Prerelease:Shantae
This page details pre-release information and/or media for Shantae.
With her first concept dating from 1994 and the game finally seeing release in 2002, Shantae and her debut game have had a lengthy development process. Over the development years the concept changed from a 3D cartoon-like platformer on the PS1 to the pixel-style side-scrolling platformer that was finally released on the GBC.
Contents
Pre-Build Concept Art
The very first concepts of Shantae and her possible summons, dating from 1994, were released for the public in 2021 in the official artbook 'The Art of Shantae'. Originally, her transformation forms were not going to be transformations, but rather animals she summons with her magic. She was going to be able to ride the animals, or have them find a way for her to reach places she couldn't. The only true transformation was going to be the harpy form.
The first Shantae design
First sketch of the monkey magic
First sketch of the elephant magic
Shantae and her summoned animals
Shantae PS1 Build
In 1997, three years after Shantae herself was designed, Wayforward unveiled on their website the first concept of their game 'Shantae', complete with character art, supposedly in-game screenshots and a summary on the story and game mechanics. As there was never a demo or prototype released and the concept was followed by Shantae released on the GBC, it is likely this PS1 concept was repurposed for the GBC game.
PS1 Logo
The Wayforward webpage shows the at the time official logo for Shantae. This would later be changed completely, with only the text remaining the same.
PS1 Character Concept Art
The webpage has numerous character arts scattered across the page. It depicts Shantae and her summoned animals for the PS1 game. In the concept art, she has dark brown hair instead of purple, but the rest of her design is mostly the same. While most of the animals were moved over to the GBC game and used as possible transformation forms, the tiger was not, and with the Half-Genie Hero Kickstarter not making it to the tiger goal it is the only form from the early concepts to not make it into any game.
Concept art of an angry Shantae
Concept art of Shantae dancing
More dancing Shantae concepts
The different clothing colour options Shantae was going to have
The unreleased tiger
The elephant attacking
The harpy form concept
Another monkey concept
PS1 Screenshots
The Wayforward webpage also showed numerous in-game screenshots. These depict a shot of Shantae on pillar platforms, a bathhouse, the docks, a level with a tower, a level within a ruin, a level within a dungeon, a winter landscape level and a forest level.
Concept art of an angry Shantae
Concept art of Shantae dancing
More dancing Shantae concepts
The different clothing colour options Shantae was going to have
The unreleased tiger form
The elephant form attacking
The harpy form concept
Another monkey form concept
Some of the general ideas of these levels were re-used for the final game, such as the docks and the dungeon, but the main framing of the PS1 game is completely different from the final GBC game. The tiger summon is seen in combat in the screenshots, and Shantae can be seen swinging from a tree in the forest level, which is not something she can do in any of the current released games.
Later, in 'The Art of Shantae', high quality art of the screenshots was released. It shows both the screenshots that were released in 1997, as well as new ones. The text of the NPCs is now readable. Other notable observations are the tiger form in-action with a rather gorey attack, and Shantae having access to at least one different outfit colour in purple.
Another thing of note is that the enemies are completely different from the final enemies in the GBC game.
Conceptual Game Mechanics and Storyboard
The following is summary of what the PS1 was supposed to be, taken from the same Wayforward site that hosted the above images. Below the text box is a summary of the concepts that didn't make it into the final game, or any of the Shantae games (as of yet).
