Undeadline

From Sega Retro

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Undeadline MDTitleScreen.png

Undeadline
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: PALSOFT
Developer:
Licensor: T&E Soft
Original system(s): MSX
Developer(s) of original games: T&E Soft
Genre: Shooting[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥8,8008,800 T-74013
Non-Sega versions

Undeadline (アンデッドライン; also referred to as Undead Line) is a 1989 shoot-'em-up for the MSX2 by T&E Soft. It was ported to the X68000 in 1990 and then to the Sega Mega Drive in 1991; the Mega Drive port was done by PALSOFT. No version of this game was ever released outside of Japan. The game is noted for its exceptionally high difficulty.

Story

Undeadline, Count Brahzen.png

Count Brahzen

In the beginning, the world was inhabited by gods and giants who fought over which race would rule. To win, the giants created four "living weapons," who were so fearsome and effective that both sides lost. The day that the monsters were created would come to be called Ragnarök.

Ages later, Count Brahzen, a leader of demons, invaded the Gitane Kingdom, who were able to defend themselves solely by tactical decisions made by their King Fahrenheit II, only to discover Count Brahzen is seeking the Spirit of Roshufa in order to revive one of the four legendary monsters. You are Leon, a fighter chosen by the King to obtain the Spirit before Count Brahzen does.

Gameplay

Undeadline, Stage Select.png

Stage selection

Undeadline, Parameter Set.png

Parameter set

The game is an autoscrolling shooter. Players control Leon and can move him with the D-pad while the screen slowly scrolls upward (except during boss fights). Leon always faces forwards. Each stage ends with a boss fight; the longer stages also include a lesser boss in the middle. Leon shoots with B. Rapid-fire can be enabled with the "Rensha" option in the Options menu. Leon can surround himself with a revolving spiked ball with A. The ball protects him from enemies and their bullets, but it takes damage from them and is eventually destroyed. The player gets three spiked balls per life. Leon also has a conventional shield that he can use by holding C, which protects against bullets in front of him. Using the shield is often necessary to avoid taking damage in situations where it is otherwise unavoidable.

There are treasure chests scattered throughout the levels, which can contain weapons and power-ups. Shooting a chest opens it; shooting at the item within it cycles through the list of available weapons or power-ups, allowing the player to choose the desired item, though the player can only cycle through each list twice before it stays on the last item. There are several different weapons, each of which can be upgraded twice by collecting the same weapon. Switching to another weapon resets the weapon level. There are also a number of power-ups, which can be beneficial, such as restoring a hit point, or detrimental, such as costing a hit point.

Each of the first six stages contain three fairies. If Leon collects a fairy by moving over it, he gains a level, which grants the player a point that can be used after the stage is completed to improve Leon's statistics. Different weapons are upgraded with different statistics; for example, the Axe weapon gains power depending on Leon's ST, but the Energy Blast weapon gains power depending on Leon's MP. The AG stat increases Leon's movement speed.

Leon has three hit points and loses one each time he takes damage from a foe. When he runs out of hit points, he dies, and the game can only be continued if the player has lives remaining. The player starts the game with two extra lives but can find more in the stages. Leon is revived at the beginning of each stage after he dies and starts over with the base weapon; there are no checkpoints. The player's hit points and weapon are carried over to the next stage after successfully completing a stage. There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, and Crazy), settable in the Options before starting the game.

Items

Fairies are found flying around the stage at certain points. All other items are found in treasure chests, which must be shot open. Chests contain either weapons, power-ups, or a 1-Up. Weapons and power-ups cycle through their respective lists in order as the player shoots them, allowing the player to choose any item. However, after cycling through each item twice, the chest only offers the last item, the Diamond.

Weapons

Weapons can be upgraded twice by collecting the same weapon multiple times. Collecting a different weapon resets the weapon level to the lowest level.

Undeadline, Items.png
Throwing Knife
The basic weapon. Throws knives forward in a line. Long range. Do not benefit from any statistic.
Undeadline, Items.png
Energy Blast
Shoots energy balls, which explode on impact. Medium range. The blast covers a larger area as it is upgraded. This weapon can neutralize enemy bullets. Gains power from the MP statistic.
Undeadline, Items.png
Fireball
Launches fireballs, which fire quickly and burn on the ground for a short time. Medium range. Becomes a continuous stream of fire when fully upgraded. Gains power from the DX statistic.
Undeadline, Items.png
Axe
Throws axes, which return like boomerangs. Long range. Gains power from the ST statistic.
Undeadline, Items.png
Boomerang
Throws boomerangs, which spread out in an arc and return. Medium range. Becomes a homing attack when fully upgraded. Gains power from the DX statistic.
Undeadline, Items.png
Spirit
Creates a tornado that follows Leon and attacks when he attacks. Long range. Each upgrade adds another tornado. Gains power from the MP statistic.
Undeadline, Items.png
Crossed Swords
Throws swords in multiple directions. Long range. Each upgrade adds more directions, eventually covering the front and rear of Leon. Gains power from the ST statistic.
Undeadline, Items.png
Diamond
Awards the player with bonus points.

