It’s still a Game Boy game from 2002, though, and it shows its age in attacks that can be a little imprecise and monsters that have a nasty tendency to attack from offscreen or suddenly spawn underneath your feet with no warning. Shantae’s unique ability to transform into different creatures through a dancing minigame is something that’s not quite like anything else, even today. It’s a delightful game, combining precision platforming, a light dose of Metroid-ish exploration, a cast of delightful oddballs, and a world that comes alive in a way that no other Game Boy game ever has. But more importantly than that, it also introduced the world to Shantae, the endearing half-genie hero whose misadventures have built up a legion of fans in the years since.Ī Switch release of that first outing is a wonderful opportunity to remember-or, for newer Shantae fans, to discover-where it all began. One of the last Game Boy Color games-released after the launch of the Game Boy Advance, no less-it pushed Nintendo’s older handheld to its absolute limit, with a level of detail, vibrancy, and fluid animation that looked like it should be impossible for the hardware it was running on. It looks primitive now, but when Shantae originally came out in 2002, it was an incredible technical achievement. There are plenty of other noteworthy releases and curiosities among those big hitters, though-here are some mini-reviews of a few other games I’ve been playing on Switch, including Shantae, R-Type Final 2, and Kingdom of Arcadia.
#SHANTAE GBA ENHANCED PS4#
April was no exception, with headline acts like Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack, New Pokemon Snap (review incoming!), and SaGa Frontier Remastered ( though I reviewed the PS4 version). Īlso, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.I don’t think a week goes by without at least a dozen new releases on Nintendo Switch, and almost always with at least a few real gems among them. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Sequin Land has evolved a lot over the years, but these humble beginnings are definitely worth your time.Ī Nintendo Switch review copy of Shantae was provided by WayForward for this review. This is a great way to see Shantae’s roots, and with the ability to take it on the go, it almost feels like playing on the GBC, just with a bigger screen. Save States, smoother controls (even if the movement is slow), visual enhancements, and other add-ons have brightened up this re-release. There are a lot of things that this version has going for it.
If you like the Shantae franchise, are nostalgic for the days of the Game Boy Color, or are looking for a retro Metroidvania to play, Shantae is perfect for you. All the same, Shantae is incredibly fun, whether you’re playing the classic version or the “GBA Enhanced” version that brightens the visuals and has a special transformation. I’m not saying that newer versions are, but you can definitely feel the difficulty shift that is tied to its age. In fact, it is difficult enough that it is easy to see how games like it weren’t always a cakewalk. Granted, if you run out of lives it takes you back to the last save point so you don’t miss much, but it is still annoying. This wouldn’t be an issue if you could get more lives or if enemies didn’t spawn on top of you. However, one sticking point I have with this version is that (similar to classic games) you have limited lives. You use Shantae’s hair (and power-ups, abilities, etc) to fight enemies. Common power-ups from later games, such as the pike ball, etc also get their start here in the original Shantae.Ĭombat is similar to the other Shantae games. These are much like baby Warp Squids, which allow you to warp to other places when you collect enough of them. These fireflies give you a specific reward once you collect enough of them. Shantae also has a day and night cycle, which changes how strong enemies are.Īlso, at night you can collect Fireflies hidden all over the levels.
#SHANTAE GBA ENHANCED SERIES#
Lots of things common to the series are showcased here, from transformation dances, warp squid babies, and more. However, Shantae is a serviceable Metroidvania on its own. Don’t misunderstand, the newer games have a lot of quality-of-life upgrades to them.
0 kommentar(er)
