After my huge work week, I finally have the energy to write a post. I actually finished this game late last week, and in the meantime some games I ordered arrived. New Deus Ex and Katamari for PS3, old Yoshi’s Island and Lego Star Wars Saga for DS. Explaining all these would take so long, but I was giddy with excitement for YIDS, and it turns out my sister in law really loves Katamari. I love sharing my games.

So onto the real issues with playing Shantae. I think the used game market is very sleazy, and the App Store has trained me to view the Virtual Console as a bit overpriced. I still use it though, except I have a big problem with the 3DS one in particular, for this reason: the games they sell are incomplete. Game Boy games were originally in B&W, yes, but hello Super Gameboy? My favourite emulator can reproduce the conditions of a SGB, so the handheld VC would be a hell of a lot more appealing if it did too, even if it was optional (if they’re somehow concerned about the purity of the experience or something). In the case of Shantae, it is not on the VC. Would I buy it if it was? Tricky question. You want to support small developers, but the best transformation would not be available, as you unlock it (and an enhanced palette) by playing the game on a GBA (or an emulator with a GBA simulation switch). Another example of incompleteness.

I did buy the sequel, though, which was why I wanted to play the original first. Incidentally, the developer’s blog pretty much says that the original is extremely hard to find (it is), so you should watch a Youtube Let’s Play before playing the new game. Of course, many people interpret this as implicit permission to emulate. The original did have a very small print run, and the sequel being digital is not limited in this way. I bought the iOS version, as the DSi version is not available in my region (grrrrrr), another problem with mainstream distribution channels.

Anyway, on to the game. I actually had to fiddlequite a bit with the emulator settings to make it look better. I should have done this several games ago, as it did look much better after I removed the simulated LCD motion blur and discrete pixels. Also, before starting I read the manual from the Internet, it was great. I miss the manuals of the old days.

Ok, so the game. Fun game. At first I had trouble distinguishing foreground and background, platforms you could jump on and walls. You get used to it, but it takes a while. Fighting can also be tricky, and you can lose health quickly if you’re not careful. I guess the items are supposed to help with that, but I didn’t use them much, I often don’t in games. Once you get the transformations, they are useful but also add more complexity to the movement system. The aforementioned Advance Tinkerbat transformation is so liberating, it has the basic powers of 3 other forms, and a decent attack. The combination of various factors results in some slightly awkward gameplay that I associate with certain games of this early generation.

It absolutely oozes charm, though. The game world is so well crafted, getting around is very natural. Some of the environment transitions are abrupt, but the areas are organic and the characters look great. Each small background NPC is different and interestingly designed, and their dialogue is at times funny and informative. I did use a walkthrough to find some of the hidden items, but much of the fun here is finding your own way around, figuring things out. It does take a while to get places though, even after you get the warp dances.

It’s a great little game, especially as a prelude to the new game (which I haven’t yet started). I just love delving into a series’ history if I’m going to get into a game. It helps if the history is short, too! Oh, one thing I forgot. Matt Bozon, the creator of Shantae, also made a Warioware DIY microgame that was featured in the famous creators download section. It was based on GBC Shantae. So yeah, that is also part of Shantae’s video game history (it had a unique background). The DSiWare version also has some small connectivity to WayForward’s other games on that service, but again most of them are not available in our little hole in the world.

All in all, it’s almost like a Metroidvania, but with less vertical movement I suppose. You do end up flying by the end. It’s a neat action platformer, and its obscurity despite its relative quality appeals to me. It’s also an important part of indie gaming history. I would recommend it for anyone looking to branch out into some third-party stuff, who isn’t afraid of a little piracy. Buy the iOS sequel if you do though, it’s only a couple of bucks.

Wife’s comment: “It’s good to see a woman in a starring role.” I agree. I even saw Shantae mentioned as a possible Smash contestant (near the bottom of the list) when people were thinking of female characters for the next installment. Strong female protagonists are so rare, and Shantae is a great example with an interesting personality and design, who experiences growth over the course of this game. Not only that, the antagonist and two of the major supporting characters are also very unique females. It’s another reason I wanted to play this game, and another reason I endorse it.