Salamander

Getting Started

Start the game by pressing Enter to see the title screen. If the game is in Japanese, you may need to navigate menus using the D-Pad and confirm with X. Typically, pressing Start begins a single-player game; selecting a two-player option may require pressing a specific key (try 2 on the keyboard if there's an option). Once the game starts, your ship moves automatically forward. Use the Arrow Keys to move your ship around the screen and avoid enemy fire and obstacles.

The core loop is simple: destroy everything that moves while collecting power-up capsules that appear from certain enemies. The power-up system here differs from Gradius: you don't have a gauge; instead, picking up a capsule immediately gives you a weapon upgrade or an Option (satellite). Learn which icons do what - speed increases, spread shot, lasers, and options. You can also press the B button (S) to fire your main weapon, and if you have Options, they follow your ship and fire as well.

New players should focus on dodging bullets and collecting power-ups before attacking bosses. The game is tough, but you can continue from checkpoints if you've earned credits - the arcade version allows continues, and the MSX port likely does too. If you're playing with a friend, coordinate your movements to cover each other. Remember that some stages scroll vertically, so your strategy needs to adapt accordingly.