View source for Salamander 2

{{short description|1996 video game}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Salamander 2
| image = Salamander 2 cover.png
| developer = [[Konami]]
| publisher = Konami
| composer = [[Naoki Maeda (composer)|Naoki Maeda]]
| series = ''Salamander''
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|January 1996}}
| genre = [[Scrolling shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms = {{ubl|[[Arcade video game|Arcade]]|[[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]}}
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Salamander 2'''''|{{ruby|沙羅曼蛇|サラマンダ}}2|Saramanda Tsū|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1996 horizontally [[scrolling shooter]] [[arcade video game]] developed and published in Japan by [[Konami]]. It is the direct sequel to ''[[Salamander (video game)|Salamander]]'' (1986) and the third game in the ''Salamander'' series, which itself is a spin-off of the ''[[Gradius]]'' franchise. Up to two players control two starships — the Vic Viper and the Super Cobra — as they must destroy the alien race Doom before they wipe out all of the planet Gradius. Gameplay involves shooting down enemies, collecting power-up items, and avoiding collision with projectiles or obstacles.

Though it was a moderate success in arcades, ''Salamander 2'' was met with mixed reviews. The game received generally negative feedback from fans of the original ''Salamander'' for its poor design and inferiority to its predecessor. It has been republished through ''Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus'' (1997) and ''Salamander Portable'' (2007). These re-releases were better-received for their gameplay, graphical style, and soundtrack, though its high level of difficulty and lack of innovation were the subject of criticism. Its music has since been re-released in various Konami soundtrack albums.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Salmndr2.png|thumb|left|The player's ship, the Vic Viper, about to destroy a formation of enemies]]

''Salamander 2'' is a horizontal-scrolling shooter video game. Players control a starship through six scrolling stages in an attempt to destroy the hostile alien race "Doom" before they wipe out the planet Gradius and the remains of mankind.<ref name="Manual">{{cite book |title=Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus instruction manual |date=19 June 1997 |publisher=[[Konami]] |location=Japan |pages=19–21}}</ref> The first player controls the blue Vic Viper and the second controls the red Super Cobra.<ref name="HG101"/> Both ships are tasked with completing each of the game's six scrolling stages; these stages alternate between horizontal and vertical-scrolling planes.<ref name="HG101"/><ref name="KLOV"/> In these, players must shoot down constantly-moving formations of enemies while avoiding collisions with them, their projectiles, and moving obstacles such as asteroids and walls. Stages conclude with a fight against a boss that is defeated by destroying its weak point.<ref name="EGM">{{cite magazine |title=Next Wave — Protos: Arcade - Salamander 2 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=76 |publisher=Sendai Publishing |date=November 1995 |page=222}}</ref> Completing all six stages allows the player to start back at the beginning, or "loop", to replay the game at a higher difficulty.<ref name="HG101"/><ref name="KLOV"/>

By destroying red-colored enemies, players can collect power-up items that enhance their weapons. Both players begin the game with a standard forward-moving shot, and can upgrade these to a laser, a circling "ripple" laser that increases in size, and a twin shot, in addition to a forcefield and an increase in movement speed.<ref name="KLOV"/> Large, brightly-colored orbs known as "Options" can be obtained, providing additional firepower.<ref name="KLOV"/> Players can also collect smaller ones named "Option Seeds", which circle their ship and also assist the player in fighting off enemies. Options can be launched at enemies to create powerful shocks of lightning that home in on nearby targets.<ref name="KLOV">{{cite web |title=Salamander 2 - Videogame by Konami |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9411 |website=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |publisher=The International Arcade Museum |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731165958/http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9411 |archivedate=31 July 2017}}</ref>

