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{{Header Nav|game=Life Force|num=4}}
{{Header Nav|game=Life Force}}
{{Infobox
{{Game
|completion=4
|image=Life Force NES box.jpg
|title=Life Force
|title=Life Force
|japanese=沙羅曼蛇 (サラマンダ)
|japanese=沙羅曼蛇 (サラマンダ)
|image=Life Force NES box.jpg
|developer=[[Konami]]
|developer=[[Konami]]
|publisher=[[Konami]]
|publisher=[[Konami]]
|released={{sys|nes}}{{jp|1987|September 25}}{{us|1988|August}}{{eu|1989|November 22}}{{kr|1990}}{{sys|vc}}{{jp|2008|December 24}}{{us|2009|February 16}}
|year=1987
|systems={{syslist|nes|wii|3ds|wiiu}}
|ratings={{CERO|A}}{{ESRB|E}}{{PEGI|7}}{{ACB|G}}
|genre=[[Shooter]]
|genre=[[Shooter]]
|modes=[[Single player]], [[Multiplayer]]
|preceded by=[[Gradius]]
|preceded by=[[Gradius]]
|systems=[[NES]], [[Wii Virtual Console]]
|series=Gradius
|series=Gradius
}}
}}
{{game disambig|the NES version of Life Force|the original [[Arcade]] version of these games|[[Salamander]]}}
{{game disambig|the NES version of Life Force|the original [[Arcade]] version of these games|[[Salamander]]}}
'''Life Force''' is the North American name of the game which is a spin-off of the original [[Gradius]] game. It began life as an arcade game where it was released in Japan under the name {{nihongo|'''Salamander'''|沙羅曼蛇}}. It was brought to the United States as '''Life Force'''. It was then re-adapted back to Japan under the same new title with a more organic theme. For more information about the arcade game and its various versions see the [[Salamander]] guide.


'''Life Force''' is the North American name of the game which is a spin-off of the original [[Gradius]] game.  It began life as an arcade game where it was released in Japan under the name {{nihongo|'''Salamander'''|沙羅曼蛇}}.  It was brought to the United States as '''Life Force'''.  It was then re-adapted back to Japan under the same new title with a more organic theme.  For more information about the arcade game and its various versions see the [[Salamander]] guide.
This game was converted for many popular systems, including the [[NES]]. In Japan, the [[Famicom]] conversion of the game retained the original title of '''Salamander''', while outside of Japan, it was released as '''Life Force'''. While this conversion retains most of the contents of the arcade version, some changes were made for this release. Like the arcade game, it contains two-player cooperative gameplay, both horizontally and vertically scrolling stages, and the ability to resume play right where your ship was destroyed. Unlike the arcade game, it does not have the simplified power up system. Instead, it returns to the Gradius style power-up system.
 
This game was converted for many popular systems, including the [[NES]]. In Japan, the [[Famicom]] conversion of the game retained the original title of '''Salamander''', while outside of Japan, it was released as '''Life Force'''. While this conversion retains most of the contents of the arcade version, some changes were made for this release. Like the arcade game, it contains two-player cooperative gameplay, both horizontally and vertically scrolling stages, and the ability to resume play right where your ship was destroyed. Unlike the arcade game, it does not have the simplified power up system. Instead, it returns to the Gradius style power-up system.


In addition to this modification, stages were rearranged, and some stages were entirely redesigned. The arcade's fourth stage is now the second stage, and the two stages that consisted mostly of space have been replaced with new stages, one of which continues the biological theme introduced in the first stage. Many aspects of the existing stages were simplified to run smoothly on the NES hardware, but the look and feel of the game is quite faithfully retained. The game was later re-released on the [[Wii Virtual Console]] in Japan at the end of 2008 and in the United States at the start of 2009.
In addition to this modification, stages were rearranged, and some stages were entirely redesigned. The arcade's fourth stage is now the second stage, and the two stages that consisted mostly of space have been replaced with new stages, one of which continues the biological theme introduced in the first stage. Many aspects of the existing stages were simplified to run smoothly on the NES hardware, but the look and feel of the game is quite faithfully retained. The game was later re-released on the [[Wii Virtual Console]] in Japan at the end of 2008 and in the United States at the start of 2009.
 
