Many people probably don’t realize this, but the Shantae series that we know and love from WayForward actually began on the Game Boy Color. The year after the release of the Game Boy Advance (2002), the original Shantae released on the GBC. An enhanced version was released for the 3DS in 2013, but other than that the game has largely been overlooked, beyond cult-classic status.

Now, WayForward has brought Shantae to the Nintendo Switch, marking the first time in 8 years that the original adventure was made available on a new platform. Shantae puts you in the shoes of the titular heroine on her first adventure, as she tries to take on the female pirate, Risky Boots. Surprisingly, this first adventure isn’t all that different gameplay-wise than the modern games.

Don’t misunderstand, the newer games have a lot of quality-of-life upgrades to them. However, Shantae is a serviceable Metroidvania on its own. Lots of things common to the series are showcased here, from transformation dances, warp squid babies, and more. Shantae also has a day and night cycle, which changes how strong enemies are.

Also, at night you can collect Fireflies hidden all over the levels. These fireflies give you a specific reward once you collect enough of them. These are much like baby Warp Squids, which allow you to warp to other places when you collect enough of them. Common power-ups from later games, such as the pike ball, etc also get their start here in the original Shantae.

Combat is similar to the other Shantae games. You use Shantae’s hair (and power-ups, abilities, etc) to fight enemies. However, one sticking point I have with this version is that (similar to classic games) you have limited lives. This wouldn’t be an issue if you could get more lives or if enemies didn’t spawn on top of you. 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.

Shantae is not an easy game. In fact, it is difficult enough that it is easy to see how games like it weren’t always a cakewalk. I’m not saying that newer versions are, but you can definitely feel the difficulty shift that is tied to its age. 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.

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. There are a lot of things that this version has going for it. Save States, smoother controls (even if the movement is slow), visual enhancements, and other add-ons have brightened up this re-release.

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. Sequin Land has evolved a lot over the years, but these humble beginnings are definitely worth your time.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Shantae was provided by WayForward for this review.

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Shantae

$9.99 USD

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• Enhancements Make it More Accessible
• Cute Visuals
• Fun Way to Experience Shantae's Origins
• Lots of Content
• Smooth Controls

Cons

• Enemies Appear on Top of You
• Limited Lives are Annoying
• Slow Movement