Shantae is a beloved series that fans have come to enjoy over the years, but the debut title for the series has not been played by many, even with its release on the 3DS virtual console. Now however, WayForward Technologies has teamed with Limited Run games to bring that debut game to the Switch in a big way. With a variety of touchups and neat inclusions, this is a re-release that will interest Shantae’s many fans.
It is important to remember before going into this game that Shantae was first released in 2002 for the Game Boy Color and can come off as very unpolished when compared to the newer games such as Half-Genie Hero and Shantae and the Seven Sirens. This is not to say that the game is bad by any means, but it is important to keep the fact that this was the start of the series in mind when playing. Shantae is a slower game than the later entries, with jumps that feel floatier and this needs to be factored in. Even your attacks feel different in this entry than in the later games, and this is something else you need to be aware of when facing enemies or else you will die quickly.
Shantae has some interesting mechanics even for a GBC title that I would not mind seeing get brought back for newer entries. This include a day/night cycle that impacts how enemies interact and how the hub world functions. Certain events can only happen during the day or night and you need to wait for the shift so that you can get them done. You still have abilities to find and gain here like in later entries, but the methods are less refined. That is not a bad thing though, as it offers a different take on the series for you to enjoy, as you see where things began.
Shantae is fun though and once you adjust, it plays wonderfully. Yes the game is showing its age, but it still has aged far better than most GBC games, The transformations are all here, and the abilities you gain will definitely offer a lot of variety as you play. Shantae is the game I think of when I think of the Game Boy Color, and WayForward knew what they were doing when developing this game. Yes, the jumps are a bit floaty, but the world design accounts for that perfectly. The main issue is the hit detection though, as sometimes you will hit enemies only for the attack to not register and leave you open for an attack from the enemy instead.
If you spend the time to learn Shantae, you will find an enjoyable Metroidvania that pushed the limits of the Game Boy Color. The game had some nice addition for the GBA if played on that system, and they are included here in this port. These include being able to expand the screen, playing with brighter visuals and best of all, a bonus transformation. You can choose either the GBC or GBA version, and there are other bonuses in this port as well. You have the option of screen filter options and save states as well. The save states will come in handy as you play, especially early on, as you will have issues as you make the adjustment. In addition, there is a nice art gallery for the game included as well, which is definitely worth taking some time to look at and enjoy.
Bottom line: Shantae does show its age a bit in this port, but the addition of both the GBA enhancements and the modern Quality of Life changes help make this a worthy game for anyone to enjoy. It is clear that WayForward were still figuring things out with this game, but overall package does hold up. I highly recommend this to all.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
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