Border Down needs a re-release

[xxx1993]

How come Under Defeat got a re-release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 but not Border Down? At the very least, I think Border Down should be DLC on the PlayStation Store or on Xbox Live... Or they could port it to Steam. It is G.Rev's first video game after all.

[Stevens]

Don't quote me on this, but I recall something along the lines of they wouldn't be able to port it to current consoles. They would have to build it from the ground up. Don't remember where I heard it or read it.

Or if I'm having a case of revisionist history.

[Mortificator]

The original link now leads to placeholder garbage, but we had a thread about how Hiroyuki Maruyama said he wouldn't be satisfied with just porting Border Down.

[gameoverDude]

I'd be satisfied with just a port of Border Down. The gameplay is pretty much solid and doesn't need altered. If we get a significantly rejigged version, then IMO the Dreamcast version's content (arcade + remix) should be included alongside it.

That one thread is from 2012, back before PS4 and XBOne were a thing. Hopefully they're considering it now.

[HydrogLox]

The original link now leads to placeholder garbage

Courtesy of Internet Archive Wayback Machine (2012-06-17T03:03:45): https://web.archive.org/web/20120617030 ... -interview

Another title synonymous with G.Rev and held in very high regard (and a very high price tag to match) is their oft-touted spiritual successor to Taito’s (at one time, early in development) Darius title, Metal Black. The spectacular Border Down. Border Down was met with critical acclaim both in the arcade on the Naomi platform, and again on the magnificent Sega Dreamcast. Is it possible, if Under Defeat HD is successful, that G.Rev are considering giving Border Down an HD makeover?

“Border Down is an even older title than Under Defeat, but unlike with UD we feel like we still have unfinished ideas that we would like implement. Because of that we would have to invest quite a lot of resources to remake Border Down. It would probably require the same investment as developing a new title from scratch. Of course, part of me wants to remake Border Down, but I am also the head of Grev and therefore have to think in business terms. So for now we are not planning to remake BD, but give us some time and we perhaps can make it happen in the future”.

So it had more to do with the reality of keeping the company in business rather than the technical capabilities of the hardware at the time. However doing the last of the Dariusburst DLC for Taito isn't going to pay the bills for a Border Down remaster.

[bikingjahuty]

Aside from looking great and having an excellent soundtrack, I was never that impressed with Border Down, at least gameplay-wise.

[ciox]

Their last shmup release, Strania on Steam did not do well so they're probably recharging with more contract work for now, there's also a video where the CEO giggled for a long while when prompted about BD2, so maybe that was concepted at least.

[xxx1993]

I mean, I want there to be a port of Border Down. I only tried it once at Otakon, but very briefly. And I want to enjoy it in full.

[kid aphex]

Agreed 10000000000%.

[Kobayashi]

I agree too. One of Dreamcast's most interesting shmups.

[xxx1993]

And I don't wanna have to buy another Dreamcast.

[Tatsuya79]

It works fine on NullDC.

[xxx1993]

I don't know how to work NullDC, nor do I know if it'll work on my laptop, that's the problem.

[DEL]

It did and still would scare the Hell out of most players. Not a pick-up-and-blast game.
Great game and still one of my top 3 of all time, if not the First Place Holder.

I think what I'm trying to say is: its a niche game in a small niche market. A re-release would have to be a labour of love (like the original release), plus Yes I do think an new version would be a great idea, a Border Down 2 within the package.

[xxx1993]

Not only is learning how to run NullDC a problem, but also trying to find out how to get to Stage 6-C in the game. I assume you have to be on the Yellow Border to be there, but I think it's more than that.

[Stevens]

From the FAQ

There are four versions of stage 6. Which version you enter
depends on the ratio among the time you spend in the borders, and
the number of times you have cleared the stage norm. If you spend
over 50% of the time in a certain border color (green, yellow,
red) /and/ you have cleared the stage norm 4 or more times, you
will enter 6B, 6C or 6D respectively. Otherwise, you will enter
6A.

[Mortificator]

I don't wanna have to buy another Dreamcast.

I don't know how to work NullDC

Well shit, we wouldn't want you to strain yourself doing either of those things! Of course a company with two employees should spend their own time and money reprogramming the game, marketing it, and dropping it into your lap instead.

[gray117]

I don't find it as appealing retrospectively as I did at the time. Good, but not brilliant.

