"Shantae: The Element Gem" - A FAN-GAME PROJECT!!!

Now I think it is the time I made this public.

Luke and me are considering to make a fan-game.
And whenever something gets done, this will be the place to post updates in.

Quoted Journal Entry with all information you need:

Hi there, everyone.

Just to tell you, I have continued drawing.
In fact, me and a friend of mine want to make a Shantae FAN-GAME!!!

The name of the game...
Shantae: The Element Gem

Yes, some of you might remember it. Since I have written a concept about this some time ago.
But now we're trying to make it a reality.

Plot Summary
Shantae, Bolo and Sky, not having anything better to do this day, accompany Mimic on another one of his digs.
He uncovers a chest, containing a chart that leads to the "Forbidden Door", hidden deep inside the Forbidden Woods.
But just as Mimic wants to decipher it further, a hookshot snatches the chart out of his hands.
It is the work of Risky Boots (obviously), who then ran off into the woods, along with her Tinkerbats.
Shantae gives chase, along with Bolo and Sky (much to Shantae's dismay) and eventually find Risky and witness how she opens the huge door and see her entering the blackness.
But then they hear a loud scream and decide to investigate and enter the door themselves.
Only to get sucked into the blackness...
As Shantae comes to, she finds herself in unfamiliar terrain. With neither her two friends nor Risky in sight.
She explores the land a little and finds out that she isn't in Sequin Land anymore.
Soon she finds herself in a large town, larger than any town she has visited so far, and meets with the old researcher named "Copie", who tells her about the legend of the "Element Gem".
A sacred relic that grants the wielder complete mastery over the four elements "Fire, "Water", "Earth" and "Wind".
And she soon learns that Risky mugged him and stole his notes of clues on how to find it.
Knowing that such a powerful relic must not end up in Risky's hands, Shantae embarks on a new quest.
To find her missing friends and stop Risky in her tracks.
However little does she know, that one more devilish being is also out to get this relic...



The basic gameplay will be pretty much the same as in the original game and Risky's Revenge.
You play as Shantae, using her hair-whipping and dancing powers, as well as powerful items to move through a large overworld, clearing dungeons and battling monsters and bosses on the way.

However, new gameplay-elements will be added. While some others will make a return from the first game.
But more about that on what I will upload later...

And I have been working on CONCEPT SKETCHES for the fan-game project.
I will upload them shortly.
However, be mindful that those are ROUGH SKETCHES ONLY!!!
They are not supposed to be masterpieces and merely serve to get the concept across.

Not all of them are done just yet. There are quite a few that still need to be drawn, but I will upload them as they are ready.


We plan to use a drawn and non-pixel art style, like "Rayman".
Video Samples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvOn9cVcySg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY5p-OYCQeY


So what are the GOALS for this fan-game?
- Unity
As an attempt for the fanbase to grow closer and more solidary.

- Experimenting
Trying to see how well Shantae copes with certain gameplay- and plot-elements.

- Suggestions
Along with experimenting come suggestions. Suggestions on what kind of elements might work for Shantae.



However, we would need some more help on the way.
In the music-department, but especially in LEVEL ASSEMBLY!
Since we want this to be a full-blown game, that part can be quite a pain.
And the more people help out here, the better.

But of course, no need to worry just yet.
Our current level should be enough for a DEMO at least.
So no need to help out any sooner.
Besides, you need to be sure that this isn't just a bunch of hot air, no?
We would like to prove ourselves first, before asking for any help prematurely.
If you would still like to help, that is fine.


We will also make a topic on this on the Shantae Forums.
It will also contain all the updates in the future.


But please, be mindful that we will NOT start right now.
My friend still has some art- and forum-related stuff to do, before he can start with this.
So some time might pass, before we actually get to the development part.
But this gives me all the more time to plan things out.

And I will continue to work on any important concept sketches.


That is all for now.

See you soon.

Also, I uploaded all the concept sketches that I currently made at my dA-gallery.
They are all in here: CLICK


We will let you know, when we will start on it.
Until then.

I took a tour of the concept sketches, looks like ya got some good ideas going.
Not much else I can say except that I wish ya luck

So what are some of the new items and power ups?

Okay I've got some updates for you.

First of all, I created some concept art pieces for all major original characters.
Albeit poorly, due to my low skills in free hand lining.
Should I share them all here? Despite possible spoiler alerts?


Now for the actual updates:
First of all, the game will be shorter and the world will now look different to an extent.

The original plan was for 7 dungeons. But that was surely overshooting the mark.
So now we cut down the amounts of dungeons to 4. Like in the original Shantae.
Which is reasonable.

The central town and surroundings resembled Clock Town from Majora's Mask too much.
So we have settled for a more arabic-like central town. It is still called "Eye Town", but it now looks more like Shantae's response to Agrabah (Disney's Aladdin).

