Shantae Advance: "Risky Revolution!"

Shantae Advance: "Risky Revolution!" is the long-lost Game Boy Advance sequel to the original Shantae that finally saw the light of day after years of being stuck in development hell. This time, the half-genie hero is back to square off against her nemesis, Risky Boots, who’s cooked up a new scheme to take over Sequin Land. The game sticks to its roots with classic Metroidvania-style gameplay, exploring vibrant worlds, unlocking new abilities, and transforming into creatures to solve puzzles and bash bad guys. The pixel art is crisp, the animations are full of charm, and the soundtrack bops like you’d expect from a Shantae title. It’s a nostalgic trip with some modern tweaks, making it feel like a hidden gem that’s been waiting 20 years to shine.  

  Okay, full disclosure. I’m still playing this game, and it’s too fresh to drop a full review without giving some half-baked take. So instead of me rambling, do yourself a favor and hit up YouTube or Metacritic for some early impressions.  Once I’ve put in enough hours and maybe rage-quit a few more times, I’ll circle back with something more solid. For now, the vibes are good, but don’t take my word for it, go dig around!