gradius as the last base.

Now, betting the last hope of the human race, two super spatiotemporal fighters take flight. Vic Viper, Super Cobra! Go!

Gameplay

Like the original Salamander, and as opposed to the Life Force releases, Salamander 2 abandons the selection-bar based power-up system, in favor of a simplified system that focuses on powering weapons up based on specific icons. For example, the player cannot increase his ship speed until a speed icon is picked up; additional speed icons further increase the ship's velocity.

Several weapons, when additionally upgraded, turn into a 'super' weapon for approximately ten seconds. If the player has the ripple laser, and then gets another icon for it, the player will receive the high-powered Buster ripple for a short period of time. Options have been slightly changed with the arrival of 'option seeds', which are small options that orbit the ship firing only the basic initial shot. Two option seeds can combine into one full option. Moreover, options can also be sacrificed to utilize a short-term homing beam weapon, which will leave behind an option seed.

Several enemy bosses typical to Gradius games return, including the Golem (the first level sub boss) and the Tetran/Tenny Rop (the fourth level boss). There are a total of six levels. Since the game is similar to its prequel, Salamander 2 does not use the Revival Start feature from Gradius (which pushes the player back to a predetermined checkpoint if a life is lost), many people consider this title to be easier than other titles in the Gradius series due to this. Once the game has been completed, it starts its second-loop at a much higher difficulty. The music is also changed to remixed versions of Salamander's music in some stages. The first player's ship is called Vic Viper while the second player's ship is Super Cobra.

Ports

Salamander 2 was not made available as an individual port, but was released to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation as a part of the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus compilation, alongside the original Japanese arcade releases of Salamander and Life Force. This pack also includes Life Force 2 as unlockable mode of Salamander 2. This mode is based on the non-Japanese versions of the game, which had higher difficulty with its power-up method unchanged.

On January 25, 2007 in Japan, the game was released as part of the Salamander Portable compilation for the PSP, alongside Salamander, Life Force, the Japanese version of Xexex and a remake of Nemesis 2 (previously remade for the X68000 as Nemesis '90) featuring options to play the game with updated graphics.

Stages

Stage	Name	Boss	Music
1	Sub-life Space	Biter	Silvery Wings Again Power of Anger (2nd loop)
2	Prominence Fortress	Hydra	Sensation
3	Bio Hazard	Abadon	All Is Vanity
4	Huge Battleship	Tenny Rop	Serious! Serious! Serious! Last Exit (2nd loop)
5	Asteroid	Plate Core	Speed Planet Ratis (2nd loop)
6	Doom Fortress	Cerberus Doom	Dear Blue Prelude of the Last Battle

Gallery

Salamander
Characters and ships	Vic Viper • Lord British (Lord British)• Saber Tiger and Thrasher (Iggy Rock and Zowie Scott) • Van Landroth Frehley • Lars XVIII • Super Cobra • Galaxy • Purple Emperor • Red Devil
Salamander stages	Bionic Germ • Meteorite Space • Burning Chaos • Volcano Area • Salamander Planetoid
Salamander (MSX) stages	Top Flight Speed to Latis • Conduct to Space Station Zot • Set the Crush Blow System - Planet Eioneus • Set the Crush Blow System - Planet Lavinia • Set the Crush Blow System - Planet Kierke • Wrath of Venom • Crush Salamander
Life Force-only stages	Organic Speed Zone • Temple Zone
Salamander 2 stages	Sub-life Space • Prominence Fortress • Bio Hazard • Huge Battleship • Asteroid • Doom Fortress
Salamander bosses	Golem • Tetran • Intruder • Fortress Valis • Death • Big Core X3 • Jumping Moai • Zelos Force
Port exclusive bosses	Zylom • Gaw • Giga • Tutankhamon • Dead End • Enigma • True Venom • Metal Slave • Zelos Barrier
Salamander 2 bosses	Biter • Hydra • Abadon • Tenny Rop • Plate Core • Cerberus • Doom

