Shantae: Risky's Revenge
Game by Wayforward Technologies
Reviewed by Philip Wesley
Size: 129 Blocks.
Save: Batter (3 Slots)
Released: 2010
Works with: DSi/DSi XL/3DS
ESRB Rated: E10+
Rating Descriptions: Suggestive content, mild violence.
Quick Opinion: Own!

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Opening Snide Remarks: This game was about seven years in the making. The
funny thing about Shantae is that Wayforward Technologies always makes a
"demo" level for Shantae on every system they work for. So, there were
versions of the bridge level from the first game that were rendered on the
Game Boy Advance, Sony PSP, Sony PS3, XBox, XBox 360, Nintendo DS, Game Cube,
Wii, and finally the Nintendo DSi. I have personally gotten to play the one
on the Game Boy Advance, so you know that I have been waiting for this game
forever! It was released on Nintendo DSi Ware for a grand total of 1200
points, or $12.00 exactly. I downloaded it day one and beat it within two
days of on and off playing. I went ahead and played through it a few more
times before setting down to a review of this game. So, was it worth the
money, the wait, the hype, and effort?

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Gameplay Description: The gameplay in this game is completely story driven
this time around. The plot is simple: Risky Boots has stolen an artifact
from Shantae's Uncle Mimic. Shantae is than instructed by her buddy Rotty
Tops to track down three Magic Barons who are gaurding three Magic Seals
that Risky needs to power the artifact. Shantae decides to do the "heroic
thing" and collect all three of those Magic Seals. With that said, we are
off!

The game has an interesting flow to it. There are three dungeons and in
order to get into each dungeoun, you will need certain items. You track
those down on the over world. Some of the areas have multiple layers that
you can jump in and out of. Shantae can buy magic items to help her in her
quest and she can also find three different transformations that allow her
to change into a useful form. These allow her to explore more of the world
and the dungeons in her desperate search for Magic Seals. You can never be
really lost as the single town in the game is populated with talkative
people who will hint at where you need to head to next.

The world is full of enemies that take multiple hits, areas with lots of
tricky floating platform jumps, stages that require you to work out puzzles
and find keys, and some pretty cool bosses. Jumping in and out of the
layered side-scrolling levels is pretty sweet. Shantae also has the ability
to swim in this game! The game has been streamlined a bit from the previous
title and that makes it a much sharper gameplay experience. The magic meter
inclusion is great too! The gameplay only includes one "shooter-esque" area
in it and one "battle tower" level. The transition into those two types of
game play is pretty seamless and appropriate.

Liked: Streamlined gameplay makes for a more intense title.

Hated: It may be too streamlined...

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Graphics Description: The animation in this game is silky smooth and the
new dialogue portraits are sweet indeed. This game has a ton of beautiful
environments, quirky character design, and butter smooth animation. The
boss fights look great, the backgrounds look great, the game looks better
than many side scrolling games on the larger systems. The animation also
has an odd sense of humor. The E10 is earned because there is a bit of
"jiggle and wiggle" in the character animations. Leave Shantae in one spot
for too long and she has an amusing idle animation. The areas all look
pretty different. Getting lost is not something that is likely to happen in
this game. The sense of humor in the dialogue is worth the price of the
game alone. There are references to other Wayforward titles like A Boy and
his Blob, Contra 4, and the original Shantae. There are also a ton of other
references to movies, other games, and people that have to be seen. All of
the dialogue is pretty snappy and it just adds to charm of the game. The
characters in this game are great and it makes the world of Sequin Land that
much more exciting.

Liked: The humor, the gorgeous settings, the animation, the lack of horrible
polygons. This is old school, 2D animation done right!

Hated: The close up shots of the characters in conversations do not animate.
(Maybe in the next game.)

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Sound/Music Description: The music in this game is excellent and feels a bit
like music from the 16-bit era. I would say it sounds more like it would be
at home on the Sega Genesis or the Super Nintendo. (Had Shantae been a Sega
franchise character; Sega would still be making hardware. She's a better
mascot than a blue hedgehog. Sorry, but that is true.) The music in the
forest and the music in the "transformation" rooms is gorgeous. I really
enjoyed ALL of the music in this game. It fits the mood of the areas it is
in and it adds some quirkiness to the title. I think the only thing I could
really complain about is that I feel the game could have had voice acting in
it. I know that this is not possible due to size, budget, and time restraints.
However, it would have been icing on the cake in this game. We all want to
hear Risky, Rotty, Bolo, Skye, Mimic, and Shantae voice their dialogue.

That said, there was an annoying sound effect that grated a bit on my nerves.
The noise that Shantae makes in her Elephant form when she charges forward
is irritating, but kept at a minimum.