INTRODUCTION: It is a time of magic and majesty, where strange beasts roam the land and beautiful creatures wield powerful magic. In this world lives a young girl named Shantae…a troubled genie, born without magic, yet the only individual capable of saving the realm from disaster. Following a century of imprisonment underground, three powerful Jins have broken the seal that restrained them, and now seek to drain the world of the magic it needs to survive. As the magic is stolen, the peaceful creatures that once harbored it are left weak and helpless. Shantae, unaffected by the magic drain, is the only hope for peace. But can she possibly battle the Jins and their legion of monsters relying only on the magic she reclaims along the way? It’s up to you to guide Shantae through perilous traps and dangers beyond your wildest imaginings! GAME FEATURES: Shantae is designed for the PC or comparable game system (such as the Sony Playstation). The gameplay is full 3-D, with traditionally animated characters that move in and out of the rendered backgrounds. With this advantage, players can travel down streets, enter tunnels or battle monsters several times the size of the normal viewing area! Perhaps the best feature of this 3-D system is the totally hands-free camera movement. The view automatically zooms in or out, up or down depending on the proximity of Shantae to other important elements. In addition, the paths Shantae can take often split into different layers of depth, allowing the player to walk on near or far surfaces in order to get around obstructions, crevices, or buildings. Also, enemies can attack from any direction in three-dimensional space in order to hunt Shantae down. It’s the long awaited blend of 2-D’s fluid animation and 3-D’s next generation gameplay rolled into one! EXPLORING THE LAND: The various playfields encircle an enormous lake, forming a complete ring. From anywhere, you can pick a direction to travel, and eventually you will circle the lake and end up where you started. This is called the "World Loop". Around the loop at regular intervals are towns and monster lairs. Towns provide fresh clues about where to go, and are also great places to stock up on magic and other useful items. Monster’s lairs are complex mazes the player must navigate through in order to confront the Lair’s Master. Defeating a Lair Master will grant Shantae a new form of magic she can use to explore new areas and open the next lair. In this way, the player may progress from lair to lair until they have enough magic to open the path to the Jin’s underground kingdom and the final battle. Aside from towns and lairs, there are also modes of transportation, such as the Pirate Ship and the Sky Ferry. These allow the player quick access to areas on the other side of the lake. There are also shortcuts through every area that the player can discover with each new magical ability. This keeps the areas exciting and new with each visit, and allows the player to explore and find advanced forms of hidden magic. It will take clever use of Shantae’s abilities to find every item! Of course, the treacherous traps and deadly enemies are sure to get the best of Shantae from time to time. If Shantae is ever defeated, the game is over and the player restarts at the most recent town or lair they have visited. The game always saves any item that has been recovered, but Shantae’s money will be reduced to zero at the beginning of each game. STORY POINTS: At key moments in the game (usually when the player finds a new source of magic or visits a town under certain conditions), new pieces of the story are uncovered through small animated segments. These segments provide clues about where the Jins are rampaging next in their plot to steal magic. Often, Shantae must battle the Jins in order to move on, catching up to them as they torment townspeople or celebrate in the ruins of their recent battles. The Jins will accept defeat, but promise to be waiting at the end of the road. By the end of the game, the player will have a good sense of the enemy they are about to face…but are the Jins the ultimate power, or is something even more evil pulling their strings? BASIC CONTROLS: Shantae can perform these functions at any time in the game: Walking or Running--Shantae can be moved in eight directions, side to side, towards or away, and the diagonals in between. Jumping--it will take aerial dexterity to make it through some of the traps that await… Ducking--Good for dodging projectiles. Shantae can block certain attacks while ducking. Climbing--Shantae can climb up ropes, chains, web strands, even hair…Hair? Hanging/Swinging--great for crossing crevices, sinkholes, or fire pits. Hair Attacks: Shantae’s main means of attack is her ponytail. With it she can whip enemies, collect items, and crack open objects. She can also purchase new hairstyles in each town, each possessing powerful special attacks besides standard whipping. To use these attacks, hold down the "whip" button for 2 seconds to power them up, then let go to launch the attack. Ponytail--Shantae can whip straight ahead while ducking, jumping, or standing. Pigtails--With the pigtails powered up, Shantae can twirl, attacking enemies on all sides simultaneously. Mace-Locks--With these three steel balls holding her braids in place, Shantae can split skulls with a powerful forward flip. Good for attacking enemies above and below her. Haircut--The Jin’s are on to Shantae’s secret! A few times in the game she may wake up to find herself defenseless after staying in some of the more seedy Inns. Her hair will grow back when she uses the revival magic, but until then, she’d better learn some Dance Attacks or summon animal help! Summoning Magic: Magic works on a point system. At the beginning of the game, Shantae’s Magic Points are at zero. Throughout the game she can gather and save them up…then spend them whenever she needs to summon help. Once activated, several magic points are depleted, and the power-up takes effect. Every time she defeats a Lair Master, she gains a new Magical Ability, but each gets progressively more expensive to activate. Here is a list of each Magic she will find in the order it’s available. Summon Monkey--Shantae can summon a monkey to retrieve objects that require passing through small spaces or up walls. Like a boomerang, the monkey travels in the direction Shantae is facing, then returns to her with anything it finds. Then it vanishes. Summon Elephant--Once summoned, the elephant tramples across the screen, smashing any enemies or obstacles in its way. This is highly useful for opening obstructed passages. Try running behind it to forge longer paths of