Kickstarter Watch is a feature that attempts to help readers stay apace of Nintendo-related Kickstarter crowdfunding projects. In recent years, crowdfunding has become a popular alternative method of funding for many original, niche, and independent projects and products. Although the campaigns mentioned within the feature are actively soliciting fund-raising pledges, their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement on the part of Nintendo World Report.

While the gaming community is still abuzz over Mega Man's spiritual successor, Mighty No. 9, now confirmed for a Wii U release, there is another classic series also vying for crowdfunding support in order to rekindle its existence amongst the games of this generation. That game is Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, the proposed fourth title in the acclaimed series. The Kickstarter campaign officially met its initial funding goal on September 23, which means that the game will release in October 2014 on Wii U.

Shantae's outfit changes slightly in each game. Here's her new look.

If you've never heard of Shantae before (you probably haven’t visited Nintendo World Report very often!), you'll be forgiven – her previous adventures have been plagued and plundered by unfortunate cancellations and poor release timing, almost as if the series has been inflicted with a pirate's curse. In-joke whole-heartedly intended!

Developed by WayForward and published by Capcom, Shantae began life during the final days of the Game Boy Color, actually releasing after the Game Boy Advance had already hit store shelves. It was due to this fact that her first game sadly flew under the radar despite receiving rave reviews from critics. Set in the Arabian Nights-inspired Sequin Land, the game focused on the titillating and titular character Shantae, a half-genie protector of the little fishing port of Scuttle Town. Her claim to fame lay in the ability to whip her magical ponytail to dispatch enemies, and her amazing belly dances that transformed her into various animals, each with their own unique powers. Shantae was tasked with facing off against the buxom lady pirate Risky Boots and her army of Tinkerbat minions, who planned to take over the land using a stolen steam engine. The end result was somewhat of a cross between old-school Castlevania, Metroid and Zelda, with a hint of Wario Land thrown into the mix. The labyrinthine dungeons were fun to explore, the music was toe-tappingly catchy, the 8-bit sprites and animations were adorable, and the game's difficulty proved a worthy challenge.

The original game featured a dynamic color palette for day and night lighting effects,
and the creative team is working on a system to emulate that style in Half-Genie Hero.

A sequel was in the works for the Game Boy Advance, called Shantae: Risky Revolution, but the project was canned before completion. Sprites and elements from the unfinished game were used in the original’s true follow-up, Risky's Revenge, released on DSiWare in 2010, and later on PC and iOS. It was planned to be an episodic story covering multiple chapters, but again the project suffered from cancellations and only the first segment of the game saw release, ending on a cliffhanger.

Despite the difficulties WayForward have faced with the sporadic release schedule, the series and its colorful cast of oddball characters have grown in cult fandom over recent years due to the sheer quality of the titles that did make it through all the red tape. Risky's Revenge is touted, and rightfully so, as the crème de la crème of the short-lived DSiWare library.The third game, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, scheduled to release on the 3DS eShop later this year, will pick up where the cancelled story left off. But that's not all that Shantae has to offer!

Development sketches of the proposed Risky Mode, the project's first stretch goal.

WayForward's proposed follow up to the series will appear on all current gen home consoles (including Wii U) and feature beautiful HD hand-drawn animations coupled with 3D background scenery, much like the gorgeous art style used in the recent DuckTales Remastered. The project promises to have everything that made the previous games so wonderful, from Shantae's sexy dancing and magical powers to a vast world littered with labyrinths to search for hidden treasures. Major story development is key to the proposed opening level to the game, in which our heroine is woken from her sleep and lured into town by a familiar voice. After discovering a mysterious fountain in an underground cavern, she is spirited away! An excerpt from an early update to the Kickstarter campaign reads: Shantae is enveloped in blinding light, and is whisked away to what could only be the Genie Realm. Shantae has never met her mother or father... could this place hold the answers she's been searching for all her life? But what's that on the floor? A magical seal keeps something huge trapped beneath the ground. And whatever it is, it's breaking free.... RIGHT NOW!

Beyond the initial staff, which includes series creator Matt Bozon, musician Jake “Virt” Kaufman and the renowned, experienced WayForward animation and engine teams, Team Shantae also boasts such talent as Skullgirls lead animator Mariel Cartwright, Cucumber Quest! artist Gigi Digi, and the ex-Capcom team Inti Creates, the guys behind the Mega Man Zero series and, of course, the upcoming Mighty No. 9!

The developer team-up holds a lot of collective clout in the gaming industry
with some highly praised releases from both companies.

With initial funding targets met, the game will feature an opening level with a boss, three chapters and a conclusion. However, there are several stretch goals remaining that offer extra content such as alternate play modes as various supporting characters (even Risky Boots!), four additional chapters, full voice acting and unlockable costumes. There are plenty of backer rewards bursting with booty as well including digital soundtracks, hard cover art books,  gold coins engraved with Shantae and Risky, a backer-exclusive transformation dance and even the chance to visit WayForward headquarters and claim a factory-sealed copy of the original Game Boy Color game, known for being exceptionally rare and valuable.

Be sure to keep a close watch on the remainder of the Kickstarter campaign, which closes at 1:01pm EDT on October 4. To make things easier, a PayPal option to pledge money has recently opened up, which will continue to accept donations towards reaching those stretch goals for some time after the Kickstarter period ends. One could speculate that this is to allow the release of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse to draw in a new audience and inspire people to pledge towards Shantae's next big adventure.