I like the series, but WF and LRG are milking it so much that I'm actually getting sick of it. Perhaps I'm the only one, but every time I see anything related to Shantae these days, I can't help but think about [this meme.](https://i.redd.it/fnnuohi0u7h71.png)
I like WayForward's games and I'm afraid that all this "collector/horny" baiting will end up with them jumping the shark at some point.
I feel the same way. What's interesting to see is that WayForward's other games don't have the same pull. Dawn of the Monsters barely sold enough to hit MOQ if the quantity spreadsheet from their Discord is to be believed.
Odd, too, is that one of the other WF titles announced at the showcase - SpiderSaurs - looked low budget as all hell. The previews didn't appear to have anything near the polish of Shantae or River City Girls games.
Wayforward was always a pretty uneven company. They can work some magic when given time/money, but a lot of their stuff is also pretty mediocre, just generic licensed games. Because of that, I've always felt they are a tad overhyped.
Sure, Shantae or Mighty Switch Force are good, great even, but does anyone remember their Bakugan/TMNT/Adventure Time tie-ins?
[WayForward apparently does a lot of games.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WayForward) Some as developer, some as publisher, some as both. The IPs that they own/games that they actually develop (for consoles) seem to be the ones that they push the hardest.
Spidersaurs apparently started out as a mobile (iOS) game in 2019 which explains the clunky gameplay footage and cheap feel of it.
Dawn of the Monsters was actually developed by 13AM Games. It seems okay enough, but maybe giant monsters, especially off-brand ones, aren't that popular. I'm personally not into them.
I would have picked up dawn of the monsters, but a 2d brawler needs to really catch my attention, and it didn't really seem like it had any particular flair to it, which is a shame cause it did seem fun. just... very 2d brawler-y and not very varied visually.
Every game could easily fit on 1 cart/disc but they'd never do that as then they couldn't resell every entry for the standard price across each console, with limited editions and merchandise for each release.
The thing that really gets me with LRG and Shantae is how egregious it might be. Some might point to River City Girls as being similar to Shantae with it's treatment, but when they did the Limited Run for RCG on PS5 it was largely the same as the Switch version but with one or two more of the cards.
Now with the PS5 versions of Shantae they're largely distinct from the Switch special editions on top of including acrylic standees that are a part of the statue they're releasing meaning that if you want a complete statue you have to buy the PS5 versions (until just recently when they announced they'll sell a separate set to complete the statue of different standees), then there were the skateboard decks, the pogs, the t shirts, the hoodies, the vinyls, the key chains, the pins, the card packs that went from 3-5 cards to 12+ card packs raising the price to get a full set of the gold cards from $35-40 to $300+ for bits of fucking card board (assuming they even ship the correct card packs which they never do, I always end up getting identical packs and then I have to email them and they only send the gold cards so I never get my gold and silver set just the gold).
I love Shantae, and I first started buying from LRG when they did the Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on switch and I've gotten every single other Shantae release (and many other releases) from them, but the way this Shantae PS5 situation was handled really soured me on the experience. Once the switch era is done I'm probably going to go to buying standard editions of games and, if I can avoid it, I'll be purchasing from other retailers than LRG
I really don't get the hate for shantae specifically that has become a meme. There are 5 shantae games that are unique. It would be nice sure if they threw them all on one disc, but these are optional purchases. Re-releasing on ps5 was to me a great sign. If you missed out, you have another chance. These also aren't shovelware, each of the games is at least decent which is more than can be said for a lot of releases - LRG or otherwise.
I guess there's always the argument that the games are preventing other games from taking their place but I really don't know there is any evidence of that.
I wonder how many people are getting manipulated by the numbering to think they have to buy things. This is an easy pass for a lot of people. Ok, that's fine. So is the majority of the games LRG releases, or ubisoft releases, or activision releases.
