Shantae was released for the Game Boy Color in 2002 by developer Wayforward. Released late into the GBC’s lifecycle and a full year after the Gameboy Advance debuted, Shantae was mostly unknown to the public despite receiving positive reviews. Since then it has been regarded as a cult classic and the beginning of great indie series.

The game puts you in the shoes of a young girl named Shantae, a half genie who is the sole protector of a small fishing village. When her town is threatened by pirates and a valuable machine is stolen Shantae is called to action to eliminate the problem. The story is pretty basic and isn’t too deep, but it works. For what it lacks in depth in makes up for it in charm and humor. Shantae is a very likeable protagonist, the supporting characters really help give the narrative life, and the game never takes itself too seriously.

The gameplay is similar to most platformers. You explore various terrains, collect items, battle enemies and tough bosses along the way. What sets this game apart from others are the methods that Shantae uses to survive and explore. Mario may have his jumps and Link may have his sword but Shantae uses her long hair as a whip to beat enemies into submission. Her most unique ability is belly dancing, which is linked to her genie powers. After learning specific dances Shantae can transform into various animals that have their own unique abilities and controls. There are many secrets to uncover and with each new transformation at your disposal you are free to explore the world much more thoroughly.

One unique thing about this game is the pacing, which is more slow and relaxed. Treading lightly is the key to survival and rushing is a quick way to die by dangerous terrain or enemies. Thankfully towns provide many services to aid you, including healing, saving your game, and useful information. Items can also be purchased at shops and they range between items that restore life, items that give passive effects, and items that give you different attack methods. It is highly advisable to invest in attack items; Shantae’s hair whip is cool but you’ll need more firepower to gain an edge against tougher enemies.
The game also has a day and night cycle. During the day it’s business as usual but nightfall provides a different challenge. Certain items, areas, NPC’s and enemies are only available at night. Enemies are also more resilient, making travel after dark more treacherous.

Labyrinths provide the biggest challenges in the game and are necessary to advance the plot. There are crafty puzzles for you to solve, clever traps to avoid, the most dangerous enemies lurking about, and a tough boss fight waiting to challenge you. The Labyrinths are exciting and the puzzle solving is very fun; just expect to get lost its wonders, metaphorically and literarily.

Normally when I review something I don’t bother talking about graphics because unless they’re really bad or really striking I feel it’s not even worth mentioning. Shantae thankfully falls into the latter category of the two. These graphics are not just solid; they’re the best available on the GBC and there is great attention to detail to every sprite and graphic. The game also has a habit of blending similar colors together for a visually interesting look. The earliest example of this is in the introduction stage; the color palette starts out normal but then bleeds into reds and oranges as you cross fiery terrain and then cools down into purples and blues as night falls. Every outdoor area in the game also has two separate color palettes; one for day and one for night. Serious work went into making this game to perfection and it shows.

The game’s only bothersome flaw is the amount of walking from point A to point B you’ll be doing. This is a huge problem early on but thankfully you can find faster ways to travel that avert this later.

Shantae is a solid platformer game that is both unique and a last hoorah to a generation of portable gaming. It’s a good adventure for all types of players: casual, speed runners, 100% perfectionists or otherwise. If you want a platformer that is unique and different, try this one out. The best way to play this is to either on the 3DS virtual console or emulation if you’re broke.

Grade: A-