Salamander (Life Force) - Quick Look - ZX Spectrum

[@7i6j]

This game looks good! Going back to the start of the section (not the entire level) is normal for memorization based shooters like r type, since it helps you learn the route through the stage and you also need a chance to regain your power-ups.

[@gearsofgames]

Yes it is and I don't mind it too much, if it's handled well. But it gets frustrating when the game throws you cheap balls and sends you back. Also have never had a major love for a game nicking all my power-ups! 😁

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

I had this as a kid. It's VERY good, and VERY hard. I never got past the big teeth. The laser is a great powerup!

[@gearsofgames]

Yeah, those teeth are huge, damn tricky to get around. Would probably have gotten stuck there too back in the day! 😁 Assume one can't destroy them? Don't think I managed to get the laser.

[@DROHARM]

Great introduction sir!

[@gearsofgames]

Thanks @DROHARM !

[@retropuffer2986]

Actually looks great to me. Reminds me of stage ii of Situation Critical for the Apple II that was strangely never ported to other platforms

[@gearsofgames]

I see what you mean about Situation Critical. Bu there seems to be different styles of game play in that one?

[@retropuffer2986]

@@gearsofgames Correct. There was a berserk stage, a side shooter stage and a xevious type stage. 😀

[@gearsofgames]

@@retropuffer2986 Sounds pretty cool for the time! Three in one! 😃

[@dazhigh9208]

The 1 st time i ever saw this game was on my friends Amiga xmas 88 or 89 Blew away i was still at home and not in acrade 🙂

[@dazhigh9208]

Happpy Times 2 player Xmas fun Me and Dale sure it was 88 ???

[@gearsofgames]

@dazhigh9208 Was there an Amiga version? I thought there weren't, maybe it was a clone? But regardless, sounds like an awesome and fun Xmas! 😁

[@dazhigh9208]

@@gearsofgames Hi i do remember it being a offical port of the game, and a brill version. my friend loaded this up then the Demo Budbrain lol sound me on the amiga striaght away and my poor parents got nagged until they gave in for some peace i would imagine ;-)

[@SuperEarther]

this game is harder than living on snake island!

[@gearsofgames]

Yeah, a couple of thousand snakes are no match for this game! 😁

[@SuperEarther]

@@gearsofgames they would but millions of bullet holes lol

[@jaysmith2858]

You definitely had quite a few "BS!!!" moments. I think this would have been another game where I would have got stuck on a particular level resulting in me hurling my joystick at the wall.

[@gearsofgames]

Yeah, it’s a bit too random and the sprites are too big. Sometimes there’s no way to avoid losing a life.

[@DROHARM]

You reckon when you die there is a save? Meh, we just die. Old games prepared us well.

[@gearsofgames]

Maybe if we manage to make an early snapshot! 😁

[@Bob_Beaky]

It's such a shame it's so rock hard even unfair. There's a really good game lurking in there but it's ruined by far too many projectiles... for my skill level. :)

[@gearsofgames]

Yeah, I feel that it gets too unfair at times too and its also quite unpredictable. But its a very decent attempt! 😁

[@ilmestdavisque5391]

( It’s going to be all right, it’ll pass... ) Not a bad effort, this ZX port : lot of "sprites" (not easy for the hit-boxes), scrolling in "nibble" step... yes, maybe "a little hard", but a 8 bit's game ;)

[@gearsofgames]

Yeah, this is decent, if they had adjusted the difficulty I can see myself really getting into this one back in the day…