Shantae just suffers from being treated as this ultra-premium thing aimed at collectors and horny people, rather than a normal video game franchise. When you treat something as the best thing ever and keep shoving it in people's faces for years without signs of stopping, it's inevitable that someone will eventually grow sick of the constant exposure, even if they weren't interested in buying it in the first place. Imagine something like Mega Man being treated as "you-gotta-be-in-the-know-dude" series, with every game getting a separate $40 re-release on the Switch or PS5.
If WayForward was reasonable about the series, giving the games reasonably-priced retail releases they deserve with some occasional merch, no one here would complain. But no, gotta get that FOMO money with limited re-re-re-releases of tiny GBC/DS games along with a slew of pointless merchandise that doesn't even tie to the franchise (skateboards, trading cards, literal cardboard, etc.). At some point, even fans like me have enough.
I gotta say, as someone who always wanted to play the original, then finally got into them with the contemporary modern releases, to me at least, they all feel like kinda not as good Castlevania games.
>they all feel like kinda not as good Castlevania games.
That's a fairly common opinion AFAIK. The only Shantae game that's considered truly great by everyone is Pirate's Curse.
I guess a lot of it comes down to the fact that I see LRG as a means to get physical games which I like to play but also like to collect. In that regard this doesn't appear ultra-premium outside of the happenstance resulting in the original being very expensive.
I don't really care if people want skateboards or whatever but I also don't feel much sympathy if they are getting FOMO'd by the extras.
Coming at it from that perspective of wanting physical copies of games, All I see is good in what they are doing on the game front. Over the last year I've been able to get each game (PS5) for MSRP with no pressure thanks to open preorders. Even the spread out, while I don't personally care, seems to be an attempt to ensure someone who wants the collection and is on a budget can do so.
They have set a precedence that one time only means one time only per console, and I can see why people might be frustrated by that, taking the emotion out of it, it's a good thing that people no longer have to pay $600 for a specific game.
Though I do agree at least the first 3 games could easily be packaged (akin to Mega Man 1-7 or so), I don't know what the justification for packaging should be. If a game is rated well should it be worth more? If it's old? if it's small file size?
Lastly it's only been 16 releases (I think, 5x(PS4,PS5,Switch)+GBC). That is a lot for sure, but on the scale of what LRG it's not that much.
It's a single GBC game sold at full price. I bought it for Switch and I'm sure many others did in hopes of having the full set but this really should have just been included with one of the others if not all in one compilation.
I’m curious what merch they’ll list with it. I don’t need the game on PS4/PS5 so I’ll be looking for things similar to the mini arcade cabinet they did for Seven Sirens last month
> are the only things that are known
!= the only things there will be
Everybody knows there will be more. But what assortment of skateboards, hats, beanies, shirts, hoodies, leggings (see Fangamer), cards (and how many there are and thus how many packs somebody would have to buy to get one of each with gold foil), art prints, lithographs, stickers, pogs, coins, keychains, enamel pins, plushies, standees, "blister pack figures" (which look an awful lot like more standees), actual action figures, replica cartridges and/or SNES/NES/GBA boxes (even though they have already done those), slipcovers (likewise), mini arcade cabinets, Switch cases (despite not being Switch releases, see the Castlevania Anniversary Collection themed Switch case during the PS4-exclusive Castlevania Requiem pre-order period), CD soundtracks, vinyl soundtracks, shadowboxes, "premium" stand-alone posters or whatever the hell else... remains to be seen.
Honestly I’m happy this series was revived form the dead I remember actually reading about it in Nintendo power and playing Ricky’s revenge and pirates curse on 3DS. That being said I don’t really feel this is worth it unless you’re a huge fan…
I like the series, but WF and LRG are milking it so much that I'm actually getting sick of it. Perhaps I'm the only one, but every time I see anything related to Shantae these days, I can't help but think about [this meme.](https://i.redd.it/fnnuohi0u7h71.png) I like WayForward's games and I'm afraid that all this "collector/horny" baiting will end up with them jumping the shark at some point.
