Introductory Game Spec.

Last updated: 2-5-97

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!