Shantae on GBC is an absolute masterpiece of the console. The half-genie belly dancer whips her hair as a weapon and transforms into animals. Breathtaking visuals, memorable music, perfect gameplay. The best GBC game.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player7+
Description
Shantae, the lilac-haired half-genie, protects Scuttle Town's port from pirates by transforming through belly dancing in this cult GBC platformer. Published by Capcom, released in the United States in June 2002. Animal transformations via belly dancing, village and dungeon exploration, exceptional GBC visuals. US edition.
Shantae review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Huge sprites, animation of rare fluidity and teeming Oriental settings: WayForward pushes the Game Boy Color to its very limits. Shantae's dance and the life of the villages overflow with astonishing expressiveness. This technical, colourful extravagance stands as a late masterpiece of the console.
An astonishing sonic feat on the Game Boy Color, Jake Kaufman's music unfurls spellbinding Eastern grooves of unsuspected richness. Dance rhythms and swaying melodies dress the half-genie's adventures in a unique colour. This virtuoso soundtrack, far beyond the machine's limits, commands admiration.
Original June 2002 Capcom pressing, shipped only in North America after several delays and well after the GBA had taken over the market. The WayForward-Capcom partnership produced a very small initial run, a fact routinely cited in lists of the rarest GBC cartridges. Beyond the technical merits of the game, it is this first physical edition that anchors current pricing in the late-platformer collecting segment.
An underrated gem
Released on the doorstep of the GBA era, this platformer long suffered from a threadbare distribution that turned it into a pricey collector's item before the series took off. Technically stunning, carried by an endearing heroine and lavish animation, it has since found its audience. A late classic to (re)discover for pixel-art lovers.
Is Shantae still worth playing in 2026?
Released at the very end of the Game Boy Color life cycle, Shantae stands as a striking technical demonstration backed by genuinely solid game design. The hair whipping half genie heroine and her shape shifting forms drive a structured platform adventure rich in exploration and well measured backtracking. Colorful pixel art, fluid animation, an Arabian flavored soundtrack and witty writing make this one of the most polished GBC titles ever shipped. A must play for anyone curious about the late peak of the handheld.
