salamand: MAME ROM Information.
History:
Salamander (c) 1986 Konami.
Salamander is a 1 or 2 player sequel to 1985's superb shoot-em-up, "Nemesis". While it retained the same basic gameplay 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 side-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.
- TECHNICAL -
Game ID : GX587
Main CPU : 68000
Sound CPU : Z80
Sound Chips : VLM5030, K007232, YM2151
Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2
- 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 [Model GX587]" (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".
Soundtrack releases:
[JP] [Cassette] Dec. 16, 1986; Original Sound of Salamander [KHY-1012]
[JP] [Cassette] Nov.21, 1987; Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander [Battle Music Collection]
[JP] [Audio CD] (Nov.21, 1987) Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander [Battle Music Collection]
[JP] Nov. 21, 1988; Original Sound of Salamander [BY12-5019]
[JP] May 25, 1992; Salamander Again - Konami Kukeiha Club [KICA-7601]
[JP] May 21, 1998; Salamander - Kukeiha Club Pro-Fusion [KICA-7702]
[JP] Apr. 09, 2003; Salamander Arcade Soundtrack [KOLA-030]
[JP] Sep. 22, 2011; Konami Shooting Collection [LC-2039~48]
The story between the different versions of Salamander differs. While the story in the arcade original is not entirely clear, the Famicom 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.
- 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 Life Force), 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. Gradius [Model GX400] (1985)
2. Salamander [Model GX587] (1986)
3. Lifeforce [Model GX587] (1987)
4. Gradius 2 [Model RC751] (1987, MSX)
5. Gradius II - Gofer no Yabou (1988)
6. Nemesis 3 - The Eve of Destruction (1988, MSX)
7. Gradius III - Densetsu Kara Shinwa-e (1989)
8. Nemesis '90 Kai (1993, Sharp X68000)
9. Salamander 2 (1996)
10. Solar Assault - Gradius (1997)
11. Solar Assault - Revised (1997)
12. Gradius Gaiden (1997, Sony PlayStation)
13. Gradius IV - Fukkatsu (1998)
14. Gradius Generation (2001, Nintendo Game Boy Advance)
15. Gradius V (2004, 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)
19. Gradius Rebirth (2008, Nintendo Wii)
- 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
- PORTS -
* Consoles :
Nintendo Famicom [JP] (Sep. 25, 1987; "Salamander [Model RC821]")
NEC PC-Engine [JP] (Dec. 06, 1991; "Salamander [Model KM91002]")
Sega Saturn [JP] (June 19, 1997, "Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus [Model T-9520G]")
Sony PlayStation [JP] (July 03, 1997, "Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus [Model SLPM-86037]")
Sony PSP [JP] (Jan. 25, 2007; "Salamander Portable [Model ULJM-05219]")
Sony PSP [JP] (Mar. 13, 2008; "Salamander Portable [Konami The Best] [Model ULJM-05322]")
* Computers :
MSX [JP] (Dec. 26, 1987; "Salamander [Model RC758]")
Sharp X68000 [JP] (Oct. ??, 1988; "Salamander [Model CZ-218AS]")
Commodore C64 (1988)
Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1988)
Amstrad CPC (1988)
- SOURCES -
Game's rom.
Machine's picture.
MAME Info:
0.33b5 [Allard van der Bas]
Artwork available
NOTE:
- The sequel to Salamander is Salamander 2 (Konami 1996 - GX system)
Bugs:
- In the attract demo play, voice samples are not muted briefly. Fujix (ID 03738)
- salamand, lifefrce: Music speed is slow. Ace (ID 03737)
- salamand and clones: Garbage graphic is displayed in a name entry towards the screen lower left. dpixx700 (ID 03409)
WIP:
- 0.144u7: Removed 'Unused' dipswitches.
- 0.144u4: Fujix adjusted volume levels in Nemesis driver to mirror observed levels from PCB recordings for Salamander/Lifeforce. This fixed music is too quiet in Salamander and clone Lifeforce. Angelo Salese fixed reversed stereo in Salamander/Lifeforce.
- 0.133u1: Renamed (salamanj) to (salamandj) and (lifefrcj) to (lifefrcej).
- 0.115u2: Fixed rom names.
- 25th August 2006: Mr. Do - Added instruction cards for Salamander (thanks to Gamestone at Gradius Home World).
- 0.68: Added 'Unused' dipswitch.
- 4th May 2003: Satoshi Suzuki fixed a few graphics glitches in Salamander and adjusted the refresh rate in it.
- 0.57: Removed 3rd button and coin slot.
- 0.37b13: Added clone Salamander (version J). Changed parent description to 'Salamander (version D)' and 68000 CPU1 clock speed to 9216000 Hz.
- 27th February 2001: Uki added another Salamander romset.
- 0.36b6: E.Watanabe improved screen priority in Lifeforce, Salamander, Gradius, etc.
- 0.35RC2: Changed 68000 CPU1 clock speed to 10738635 Hz.
- 0.35RC1: Elestir improved sound in Salamander. Changed 68000 CPU1 clock speed to 14318180 Hz. Added dipswitches 'Flip Screen', 'Test Mode', 'Coin A', 'Lives', 'Max Credit' and 'Demo Sounds'.
- 31st May 1999: Elestir added the two missing sound channels to Nemesis etc, speech to Salamander and some other things to the driver.
- 4th May 1999: Andrew Prime fixed Salamander graphics priorities at the end of level 3.
- 0.35b12: Bryan McPhail added Salamander (Konami 1986) and clones Lifeforce (US) and (Japan).