Power-Ups

Some "power-ups" have adverse effects.

Undeadline, Items.png
No Medicine
Reverts the player's weapon to the Throwing Knives at their lowest level.
Undeadline, Items.png
Blue Medicine
Restores one hit point.
Undeadline, Items.png
Red Medicine
Costs one hit point.
Undeadline, Items.png
Yellow Medicine
Makes Leon invincible for a duration.
Undeadline, Items.png
Wing Boots
Increases Leon's movement speed for a duration.
Undeadline, Items.png
Lead Boots
Reduces Leon's movement speed for a duration.
Undeadline, Items.png
Barrier
Surrounds Leon in a protective barrier that can sustain 3 enemy hits before dissipating.
Undeadline, Items.png
Dynamite
Obliterates all enemies and bullets on the screen. Also opens treasure chests.
Undeadline, Items.png
Diamond
Awards the player with bonus points.

Other

Undeadline, Items.png
1-Up
Gives the player an extra life. There is one in each of the first six stages.
Undeadline, Items.png
Fairy
Gives the player a point with which to improve Leon's statistics after the stage. There are three in each of the first six stages.

Stages

The first six stages can be played in any order. The final stage is played after all the others have been completed.

Undeadline, Stages, Forest 1.png

Undeadline, Stages, Forest Subboss.png

Undeadline, Stages, Forest 2.png

Undeadline, Stages, Forest Boss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Forest 1.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Forest Subboss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Forest 2.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Forest Boss.png

Forest

Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery 1.png

Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery Subboss.png

Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery 2.png

Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery Boss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery 1.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery Subboss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery 2.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cemetery Boss.png

Cemetery

Undeadline, Stages, Ruins.png

Undeadline, Stages, Ruins Boss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Ruins.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Ruins Boss.png

Ruins

Undeadline, Stages, Rock.png

Undeadline, Stages, Rock Boss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Rock.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Rock Boss.png

Rock

Undeadline, Stages, Cave 1.png

Undeadline, Stages, Cave Subboss.png

Undeadline, Stages, Cave 2.png

Undeadline, Stages, Cave Boss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cave 1.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cave Subboss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cave 2.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Cave Boss.png

Cave

Undeadline, Stages, Drain.png

Undeadline, Stages, Drain Subboss.png

Undeadline, Stages, Drain Boss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Drain.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Drain Subboss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Drain Boss.png

Drain

Undeadline, Stages, Final.png

Undeadline, Stages, Final Subboss.png

Undeadline, Stages, Final Boss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Final.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Final Subboss.png

  • Undeadline, Stages, Final Boss.png

Final

History

Legacy

M.I.J.E.T. fan translated this game in 2007.[3]

Production credits

  • Director: F.Yamamoto
  • Main Designer: T.Hattori
  • Effect & Sub Director: S.Aoyama
  • Programmer: F.Yamamoto
  • Map Designer: T.Hattori
  • Character Designer: S.Aoyama
  • Music Composer: K.Hasegawa
  • Music Programmer: K.Nishiwaki
  • Adviser: H.Kotani
  • Special Thanks: MSX Undeadline Team
  • Debugger: T.Naito, J.Ogura, T.Hachiya, Y.Goto, K.Watanabe, H.Kouno, S.Matsuhisa, Cherry
  • Produce: T&E Soft
  • Presents: PAL SOFT
Source:
In-game credits
Undeadline MD credits.pdf
[4]


Magazine articles

Main article: Undeadline/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[5]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[6]
Consoles + (FR)
90
[7]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
85
[8]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)
89
[9]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
53
[10]
Games-X (UK)
80
[11]
Game Zone (UK) NTSC-J
82
[12]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
50
[13]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
80
[14]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
88
[15]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J
86
[16]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
64
[17]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J
79
[18]
Power Play (DE)
67
[19]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
84
[20]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
87
[21]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
85
[22]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
66
[23]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
73
[24]
Video Games (DE)
68
[25]
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
21 reviews

Undeadline

Mega Drive, JP
Undeadline MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Undeadline MD JP CartTop.jpg
Undeadline MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Undeadline MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Undeadline/Technical information.

References


Undeadline

Undeadline MDTitleScreen.png

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