Game: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution
Genre: Adventure, Action, Platformer
System: Nintendo Switch (also on PlayStation and Steam (Windows))
Developer | Publisher: WayForward
Age Rating: EU 12+ | US Teen
Price: US $24.99 | UK £22.49 | EU € 24,99
Release Date: August 19th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to WayForward.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution – A Long-Lost Gem Revived
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a long-lost Game Boy Advance project that never saw release back in the early 2000s. Thanks to WayForward’s persistence and passion, this once-cancelled adventure has finally been restored and polished for a full modern release. For fans of retro-inspired platformers, this is a real treat.
Familiar Faces, Classic Charm
As always, the story finds Shantae squaring off against her old nemesis, Risky Boots. This time, Risky has a rather wild plan: rotate the continent itself so she can drag entire towns to the coastline for easier plundering. It’s wonderfully silly, but it sets up the perfect excuse for more hair-whipping, belly-dancing, and dungeon-delving antics. Along the way, you’ll encounter plenty of returning series favourites like Rottytops, Sky, and Bolo, whose quirky charm makes the world feel lively and familiar.
Old-School Adventure with a Twist
If you’ve played a Shantae game before, you’ll know what to expect here: colourful 2D side-scrolling action with a mix of combat, exploration, and light puzzle-solving. Shantae’s hair remains her weapon of choice, and it still feels surprisingly satisfying to whip enemies and bosses into oblivion.
Transformations make a return. Shantae can belly-dance into forms like a monkey, crab, or elephant, each unlocking different ways to access new areas. There are also purchasable spells powered by a magic meter, letting you throw fireballs or summon protective shields. It’s familiar for fans of the series but still a whole lot of fun.
The most unique addition, is the land-shifting mechanic. Some stages let you literally rotate the playfield between foreground and background “layers,” opening paths and creating routes in clever ways. It’s a fun spin (pun intended) on traditional platforming, and it helps the game stand apart from other entries in the series.
A Few Bumps in the Road
As charming as it is, Risky Revolution has some niggles. Text dialogue has a habit of going on bit too long at times, like the writers don’t know when to let a joke go. The game doesn’t include a minimap, which means it’s easy to get a little lost while navigating. This might not bother retro purists, but modern players may find themselves wishing for a bit more guidance. Still, these quirks are more reflective of the era the game was born in than outright flaws. In many ways, Risky Revolution wears its early-2000s DNA proudly.
Retro Presentation Done Right
Visually, the game captures the spirit of the Game Boy Advance era with gorgeous pixel art. Bright colours, well-sized character sprites, and lively environments give it a distinctly “16-bit-plus” feel, like something that might have sat proudly alongside GBA or SNES classics. The soundtrack also leans into bouncy, upbeat tunes that sound right at home in a Shantae adventure. It really does feel like a game of its time, and that’s part of the magic.
What’s especially cool is that the release offers two ways to enjoy the adventure. You can play the story featuring high res sprites and art during story segments. Or play the game in a sort of authentic GBA style for the proper retro design.
A deluxe edition of the game is also available allowing you to play the story with different costume options. A mild incentive to run through the adventure again.
Multiplayer Mayhem
One delightful surprise is the addition of a multiplayer mode. For the first time in a Shantae game, up to four players can battle it out locally in essentially a knock out arena. It’s not the main attraction, but it’s a fun side feature that feels like a love letter to couch co-op of the past. It might make a fun game night if you have the company to share the game with.
Conclusion: Wish Granted
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is more than just a lost relic; it’s a reminder of how timeless great game design can be. With its mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, transformations, and memorable characters, it feels both nostalgic and fresh. Sure, it has a couple of quirks like the lack of a minimap, but the vibrant visuals, clever mechanics, and infectious personality more than make up for it.
For long-time Shantae fans, this release is a must-buy. For newcomers who just enjoy retro-inspired adventures, it’s a nice, colourful ride that proves some treasures are worth digging up.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot.
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