{"rewrite":{"id":"r_f52c02060e88f2ac37d1e2d4","clusterId":"c_a8fad8cdd1df1a201336259d","slug":"salamander-iii-bug-fix-for-128-loop-clear-draws-surprise-and-praise","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Salamander III Bug Fix for 128-Loop Clear Draws Surprise and Praise","summary":"Konami Digital Entertainment released update Version 1.004 for Gradius Origin Collection on August 3, 2026, fixing a bug in the newly developed Salamander III that occurred after players cleared 128 or more loops. The bug reset the maximum selectable loop count in stage select when returning to the title menu. Because Salamander III increases difficulty with each loop, the 128-loop threshold drew surprise and praise on social media, with comments such as \"Is there anyone who can play over 128 loops?!\" and \"In other words, someone actually did it!\" The collection, released August 7, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, includes seven titles and 18 versions, featuring arcade entries like Gradius, Salamander, and Gradius II, plus the new Salamander III developed by M2. The update also includes other fixes detailed on the official site. Whether the bug was discovered through actual play has not been officially announced, but the feat sparked respect for whoever found it.","whyItMatters":"The fix confirms that at least one player reached a 128-loop clear in a shooter designed to escalate difficulty per loop, a threshold the developers apparently did not anticipate needing to test.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVersion 1.004 shipped on August 3, 2026, roughly a year after the collection\u0026#39;s August 7, 2025 launch.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAt 20 minutes per loop, 128 loops would take 42 hours and 40 minutes of play, a figure Magmix calculated in its report.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSocial media reactions included \u0026#34;A super hot fix\u0026#34; and \u0026#34;A bug I could never confirm myself (lol).\u0026#34;\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSalamander III is the first new 2D shooter in the Gradius series in 17 years, following Gradius Rebirth (2008, WiiWare).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eM2 handled development of the new entry, which sends the Lord British and Vic Viper back out to save planet Latis.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDenfaminicogamer\u0026#39;s advance play confirmed that from the second loop onward, not only does bullet volume increase, but terrain and objects also change.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe collection includes the console debut of the \u0026#34;Gradius III AM Show version\u0026#34; among its 7 titles and 18 versions.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSupport features include quick save, rewind, an \u0026#34;Easy Mode\u0026#34; that shrinks hitboxes, an \u0026#34;Invincible Mode\u0026#34; that only counts deaths, and a \u0026#34;Training Mode\u0026#34; that sets respawn points, loop count, and power-up state.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe package also carries a sound gallery, visual gallery, and \u0026#34;Gradius Encyclopedia\u0026#34; for checking enemy characters.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Salamander III's 128-loop bug fix confirms the loop system runs deeper than most players will ever see. The respect goes to whoever reached that threshold, not Konami.","twitterPost":"Salamander III's 128-loop bug fix proves the loop system extends far beyond typical play. The praise targets the player who got there.","threadsPost":"Salamander III's bug fix for the 128-loop clear shifts the spotlight from Konami to the player who actually reached that threshold. The update fixes a reset issue, but the social reaction is about the feat itself.","newsletterBlurb":"Konami's latest Gradius Origin Collection update fixes a bug in Salamander III that only appears after 128 loop clears, a feat that has players both amazed and amused. The patch arrived exactly one year after the collection launched.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260804p\",\"title\":\"名作シューティングゲームの最新作『沙羅曼蛇III』、\\\"128周\\\"以上クリアした状態で発生する不具合が修正され話題に。周回ごとに難度が上がる仕様から「128周もできるのか」と驚きの声集まる\"},{\"source\":\"Magmix\",\"url\":\"https://magmix.jp/post/368210\",\"title\":\"Salamander III Bug Fix Draws 'Surprise and Praise'!? 'It Means Someone Actually Did It!'\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":10557,"outputTokens":1348,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1785902969,"createdAt":"2026-08-05T04:05:55.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-05T04:07:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-05T04:05:55.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_a8fad8cdd1df1a201336259d","canonicalTitle":"『沙羅曼蛇III』不具合修正に「驚きと称賛の声」！？　「誰かがやったってことだ！」","representativeArticleId":"a_79c0dc3aa137351b3d250807","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Salamander III\",\"Gradius Origin Collection\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-04T03:10:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-04T03:57:37.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-05T04:07:24.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260804p","title":"名作シューティングゲームの最新作『沙羅曼蛇III』、“128周”以上クリアした状態で発生する不具合が修正され話題に。周回ごとに難度が上がる仕様から「128周もできるのか」と驚きの声集まる"},{"source":"Magmix","url":"https://magmix.jp/post/368210","title":"『沙羅曼蛇III』不具合修正に「驚きと称賛の声」！？　「誰かがやったってことだ！」"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Salamander III","Gradius Origin Collection"],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Konami Digital Entertainment released update Version 1.004 for Gradius Origin Collection on August 3, 2026.","The update fixed a bug in Salamander III that reset the maximum selectable loop count in stage select after clearing 128 or more loops and returning to the title menu.","Gradius Origin Collection launched on August 7, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.","Salamander III is a completely new shooter developed by M2, the first new 2D Gradius series title in 17 years since Gradius Rebirth in 2008.","The collection includes seven titles and 18 versions, including the first home console port of Gradius III AM Show version."]}