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-&nbsp;{{Infobox Game
+{{Infobox Game
-|Game         = Salamander 2
+|title           = Salamander 2
-|image        = Salamander_2.gif
+|image           = Salamander_2_Flyer_01.jpg
+|caption         =
-|JapaneseName = Salamander 2
+|alternate_title =
-|ReleaseDate  = JPN January, 1996
+|european_title  =
-|Developer    = Konami
+|japanese_title  = サラマンダ2<br />''Saramanda Tsū''
-|Publisher    = Konami
-|Platforms    = Arcade
+|developer       = [[Konami]]
+|publisher       = [[Konami]]
-| Chronology
+|series          = ''[[Salamander (series)|Salamander]]''
-| previous   =[[Xexex]]
-| next       =[[Solar Assault]]
+|director        =
+|producer        =
+|designer        =
+|composer        = Naoki Maeda
+|platform        = Arcade
+|release_date    =
+[[File:Flag of Japan.png|22px|Japan]] January 19, 1996
+|media           =
+|ratings         =
+|genre           = Horizontal scrolling shoot 'em up
+|modes           = Single player, two players
+|input           =
+|gallery         =
 }}
+{{Nihongo|'''''Salamander 2'''''|サラマンダ2}} is a scrolling shooter arcade game developed by [[Konami]] in 1996. The game is a direct sequel to 1986's ''[[Salamander]]'' and is part of the long-running ''[[Gradius (series)|Gradius]]'' series.
+The game is notable as it is the first in the ''Gradius'' series to incorporate three-dimensional graphic elements into its base of 2D graphics. It retains all the characteristic elements of its predecessor; two-player simultaneous gameplay, similar enemy and bosses, and inclusion of vertically-scrolling levels.
-'''Salamander 2''' is a scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Konami in 1996. The game is a direct sequel to 1986's ''[[Salamander]]'' and is part of the long-running ''Gradius'' series.
-The game is notable as it is the first in the ''Gradius'' series to incorporate three-dimensional graphic elements into its base of 2D graphics.
-It retains all the characteristic elements of its predecessor; two-player simultaneous gameplay, similar enemy and bosses, and inclusion of vertically-scrolling levels.
-==Gameplay==
+==Story==
+Space Calendar 0999
+The subspace life form "Doom" began it's invasion. His appearance caused distortions in outer space, with various star systems pioneered by mankind coming into the subspace. Those who barely escaped started fighting back, with their mother planet Gradius as the last base.
-[[File:Super_Cobra.gif|thumb]]Like the original ''[[Salamander]]'', and as opposed to the ''[[Life Force]]'' releases, ''Salamander 2'' abandons the selection-bar based power-up system, in favor for a simplified system that focuses on powering weapons up based on specific icons. For example, the player cannot increase his ship speed until a speed icon is picked up; additional speed icons further increase the ship velocity.
+Now, betting the last hope of the human race, two super spatiotemporal fighters take flight. Vic Viper, Super Cobra! Go!
-[[File:Sun_Viper.gif|thumb]]Several weapons, when additionally upgraded, turn into a 'super' weapon for approximately ten seconds. If the player has the ripple laser, and then gets another icon for it, the player will receive the high-powered Buster ripple for a short period of time. Options have been slightly changed with the arrival of 'option seeds', which are small options that orbit the ship firing only the basic initial shot. Two option seeds can combine into one full option. Moreover, options can also be sacrificed to utilize a short-term homing beam weapon, which will leave behind an option seed.
+==Gameplay==
-Several enemy bosses typical to ''Gradius'' games return, including the [[Brain Golem]] (the first level sub boss) and the [[Tetran]]/[[Tenny Rop]] (the fourth level boss). There are a total of six levels. Since the game is similar to its prequel, Salamander 2 does not use the ''Revival Start'' feature from Gradius (which pushes the player back to a pre-determined checkpoint if a life is lost), many people consider this title to be easier than other titles in the ''Gradius'' series due to this. Once the game has been completed, it starts its second-loop at a much higher difficulty. The music is also changed to remixed versions of ''Salamander'''s music in some stages. The first player's ship is called [[Vic Viper|''Vic Viper'' while]] the second player's ship is [[Super Cobra|''Super Cobra'']].
+[[File:Super_Cobra.gif|thumb]]Like the original ''[[Salamander]]'', and as opposed to the ''[[Life Force]]'' releases, ''Salamander 2'' abandons the selection-bar based power-up system, in favor of a simplified system that focuses on powering weapons up based on specific icons. For example, the player cannot increase his ship speed until a speed icon is picked up; additional speed icons further increase the ship's velocity.
