Shantae

About

Shantae is a platform video game series that started in 2002 by WayForward Technologies. Despite the first installment’s critical acclaim, the whole series is ironically known for its obscurity among gamers.

History

Shantae

The first game, Shantae, was developed by WayForward and released on June 2002 for the GameBoy Color by Capcom. The game has been responded with acclaim from critics, including IGN (9.0/10) ^[1] and GameSpot (7.7/10) ^[2]. Despite the acclaim, Shantae had limited sales due to the GameBoy Advance being released one year earlier--in other words, the game was released at the end of the GameBoy Color’s era. On July 18, 2013, the game was re-released in the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console.

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge

Matt Boson, the game’s developer, planned a sequel for Shantae. The sequel was originally known as Shantae 2: Risky’s Revolution and was planned to be released for the GameBoy Advance, but was later scrapped due to the lack of a publisher^[3]. When the Nintendo DSi debuted, along with its DSi Ware, the sequel was planned to be released for a DSi download. On October 4, 2010, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge was finally released on the DSi Ware. Just like its predecessor, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge has received positive reviews, including those from Metacritic (85/100) ^[4] and Gamerankings (86%) ^[5]. The game was also released for the iOS, and it also received positive reviews.

Upcoming games

Two Shantae games are currently being planned for release. The first is Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse. This third installment is planned for a Nintendo 3DS eShop release in Winter 2013 ^[6].

The second is Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. This installment initiated its Kickstarter on September 4, 2013 for a goal of $400,000 ^[7]. The Kickstarter ended on October 4, 2013, receiving 18,558 backers and $776,084 during the course. Since the original goal is exceeded by more than $300,000, DLCs have also been funded, such as extra missions and costume changes. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is currently in development without a set release date.

Background

Plot

In a peaceful land known as Sequin Land lives a half-genie named Shantae. She is regarded as a guardian genie by the locals, and when the evil pirate Risky Boots arrives and plans to take over the land, Shantae proves her heroic deeds to those who look up to her.

Gameplay

Shantae uses generic platformer mechanics, such as those used by Castlevania and Metroid. The main mechanics of the series is hair-whipping and belly dancing. Shantae uses her ponytail as a powerful whip to attack enemies; she also uses belly dancing to transform into certain animals for certain tasks, such as a monkey to climb walls, an elephant to smash rocks, etc. Shantae also has main levels known as labyrinths, similar to the dungeons in The Legend of Zelda series.