destruction! Summon Tiger--The tiger shows up and waits immediately in front of Shantae. By jumping onto it, Shantae gets one great leap forward. Once they land, the tiger poofs into smoke. This is important for jumping huge gaps that can not otherwise be crossed. Any enemies Shantae encounters while on the tiger will be shredded by a swipe of its deadly claws. Summon Spider--Using the spider, Shantae can get a lift up sheer cliffs. Once summoned, it climbs straight upwards, leaving behind a web-strand Shantae can use. Once Shantae climbs up the strand, the Spider vanishes. Revival Magic--This magic will refill Shantae’s life meter and restore her hair to normal. Basically, it’s a way to swap magic for life, or get back the original Ponytail Whip. Harpy Transformation--Using this final magic, Shantae becomes a harpy (half woman, half eagle) for a limited time. During this time, she can jump repeatedly to flap her way to the sky and visit hard to reach places. You never know what’s up there! Dance Attacks! By switching to "Dance Mode", the button array and directional pad all represent different dance moves Shantae can perform, such as swaying, sidestepping, waving, and shimmying. In each of the five towns, a cantina can be visited where rows of dancers perform. By mimicking their moves, the player can memorize simple sequences. When successfully performed outside, the dances summon natural forces that effect all the enemies on the screen. The first dances are simplest, but they get progressively harder to memorize. Note that Dance Attacks use Magic Points too, so be wise with your spending! The following Dance Attacks are available: Earth Dance--Boulders rain from above, wiping out any enemies they hit. Water Dance --A wave washes all smaller enemies off the screen Wind Dance --A frigid blast temporarily turns enemies to ice. Fire Dance --A blast of fire shoots out from Shantae’s position, igniting enemies Magic Dance --All enemies on the screen become magic points! SHANTAE’S OUTFIT: There are three other outfits that Shantae can wear besides the one she begins with. To reach these magical costumes, the Dance Attacks must be used in out of the way places to open the vaults in which the suits are hidden. Finding them is not necessary to win, but it adds to the fun and helps Shantae get through some of the more difficult challenges. Use of the suits is automatic, and does not cost Magic Points. Defense Suit--this suit halves the damage that Shantae receives. Attack Suit--this suit doubles the attack points she delivers to enemies with each hit. Fire Suit--this suit causes Shantae’s hair attacks to ignite enemies in flames! LOCATIONS: There are three types of areas in the game: Towns, Lands, and Lairs. Here’s a quick look at these locations: Towns are friendly places Shantae can travel to in her search for magic. The player may visit Inns (to save the game), the Soothsayers wagon (to get hints), Shops (for buying magic points and life points), Steam Baths (to regain strength), and Dance Halls (to learn the town’s dance). Also, Shantae can talk to townsfolk for special advice and fun conversation, or even purchase a horse to ride! Here are the names of the five towns: - Yosef’s Harbor - Bandit Town - Snowy Village - Mining Town - Royal Palace Lands make up the sections of the game Shantae must navigate to make her way around the World Loop. They are heavily populated with enemies that can be battled in hopes of scoring Magic Points and Life Points, and occasionally money. Generally, they are not as tricky to navigate as the Lairs, but definitely pose threats of their own, usually due to the unique terrain. Each land also contains secret areas that can be opened with the help of Summoned Animals or Dance Magic. Here’s a list of the main areas in the World Loop: Rough desert…This rocky area is filled with snakes, scorpions, and pits. Use the monkey to explore nooks and crannies. Wilderness…Trees and hollow logs hide a variety of forest creatures…Send the monkey in first before risking Shantae’s neck. Don’t worry, you can always summon him again! Swamp/Marshes…tar monsters leap at Shantae’s heels, and mud bubbles into steamy geysers. Not the best place to fly over as a Harpy. Wasteland…littered with dark caverns, the wasteland harbors many bandits who love to ambush travelers. The more money Shantae’s got, the more likely she is to be attacked! Snowy Mountains…careful, it’s slippery! Expect snow and ice to slow Shantae’s progress. Hide in crevices to avoid killer winds. Chasms…This unstable area is the cause of treacherous landslides and earthquakes. Summon the tiger to cross the giant crevices. Jungle…This steamy area is the home to many invisible dangers. Use the monkey to knock the heads off of stone totems before they crush Shantae! Deep Valley…Something about the fog in this area turns visitors to zombies…hope you don’t recognize anyone! Seize the high ground with the help of the spider and pass through cautiously. Waterfalls…rushing water and stony walls block the way. The elephant will come in useful for bashing open dams and crossing rushing water. Oasis…Not as friendly as it looks. Pools of clear water reveal many toothy inhabitants. Find ways to climb over and don’t let go! Tortoise shells provide temporary stepping stones as well. Dry desert…don’t sink in the sand! Bones of unfortunate individuals are scattered about this area, and provide safe places to stand in the scorching sand. The surrounding ruins seem to speak of a secret in the sky… Lairs are the places Shantae will face agents of the Jins, known as the Lair Masters. By defeating them, she will win new forms of magic. Here are the names of the lairs, the Lair Master, and which magic they are guarding: Palace Ruins--The Ghost Knight guards the Summon Monkey Spell in this swampy castle. Druid Mound--This ancient keep is the home of the Master Druid. Inside is the Summon Elephant Magic Jungle Temple--This overrun sanctuary holds the spirit of the Shiva. Her magic is the Summon Tiger Spell. Snowy Mountain Stronghold--Arctic Minotaur holds the stolen Summon Spider Magic in his Ice Palace. Royal Palace Towers--High above the unsuspecting citizens, a Griffin blocks the way to the Hydra’s Lair, resting place of the Harpy Spell. Jin’s Lair--If Shantae finds the Sky Ferry, she can descend into the home of the evil Jins. There she will face the Jins and their evil master to decide the final outcome! THANK YOU! Thanks for taking the time to read this introductory spec! Please inquire if you’d like to review the Full Design Document, which features an in-depth look at level designs, play mechanics, characters and story elements of the game!
