Shantae

"Shantae is Old School at its best...."

Shantae has been a long time coming. I remember looking at an article about the game around the time the movie 'Gladiator' came out. I've even heard rumors that it was originally planned as a Super Nintendo game. Well it was well worth the wait and it won't take you long to realize why Capcom picked it up.

The developers of Shantae opened the big book of 'How to Make an Awesome Game' when they set out to produce this soon to be classic. Shantae takes all the good elements from games like Kid Icarus, Metriod, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Rygar and so many more. It blends them together and gives you a game that you'll be playing for years to come.

Shantae starts off as a side scroller. Something I thought the whole game was going to be like. The first level is a real rush, with elements of Contra, Klonoa and Metal Slug thrown in for good measure. (The beginning where the little genie pokes her head out of the light house is reminiscent of Klonoas first chapter.) But afterwards the game world branches out into many different level types.

From the get-go you're introduced to a spunky anime cast, the likes of which has not graced a game since the heydays of of the 32 bit systems. So much so, you'll have to remind yourself constantly that this is a Gameboy Color game and not the SNES. The dialogue is sharp and witty. I found myself laughing out load at the characters odd antics and dialog that pokes fun at game play and story telling elements found in so many games. Even the enemies will make you giggle at times.

Shantae's control is tight and the game play is tuff, but never frustrating. You don't get away with certain things you would is some games. Enemies don't always give a sign that they are going to attack. There isn't always that tell tale that something will dash out from underground, or from behind a water fall. You'll have to do some minor enemy location memorization and hit yourself on the head when you lose half a heart, cause you rushed though without thinking later on in the game.

Shantae's world is huge. So big in fact that the programers thought to keep gamers on their toes by adding in day and night to the overworld. Like in Castlevania 2, enemies get stronger. Unlike the before mentioned game, Shantae goes the extra mile and adds items that can only be found at night. Decreasing the monotony of the level design that much more. However unlike so many games today item finding is not the main emphasis of the game. You're allowed to go it your own pace. If you don't want to collect warp squids, or fireflies, then you don't have to and the game won't punish you for it later.

The sound is Shantae reminds me of Aladdin meets Rygar. It's about as good as the the Gameboy Color can produce and that isn't half bad.

No matter how far in the game you get there is always something new being thrown at you. Nothing frustrating, no, what I'm talking about is new characters, enemies, minigames and transformations. Just when you think you've seen it all, you realize you haven't. The towns are always full of new characters too. Very few people are recycled, ever.
As for Shantae's animal forms, they are lots of fun to fool around with, especially once you learn how to fly. Someone took a good look at EVO the Search for Eden before doing the designs for Shantaes 4 main animal shapes and it shows.

This is every old school gamers dream come true. If you've been playing games since the 80's you'll pick up on a few tricks fast. (I especially like the cute little snakes that pop out of holes. I knew right away that was where I could sit and get some easy money ala Kid Icarus.) I don't mean in any way to say that Shantae is a rip off of older games. It's a gumbo of good gaming, set in a world all it's own. It's by far one of the best the Gameboy has to offer and puts games like Castlevania Circle of the Moon to shame. The most surprising part? It wasn't done by the Japanes, a staple of most games and a major turn off for most gamers if it isn't. But trust me, if someone didn't tell you, you would never have guessed.

It isn't flawless, very few games are, but it's pretty darn close to being so. Perhaps it's one true fault is, as mentioned, it has been put on such an old system. What is with game creators anyway? If you have a Mercedes would you go spend money on it, or the beat up station wagon sitting in your back yard? I understand the history behind this game, but it it a way it doens't seem fair to the game itself. At least the programers went the extra mile and added in special Gameboy Advance coloring and features. I pray this game doesn't go the way of Klonoa, but have a funny feeling it will.

Here's to Shantae 2.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/09/02, Updated 01/07/03