Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, StartThe Konami Code is documented for the NES version and grants 30 lives when entered at the title screen.
Documented for this version
D-pad | Move the ship |
|---|---|
A | Fire the primary weapon |
B | Activate the selected power-up |
Controls are for the NES version.
The power meter determines which upgrade is selected.
How it plays
The game alternates between horizontal- and vertical-scrolling stages. Players guide a ship through continuous levels, destroy formations and bosses, avoid terrain, and reach the stage goal.
Enemies release power capsules that advance the on-screen power meter. Selecting a weapon and activating it can improve speed, missiles, lasers, options, or defensive equipment. The campaign supports one player or simultaneous two-player cooperative play, with limited lives and checkpoints or restarts depending on the situation.
Plan your run
Prioritize survival over collecting every capsule. Build a balanced power meter instead of waiting too long for a preferred weapon, and avoid activating upgrades while positioned near hazards.
Memorize boss attack patterns and keep moving through open space. In two-player mode, coordinate movement so the ships do not block each other or create unnecessary collisions. Recovering after death is easier when the remaining player clears nearby enemies first.
Documented inputs
Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, StartThe Konami Code is documented for the NES version and grants 30 lives when entered at the title screen.
Before you begin
Use short movement adjustments rather than holding a direction near walls.
Collect capsules steadily, but do not risk a life for a marginal power-up.
Learn the safest route through each stage before attempting a high-score run.
Life Force - Salamander is a horizontal and vertical scrolling shoot 'em up developed and published by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It adapts the arcade Salamander formula into a compact console campaign, placing one or two players in control of combat spacecraft fighting through hostile organic and mechanical environments. Players destroy enemies, collect power capsules, and build a weapon loadout while surviving dense projectile patterns and scrolling terrain. The game is known for fast action, cooperative play, and a demanding difficulty curve. Its presentation and system were well regarded by NES players, although the conversion is a distinct adaptation rather than a frame-for-frame arcade port.
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