Salamander
The first 4D (2Dx2D) shooterGenre: shooter - horizontal
Publisher: Konami
Year: 1991
System: PCE
Gameplay Score: 4
Gameplay Notes:
Great movement speed and plentiful powerups make this less punishing than Gradius. Enemy go down in one hit and feature some novel and interesting movement patterns to give this game a unique personality. Auto-fire is very welcome, as are the 4 indestructible options. The only downer is only two weapons to choose from, including a laser that moves with its source. This makes it fun and easy to take care of a screen full of enemies. Having said all that, this feels like an early title and lacks a little something to make it truly epic.
Level Design Score: 5
Level Design Notes:
Stages alter between horizontal and vertical orientation and feature as much environmental hazard as enemies. The bosses are a massive improvement over Gradius. A fwe hazards are dumb, like the fleshy walls that grow back too quickly in the first stage, but overall the stages are memorable and fun.
Theme Score: 4
Theme Notes:
Gradius!
Art Style Score: 3
Art Style Notes:
The Vic Viper is small but looks sharo, but the backgrounds are at best a starry field and at worst pure black. Enemy sprites and environmental elements look ok but more like an 1987 arcade than an early 90's pixel art masterpiece. Quite a bit of slowdown when the screen fills with enemies.
Audio Score: 4
Audio Notes:
Great music, of course, though not as iconic or even memorable as other games in the series. Sounds are a little too loud as well, especially when enemeis explode.
Overall Score: 83
Review ID: 8123
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