Salamander 2 (Saturn) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Konami's arcade shoot 'em up, Salamander 2, as it appears in "Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus," a compilation title released for the Sega Saturn in 1997.
Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus is a collection of games from Konami's Salamander series, and it includes arcade-accurate conversions of Salamander, Life Force, and Salamander 2. The collection saw releases on both the Sega Saturn and the Sony PlayStation, but neither version saw an official release outside Japan despite being entirely in English.
If you're familiar with Salamander or Life Force (or the Gradius series, from which the Salamander games are an off-shoot), you'll immediately feel at home with Salamander 2. It's a traditional 2D shmup that sticks closely to Konami's tried-and-true arcade-shooter formula from the late eighties.
(You can find my video of the NES version of Life Force here: • Life Force (NES) Playt... )
The stages still alternate between horizontal and vertical scrolling, and the weapon upgrades are very similar to what we saw in the original game, but Salamander 2 brings in the twin laser and the ability to sacrifice option pods for power-boosted attacks.
Salamander 2 is substantially easier than Salamander, but it recaptures the feeling of the classic original nicely. The sequel instantly feels comfortable and familiar, tacky 90s window-dressing notwithstanding. In many ways it feels more like a reimagining than a true sequel, but I certainly didn't mind. The controls are tight, the atmosphere is heavy, and plenty of eyeballs float about in anticipation of being turned into geysers of blood.
The pre-rendered graphics really are a bit cheesy, but the game pushes some impressive sprite effects and background animation, and it looks much better in motion than it does in screenshots. And that soundtrack! I don't really know what else to say about it but that it's absolutely amazing.
That's pretty obvious though. It's 90s Konami, so of course it sounds awesome. Even Helen Keller couldn't dispute that.
...and no, that's not a deaf joke. I promise.
Big picture: when the game starts by sending the classic eyeball-with-flailing-arms boss at you, only to then have it immediately be eaten by a mutated yellow Kraid, how could you possible go wrong?
(Random thought: is it just me, or does that last boss look suspiciously similar to one of the bosses from Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire?)
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

The CG-based graphics might be a bit dated now, but they really nailed the soundtrack on this one!

[@DrGamelove]

NintendoComplete I love the graphics. 32bit pixel art looks way better than polygons would have. I just expect amazing chiptunes from Konami and they don’t disappoint.

[@NotEnoughSound]

this game has a wierd mixed-bag of graphics. Pixle art, Hand drawn, Photos and CGI.

[@andarudesandstorm1135]

This game looks really cool.

[@ancientone5903]

If Konami ever makes an Anniversary Collection Arcade Classics 2, Salamander 2 should be one of those games they should add.

[@LPetal86]

Ever since _Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance_ , I can't see those eyeballed enemies with the tentacled claws as anything more than Dracula's true final form...

[@bashirjohnson4120]

This game needs some love It needs to make an comeback For real

[@DrGamelove]

A Salamander and Gradius Arcade 1up cabinet would be cool. This definitely looks worth a play. I loved Life Force on NES.

[@NintendoComplete]

That would be sweet, especially with that awesome but ungodly hard arcade version of Gradius 3. I've beaten Super R-Type 3, but I still haven't been able finish Gradius 3 AC. It's soooooo good.

[@whatamalike]

The salamander deluxe pack which contains this is the only home version i've ever come across; and it's a crying shame because it is a VERY underrated shooter. I know the CG graphics dont look to fresh these days but otherwise it's spot on and the music is mostly incredible!

[@luciebureau6815]

I realize now that i missed a lot of games. But you’re right, the soundtrack is nice.

[@funkabomb]

I miss this kind of music from Naoki Maeda.

[@yusakug]

Maybe it's because I recently got over a cold, but those little green oval-shaped power ups that you collect to get Options look like NyQuil tablets...

[@DerivativeWorker]

You are riding the sleeping dragon! You are addicted to the 'quil!

[@DBoy2029]

Just wouldn't be Gradius (or many Konami games) without some Moai!

[@ivanorozco9673]

you shouldve beat the game on the second loop which you actually get to hear remixed music from the first salamander game from the arcade and nes if anyone is intrested you should watch world of longplays playthrough of the sega saturn port of salamander 2 just by typing salamander deluxe pack plus saturn longplays on the youtube search bar to find it so you guys can get to hear the remixed music from the first salamander game

[@TheDemoniusX]

I wish we could have gotten this in America. I would have bought it. the OST is really killer. This was also released on the Playstation with the same deluxe pack and goes for stupid amounts of money.

[@masterlee1988]

It's also on the PSP as well called Salamander Portable and even that costs quite a bit of money. But yeah, it needed to come to America.

[@Bloodreign1]

The time to have gotten the PS1 and Saturn versions were at least 15 years ago, when both versions could be had for fairly cheap. I bought the PSP version, along with all the other Portables, Gradius Collection included, when they first came out, so they were a tad expensive then due to being new. Prices fell briefly for them, then started shooting up in value.

