Border Down Review

[skelly]

And now, my take on Border Down.

Review with 9 screenshots

"Border Down is probably one of the best shooters of all time ..."

Wow! No small words, there.

[johnsamjohn]

I kinda like that BD has both open parts and parts that feel almost like a vert shooter, and then little cramped corridor parts like Gradius (except you can actually touch the walls! Hurray!).

I like this too, don't touch the walls too much or you will die! This game turned out better than I thought. The small color pallette doesn't bother me, though the enemy bullets should be a different color. Especially annoying in level three.

Worth the money, if you like horizontal shooters.

[dhowerter]

OK a little confused here. Im pretty sure you go form Border Green to yellow to Red right? (each time you lose a life.

1. So is each border you go DOWN to easier or harder than the last . For example is Border Red HARDER or EASIER than border Green?

2. When you continue, what border do you start on? Since I presume you get 3 lives when you continue, do you reset back to border Green?

[epmode]

1. So is each border you go DOWN to easier or harder than the last . For example is Border Red HARDER or EASIER than border Green?

yeah, each border down makes the game more difficult. according to the mission briefing, the red border is for MANIACS.

2. When you continue, what border do you start on? Since I presume you get 3 lives when you continue, do you reset back to border Green?

you automatically continue at the green border. there's no way to choose a different border, short of purposely dying.

[Frogacuda]

yeah, each border down makes the game more difficult. according to the mission briefing, the red border is for MANIACS.

No it doesn't. Bordering Down is easier. STARTING on a lower border is harder. If you die on a boss, for example, his patterns will become simpler and easier than they wer on green. But if you start on yellow and don't die they'll be harder than they were on green.

[kingoffighters]

Am I the only person who doesn't think this game is all that? It is a competent shooter, for sure, but to be honest, I find it rather mundane.

I love shooters, and I love the Darius series, so it is not b/c I don't like Taito shooters or anything. I just find it to be kinda bleh. I don't know how to explain it, but it doesn't excite me like Mars Matrix, Gigawing, Gradius, Parodius, Darius. I decide to go back and play some of the aforementioned shooters and find myself having much more fun and intensity then this.

The music is a rather subjective thing, and I thought it was okay, but it doesn't really fit the environment (it seems), and Ikaruga really destroys BD's music and how it fits into the whole mood of mowing bad guys down.

I will play this more and get farther to see if my opinion will change. But if it doesn't, I think it is a very average shooter in DC's excellent library of shootemups.

[Shapermc]

It is above average, alibet not too much.

Besides, am I the only one on this thread that did not like Darius (G Darius does not count)? I mean common they were far to cheap and crappy. Anyways..

I do like this game, but not too much. I will probably play it for score.

It is better than 2 more recent releases *Cough*Shikigami*Cough*Ikaruga*cough*

[Frogacuda]

I think the game is somewhat lacking in artistic flair and presentation. It never dazzled or wowed me, but it did suck me in, and the more I play it, and get into playing it for score, the more I like it. It doesn't have the amazing style of Darius Gaiden or Ikaruga, obviously, but the action is solid, the border system is great, and the break laser mechanics are a blast, and the score play is fun and strategic. That's what counts for me.

[epmode]

No it doesn't. Bordering Down is easier. STARTING on a lower border is harder. If you die on a boss, for example, his patterns will become simpler and easier than they wer on green. But if you start on yellow and don't die they'll be harder than they were on green.

thanks for the clarification. i noticed that the boss patters got a little easier, but i just thought i was imagining things.

asthetically speaking, border down is certainly nothing special. it's technically excellent, but generic. as far as gameplay goes, i'm having a good time with it. i find it more enjoyable than, say, ikaruga when played for survival.

[Frogacuda]

Besides, am I the only one on this thread that did not like Darius (G Darius does not count)? I mean common they were far to cheap and crappy. Anyways..

No, you're not. Alot of people don't like them. I cut my teeth on them though, and I don't think they were cheap, just tough.

I don't think BD is like that though. It's balanced much differently. No sheild and all.