Near perfect conversion of the arcade original (which I also own).
Difference are:
Lack of speech
When you lose a life, you back to a checkpoint. This makes the game more difficult as you cannot then collect the "multiples" that you dropped.
Fantastic version of the game. As good as the NES version of \"Life Force\" (also part of my collection), but with better graphics. This version is *much* more difficult. When you die, you start at a checkpoint. There are a finite number of continues as well. There also is no \"30 life\" Konami code, as far as I can tell. Certainly a must-have for any fan of the series.
For playability and extras, I almost prefer Life Force, but this one is hard to beat as far as arcade conversions go. I wish that the user-selectable power-up system were in place here though.
Only the most hardened of shooter fans need apply, as this game can be frustrating since it only takes one hit to kill you.
This wasn\'t the first time the TurboGrafx 16 had done a pretty good job reproducing the graphics of a 1980s arcade game of which the system had gotten an adaptation. The only graphical difference the HuCard import Salamander for the main TurboGrafx system is the lack of parallax in certain stages. And even though this version uses Gradius\' checkpoint system in 1-Player mode, it features continues even there (already making it better than the arcade game). Ever since I first tried out the TG\'s take on the adventure sandwiched by Gradius 1 and 2, it has been one of my favorite HuCard games, right there with Bonk\'s Revenge, Blazing Lazers, and Splatterhouse. You, too, will have a ball if you either have the luck to have your own Sala HuCard and, in turn, get a converter for your American TG/Duo (if you STILL CRIKIN\' HAVE IT UNLIKE MYSELF), or you download the ROM and use it on Magic Engine, or even on my personal favorite non-ME Turbo emulator, XPCE.
Rocks. Destroys the NES Lifeforce version.