==Development and release==
''Salamander 2'' is the arcade sequel to ''[[Salamander (video game)|Salamander]]'' (1986) and the third installment in the ''Salamander'' series, itself a spin-off of [[Konami]]'s larger ''[[Gradius]]'' franchise.<ref name="HG101"/><ref name="KLOV"/> The game was programmed for the Konami GX Type 2 arcade system board, which was also used for similar shooters like ''[[Twinbee Yahho!]]'' (1995) and ''[[Sexy Parodius]]'' (1996). ''Salamander 2'' features a noticeably drastic change in art direction from Konami's other shooters, with darker, more washed-out color choices. Its character designs and artwork were designed by company artist Mariko Tokida.<ref name="1997 Interview">{{cite web |title=1997 Salamander / Life Force Developer Memories |url=http://shmuplations.com/salamander/ |website=Shmuplations |accessdate=14 February 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230193329/http://shmuplations.com/salamander/ |archivedate=30 December 2019}}</ref> She claims to have had difficulty designing these, particularly the first stage boss and moving asteroid obstacles, due to the enormity of the color palette, the complex sprite animation tools, and varying size limits.<ref name="1997 Interview"/> The Super Cobra ship is named after an older 1981 [[Super Cobra|Konami arcade game of the same name]] that is loosely tied to the ''Gradius'' series.<ref name="HG101"/>

''Salamander 2''{{'}}s soundtrack was composed by Naoki Maeda, who went on to create various tracks for the ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'' series.<ref name="HG101"/><ref name="Linear notes">{{cite book |title=Salamander 2 Original Game Soundtrack linear notes |date=5 April 1996 |publisher=[[Konami]] |location=Japan |pages=4–5}}</ref> Maeda wanted the music to feel reminiscent of the soundtrack for ''Salamander'' while feeling fresh and new at the same time.<ref name="Linear notes"/> The sound team for ''[[Tokimeki Memorial Taisen Puzzle-Dama]]'' (1995) assisted him in acquiring the necessary sound production software and toolsets.<ref name="Linear notes"/> Maeda claims the game underwent an unusual development cycle.<ref name="Linear notes"/> The soundtrack was re-released by King Record in April 1996,<ref name="Linear notes"/><ref>{{cite web |author1=Chris |title=Salamander 2 Original Game Soundtrack |url=https://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/salamander2.shtml |website=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915234752/https://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/salamander2.shtml |archive-date=15 September 2019 |date=2008}}</ref> and is included in the albums ''Konami Shooting Collection'' (2011) and ''Music from Konami Arcade Shooting'' (2020).<ref>{{cite web |author1=Yasushima |title=「グラディウス」「沙羅曼蛇」「パロディウス」などKONAMIのACシューティング22タイトルのサウンドを収録するCD-BOXの予約受付が開始 | trans-title=Pre-orders for CD-BOX containing the sounds of 22 Konami AC shooting titles such as "Gradius", "Salamander", and "Parodius" have started |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20201023098/ |website=[[4Gamer.net]] |publisher=Aetas |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115184706/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20201023098/ |archive-date=15 November 2020 |language=ja |date=23 October 2020}}</ref>

Konami demonstrated ''Salamander 2'' at the 1995 [[Japan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association|Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association]] (JAMMA) tradeshow in Tokyo as a way to receive feedback from players, having been 30% completed by that point. ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' reported that it received long lines from players at its exhibition.<ref name="EGM"/> The game was released in Japan in January 1996.<ref>{{cite book|last=Akagi|first=Masumi|url=https://archive.org/stream/ArcadeGameList1971-2005#page/n29/mode/1up |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005)|edition=1st|publisher=Amusement News Agency |date=13 October 2006|pages=28 |isbn=978-4990251215 |language=ja}}</ref> In 1997, ''Salamander 2'' was ported to the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] and [[Sega Saturn]] through the collection ''Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus'', alongside the original ''Salamander'' and ''Life Force'', and to the [[PlayStation Portable]] version in 2007 as part of ''Salamander Portable''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyman |first1=Walt |title=Konami preps PSP shooter comps |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/konami-preps-psp-shooter-comps/1100-6160264/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=27 February 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227055325/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/konami-preps-psp-shooter-comps/1100-6160264/ |archivedate=27 February 2020 |date=20 October 2006}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Edge = 6/10<ref name="Edge">{{cite news |title=Testscreen - Salamander 2 |url=https://archive.org/details/edgeuk049/page/n77/mode/2up |accessdate=14 February 2020 |agency=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |issue=49 |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=September 1997}}</ref>
}}
According to ''Game Machine'', a Japanese arcade game publication, ''Salamander 2'' achieved a moderate level of success in arcades.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 — TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software) |magazine=Game Machine |issue=513 |publisher=Amusement Press |date=1 March 1996 |page=29 |lang=ja}}</ref> However, the game was criticized by fans of the original ''Salamander'' for its inferiority and poor design.<ref name="GCriticism"/> ''Game Criticism'' found it to be an average scrolling shooter that lacked any innovation, with badly-designed graphics and generic weapons.<ref name="GCriticism">{{cite news |title=沙羅曼蛇2 [STG] |url=https://archive.org/stream/gamecriticismvol8april1996scan/Game%20Criticism%20Vol.%208%20April%201996#page/n94/mode/2up |accessdate=13 February 2020 |agency=Game Criticism |volume=8 |publisher=Micromagazine Co. |date=April 1996 |page=95 |language=Japanese}}</ref> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' staff commented on the detailed visuals and fast-paced gameplay, though they expressed disappointment at the lack of any major changes to the standard ''Salamander'' and ''Gradius'' mechanics.<ref name="EGM"/> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'', in contrast, believed its graphics and challenge could help mark the return of more "hardcore" shooter fans into arcades.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arcadeview — Salamander 2 |url=https://archive.org/details/edgeuk032/page/n67/mode/2up |accessdate=14 February 2020 |agency=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge UK]] |issue=32 |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=April 1996 |location=United Kingdom |page=83}}</ref>