{{Continue Nav}}


<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Life_Force_NES.png|American title
File:Life Force NES.png|American title
Image:Salamander_FC_title.png|Japanese title
File:Salamander FC title.png|Japanese title
Image:Salamander_FC_box.jpg|Japanese box
File:Salamander FC box.jpg|Japanese box
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Story ==
== Story ==
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.
A large creature named Zelos swallowed planet Gradius and planet Latis. Vic Viper and Lord British must destroy Zelos' heart from the inside out.
 
The story in the Japanese version is a bit different. The Salamander Army, from the Bacterion star cluster, used the planet Zelos Force to absorb the planet Latis. The prince of Latis, Lord British, tried to counterattack but was unable to defeat the army. He escaped and requested help from planet Gradius, who had defeated the bacterion army before. His distress signal is picked up and the hero from Gradius boards the Vic Viper and heads to the Salamander's planet to help out.


{{ToC}}
{{ToC}}
{{Gradius}}
{{Gradius}}


[[Category:Arcade]]
[[Category:MAME]]
[[Category:NES]]
[[Category:Wii Virtual Console]]
[[Category:Konami]]
[[Category:Konami]]
[[Category:Shooter]]
[[Category:Single player]]
[[Category:Single player]]
[[Category:Multiplayer]]
[[Category:Multiplayer]]
[[Category:Shooter]]
[[Category:MAME]]

Latest revision as of 16:33, 25 June 2022

Box artwork for Life Force.
Box artwork for Life Force.
Life Force
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)Konami
Year released1987
System(s)NES, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
Preceded byGradius
SeriesGradius
Japanese title沙羅曼蛇 (サラマンダ)
Genre(s)Shooter
ModesSingle player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)CERO All agesESRB EveryonePEGI Ages 7+General
LinksLife Force ChannelSearchSearch
This guide is for the NES version of Life Force. For the original Arcade version of these games, see Salamander.

Life Force is the North American name of the game which is a spin-off of the original Gradius game. It began life as an arcade game where it was released in Japan under the name Salamander (沙羅曼蛇?). It was brought to the United States as Life Force. It was then re-adapted back to Japan under the same new title with a more organic theme. For more information about the arcade game and its various versions see the Salamander guide.

This game was converted for many popular systems, including the NES. In Japan, the Famicom conversion of the game retained the original title of Salamander, while outside of Japan, it was released as Life Force. While this conversion retains most of the contents of the arcade version, some changes were made for this release. Like the arcade game, it contains two-player cooperative gameplay, both horizontally and vertically scrolling stages, and the ability to resume play right where your ship was destroyed. Unlike the arcade game, it does not have the simplified power up system. Instead, it returns to the Gradius style power-up system.

In addition to this modification, stages were rearranged, and some stages were entirely redesigned. The arcade's fourth stage is now the second stage, and the two stages that consisted mostly of space have been replaced with new stages, one of which continues the biological theme introduced in the first stage. Many aspects of the existing stages were simplified to run smoothly on the NES hardware, but the look and feel of the game is quite faithfully retained. The game was later re-released on the Wii Virtual Console in Japan at the end of 2008 and in the United States at the start of 2009.

Story[edit]

A large creature named Zelos swallowed planet Gradius and planet Latis. Vic Viper and Lord British must destroy Zelos' heart from the inside out.

The story in the Japanese version is a bit different. The Salamander Army, from the Bacterion star cluster, used the planet Zelos Force to absorb the planet Latis. The prince of Latis, Lord British, tried to counterattack but was unable to defeat the army. He escaped and requested help from planet Gradius, who had defeated the bacterion army before. His distress signal is picked up and the hero from Gradius boards the Vic Viper and heads to the Salamander's planet to help out.

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