Shantae Advance. OMG LOLMARFALOONYALLO!!!11!

[Kid Fenris]

You'll have to pardon the outburst, but I'll explain. Shantae was an enjoyable action/platform title released on the GameBoy Color last year. Great fun and exceedingly well animated, it's easily one of the most underrated games of 2002. I loved it, and I hoped for a sequel. Whatever gods rule gaming have denied me sequels to many of my favorites, from the Guardian Legend to Alisia Dragoon to Burning Rangers to Tail Concerto, but surely, I thought, they wouldn't let Shantae languish in the obscurity of one low-key release.

And now it seems that she won't. See? (http://home.earthlink.net/~bozon/GG_Index.htm) Shantae is coming again! And she'll bring us food, and water, and colorful gameplay! And smite our enemies!

[josekortez]

I never played it. I couldn't even find it! Why so good?

[Six Switch]

I wanted to play it but have yet to find it.

[Kid Fenris]

I never played it. I couldn't even find it! Why so good?

I had a hard time finding it in stores as well, but you can order it from Capcom (http://www.capcom.com/xpml/game.xpml?gameid=650022) for $25. That's five bucks more than I paid at EB Games, however, and Capcom's site will gouge you on shipping. So check your local shops. Toys R' Us might have a copy or two.

Why so good? I could be biased, of course, but here it goes: the game's structure is kind of like Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, but not at all bland or directionless. All of the towns, overworld areas, and dungeons that Shantae traverses are designed quite well, and exploring them is unexpectedly addictive. The gameplay's diverse and tight, the minigames are fun, and Shantae's ability to transform into different animals makes it more than just another action/platformer. Though not without flaw (it's often too easy to miss a jump or take a hit), Shantae's lots of fun.

[brandver3]

I have been meaning to get it for my Capcom collection, but the reveiws were SO BAD that i passed it up for RE:Gaiden.

But since i trust the opnions of yous guys more then mag editors, i'll go get it tommorrow, my local Bababges has like 5, and i get a 20% discount :D

[Kid Fenris]

I have been meaning to get it for my Capcom collection, but the reveiws were SO BAD that i passed it up for RE:Gaiden.

What bad reviews were these? Every review I've seen has been pretty favorable, though some publications didn't bother to cover it at all.

IGN: http://pocket.ign.com/articles/361/361919p1.html

Gaming Age: http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=gameboy&game=shantae

Play also gave it four out of five stars, I think.

[DDCecil]

Gexpress.com has it for 10.50. I'll be getting it once I get some money. it's supposed to play kinda like Metroid/Catslevania: SOTN, right?

[Kid Fenris]

Gexpress.com has it for 10.50. I'll be getting it once I get some money. it's supposed to play kinda like Metroid/Catslevania: SOTN, right?

It's more like Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, in that everything is connected in a straight line. It doesn't offer quite as much freedom of exploration as Metroid, but you can uncover hidden items and areas by revisiting old territory once you get new abilities.

[geelw]

also give lady sia for the gba a go- it's a pretty cool actioner with some platforming elements... :-D

[bargora]

Maybe I will partake of this Shantae madness once I finish Super Mario Advance and Klonoa:EOD. And what, praytell, is MARFALOONYALLO ??

[Bratwurst]

I will definitely be keeping my eye out for this game in the future. I wrote the guy who created Shantae last night via email, he's really cool. Answered a few of my questions about graphic production! He also said that it took him about 2 years, working nearly alone to create the GBC game. That's a true work of art.

[hamburgler]

The game from what i heard from reading my video game books,it was not that good at all.Hey,but i'm not trying to make fun of anyone if they like the game a lot.

[WiseSalesman]

I downloaded the rom, and have now decided to pick up the GBC game. I can attest that it's pretty good. My only problem with it is the absolute plethora of cheap hits.

[Kairi]

And what, praytell, is MARFALOONYALLO

I was wondering that myself.

[Kid Fenris]

My Aorta Ruptured From A Lengthy Obstruction Of Not Yelling and Laughing Loudly, Ouch.

Okay, so I just made it up. Anything to promote Shantae.