Salamander

Salamander is a hybrid horizontal-and-vertical scrolling shooter developed by Konami and released for the Famicom in 1987. A spin-off of the Gradius series, it sends players through six distinct stages in a battle against the alien organism Zelos. The game departs from the Gradius formula in one key respect: rather than selecting upgrades from a power bar, players collect weapon pick-ups scattered directly across each stage for a more immediate, action-driven upgrade experience. Two players can tackle the adventure simultaneously in cooperative play. Inventive stage layouts, a soundtrack that remains instantly recognizable decades later, and a tight, rewarding shooting feel secured Salamander's place among the defining shoot-'em-ups of the Famicom era.