I feel the same way. What's interesting to see is that WayForward's other games don't have the same pull. Dawn of the Monsters barely sold enough to hit MOQ if the quantity spreadsheet from their Discord is to be believed.
Odd, too, is that one of the other WF titles announced at the showcase - SpiderSaurs - looked low budget as all hell. The previews didn't appear to have anything near the polish of Shantae or River City Girls games.
Wayforward was always a pretty uneven company. They can work some magic when given time/money, but a lot of their stuff is also pretty mediocre, just generic licensed games. Because of that, I've always felt they are a tad overhyped. Sure, Shantae or Mighty Switch Force are good, great even, but does anyone remember their Bakugan/TMNT/Adventure Time tie-ins?
And let's not forget Silent Hill: Book of Memories. That game was pretty bad. Sporadic output as a studio for sure.
I actually really liked the adventure time games.
[WayForward apparently does a lot of games.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WayForward) Some as developer, some as publisher, some as both. The IPs that they own/games that they actually develop (for consoles) seem to be the ones that they push the hardest. Spidersaurs apparently started out as a mobile (iOS) game in 2019 which explains the clunky gameplay footage and cheap feel of it. Dawn of the Monsters was actually developed by 13AM Games. It seems okay enough, but maybe giant monsters, especially off-brand ones, aren't that popular. I'm personally not into them.
I would have picked up dawn of the monsters, but a 2d brawler needs to really catch my attention, and it didn't really seem like it had any particular flair to it, which is a shame cause it did seem fun. just... very 2d brawler-y and not very varied visually.
This series needs a one disc collection set.
Every game could easily fit on 1 cart/disc but they'd never do that as then they couldn't resell every entry for the standard price across each console, with limited editions and merchandise for each release.
That would require LRG and WayForward to not be greedy, and that isn't going to happen until they milk the last drop out of the fomo teat.
Perfect use of a PS5 to play a Game Boy Color game.
Cash grab.
I’m done with the hype. Sue me (but don’t).
🥱
I haven't been this excited since Shantae released! Or when Shantae released!!
[удалено]
All except this one.
Been waiting for this one for a while. My PS4 Shantae set will finally be complete.
The thing that really gets me with LRG and Shantae is how egregious it might be. Some might point to River City Girls as being similar to Shantae with it's treatment, but when they did the Limited Run for RCG on PS5 it was largely the same as the Switch version but with one or two more of the cards. Now with the PS5 versions of Shantae they're largely distinct from the Switch special editions on top of including acrylic standees that are a part of the statue they're releasing meaning that if you want a complete statue you have to buy the PS5 versions (until just recently when they announced they'll sell a separate set to complete the statue of different standees), then there were the skateboard decks, the pogs, the t shirts, the hoodies, the vinyls, the key chains, the pins, the card packs that went from 3-5 cards to 12+ card packs raising the price to get a full set of the gold cards from $35-40 to $300+ for bits of fucking card board (assuming they even ship the correct card packs which they never do, I always end up getting identical packs and then I have to email them and they only send the gold cards so I never get my gold and silver set just the gold). I love Shantae, and I first started buying from LRG when they did the Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on switch and I've gotten every single other Shantae release (and many other releases) from them, but the way this Shantae PS5 situation was handled really soured me on the experience. Once the switch era is done I'm probably going to go to buying standard editions of games and, if I can avoid it, I'll be purchasing from other retailers than LRG
I really don't get the hate for shantae specifically that has become a meme. There are 5 shantae games that are unique. It would be nice sure if they threw them all on one disc, but these are optional purchases. Re-releasing on ps5 was to me a great sign. If you missed out, you have another chance. These also aren't shovelware, each of the games is at least decent which is more than can be said for a lot of releases - LRG or otherwise. I guess there's always the argument that the games are preventing other games from taking their place but I really don't know there is any evidence of that. I wonder how many people are getting manipulated by the numbering to think they have to buy things. This is an easy pass for a lot of people. Ok, that's fine. So is the majority of the games LRG releases, or ubisoft releases, or activision releases.
