About this game
Salamander for PC Engine, released in December 1991, is a port of Konami's 1986 arcade shoot-em-up — the companion/spin-off of Gradius set in the same universe — that alternates between horizontal and vertical scrolling stages. The PC Engine version is based on the original Salamander arcade game (not the North American Life Force remix), and is considered by many to have improved on the arcade original in its music. With its combination of power management depth and demanding pattern recognition, it remains one of the definitive shooting games in the PC Engine HuCard library.
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The Story Behind
Salamander holds a unique place in shoot-em-up history as both a Gradius spin-off and a distinct franchise: it was one of the first Konami shooters to move away from the Gradius power-up capsule system toward a simpler six-weapon bar, making it more accessible while losing some strategic depth. The PC Engine port arrived five years after the arcade original and demonstrates how well the PC Engine handled fast, demanding action games — contributing to the platform's reputation as a premium home shooting game system.
The original Salamander — authentic, tested, shipped from Japan.
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The PC Engine Salamander received a virtual console release on Wii (2007), PSN (2010), and Wii U (2014), and was included on the TurboGrafx-16 Mini (2020) — testifying to its enduring reputation. One curiosity: despite the TurboGrafx-16 Mini including the game in Western markets, the Japanese PC Engine Mini did not include it, meaning Western players had easier access to this Japan-original game than Japanese players did through that particular channel.
Collector's Guide
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
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