Key differences:
- Instead of saving captured genies, the main goal of the game was to beat 3 evil Jinns that were stealing magic.
- It was designed for platforms such as the PC and the PS1, and was going to have full 3D movement.
- The in-game world was going to be in a 'loop' form, much like the world in the final game.
- Shantae was going to get new summon magic after beating a 'Lair Master', the bosses of the game.
- A pirate ship and sky ferry were going to be modes of quick transportation.
- Game overs would result in a restart at the nearest town or lair and have Shantae lose all her money.
- In addition to the movements she has in the GBC game, Shantae would also be able to swing from ledges and tree branches.
- Shantae would be to have different hairstyles, such as pigtails and mace-locks, which would have different attacks.
- At some point in the game her hair would be cut after staying in a 'seedy inn' to make her hair attacks impossible. She could fix this using revival magic.
- Magic would work on a 'point system', throughout the games Shantae could collect magic points and spend them to summon an animal. Every time she summoned an animal it would cost points and it would perform one action. These points seem to be shown in the top left of the screenshots.
- The tiger was going to be a ridable mount capable of jumping over big gaps and mauling enemies.
- In addition to healing, revival magic was going to be able to restore her hair.
- Dances were initially not going to be related to the summoning of her animals. They were attacks on their own, which she learned from dancers in towns she visited. There were going to be five dances, based off of the elements and a 'magic' dance, and these would cost magic points to perform.
- The magic dance was going to be able to turn all enemies on the screen into magic points, which seems overpowered in hindsight.
- The different coloured outfits Shantae was going to get would also affect her stats such as attack and defense.
- Towns were going to have inns for saving the game, the Soothsayers wagon to get hints, shops, steam baths and dance halls. At one point in the game she would also be able to purchase a horse.
- Town names were Yosef's Harbor, Bandit Town, Snowy Village, Mining Town and Royal Palace. Some of these were reused for the GBC release.
- The lands were going to be a rough deserts, the wilderness, swamps, wastelands, snowy mountains, chasms, jungles, deep valleys, waterfalls, oasis and dry deserts. Many of these have been used throughout the Shantae series games.
- Lairs were going to be the labyrinths of the game. The labyrinths were palace ruins for the monkey spell, druid mound for the elephant spell, jungle temple for the tiger spell, ice palace for the spider spell, hydra's lair for the harpy spell, and Jin's Lair held the final boss.
- Interestingly, one of the bosses is named Shiva, the most known god in hinduism, and this boss is referred to as 'her'.
Shantae GBC Build
Somewhere between 1997 and 2000 the game underwent a huge overhaul, completely changing the main frame of the game, the game's mechanics and the overall design. A prototype of the game exists that was used to find a publisher for the game, but there are prerelease screenshots from various sources that cannot be linked back to a published prototype.
GBC Concepts
The old official Wayforward website published prerelease concept sketches of all important characters in Shantae. Of note is that Risky was originally going to be a zombie pirate, hence the sewed shut mouth in one of her concepts.
Concept art of Rotty and her brothers
Concept art of Bolo
An early sketch of Sky
First sketch of Risky, still part zombie
Sketch of the TinkerSlug
Sketch of Shantae while in a town
Another Risky sketch
Rough sketch of the gang
A mummy concept sketch
Concept of Shantae's house
Some enemy concept sketches
Prerelease GBC screenshots
An IGN review dating from 2000 showed three in-game screenshots and older logo art for the game. These screenshots seem to be more developed than the game playable in the prototype, but are still slightly different from the final game. In the logo art, Shantae is missing her ponytail. Whether this was simply an artistic choice or something that could actually happen in-game is unknown.
Screenshot of the first scene with Risky
Screenshots of the fight on the pirate ship
Screenshot of Shantae and the genies
A newer version of the Shantae logo, with Shantae missing her ponytail
Most of these screenshot resemble the final game, with the only key difference being the 10 heart containers on the bottom right all being shown, rather than the hearts Shantae has unlocked.
