A
shoot-'em up video game released by Konami in 1987 in the arcades, and year later on the NES (and also the MSX and TG-16 in Japan). A pseudo-sequel to Gradius, Lifeforce (known as Salamander in Japan) is typically held in high regard as far as NES shooters
go. It'
s sometimes considered the best NES shooter to be released outside of Japan. The Konami Code also works in Lifeforce, giving the
player 30 lives when he/she starts a new game.
Player 2 (watching player 1 play the NES): Woah! Is that Gradius??!
Player 1: No
man, it's Lifeforce. It's just like Gradius, only better.
Player 2: Can I play after you die?
Player 1: No, but we can play at the same
time!
Player 2: How so?
Player 1: Lifeforce, unlike Gradius, allows for 2-
player simultaneous gameplay!
Player 2: All right! Let's Play!
*Player 1 resets the game, enters the Konami Code, and starts a new 2-
player game. What followed was hours of non-stop gameplay by both players, until the NES died due to the Lifeforce cartridge being dirty*