Shantae (2002)

Oh, Shantae.. How I've been neglecting you. After a long break due to the surplus of backlogged anime and TV I've bult up, I finally decided to pick up where I left off.

Last time I hit a roadblock and had to backtrack. After many deaths and a trip back to Water Town, I was immediately directed to Oasis Town.

Reaching Oasis town, I was then given the location of the games fire-themed dungeon.

But not before a quick bath. Yes, this guy runs the Oasis Town public bath..

Finally reaching the dungeon(with many deaths along the way, ugh!), I was able to access the entrance with the help of a friend's pet crow. He proceeded to peck at the green orbs and spin 360 degrees, successfully opening the temple door. It was kind of funny to see in motion.

This dungeon was much easier than the first dungeon, or so I thought at first. It involved puzzles using blue and red light, that were required to take out certain enemies to acquire keys, and also use said colors to activate certain platforms for navigating the dungeons maze-like corridors.

After getting lost for awhile, I finally found the dungeons resident captured genie, who was more than willing to teach me a new dance that allowed me to transform into this beauty:

This transformation is required for breaking blocks, smashing tree stumps, and other general destructive actions.

Finally navigating to the end of the dungeon, after getting lost for a half an hour, I found a corridor blocked by crag-like rocks. Woo, I get to put my new transformation to use!

HULK SMASH!

Finally, after several hours of getting lost looking for keys and dying some ridiculous deaths, only to have to run back to the dungeon all over again, I encountered the dungeons boss.

This battle required on the fly transformation to Elephant form. His hands would appear creating platforms that you'd jump on, transform into elephant, then bash him in the head. Then, amazingly, his cranium would split open exposing a green gem, which had to be whipped repeatedly with Shantae's hair.

Success!

Fire Slate acquired! Two more dungeons to go!

After the end of the dungeon, I saved and started heading back to town, per usual, feeling rather accomplished. I got further in the game than I ever thought I would, and the second dungeon was a lot more inviting and fun than the first, despite getting lost for awhile there. I'm hoping this trend continues...

Who knew the trek back to civilization would be my undoing. After dying multiple times on the way back to town, I decided to call it a night.

That's Shantae for you. I'll go back to it soon, hopefully.

I think I'll have to listen to more Buddha's Delight to get pumped for this game again. I've no problem doing that.

So i decided to boot up Shantae and get my hour of gaming in. I try to get at least an hour a day in, or else I find that I stop gaming for extended periods of time. Not that I don't enjoy gaming or that I have to force myself, but I love so many other things as well, so I have to keep gaming at the forefront to make any progress. Last time I played I beat the first dungeon and got the monkey transformation.

It's a very cute look, but it leads to many deaths due to being so hard to control midair.

After getting the transformation and beating the first dungeon, I returned to Water Town to pick up some boots I'd been saving for. They let me perform a kewl new aerial kick that i can't seem to hit anything with since Shantae controls like a tank.

.. but at least she looks stylish doing it.

So after returning to Water town and discovering that Risky Boots, my apparent arch nemesis, is attempting to gather the elemental artifacts to make her steam powered ship the ultimate destructive machine, I'm told to go to the second temple to prevent her from stealing artifact number 2. She already stole the water one, so my little dungeon escapade was pointless, and not only does Shantae feel useless to control, shes actually useless. Some backstory: Risky Boots discovered the power of steam and has been charging tariffs/extorting money from anyone using the sea that she has staken a claim to.

Leaving water town, I head due east.. into some incredibly awfully designed areas, with monsters out of the wazoo. I don't even attempt to kill anything anymore since it's easier to just dodge things than actually trying to kill them. I pass a zombie infested area, get to a save point, and.. oh god.. it's a dead end. Why game, why! Looks like I might have to resort to a faq.

Shantae is not impressed...

In hindsight, I did pass a curious looking temple entrance.. but it was inaccessible... I think. Something tells me I need to backtrack...

The professionalism. I know.

Well, that was my one hour of gaming. It seems like I did nothing really, but it's because I spent most of my time dying getting to the dead end only to realize I missed something along the way. Can't wait to boot this game up again! *cough*