It's a very good game. It released just months before the GBA and it's noticeable, not only graphics-wise but also when it comes to the amount of systems it presents to the player. Everything about Shantae transpires personality; the characters, the music, the world, the plot, everything.

The plot is that you're Shantae, half-genie protector of Scuttle Town, on her quest to stop Risky Boots from gathering the magic stones that'll serve her to power-up her newly stolen steam engine

As odious as comparisons are, it's in the vain of a side-scrolling Zelda. The gameplay is divided similarly, at least. In the overworld you go from town to town meeting with key characters and advancing the plot with enemies and secrets filling the wilderness in-between. Then you enter puzzle-based themed dungeons labyrinths -they're called labyrinths here - that ultimately require the transformation you earn inside to complete it. The dungeons labyrinths are on the short and easy side, though. The hardest parts are actually the overworld screens, mainly because the range of your attack absolutely sucks and it takes ages to kill anything

I also could go on a on about the side content, collectables and minigames, but i can't figure out a way to do it succintly, so just take my word that there's a lot of other entertaining stuff to do . I plan to do a review of it for YT and Vidlii. If you know where to find it then be attent, i won't post the links again as to not use spam my shit here