- 28th April 1999: Bryan McPhail sent in a Salamander / Life Force driver, but some graphics priority problems still remain.
- 21st March 1999: Bryan McPhail has worked on Salamander and Super Burger Time.
- 0.33b5: Allard van der Bas added Salamander (Testdriver).
- 9th September 1997: Dumped Salamander (version D). GX587 main board with a GX400 (a.k.a. Nemesis/Konami GT) video board.
ARCADE RELEASE: Salamander (Konami) - 1986/Jul/04 and Lifeforce (Konami) - 1987/Jun/26
LEVELS: 6
Other Emulators:
* Sparcade
Recommended Games (R-Type):
Gradius / Nemesis
Gradius (PlayChoice-10)
Vs. Gradius
Gradius II / Vulcan Venture
Gradius III
Gradius 4: Fukkatsu
Salamander
Salamander 2
R-Type
R-Type II
R-Type Leo
Heavy Unit
Turtle Ship
Hellfire
X Multiply
Zero Wing
Raiga - Strato Fighter
Rezon
Blaze On
Hyper Duel
Super Spacefortress Macross II
Romset: 560 kb / 7 files / 251.8 zip
MAME XML Output:
| | <game name="salamand" sourcefile="nemesis.c"> |
| | | <description>Salamander (version D)</description> |
| | | <manufacturer>Konami</manufacturer> |
| | | <rom name="587-d02.18b" size="65536" crc="a42297f9" sha1="7c974779e438eae649b39b36f6f6d24847099a6e" region="maincpu" offset="0"/> |
| | | <rom name="587-d05.18c" size="65536" crc="f9130b0a" sha1="925ea65c13fc87fc59f893cc0ead2c82fd0bed6f" region="maincpu" offset="1"/> |
| | | <rom name="587-c03.17b" size="131072" crc="e5caf6e6" sha1="f5df4fbc43cfa6e2866558c99dd95ba8dc89dc7a" region="maincpu" offset="40000"/> |
| | | <rom name="587-c06.17c" size="131072" crc="c2f567ea" sha1="0c38fea53f3d4a9ae0deada5669deca4be8c9fd3" region="maincpu" offset="40001"/> |
| | | <rom name="587-d09.11j" size="32768" crc="5020972c" sha1="04c752c3b7fd850a8a51ecd230b39e6edde9dd7e" region="audiocpu" offset="0"/> |
| | | <rom name="587-d08.8g" size="16384" crc="f9ac6b82" sha1="3370fc3a7f82e922e19d54afb3bca7b07fa4aa9a" region="vlm" offset="0"/> |
| | | <rom name="587-c01.10a" size="131072" crc="09fe0632" sha1="4c3b29c623d70bbe8a938a0beb4638912c46fb6a" region="k007232" offset="0"/> |
| | | <chip type="cpu" tag="maincpu" name="68000" clock="9216000"/> |
| | | <chip type="cpu" tag="audiocpu" name="Z80" clock="3579545"/> |
| | | <chip type="audio" tag="lspeaker" name="Speaker"/> |
| | | <chip type="audio" tag="rspeaker" name="Speaker"/> |
| | | <chip type="audio" tag="vlm" name="VLM5030" clock="3579545"/> |
| | | <chip type="audio" tag="k007232" name="K007232" clock="3579545"/> |
| | | <chip type="audio" tag="ymsnd" name="YM2151" clock="3579545"/> |
| | | <display tag="screen" type="raster" rotate="0" width="256" height="224" refresh="60.606061" /> |
| | | <input players="2" buttons="2" coins="2"> |
| | | | <control type="joy" ways="8"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Flip Screen" tag="IN0" mask="32"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Off" value="32" default="yes"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="On" value="0"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Unused" tag="IN0" mask="64"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Off" value="64" default="yes"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="On" value="0"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Service Mode" tag="IN0" mask="128"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Off" value="128" default="yes"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="On" value="0"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Cabinet" tag="IN1" mask="128"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Upright" value="0" default="yes"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Cocktail" value="128"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Coinage" tag="DSW0" mask="15"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="4 Coins/1 Credit" value="2"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="3 Coins/1 Credit" value="5"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="2 Coins/1 Credit" value="8"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="3 Coins/2 Credits" value="4"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="4 Coins/3 Credits" value="1"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1 Coin/1 Credit" value="15" default="yes"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="3 Coins/4 Credits" value="3"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="2 Coins/3 Credits" value="7"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1 Coin/2 Credits" value="14"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="2 Coins/5 Credits" value="6"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1 Coin/3 Credits" value="13"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1 Coin/4 Credits" value="12"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1 Coin/5 Credits" value="11"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1 Coin/6 Credits" value="10"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1 Coin/7 Credits" value="9"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Disabled" value="0"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Lives" tag="DSW1" mask="3"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="2" value="3"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="3" value="2" default="yes"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="5" value="1"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="7" value="0"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Coin Slot(s)" tag="DSW1" mask="4"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1" value="4"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="2" value="0" default="yes"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Max Credit(s)" tag="DSW1" mask="24"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="1" value="24"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="3" value="16"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="5" value="8"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="9" value="0" default="yes"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Difficulty" tag="DSW1" mask="96"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Easy" value="96"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Medium" value="64" default="yes"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Hard" value="32"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Hardest" value="0"/> |
| | | <dipswitch name="Demo Sounds" tag="DSW1" mask="128"> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="Off" value="128"/> |
| | | | <dipvalue name="On" value="0" default="yes"/> |
| | | <driver status="good" emulation="good" color="good" sound="good" graphic="good" savestate="supported" palettesize="2048"/> |
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