It still goes into four directions, like Clock Town in Majora's Mask, each leading to a different part of the world.

Eye Town is now surrounded by a desert, instead of grassy plains.
Each of them leads to a short cave-section, which then transitions into the unique areas of the land.

In the northern area for example a small forest area comes first, called "Fairy Forest", home of the fairies and the place where you first meet "Phai".
"Phai" is Shantae's fairy partner, who will accompany Shantae on her journey and help her in various ways.
If you cannot find your way, she can surely help you out.

In this area you will also visit the "Fairy Queen", as well as the timid "Timi", living together with an old woman, who is an expert at deciphering maps.

Then it transitions to a mountain-area (with a great view to boot), leading to "Mine Town".
An underground town, inhabited by female miners and some male support figures.
It is also the place to meet "Cloud". An expert for ancient birds and everything about them.
But he is also perverted, on an even higher scale than Bolo...

One last area here is the "Deep Crater", a lava-filled area, that leads to the first dungeon of the game.


The other three directions lead to the sea, home of the Aquarians...
... Evernight Woods, home of the vampire tribe...
... and Tornado Valley, an area full of winds and storms.

Of course, each of them have a temple and a town as well.


The new items currently planned are the following:
- Ice Breeze
A small ice breeze, that Shantae performs by breathing into her open hand.
Can freeze enemies for a short time, rendering them defenseless. She can also safely stand on frozen enemies.
But certain enemies might only stay frozen for a second or two, while other enemies remain frozen for longer...

- Mirror Veil
Shantae summons a magical veil, that protects her from attacks for a short moment.
Timing is essential when using this magical item.

- Tinker Bombs
A new toy of Risky's.
It's a bomb that crawls forward and detonates after travelling for a short time.
Can also crawl up walls.

- Flash Ball
A ball that emits a blinding flash when thrown.
Blinds all enemies inside its range and renders them defenseless for a short moment.

- Jumper's Shoes
A special set of shoe's that allow Shantae to perform wall jumps.
Wall Jumps can be performed on any surface, unlike the Monkey Form...

- Bird's Flute
A flute that Shantae uses to call Sky and a giant bird.
Allowing her to get transported to any save point that Shantae visited so far.
(Might get scrapped, if amount of dances is insufficient, since it'd replace the Warp Dances)

The "Hair Ribbon" will most likely be scrapped too.
It allowed Shantae to hang onto objects with her hair, as well as grabbing stuff with it.


It is planned for the game to have an "upgrade shop", where you use materials that you have collected to upgrade your items.


Enemies will also be more fair and yet a little smarter as well.
Some enemies will roam around minding their own business, only damaging Shantae is she crosses their path.
But other enemies, such as "Tinkerbats", will focus on Shantae and attack her.
As such they might charge or retreat, depending on the situation.

All enemies will have "turn around" animations, so that they won't suddenly move into the other direction without warning.


As for "minigames", I currently planned those:
- Dance Stage
Pretty much the same as the mini game from the original, only a little simpler.
It takes place in the "Azure Bar"

- Ball Balance
Shantae needs to keep a ball airborne, by jumping at it from below.
The more successful hits, the better the reward.
Mini game of "Eye Town"

- Treasure Hunt
Navigate through an underground-maze and try to collect as many gemstones as possible.
The more you find the better.

- Gem Diver
A water-based minigame where you dive into a pond and try to collect as many gems as possible.

- Vamp says...
Aka, "Simon says". Memorize a series of notes and get it right to move onto the next levels, which has one note added every time.
How many times can you get it right?

- Ninja Arena
A "minigame" that actually plays like in-game fights.
You will fight groups of enemies. Defeat them to go to the next level.
The battles will become harder and harder as you proceed.
And you are not allowed to use recovery items and such in this arena.

Features different cups, each with their own length and difficulty.
But this game knows no mercy. So if your health reaches zero, it's GAME OVER!



So, this should be all for now.

If you have ideas yourself, feel free to post.

Don't the jump shoes defeat the purpose of monkey form?

No. Since you need a wall on the opposite side too. Since like in the Mario games, you cannot jump back onto the same wall and continue wall jumping with just one wall.

The Monkey form clings on the wall and climbs up or down.
The weakness is that it cannot climb in certain surfaces.

While you can wall jump on any surface.

Plus, it'd be a hidden item.


But yeah, nothing here is final yet.
The game can still change drastically in the final result.
If we get that far, that is...

Anyone else working on this project?

Currently none.
Cannot start working on it, before we sorted out real life issues first.

And if we start, it'd only be me and Luke at first.
Whether we gain more team members would depend on how well a possible demo is received and whether Matt Bozon is fine with this.

Maybe I could pitch in someday.