Oof, the late 90s, man. It’s like this hazy blur of floppy discs and dial-up tones, right? Anyway, ever heard of Wayforward? Yeah, they’re the folks behind some of those crazy good 2D games—River City Girls, Shantae—you know the type. But get this, they’ve tinkered with a bunch of licensed games too. Like, remember Sabrina: The Animated Series? Well, there’s this Game Boy Color game called Sabrina: The Animated Series – Zapped. It’s like stumbling upon a vintage jacket in your attic. Kinda gives you those Shantae vibes before Shantae was even a thing.
So, Sabrina—yeah, the teenage witch—she’s in a bit of a pickle. Casts a spell, whoopsie! Her classmates are now furry critters running amok. To fix it? Jump on their heads and poof, spells away. It’s kinda like Mario with a witchy twist. The whole deal is a mix of quirky spells—double jumps, controlling that sneaky cat Salem (don’t ask, but he crawls into tight spots), or floating with a bubble. Kind of nuts, right?
Now, the levels. I gotta say, they’re pretty tight. You’ve got everything from bubbly high-climbs to levels where you play as Salem half the time, unlocking spells to smash through stuff. Nothing here is gonna blow your socks off, but it’s like the Game Boy Color decided to dress up all fancy with its colorful sprites and easy-peasy stages. Plus, there’s this simple password system to save your spot. Handy, isn’t it?
But, hey, let’s be real. Game Boy Color was all about the basics. Trying to cast spells and run with that B-button? A nightmare. Got whacked more times than I care to admit. For a game based on a TV show spin-off? Holds up way better than you’d think. Not groundbreaking, not the polished gem Shantae is, but there’s something satisfying about its roots showing through. Play it once, maybe the spell wears off, but it’s one heck of a nostalgia trip.
