Hi, I’m Matt Bozon, creative director of WayForward and director of the Shantae video game series. It’s been 20 years since the first Shantae game was released! Can you believe it?! For longtime Shantae fans, today will be a quick walk in memory. If you’re new to the series, allow me to update you with what you’ve missed! In short: lots of genies, pirates, monsters and hair.
Shantae, the original independent lover!
Let’s start at the beginning (a very good place to start)! Shantae was created by Erin Bozon in 1994 during a time when it was rare to see a female protagonist in a video game – and when they did exist, it was often an optional supporting character or a masked heroine. . Erin set out to form a new game starring a prominent female lead, in hopes of inspiring more female gamers, while also creating an action/fantasy game that everyone will enjoy. . The result is Shantae, a Half-Genie with flowing ponytail and the ability to belly dance to transform into monkeys, elephants, and other creatures. Together we formed a creative team of husband and wife, laying the groundwork for the series for several years.
The first game, simply titled “Shantae”, established much of the core gameplay of the series and introduced players to the world of Sequin Land, as well as characters such as Shantae, the Mimic adoptive uncle, best friends Sky, Bolo and Rottytops, and the archenemy’s Risky Boots! The world is vast and filled with bizarre town dwellers and monsters. Character animations are smooth and backgrounds are lush and vibrant, with plenty of side effects, day and night cycles, massive watchlists of catchy tunes, and hidden new game gimmicks. hiding in every nook and cranny.
In fact, the game is so big that it requires an extremely expensive cartridge. The combination of a low production time and critical acclaim has earned Shantae a sort of “cult status,” making it one of the rarest collectibles available. Thankfully, it’ll be widely available on PS4 and PS5 later this year, so you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg to try this classic!
Fun fact: In Erin’s original design, Shantae could belly dance to seduce “animal helpers”. These animals can be summoned and controlled by the player, used to slash enemies, jump over pits, or trample obstacles. Later, the idea was changed to allow Shantae to transform by learning magical dance moves.
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge!
Released in 2010, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge is the long-awaited sequel and the first Shantae game to arrive on the PlayStation. The game opens with a much more capable Shantae, now a fully recognized Patronus, guardian of Scuttle Town, and looter of Risky Boots in the ultimate adventure. Success comes to Shantae, and she’s easily tricked into a quest to restore the magical powers of a mysterious old lamp – all but a trap set up by Risky Boots. Although the player eventually saves the day, Shantae (the character) must learn to deal with defeat and betrayal. And… yes, this is the “good” ending! But don’t worry… the next game isn’t far off.
Fun fact: To this day, Risky’s Revenge remains the most widely played game in the series!
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse!
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, the third installment in the series, holds a special place in fans’ hearts. Despite her previous adventure failures, Shantae starts the game with a fresh “can do” attitude. After a gripping action sequence, Shantae faces even greater setbacks than before, and the line between right and wrong begins to blur for the young hero. Action, puzzles, bosses, explorations and soundtracks reach new heights, and the compelling storyline, humor and deeper emotional connection have hit the psyche of players. The game has multiple endings, allowing for a “happy bittersweet” or “really satisfying” ending to the story. You should definitely check it out when it arrives on PS5 later this year!
Fun Fact: Pirate’s Curse has been updated to include a bonus minigame, “Super Shantae Nab!”, accessed through the arcade cabinet in the store!
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero!
The fourth game in the series, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, moved the series from pixels to HD artwork and was the first game developed for consoles instead of handhelds. For this reason, the story is a classic sequel, but it’s also a fresh starting point for newcomers. It’s something of a “return to form,” with an emphasis on belly dancing, hair pulling, and animal transformations. Because the game will be fan-funded, the adventure is scalable with a central town and distinct enclaves, each with a “villain of the week” adventure storyline type. The 3D environment gives the game a modern appeal and blends well with the hand-drawn HD drawings. The game has received major updates – brand new game modes and stories, all included in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition!
Fun Fact: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition’s Officer Mode is inspired by WayForward’s Mighty Switch Force series! It’s like a game within the game!
Shantae and the Seven Sirens!
The fifth and most recent game in the series, Shantae and the Seven Sirens, sends Shantae away from Sequin Land when she receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Paradise Island to participate in the stage show Half- Spectacular Genie. There, Shantae meets the brand new Half-Genies – other girls born with the same magical powers as her – and a friendship is quickly formed. However, all is not as it seems. Beneath the mysterious island lies a sunken city, inhabited by the ferocious Seven Sirens. The opening animation for the game was created by Studio TRIGGER and the animated cutscenes play during key moments of the adventure, giving Seven Sirens the feel of a TV show! The game was recently updated with additional game modes (all free!) and is available now.
Fun Fact: If you do Shantae’s Refresh Dance near her zombie friend Rottytops, Rotty will quickly return to human form!
This is Erin!
None of this would have been possible without the help of so many people, not least of which is Erin Bozon. She created both the character Shantae and the original game concept, and has worked on the series in a variety of roles, as a game developer, brand director, artist, animator and producer. It wouldn’t be a proper anniversary without some thoughts from Erin herself, so… let it go, Erin!
“When I started, my focus was on character animation, and Shantae was my first original game. I want to see if we can develop it into a full game and maybe if it succeeds it can expand into TV shows or even a toy. I’m already planning the possibility of further games, with more dances and transformations, and a bunch of characters and creatures. In retrospect, building a fan base was a lot harder and took years and games. But here we are, 20 years later, and fans are still spreading their love for Shantae. Without them, this would never have been possible!
“Over the years, we have received a lot of fan letters and drawings, and I have been fortunate to meet some of the fans in person. I love talking to them at events and am honored when someone has drawn a picture of Shantae or when I run into someone wearing a Shantae t-shirt. I even met a few people who cosplayed as Shantae. It’s been an honor to see versions of their characters and know that Shantae is personal to them. I’m also happy to see the recent increase in Shantae’s female fan base. It’s especially interesting when I see girls and women connecting with the character, as one of my original goals was to encourage more female gamers. Of course, I hope Shantae will be loved by everyone! ”
What’s next?
With 20 years of Shantae games behind us, we can only imagine what the next 20 will bring! We hope that Shantae will continue to pull her hair, belly dance, and bring smiles to her fans all over the world! Thank you for an incredible 20 years!
