Shantae: Risky's Revenge Director's Cut - Review

 Ret-2-Go once more!

Console: Nintendo Switch

The history of Shantae: Risky's Revenge Director's Cut is an interesting one. While the original Shantae was a critical success, it sold poorly. Releasing it on the Gameboy Colour at a time when the Gameboy Advance was the new console on the block wasn't the best idea. Developer WayForward thus put the franchise on the back burner for awhile. 

Eight years and two consoles later, if finally went back to the series with Risky's Revenge, a DSiWare game Originally meant to be an episodic title  it was eventually decided to make it a traditional single game. The game was later updated and released on other plaforms as Shantae: Risky's Revenge Director's Cut. It's this 'definitive' version that I'm looking at today. 

So, is this worth your time and money today? For what it is, yes. Let's dive in.

During the annual Relics Hunters Expo, Shantae's uncle Mimic unveils his latest find: an ordinary-looking lamp encased in stone. It's at this moment Risky Boots crashes the expo and steals the lamp. Shantae confronts her but is eventually knocked out, allowing Risky to escape. Blaming the half-genie for the town being in disarray and failing to do her job properly, the Mayor of Scuttle Town fires her as the town's guardian. That doesn't stop Shantae though and she decides to go after Risky and get the mysterious lamp back.

That's all she wrote for the game's story. There really isn't much to it. Something gets stolen, you're tasked with finding 3 magic McGuffins then you fight the boss and it's over. These types of games, platformers, traditionally don't have much story to begin with. The barebone story is thus nothing out of the ordinary, especially if you consider the game's short length. 

For the gampelay, Shantae is a Platformer/MetroidVania hybrid. Sequin Land is set up like your typical sidescrolling platformer with towns, collectables and a labyrinth here or there. In these sections, it's your typical 'jump on platforms and defeat enemies' that Super Mario pioneered. 

The labyrinths are a lot like Zelda dungeons. Using your ability to transform into many different animals you solve each of the puzzles the dungeons offer with your newest transformation needed to solve most puzzles. An interesting mix of of styles that I certainly don't know where else to experience. 

The 'multiple layers' gimmick that this game introduces is neat but feels underutilised. From certain points, Shantae can jump to the background to continue the adventure on that plain. It's really only a factor in two areas and that's a shame. It makes this gimmick feel tacked on instead of an integral part of the game design. 

What is a much bigger issue is the map. It's just not any good. It's sorely lacking in explanation and markers in the overworld and doesn't even exist in dungeons. Yeah, that map should've been a whole lot better than this.

The last thing I want to mention here is the fast travel AKA the warp points. These warp points have been improved compared to the original, that's definitely a welcoming change in the Director's Cut. In the original, a Warp point was solely connected to just one other warp point on the map. Here, you can warp to any other warp point you like. A much-needed and welcomed change. 

For old DS graphics, I find that they hold up quite well. You can also see the border added in the Switch version here.

The game will last you around 5 hours if you play leisurely. Play the game at a quicker pace and you can finish it in one sitting. While that's basically what was advertised (with its low price and all) I still felt that it could have been longer. The whole' it was meant to be episodic but got cut down' thing was something I felt here. 

To be fair, it does have more things to offer. There are quite a few collectables and secret areas to find. There are four different endings you can unlock and there is the magic mode. Shantae's wears the a ne costume that increases her magic abilities at the costs of her defences. It's essentially just a Hard mode, but one with a spiffy new costume. 

The signature 'punchy' writing style and the general atmosphere is still very much as good as it has always been. That's definitely in the story's favour. The soundtrack is also still as fantastic as ever and the graphics aren't too shabby either. I can see why WayForward, aside from budget reasons, kept these graphics for the follow up, Pirate's Curse. 

Conclusion

All in all, Shantae: Risky's Revenge Director's Cut is a good little game. It has its own fair share of problems, from the bad map to it feeling generally unpolished, but these problems don't hold the game down too much. For the price that you pay for it, you get a good and above all fun little adventure with one of gaming's more unique characters.

If you're a fan of platformers, or Shantae herself, Risky's Revenge Director's Cut is a game worth your consideration.