Reception towards home releases of ''Salamander 2'' was more positive. Rich Leadbetter of ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]'', in his review of ''Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus'', enjoyed its gameplay, graphics, and useful weapon pickups, in addition to its many callbacks to the original ''Salamander'' and ''Life Force''.<ref name="SSM">{{cite news |last1=Leadbetter |first1=Rich |title=Coming Soon - Salamander Deluxe Pack |url=https://archive.org/details/Sega_Saturn_Magazine_Issue_23_1997-09_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n25/mode/2up |accessdate=12 February 2020 |agency=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]] |issue=23 |publisher=[[EMAP Images]] |date=September 1997}}</ref> ''[[GameFan]]'' writers agreed; one wrote that it "hearkens back to the glory days" of Konami, and nicely contrasted from the developer's ''[[TwinBee]]'' and ''[[Parodius]]'' releases.<ref name="Gamefan">{{cite news |author1=E. Storm |title=Viewpoint - Salamander Deluxe Pack |url=https://archive.org/details/GamefanVolume5Issue08August1997/page/n19/mode/2up |accessdate=13 February 2020 |agency=[[GameFan]] |issue=8 |publisher=Metropolis Media |date=August 1997|volume=5 }}</ref> ''Edge'' staff were enamored with the game's detailed visuals and parallax-scrolling backdrops, but believed it suffered from an overly-high difficulty and short length. They wrote that its problems made it a title that "fails to offer the finely tuned balance between success and failure on which the gaming experience depends."<ref name="Edge"/>

Retrospectively in 2010, ''Hardcore Gaming 101''{{'}}s Kurt Kalata felt that ''Salamander 2'' lacked the same level of innovation that Konami's other shooters possessed, but said the combination of hand-drawn and pre-rendered sprites gave it a unique look. Kalata was particularly positive towards the game's soundtrack, which he proclaimed was its only noteworthy aspect.<ref name="HG101">{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Salamander 2 |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/salamander-2/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |accessdate=12 February 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111074621/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/salamander-2/ |archivedate=11 November 2019 |date=25 May 2010}}</ref> ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' writer Mike Bevan enjoyed its tweaks to the core gameplay of ''Salamander'', as it made the game feel fresh and new. He also liked its level of challenge and its graphical style for featuring an anime-like aesthetic.<ref name="RG">{{cite news |last1=Bevan |first1=Mike |title=Full Of Eastern Promise - Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus |url=https://archive.org/stream/RetroGamerIssue051-055/Retro_Gamer_Issue_054#page/n57/mode/2up |accessdate=13 February 2020 |agency=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=54 |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=September 2008 |location=United Kingdom |pages=58–59}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{KLOV game|id=9411}}

{{Gradius series}}

[[Category:1996 video games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:Gradius video games]]
[[Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters]]
[[Category:Japan-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Naoki Maeda]]
[[Category:Konami games]]
[[Category:Konami arcade games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]