Life Force is an odd and convoluted matter. There's Life Force, Life Force, and Life Force.
Salamander (Arcade) - the original arcade game with ports everywhere, including the Salamander Deluxe Pack. When released in arcades outside of Japan it was called Life Force, setting the stage for major confusion later.
Life Force (Arcade) - For some reason Konami redid Salamander with the Gradius power up system and replaced mechanical enemies with more organic ones, and called this new mess "Life Force" even though the name had already been taken (by non-Japanese arcade versions of Salamander, see above.) This game was only released in Japan and it's the "Life Force" you'll find on the Salamander Deluxe Pack.
Salamander (FC/NES) - The Famicom title by this name is a sort of hybrid of the two Japanese arcade games (mix of organic and mechanical levels like Salamander, Gradius power bar like Life Force) though it more closely resembles Salamander. For maximum confusion, yes, it was renamed "Life Force" for its North American release.
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By Zach Keene)