+[[File:Sun_Viper.gif|thumb]]Several weapons, when additionally upgraded, turn into a 'super' weapon for approximately ten seconds. If the player has the ripple laser, and then gets another icon for it, the player will receive the high-powered Buster ripple for a short period of time. [[Option]]s have been slightly changed with the arrival of 'option seeds', which are small options that orbit the ship firing only the basic initial shot. Two option seeds can combine into one full option. Moreover, options can also be sacrificed to utilize a short-term homing beam weapon, which will leave behind an option seed.
-[[Image:Salmndr2.png|250px|In-game screenshot]]
+Several enemy bosses typical to ''Gradius'' games return, including the [[Golem]] (the first level sub boss) and the [[Tetran]]/[[Tenny Rop]] (the fourth level boss). There are a total of six levels. Since the game is similar to its prequel, ''Salamander 2'' does not use the ''Revival Start'' feature from ''[[Gradius]]'' (which pushes the player back to a predetermined checkpoint if a life is lost), many people consider this title to be easier than other titles in the ''Gradius'' series due to this. Once the game has been completed, it starts its second-loop at a much higher difficulty. The music is also changed to remixed versions of ''Salamander'''s music in some stages. The first player's ship is called [[Vic Viper]] while the second player's ship is ''[[Super Cobra]]''.
 ==Ports==
+[[Image:Salmndr2.png|thumb|right|In-game screenshot]]
-''Salamander 2'' was not made available as an individual port, but was released to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation as a part of the ''[[Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus]]'' compilation, alongside the original Japanese arcade releases of ''Salamander'' and ''Life Force''. This pack also includes ''Life Force 2'' as unlockable mode of Salamander 2. This mode is based on the non-Japanese versions of the game, which had higher difficulty with its power-up method unchanged.
+''Salamander 2'' was not made available as an individual port, but was released to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation as a part of the ''[[Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus]]'' compilation, alongside the original Japanese arcade releases of ''Salamander'' and ''Life Force''. This pack also includes ''Life Force 2'' as unlockable mode of ''Salamander 2''. This mode is based on the non-Japanese versions of the game, which had higher difficulty with its power-up method unchanged.
-On January 25, 2007 in Japan, the game was released as part of the ''[[Salamander Portable]]'' compilation for the PSP, alongside [[Salamander|''Salamander'']],[[ Life Force| ''Life Force'']], the Japanese version of [[Xexex]] and a remake of [[Nemesis 2]] (previously remade for the X68000 as ''Nemesis '90'') featuring options to play the game with updated graphics.
+On January 25, 2007 in Japan, the game was released as part of the ''[[Salamander Portable]]'' compilation for the PSP, alongside ''[[Salamander]]'', ''[[Life Force]]'', the Japanese version of ''[[w:c:konami:Xexex|Xexex]]'' and a remake of ''[[Nemesis 2]]'' (previously remade for the X68000 as ''Nemesis '90'') featuring options to play the game with updated graphics.
 ==Stages==
+{| border="1" class="wikitable"
-*[[Sub-Space Life|Stage 1]]: Organic Sky
+|-
-*Stage 2: Artificial Suns
+!Stage!!Name!!Boss!!Music
-*[[Resident Evil|Stage 3]]: Living Body
+|-
-*Stage 4: Battleship Armada
+!1
-*Stage 5: [[Ruins of Final Base]]
+|[[Sub-life Space]]||[[Biter]]||Silvery Wings Again<br/>Power of Anger (2nd loop)
-*Stage 6: Crystal Asteroids
+|-
-*Stage 7: Final Base/Speed Up
+!2
-Note: There is no break between stage 6 and 7.
+|[[Prominence Fortress]]||[[Hydra]]||Sensation
+|-
-==Bosses==
+!3
-* Stage 1: [[Brain Golem]], [[Biter]]<br />
+|[[Bio Hazard]]||[[Abadon]]||All Is Vanity
-* Stage 2: [[Hydra]]<br />
+|-
-* Stage 3: [[Abadon]]<br />
+!4
-* Stage 4: [[Tenny Rop]]<br />
+|[[Huge Battleship]]||[[Tenny Rop]]||Serious! Serious! Serious!<br/>Last Exit (2nd loop)
-* Stage 5: [[Plate Core]]<br />
+|-
-* Stage 6: [[Cerberus]]<br />
+!5
-* Stage 7: [[Doom]]
+|[[Asteroid]]||[[Plate Core]]||Speed<br/>Planet Ratis (2nd loop)
+|-
-== Trivia ==
+!6
+|[[Doom Fortress]]||[[Cerberus]]<br/>[[Doom]]||Dear Blue<br/>Prelude of the Last Battle
+|}
-*Salamander 2 takes place after [[Gradius IV]] and before [[Gradius Gaiden]].
+==Gallery==
+<gallery position="center" captionalign="center">
+Salamander2CoverDPP.jpg|Key art (Salamander Deluxe Pack)
+</gallery>
+{{Salamander}}
 {{Games}}
-[[Category:Games]]
+[[Category:Arcade games]]
-[[Category:Arcade Games]]