From the Game Boy Color to the PlayStation 4, the entire Shantae series is heading to the PlayStation 5. Word about the collection making its way into the console came following Limited Run Games’ livestream in E3.
Specifically, news came from WayForward’s short trailer, highlighting certain set pieces from the entire series. That includes Shantae, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge (Director’s Cut), Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition, and Shantae and the Seven Sirens.
Interesting of note, the collection will come in a form of a physical copy and will be produced by Limited Run Games. The very same company that has been producing tangible copies of video game titles in limited amounts.
Although, historically, the company was capable of manufacturing large quantities of physical titles, the feat was not a singular endeavor. In particular, it took a partnership with Best Buy in order to kickstart distribution on a massive scale.
There is no word yet about the release date and the price.
Shantae in Hindsight
The action-platformer series has had one of the longest mainstays for a title of its kind. While many, even the iconic ones, subsequently becomes buried in time, the half-genie’s adventure has proven itself strong throughout the years.
Five entries in the span of nearly two decades may not be much, in terms of quantity. But a commercial success in the industry is not always defined by the number of entries produced for a particular franchise. Which, while may be true for the likes of Mario or Sonic, certainly isn’t for Shantae.
Evolving Series
From the outset, one can easily define the series as a 2D platformer or, more specifically, of the Metroidvania subgenre. However, some of the entries in the franchise have tried to reinvent itself in order to remain marketable in a fickle market. This resulted in some of the later installments incorporating elements that were previously absent in earlier releases. The series has practically been evolving throughout the years and is even greater for it.
Despite the quality of presentation that could go toe-to-toe with the icons in the genre, the franchise, however, only has cult-following at best. This suggests that it does not have the same prominence as other brands in a similar category. Nowhere is this notion truer, however, than with the overall number of sales that imply the game’s popularity in a saturated market. Which, as of 2020, has only garnered a total sale number of 3 million copies.
Image used courtesy of WayForward/YouTube Screenshot