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.
#HOW TO PLAY SHANTAE GBA ENHANCED SERIES#
Lots of things common to the series are showcased here, from transformation dances, warp squid babies, and more.
![how to play shantae gba enhanced how to play shantae gba enhanced](https://cheapergamer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Feature-image-GBC-Enhanced-games-1-1024x768.jpg)
![how to play shantae gba enhanced how to play shantae gba enhanced](http://104.236.151.57/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/shantae_031403_3_640w.jpg)
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.