Liked: The music is superb and the sound effects are appropriate.

Hated: No voice acting. Elephant noise...

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Play Control/Game Design: This game improves on some of the "problems" from
the first game. You can buy a map, and Shantae has longer hair. Instead of
having to purchase one time use items like the first game, the items now
use up a magic meter. This makes it a bit easier to get through the game by
abusing those magical items. (Especially the shield item.) The game is much
more straight foward now and has much more scripting to it. The only real
complaint I have on the game design is that sometimes you are sent on "fetch
quests" where character A needs item B. Thankfully, this happens only a few
times in the game and the item(s) that character A needs are usually very
close to character A's location. So, you are never sent hunting all over
the map for something.

Play control works fine, and the amount of moves that Shantae has are varied
and useful. You actually need the magic items to solve some of the puzzles
in the game this time around. The dungeons are creative labyrinths where you
need to locate keys, beat enemies, and solve puzzles. There are also a lot
more jumping areas in this game in comparison to the first game. There is
also a visual cue to tell you what pits will hurt you if you fall into them.
That is greatly appreciated.

I am a bit disappointed by the lack of Water Town, Oasis Town, inside of
the Zombie Caravan, and the overall lack of length to the game. The first
game was an epic length side scrolling adventure that would take upwardly
of ten hours plus. This game will take a good player about five to six hours
to complete and an excellent player under two or three hours. Which is fine,
because the game WANTS you to beat it quickly and find all the items in it.

You get visual reward pictures after the credits for completing the game
as quickly as possible. Think of it like Super Metroid in that regard.

This game is much more action oriented, whereas the first game was more
drawn out. This is a refined game that sharpens the franchise in both focus
and game play speed. The first game is more like Metroid 1, Metroid 2, or
Castlevania 2. This game is more like Metroid 3, or Castlevania: Circle of
the Moon. While I miss the sheer amount of places and things to do from the
first game, I find that Shantae: Risky's Revenge is a much more polished and
accessible title. The game takes the Shantae "franchise" in a completely
different direction from the previous game and makes it better. I just hope
that I get to see some of those other towns and places appear in a future
sequel.

Liked: Much more story centric than the first game, very tidy package with
nothing out of place. The attachment of a magic meter to items, the
removal of finding multiple Warp Squids, the extension of Shantae's hair
attacks, and the timer make this a more solid action platform title.

Hated: Lots of places missing. I miss the Spider/Harpy/Tinker Bat
transformation dances, I miss the dance hall mini-game, I miss the other
towns, and the sheer amount of places to go from the first game. The "fetch"
aspect of the gameplay requires the player to backtrack. (Unless they plan
ahead of time on what they are going to do.) The last of these quests feels
really close to Stamperism and literally wrecks the feel of the game. This
is the only thing that really keeps this game from excelling in every
category.

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Improve: The way the game ends, they have to make a sequel! Maybe we can
give Shantae new items to use? Maybe we could get to play as Bolo, Skye, or
Rotty Tops in a future game? Possibly even as Risky Boots? (Who is a good
villain; but I think we could use a fresh baddie.)

RIYL: Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, the Mega Man Zero series, Shantae for
the GBC.

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Final Words: I think I should mention that the game awards you with special
pictures at the end of it that are determined by two factors: How quickly
you beat the game and how many of the items you found. So, try to beat it
in under three hours with 100%! Try to beat it with the minimum of items!

Try to beat it under two hours with 100%.

I dare you to accomplish that feat. Unlike the first game (which seems to
have marveled on taking time) this game seems to be more built toward speed.
An interesting change of pace to say the least. This puts it right up there
with games like Super Metroid on my list. I will be playing this game for
quite sometime because I can always improve my time. I have lost sleep to
this game already and I have not been this addicted to a side scrolling
game since Super Metroid. Yes, I said it. I find Shantae Risky's Revenge to
be a much more satisfying game than the last half a dozen Castlevania games
and Metroid 4. If it is any indication, I played through Metroid 4 and
Metroid: Zero Mission twice to get the best endings. I played through all
of the Castlevania games at least once. I played through Super Metroid over
a dozen times and I am writing this review after getting through my fifth
play through of Shantae: Risky's Revenge. I am trying to beat it in under
two hours with 100% of the items. You can probably guess that I am very
happy with my purchase and I want a sequel soon! So, who do I have to
kidnap at Wayforward to make that happen?

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Score
Gameplay: *****
Graphics: *****
Sound/Music: *****
Play Control/Game Design: ****
Value: *****

Star Total: 72%

Personal Opinion Merit: 25%

Final Score: 97%

Letter Grade: A

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