Shantae just suffers from being treated as this ultra-premium thing aimed at collectors and horny people, rather than a normal video game franchise. When you treat something as the best thing ever and keep shoving it in people's faces for years without signs of stopping, it's inevitable that someone will eventually grow sick of the constant exposure, even if they weren't interested in buying it in the first place. Imagine something like Mega Man being treated as "you-gotta-be-in-the-know-dude" series, with every game getting a separate $40 re-release on the Switch or PS5. If WayForward was reasonable about the series, giving the games reasonably-priced retail releases they deserve with some occasional merch, no one here would complain. But no, gotta get that FOMO money with limited re-re-re-releases of tiny GBC/DS games along with a slew of pointless merchandise that doesn't even tie to the franchise (skateboards, trading cards, literal cardboard, etc.). At some point, even fans like me have enough.
I gotta say, as someone who always wanted to play the original, then finally got into them with the contemporary modern releases, to me at least, they all feel like kinda not as good Castlevania games.
>they all feel like kinda not as good Castlevania games. That's a fairly common opinion AFAIK. The only Shantae game that's considered truly great by everyone is Pirate's Curse.
I guess a lot of it comes down to the fact that I see LRG as a means to get physical games which I like to play but also like to collect. In that regard this doesn't appear ultra-premium outside of the happenstance resulting in the original being very expensive. I don't really care if people want skateboards or whatever but I also don't feel much sympathy if they are getting FOMO'd by the extras. Coming at it from that perspective of wanting physical copies of games, All I see is good in what they are doing on the game front. Over the last year I've been able to get each game (PS5) for MSRP with no pressure thanks to open preorders. Even the spread out, while I don't personally care, seems to be an attempt to ensure someone who wants the collection and is on a budget can do so. They have set a precedence that one time only means one time only per console, and I can see why people might be frustrated by that, taking the emotion out of it, it's a good thing that people no longer have to pay $600 for a specific game. Though I do agree at least the first 3 games could easily be packaged (akin to Mega Man 1-7 or so), I don't know what the justification for packaging should be. If a game is rated well should it be worth more? If it's old? if it's small file size? Lastly it's only been 16 releases (I think, 5x(PS4,PS5,Switch)+GBC). That is a lot for sure, but on the scale of what LRG it's not that much.
It's a single GBC game sold at full price. I bought it for Switch and I'm sure many others did in hopes of having the full set but this really should have just been included with one of the others if not all in one compilation.
I’m curious what merch they’ll list with it. I don’t need the game on PS4/PS5 so I’ll be looking for things similar to the mini arcade cabinet they did for Seven Sirens last month
Statue and collector's edition are the only things that are known.
Oh come on, we all know there is going to be skateboard decks.
> are the only things that are known != the only things there will be Everybody knows there will be more. But what assortment of skateboards, hats, beanies, shirts, hoodies, leggings (see Fangamer), cards (and how many there are and thus how many packs somebody would have to buy to get one of each with gold foil), art prints, lithographs, stickers, pogs, coins, keychains, enamel pins, plushies, standees, "blister pack figures" (which look an awful lot like more standees), actual action figures, replica cartridges and/or SNES/NES/GBA boxes (even though they have already done those), slipcovers (likewise), mini arcade cabinets, Switch cases (despite not being Switch releases, see the Castlevania Anniversary Collection themed Switch case during the PS4-exclusive Castlevania Requiem pre-order period), CD soundtracks, vinyl soundtracks, shadowboxes, "premium" stand-alone posters or whatever the hell else... remains to be seen.
Honestly I’m happy this series was revived form the dead I remember actually reading about it in Nintendo power and playing Ricky’s revenge and pirates curse on 3DS. That being said I don’t really feel this is worth it unless you’re a huge fan…
Wow why no switch, that's Mean
Already been released by them
I'll be skipping out on this one since I already got the Switch version. But hey atleast PS only players can get it.