If you are a fan of horror then you probably know about games like Castlevania, Master of Darkness, or Sweet Home but have you heard about Undead Line? After the news blitz recently, you probably have, but before that this title was niche to the point most gamers never heard of it. Way back in 1989, Palsoft released Undead Line on the Japanese Sega Mega Drive console. Fans of overhead scrolling shooters and the horror genre probably were in Hell, er Heaven.
Undead Line is a unique release considering the two genres it is hitting, overhead shooter and horror. I remember reading about this game in magazines back in the day and thinking, there is no way that would get released here in the United States. I was right. Other horror games that did get released here were horrible sellers, furthering the myth that this genre just doesn’t work.
From Abadox on the Nintendo Entertainment System, another scrolling shooter horror game (side scrolling) to action games using horror elements such as Splatterhouse on the TurboGrafx-16, they just didn’t sell well back in the day. This is probably why Undead Line never found a publisher in the North American market.
You will be taking on reasonable facsimiles of a Dracula, Death, lava, slime/water and then dragons and such monstrosities that want you dead.
Undead Line has the setting down, it is hardcore fantasy with amenities such as demonic and human looking enemies coming for you. You have a shield and projectiles as well as powerups to assist you in your journey but don’t get too soft, those bosses are a new level of OMG what is that.
There is one boss that bears a striking resemblance to level 3, I think it was, boss of Contra. I just get a similar vibe in the art style between the two.
Thanks to Retro-Bit, fans will be able to get their copy of Undead Line in late 2025. Pre-orders are currently open and will close on August 10th, 2025. If you want to enjoy this title with custom blue Sega Genesis cartridge, fully color manual, and unique art card set then get your order in ASAP.
If you are a purist, maybe check out eBay via my affiliate link (or just search Undead Line directly if you prefer. Just be prepared, it is not cheap. There are cheap knock offs that are not licensed using unknown level of quality components much cheaper.
