I've heard from Michael here on the boards that the PCE version of Salamander has less levels than the NES version? Does the PCE version of Salamander have less levels than the original arcade version or does the NES version just have more levels? Overall I prefer the NES version over the arcade and PCE versions. The NES is such a wonderful console because usually when it gets a port of the game, it ends up actually being better than the others!
The Famicon/NES version of Salamander/Life Force has 6 stages. The PC-Engine Hu-Card of Salamander also has 6 stages.
However, the FC/NES game has an altered level order, plus two of the arcade-original stages (levels 2 and 5, both of the asteroid levels) were removed and replaced with new ones (the side-scrolling Egyptian level and the vertically scrolling inner-body level). Then there's the whole change of the power-up system from the predetermined power-ups of the arcade to the Gradius-esque "purchase your power-ups" system. One final note, in the FC version of Salamander you can activate up to 3 Options; in the NES version, you can only activate 2.
The PC-Engine Hu-Card of Salamander is very close to the original arcade PCB (which I have played) as well as Salamander on the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus for PlayStation and Saturn (obviously since it's the arcade game). The primary difference is that the PC-Engine version doesn't have instant-respawn in single player (it's still in 2-player though) and you can not hit a boss' baricades or core unit until they become "active" (this removes much of the instant Option-Raping that was possible in the arcade version).
It should be noted though that I find the check-point system of play preferable in Salamander because of it's power-up system. Once you respawn, you normally have a chance to collect a Speed-Up, Missiles (at least level 1 missiles) and an Option or two. This combined with the drop in rank due to power-down/death results in a more balanced game (it's much easier to recover).
I did make a video of myself playing through the first loop of Beginner in a single credit (although it's not the greatest replay as I died twice, once at the Stage 4 boss and once half-way through Stage 6) some time back, but it was more intended to show a friend the game. More recently I've been working on playing through Expert in a single life. Once I nail that, I'll be sure to post a link to the video here.
The farthest I've managed to get in a single credit in the Hu-Card total is:
Beginner Loop 3 Stage 1
Expert Loop 2 Stage 5