[@krystalfan]

did you know theres an ova based off salamander/lifeforce?

[@NintendoComplete]

Really? I had no idea

[@krystalfan]

its on here and its actually based off the nes version of the game

[@NintendoComplete]

@@krystalfan I'll have to look it up

[@Peter_Morris]

Oh man I found them on KZbin and watched them once. It's not the worst anime in the world, but I'm not sure it really adds to the lore of Gradius all that much.

[@85futureshock]

The owner of my local comics shop has this game, R-Type Leo and Armed Police Batrider on a Blast City cab with the actual PCB's. I might have to stop in and play this one for old times sake this week. Hopefully this comes to the Arcade Archives series as well.

[@masterlee1988]

Since it was Japan only it would have more of a chance to be in Arcade Archives for Japan like the 1st Darius game.

[@sehrschee]

Hey! Nice channel you have there! Suggestion: Burai Fighter Nes/GameBoy

[@teddybouka]

This is awesome, thanks

[@Alienboi2005vidsandstuff]

6:07 I like to think of the creature that ate golem as golem's mech,and golem getting eaten was actually golem getting into his mech to control it

[@Bloodreign1]

Nope, Brain Golem met it's match, and was promptly made that larger creatures bitch by being it's meal.

[@Sinn0100]

Man, I would have loved to see this game land on our shores for the Saturn. Yes, it's really short but these kinds of games are fun for multiple playthroughs. I would have bought it for my Saturn. Oh you want to see something neat check out...

[@gunma747j]

i found an interesting mistake at the cg intro,the vic viper shown at there is BP-827Z,which is the model from II,Gaiden and IV, the correct model that from both salamander games is BP-8332 Extra trivia here: BP-8332 replaces BP-456X(OG vic) at the intro of G II

[@axelguzman1164]

Perfect saludos cordiales desde Michoacán de Ocampo México

[@yuvraj01]

This sort of game the Saturn can eat up easily...but I would have liked to have seen if maybe Konami took the StarFox route with Salamander 2 but with textured polygons etc...how well would the Saturn hold it then...

[@NintendoComplete]

If Panzer Dragoon Zwei is anything to go by, the Saturn could've done it easily.

[@Bloodreign1]

Thank goodness Salamander 2 went the way it did, with gorgeous 2D sprites, and not polygons. If you want to play a Gradius with Star Fox like features, try Solar Assault in MAME.

[@haakonstenseth]

Good game ☺ For 10-15 years ago I played this game on my PC using emulator called Mame32, there I also played other Mame32 games ☺

[@luisreyes1963]

Why is it that the Japanese Sega Saturn gets better games than the US version ever got?

[@kaneda4102]

Long story, it’s well documented about how Sega of America were basically a bunch of egoists who failed at the marketing and localisation of Sega products.

[@Peter_Morris]

This game is a LOT easier than the original, but I think it has a much more epic feel. Still, it seems like it's missing maybe a level or two.

[@masterlee1988]

It is? I managed to no death the original but I certainly want to play Salamander 2 one day.

[@Peter_Morris]

Oh yeah, especially if you’re talking about the original arcade Salamander. I mean that game’s not impossible, but you can nearly 1cc this game on a first try just on reaction alone - without having to memorize anything.

[@masterlee1988]

@@Peter_Morris Yeah I'm referring to the 1st Salamander, I did the no death run on my KZbin channel. That sounds fair and I have to try that, though I heard the 2nd loop for Salamander 2 is harder.

[@Bloodreign1]

Easier? By no means not at all, and by loop 2, the game picks up the intensity with tons of suicide bullets. Couple that with no continues allowed in loop 2, and 1 crediting, or 1 life clearing both loops can be quite a chore.

[@Peter_Morris]

I just don’t see how. The original Salamander has some janky animations for certain enemies that make it really hard to predict where they’re going. And it moves at a breakneck pace in all the levels. I just find Salamander 2 a much smoother ride.

[@Bloodreign1]

You didn't do loop 2, which has past Salamander remixes on some stages. The only issue with loop 2, is it is a lot harder, and you get no continues at all.

[@Sinn0100]

Man, I would have loved to see this game land on our shores for the Saturn. Yes, it's really short but these kinds of games are fun for multiple playthroughs. I would have bought it for my Saturn. Oh you want to see something neat check out...19:39. Oh make sure you pause it so you can really check out the effect.

[@diogenesrodrigo4858]

💖🎮 1994 😢

[@haakonstenseth]

I assume ya have played android version to Salamander from your cell phone? The game is not like the old ones, but much better and there is bosses you have never seen in Salamander 1 and 2 ☺

[@MFields2178]

I noticed you didn’t record Super Back to the Future 2, Super Bonk 2, and the NES classic Robodemons? Are they in the future?