Still rather unique, and a shame there wasn't a port... but... I can kind of see where they're coming from... especially if they're looking at attracting partners these days. Being primarily coders (? I think) I'd assume if they were going to outsource for new art/upres they'd almost prefer to spend that on doing a new title?

In terms of a brand, I don't think it was ever a stand-out title (even in a cult niche way I mean, let alone 'popularly')?

[Illyrian]

What is border down?

No seriously. I know it is a shmup but I have never seen it. Isn't it a r type clone from the early 2000's?

[charlie chong]

in the words of it's creator it is the spiritual successor to metal black

[zinger]

Border Down is certainly no R-Type clone. It's closer to Metal Black and G-Darius in many ways, but also with an extremely convoluted and unorthodox system where you can move between different sections of each stage by dying ("border down"), or reaching certain score goals ("border up"). I've always compared it to Yagawa's games, because of how switching between the borders has a big influence on the rank and your score. It really is a wonderful game, although it certainly has some flaws (the graphics are quite boring compared to G-Darius, and I never liked how an ugly screen interrupts the action for a few seconds when changing borders, and well... overall, the system is a bit too weird for my taste). I'd love to see a sequel with better visual art direction.

[xxx1993]

I don't wanna have to buy another Dreamcast.

I don't know how to work NullDC

Well shit, we wouldn't want you to strain yourself doing either of those things! Of course a company with two employees should spend their own time and money reprogramming the game, marketing it, and dropping it into your lap instead.

I need to learn how to get NullDC working, so I can start playing Border Down on my laptop.

[Squire Grooktook]

Border Down is certainly no R-Type clone. It's closer to Metal Black and G-Darius in many ways, but also with an extremely convoluted and unorthodox system where you can move between different sections of each stage by dying ("border down"), or reaching certain score goals ("border up"). I've always compared it to Yagawa's games, because of how switching between the borders has a big influence on the rank and your score. It really is a wonderful game, although it certainly has some flaws (the graphics are quite boring compared to G-Darius, and I never liked how an ugly screen interrupts the action for a few seconds when changing borders, and well... overall, the system is a bit too weird for my taste). I'd love to see a sequel with better visual art direction.

in the words of it's creator it is the spiritual successor to metal black

Also Beam Dueling.

[Guardians Knight]

Every serious shmup fan should own a DC! Well, and a Saturn....and a PS2, should probably have a 360 too.......

[MommysBestGames]

I was at a convention recently and there was a group called "re-gen" in the vendor section. I'd honestly never seen this before in person, but they were selling re-burned genesis cartridges. I've never played Border Down, but have been intrigued about it and would like to play it. I almost bought the genesis copy they had there at $40, but skipped it. Has anyone else bought a sort of boot-leg copy like this for a cartridge system? Did it work okay?

[GSK]

I was at a convention recently and there was a group called "re-gen" in the vendor section. I'd honestly never seen this before in person, but they were selling re-burned genesis cartridges. I've never played Border Down, but have been intrigued about it and would like to play it. I almost bought the genesis copy they had there at $40, but skipped it. Has anyone else bought a sort of boot-leg copy like this for a cartridge system? Did it work okay?

Border Down is a Dreamcast game. Do you mean Eliminate Down?

Most reproduction cartridges are fine nowadays but I'd suggest you get an Everdrive or other rewritable cartridge instead.

[xxx1993]

I've actually been playing it on NullDC lately. And needless to say, it's seriously kicking my ass.

[Mortificator]

Good for you, making the effort to try what you wanted.

It's closer to Metal Black and G-Darius in many ways, but also with an extremely convoluted and unorthodox system where you can move between different sections of each stage by dying ("border down"), or reaching certain score goals ("border up").

That unorthodox nature makes it kind of funny that the GBA port of Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts came out about the same time and used a similar system. Probably one of those cases where the same concept occurred to unrelated devs at the same time.

[MommysBestGames]

Border Down is a Dreamcast game. Do you mean Eliminate Down?

Geez. Yes, I'm a dummy. Sorry.
I saw *Eliminate Down* (though I don't own Border Down either!)

Most reproduction cartridges are fine nowadays but I'd suggest you get an Everdrive or other rewritable cartridge instead.

Interesting! I will investigate, thanks.

[xxx1993]

It's bad enough I can't even surpass the Stage Norm, let alone try to stay alive. It's that fucking hard.