Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is an upcoming platform video game developed and published by WayForward. It is the sixth game in the Shantae series, chronologically taking place between the original Shantae (2002) and Shantae: Risky's Revenge (2010). The game follows the half-genie Shantae as she explores the world of Sequin Land and attempts to prevent her nemesis Risky Boots from using a subterranean device to terraform the world.

The game began development for the Game Boy Advance in 2002, and was planned as the second game in the series, but was cancelled in 2004 due to WayForward being unable to find a publisher for it. In 2023, WayForward announced that development had resumed, and that Limited Run Games would be physically publishing the game for GBA in 2024. Ports of the game for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows are also in development.

Gameplay

Shantae Advance is a platform- adventure game, in which players play as the eponymous Shantae, a half-genie who must travel across the continent of Sequin Land in order to stop the evil lady pirate Risky Boots. Shantae's default attack involves using her hair like a whip, and she can learn special dances that grant her the ability to transform into different creatures. ^{[1] [2]} In addition to the returning monkey, elephant, spider and harpy transformations from the original Shantae, new transformations include a mermaid and a crab. ^[3]

The game allows Shantae to move between the foreground and background using specific gates, as well as swim. ^[1] By using the subterranean Tremor Engine, Shantae can rotate the world and alter the environmental layout, allowing access to new areas. Shantae can also travel between different areas by flying on the back of Sky's bird Wrench. ^[3] The game will also feature a multiplayer battle mode for up to four players. ^[2]

Synopsis

Set between the events of Shantae and Shantae: Risky's Revenge, Risky Boots constructs a device called the Tremor Engine in a cave that allows her to rotate and rearrange the continent above, exposing landlocked villages and territories to the coast so her pirate crew can pillage them. Shantae must take control of the Tremor Engine to foil Risky's plans and save Sequin Land. ^[2] The game will also see the first meeting between Shantae's friends Sky, Bolo, and Rottytops. ^[4]

Development

Original demo

Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution began development in 2002, shortly before the release of the original Shantae. A demo of the first world was developed, which WayForward began showing to potential publishers. However, the game failed to find a publisher, largely due to the poor sales of the original game. ^{[4] [5]} Not wanting to compromise the game's scope, work on the project was ultimately halted in 2004, and the series would not see a new release until Shantae: Risky's Revenge in 2010. ^[4] While the demo was never released to the public, WayForward streamed a full playthrough of it on October 3, 2013, as part of a promotion for the crowdfunding of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016). ^[3]

Several graphics and visual assets created for Shantae Advance would go on to be reused for Risky's Revenge, while some of its planned gameplay and story elements would be integrated into later Shantae games. Background movement, swimming, and the mermaid transformation were introduced in Risky's Revenge, while flying on Wrench and both new transformations were used in Half-Genie Hero. ^[3]

Revival

On July 12, 2023, it was announced that WayForward had resumed development on Shantae Advance, building on the work done for the original demo to fully complete the game, and would be releasing it on a Game Boy Advance cartridge through Limited Run Games. ^[6] The music will be composed by Maddie Lim, who contributed to the soundtrack of the previous Shantae game, Shantae and the Seven Sirens (2019). ^[2] During a Nintendo Indie World stream, WayForward announced that a port for Nintendo Switch featuring higher-resolution user interface and character portraits would also be released in 2024. ^[7] The port is also set for release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows. ^[8]

References