Shantae: Risky's Revenge is a 2D platform game, which both developed and published by WayForward Technologies, and it is a sequel to 2002's game called Shantae for GBC. This game was originally released in between 2010 and 2011 for Nintendo DSi, and it was later ported to PC in 2014, then the PS4 and Wii U in between 2015 and 2016 as the Director's Cut, which features re-imagined warp system and new magic mode.
I've never played the original Shantae for the GBC, but I heard a lot of great things about the game are considered to be a cult classics for the GBC according to video game critics and fans had given such higher praise for impressive graphics, quality sounds, larger exploration levels, and solid 2D gameplay that really shows off the GBC's hardware power.
I've bought the Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director Cuts from the PS Store on Cyber Monday sales for £5, which is a great value for me to purchase the game. So far, I really enjoyed playing this game because I'm quite impressed with the 2D metroidvania style gameplay with great exploration and amazing puzzles levels. I love the looks of 16-bit style graphics with nicer details of characters, well made levels design and it has decent look of visuals animation. The presentation has interesting storyplot to keep the story sounds incredible and of course Shantae is definitely one of the awesome female protagonist for the 2D platformer series.
Without go further do, let's talk about the game's overall.
Presentation
The story takes place in Scuttle Town, Shantae and her friends went to annual relic hunters expo to see her Uncle called Mimic, who is relic hunter, has unveil his latest find an lamp, until Risky Boots crashes the expo and steals the lamp. After Shantae got knocked out in the battle against Risky Boots who got managed to escape, Mimic has reveals the news to Shantae about the three magic seals are allowing to release the lamp magic and she sets to find them to prevent Risky's plans.
The story is much easier to follow because it has simple storyplot that made the game's presentation sounds interesting to watch during the cutscenes and I also loved the look of the slideshows with anime style characters design and I like the letterbox shaped dialogue are also easier to read. Most of the characters in the game are actually pretty good, like Shantae because she has really nice arabian outfit and long purple hair, I also liked the villain Risky Boots with pirates outfits and her pirate hat and the rest of the characters are looking quite amazing in the whole game. The each area in the game is looking magnificent with the towns, seasides, deserts, forrest, and dungeons are all well designed which really fits the game's presentations.
Overall, the story is pretty straightforward, the characters are excellent, and well made level areas.
Gameplay
You take control of Shantae the half-genie to explore the whole areas in order to stop Risky's planning.
Your main attack is her purple hair as whipping weapon and she also has magic spells that allows her to use ranged attacks. You can purchase the magic spells from the shop, such as fireball, pikeball and storm puff are quite a basic magic attacks, but you can also purchase a better ones like spitfire, flamethrower, super or mega pikeball and crush or mega puff which allows to perform higher damage attack to the enemies, but magic jams items are also required in order to purchase the updated magic spells and character's abilities, which magic jams items can be found somewhere in the area. Controlling Shantae is simple and easier to use because the character's movement feels much smoother and responsive while running, but you can also make her walk by holding the attack button. The whipping attack are also responsive with good hit detection on the enemies and objects, but you can also make her whipping abilities much faster by purchasing silky creme item which improves the whipping power and speed. You can also upgrade your character's health and magic meter by collecting heart holder that extends hearts and purchasing magic fill that slowly refills your magic meter automatically, but you can also use potion and magical vial which is a quickest way to increase your health and magic meter faster. Your character has ability to use transformation relics such as monkey that allows player to climb and jump on walls, the elephant are used for smashing rock to gain access to the secret levels and the mermaid are used for swimming under the water which is very useful for puzzle level aspects.
The levels in the whole game are quite good for the exploration like searching for key to gain access to the next level, finding secrets inside the cave, collecting the important items to give someone, obtaining the new relics, and warping in different areas is kinda give a metroidvania style gameplay, which I kinda liked the idea how the game is played. I say the map area is okay, but at least they could have been made the overworld map design bit better, but that's okay to me. The boss battles are pretty decent to fight, but I finding the boss are quite overpowered which takes sometime to beat the boss during the battles.
The game is quite too short to beat the game, but if you want to go for the higher challenge then go for the magic mode which increases higher difficulty, so good luck for that.
Overall, it has solid controls, great range of attacks and magic, and stunning level exploration.
Graphics
I really liked the look of the 16 bit style graphics. It has excellent character's design with impressive animations. The level environment has well detailed buildings in each areas and the background has stunning views of landscape and scenery. It does have some nice usage of colours and visuals effects to make the game look spectacular for 16 bit graphics. You can select any of screen options to stretch out the screen size such as 16:9, 4:3 with or without border and original size. I'm finding 16:9 size kinda looked bit stretched out, which doesn't look good with the 16:9 size. The original size looked pretty fine, but it's kinda looked too small for the HDTV, but I always prefer to choose 4:3 size with or without border over the 16:9 and original size because the game looks better with the 4:3 size which is right for the screen resolution on the HDTV.
Overall, it has excellent character's design, well detailed environment, and nice colours and visuals effects.
Music and Sounds
I say this game has great arabian style soundtrack which fits the game's settings. It was composed by Jake Kaufman, who was known for composing music for Shovel Knight, Contra 4 and Ducktales: Remastered, did a fabulous job for making such incredible music in each levels. I really love the sound effects in the game which is quite good for the 16 bit style era. The developer teams did optimised the whole music and sounds well for the console ports from the original DSi version without making quality too thin or thick.
Overall, it has awesome soundtrack and fabulous sound effects.
Special Features
The director's cut do offer small things like new outfit costumes and new magic modes, but it has trophy support as well. There's not many unlockable stuff in the game, which they could have been added more newer features than this would have been nice too.
Overall, it does offers the small things, but it needs to add more new content.
Advantages
Straightforward storyplot
Impressive characters
Solid gameplay
Amazing exploration
Excellent graphics
Awesome soundtrack
Disadvantages
Short length single player
Overpowered boss characters
Not enough new special features
Final Verdict
Presentation 8/10 - Pretty straightforward storyplot, the characters are excellent, and well made level areas.
Gameplay 7.5/10 - Solid controls, great range of attacks and magic, and stunning level exploration.
Graphics 7.8/10 - Excellent character's design, well detailed environment, and nice colours and visuals effects.
Music and Sounds 8.3/10 - Awesome soundtrack and fabulous sound effects.
Special Features 5/10 - Offers the small things, but it needs to add more new content.
Overall 7.5/10 - It is a really decent 2D platformer game for those who likes playing retro gaming. It has great story, amazing female protagonist, solid gameplay, amazing exploration, excellent graphics and awesome soundtrack that keeps the game so much entertaining. I'm very glad that the developer teams have bought the game to the PC, PS4 and Wii U, so if you're the fan of the 2D platformer genres then this is definitely must purchase from Steam Service, PS Store, and Nintendo eShop.
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