GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - Why I'm a supporter of the Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Kickstarter

Man, a lot of fun news this week. For tonight, I'm pouring my heart out about WayForward and Shantae. I'm a huge fan and I tell you why. I hope to find out some of you are fans as well! See you in a few, short hours.

Listen, you don't have to tell me, I already know what you're thinking. There are a million Kickstarters out there. Some of you are getting a little tired of all the funding opportunities that are popping up. I see Twitter comments about people just wanting games to be made without donations or proof of interest from fans. I know some are tired of supporting campaigns that may not even make it to Nintendo platforms due to higher stretch goals. With all that out in the open, I want to explain why I'm so excited about today's Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Kickstarter.

It's no small secret that I'm a huge fan of WayForward. My first contact with that company's work happens to be Shantae. Unfortunately, that game had quite a rough trip to retail and some bad timing for its release. Shantae certainly deserves to be in many top GBC lists, but the struggles it went through seeing release never let the game shine as it should have. It also should have given WayForward some major recognition for their achievement, but that kind of talk wouldn't come until much later.

Many of you might have had your first experience with WayForward without even knowing it. The company has been one of the go-to groups for creating licensed titles. From WWE to SpongeBob, Warner Bros. to Godzilla, they've done it all. The big difference with WayForward's licensed games is, they often turn out pretty damn good. I bought Thor: God of Thunder and Aliens: Infestation solely because WayForward developed the games. I did not come out disappointed, which is a reoccurring experience I have with their licensed content.

Hell, I kid you not, juts the other day I cracked open Galactic Taz Ball for the DS. Not a game that released with much fanfare, and certainly not a game that many are sitting down to play now. I wanted to check it out to see how WayForward did, and I'll be damned if it's not a really enjoyable experience. Sure, it has some quirks and isn't game of the year quality, but it's another solid and fun licensed title. This level of dedication to quality with licensed games is not something that you often expect, which goes to show why WayForward has become the go-to company for these titles.

While that's all well and good, it still bothers me that WayForward is more well known for their licensed work. Thankfully, that seems to be changing in recent years. Thanks to the explosion of downloadable games, WayForward has found the perfect outlet to showcase their talents when it comes to original content. The list of their downloadable works reads like a who's who of the best digital shops have to offer.

LIT (2009, WiiWare)
Mighty Flip Champs! (2009, DSiWare)
Shantae: Risky's Revenge (2010, DSiWare/iOS/PC)
Mighty Milky Way (2011, DSiWare)[19]
Mighty Flip Champs! DX (2011, PlayStation Minis)
BloodRayne: Betrayal (2011, Xbox Live Arcade/PlayStation Network)[20]
Mighty Switch Force! (2011, Nintendo 3DS)[21]
Double Dragon Neon (2012, Xbox Live Arcade/PlayStation Network)[22]
Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition (2012, Wii U)
Mighty Switch Force! 2 (2013, Nintendo 3DS)

I kid you not, I enjoyed every single game on that list. Some may be better than others, but I would not say there's a stinker in that bunch, both original and licensed. I own them all on at least one platform and have recommended each one to friend and family. WayForward may not offer up big-budget blockbusters with million dollar ad campaigns, but that's not what they do best. Their games are full of passion and creativity that most of the big guys rarely strive for.



All that brings us back to Shantae. That Game Boy Color release (now on 3DS VC!) was the reason I became a fan of the company. That game is the reason I followed the company for years, eating up every chance I could get to play their works. When the digital avenues took off, I was in WayForward heaven. A much more viable platform for their original content, and it's clear that the option is paying off. They're putting out some of the best games in their history, and now they want to return to their company mascot for her first console adventure.

I know this is a dream I've had for a long time. I've always wanted to see Shantae on consoles. I always wanted to play an original adventure with Shantae on the big screen. I honestly cannot believe that it's finally happening...or at least, has a chance to happen. Not to mention that Shantae has a new 3DS eShop title coming out this year! It's extremely clear that Shantae is a hugely important brand to WayForward. They care about the universe and character, as do I. To see them reaching farther than ever before with Shantae really makes me smile.

I feel very confident in saying that both Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (3DS) and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Wii U) will be wonderful experiences that I will love. I love the game genre (Metroidvania), I love Shantae's work with animation and sprites, I love their unique twists on established genres...and I always love their soundtracks! So long as they keep that magic that their previous games have offered, I think these two outings will be shining gems of Nintendo's digital platforms.

Long story short, that's why I'm supporting the Kickstarter campaign. We're getting one Shantae as a regular download without kicking in any cash. That'll be out on 3DS soon enough. We also have the chance to show WayForward that we believe in them and want to help make one of their dreams a reality. I really do believe in the work that WayForward does, so I'm right there to support them. They've given me 13 years of quality work and fantastic memories. I am more than willing to kick them a few bucks to help make one of their dreams come true.