Shantae and Risky: Tinkerbat Takeover is a 2D platform game made by WayForward Technologies for the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It is the 5th game in the Shantae series, following Shantae: Risky's Revenge, Shantae and the Pirate Curse, and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. It is also being developed by Capcom, Nintendo, and Pagodawest Games.
Story[]
Inside the Lighthouse, Shantae was busy watching her new television that her uncle had made for a present. Ever since the events of the previous game, Shantae Half-Genie Hero, things have quiet down in Sequin Land until she hears a loud crash outside that was caused by Shantae's enemy, Risky Boots. Shantae, not excited to see her, questions is she is trying to take over the world again. Risky responds with a no and explains her dilemma she is suffering. Recently, her Tinkerbat minions have gone rogue and turned against her, even kicking her off of her own ship. Shantae gets surprised by the news and tries to question her, but not after explosions are seen in Scuttle Town. Both then decide to put their rivalry aside and work together to find out what's going on. Will they stop the new Tinkerbat Army? Or will they have the last laugh?
Gameplay[]
Like the previous installments of the series, the player takes control of Shantae, a half-genie who uses her hair as a whip to attack enemies. Throughout the game, Shantae can perform dances to transform into various forms, each with their own abilities that can access otherwise inaccessible areas. Along with returning transformations, such as the monkey and elephant, new forms include a frog that can leap up to high places, an armadillo that can curl into a ball and roll over enemies and bounce back projectiles, and a naga that turns enemies into stone. These transformations can be further upgraded with new abilities. The game is divided up into several action stages, which can be replayed to obtain new items that become accessible with the use of certain powers, some of which are required to progress through the story. The magic meter system from Risky's Revenge returns, which allows Shantae to use unlocked spells at will instead of purchasing them individually. The game is once again presented in high definition, with 2D vector character sprites on 3D environments, unlike previous entries' dedicated pixel art aesthetic.
Instead of playing as only Shantae, you can play as Risky Boots too. Each characters have unique attacks such as Shantae with her Hair-Whip attack and her dances and Risky with her scimitar and cannon. Players can switch characters when ever they want, except World 6's Boss Fight being a possessed Risky or whenever Shantae and Risky get separated.
Characters[]
Shantae[]
The heroine, a young half-genie charged with protecting the fishing port of Scuttle Town. Young and somewhat naïve, Shantae's strong sense of justice nonetheless propels her into action. Her main form of offense is using her magically endowed ponytail as a whip. In addition, she is capable of transforming into various creatures (a monkey, an elephant, a spider and a harpy) via the use of magical dances. She is forced to work with Risky Boots, her nemesis, after the Tinkerbats overthrew her.
Risky Boots[]
The nefarious lady-pirate Risky Boots, and Shantae's nemesis, is known throughout Sequin Land for her love of wealth, power, and all shiny things. Risky is an unchallenged and self-appointed 'queen of the Seven Seas', and will caution and toll anyone to think otherwise. Risky is a villain with the skills and luck usually reserved for the good guys. Capable, dominating, and deadly, Risky isn't afraid to claim what's not hers. She commands an endless army of Tinkerbats who follow her orders without question, building her weapons of war and scavenging the resources that make her schemes become reality. Though, she does require help sometimes, like right now.
Uncle Mimic[]
Old Uncle Mimic is a Relic Hunters... a consortium of explorers that attempt to advance the future by excavating secrets of the past and is the closest thing Shantae has to a family. He lives in his workshop in Scuttle Town, where he houses hundreds of ancient objects. Since townsfolk tend to be skeptical and stand-offish to Relic Hunters (and genies), he and Shantae make a great pair. Shantae makes Mimic her project, and refuses to let him grow old, sloppy, or comfortable. Although she can get on his nerves at times, Mimic genuinely loves Shantae and strives to keep her safe. Although Shantae has no idea, Mimic is a retired hero of days long gone and still contains dormant skills that could awaken if provoked.
Bolo[]
Shantae's sparring partner is a slow-witted knucklehead with a serious lack of reasoning skills. He's hardly awake until he springs into action...usually at the chance to be a hero...and begins twirling his bolo balls. As a fighter, Bolo is very efficient and skillful, as though these moments of competence are sustained by his regular state of mental hibernation. Bolo has eyes for Risky Boots and nearly anything else remotely female except for Shantae. Bolo is commonly used as a punching bag or stool pigeon by Rotty, Sky and Shantae. Mimic often uses Bolo as an errand boy, which given his single track mind works fairly well.
Sky[]
Shantae's life-long friend and ally, Sky is a war bird trainer whose profitable egg hunts often span the known reaches of Sequin Land. Sky can't wait for Shantae to see more of the world and life's surprises, and seems to be in a hurry to grow up. Sky is a sort of desert rat, always nesting in out of the way places at length. For this reason, Shanatae and Sky have tend to have more unexpected reunions than they do planned visits. Even apart, their friendship is a strong one, and Sky's opinions hold equal value to Uncle Mimic's in Shantae's mind. Sky keeps a war bird named Wrench, and she is rarely seen without him. Wrench is a dangerous weapon, and is totally reliable, even following Shantae's orders. For some reason, Wrench regards Bolo as prey, and takes every opportunity to prove it.
Rottytops[]
Rotty is a free sprit... friendly, energetic, and headstrong. However, she is also extremely untrustworthy, crafty, and manipulative. She loves ruffling peoples feathers or guiding then down the wrong path. She's a tease and a shameless flirt on a near-criminal level, and her scruples know no boundaries. As a family member in a Zombie Clan, Rotty travels the land by caravan gaining worldly skills and threatening to eat peoples brains. She has 2 nasty brothers that seem capable of bringing out the worst in her whenever they're all together. Rotty is obsessed with Shantae, and the challenge of corrupting her pure nature.
Tinkerbats[]
Tinkerbats are Risky's silent shadow army. Individually they are not very formidable in battle, and therefore tend to huddle in groups of 3 or more. They are intelligent and skillful, yet skittish and non-communicative. Their loyalty knows no bounds, and like drones serving a queen they act as an extension of Risky's will. Where Risky harvests her Tinkerbats is unknown. However, for some reason, they have turned over their master and became themselves known as the Tinker Empire.
Worlds[]
| World 1 | Tropical Isle | An island that is full of lush-green trees, falling fruits, and rivers. Though it is home to many spiders, tigers, and other enemies. | Froggo the Great |
| World 2 | Duststorm Ruins | A large desert with scorpions, tornadoes, and other deadly traps and enemies. There is also a pyramid that can be explored. | Sandy Rattler |
| World 3 | Bubblefizz Sea | Under the blue ocean is a beautiful coral reef with many fish, but also sharks, jellyfish, and other sea creatures. Uncle Mimic has created an invention that allows Shantae to breath underwater, but for a limited time. | Squid Baron |
| World 4 | Avalanche Peak | On top of a mountain is a snowstorm that has the entire mountain covered in a blanket of snow, making the ground slippery. | Ammo Baron |
| World 5 | Eerie Hollow | In a haunted island with spooky stuff like pumpkins, walking trees, and especially ghosts. It is also very dark. | Possessed Risky |
| World 6 | Risky Tower | Risky's new home base, before being taken over. It is full of traps, a huge treasure room, and you can even explore Risky's room. | Tinkerbat Titant |
| World 7 | Shadow Fortress | Xenia's base. Her minions guard the place, and is where she keeps the Diamond Orb. | Xenia |