When comparing Shantae: Risky's Revenge vs VVVVVV, the Slant community recommends VVVVVV for most people. In the question“What are the best Metroidvania games on Steam?” VVVVVV is ranked 7th while Shantae: Risky's Revenge is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose VVVVVV is:
The main mechanic in the game is that the player can switch the gravity in any level allowing the character to flip from the bottom of the screen to the top. This is used in an ingenious way in order to solve puzzles and avoid hazards throughout each level.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Great graphics and soundtrack
Pixel art graphics are top quality, soundtrack is superb.
Pro Great controls
Controlling Shantae feels just as tight as a game like this should feel.
Pro Great variety
Both in terms of upgrades you get and areas you can explore.
Pro Free version on iOS
If you're feeling cheap.
Pro Use gravity to solve puzzles
The main mechanic in the game is that the player can switch the gravity in any level allowing the character to flip from the bottom of the screen to the top. This is used in an ingenious way in order to solve puzzles and avoid hazards throughout each level.
Pro Throwback to Atari/C64 games while playing like a modern game
VVVVVV is very reminiscent of a game one would find for the Atari or Commodore 64 in that the graphics are simple, but the gameplay is anything but as it plays like nothing one would have found back then. It is fast paced and very precise, also extremely tough.
Cons
Con The depiction of female characters is hyper-sexualized
The designs and even the animations for the female characters in this game are all hyper-sexualized, which makes it difficult to take this game seriously and may be distracting.
Con Difficult
VVVVVV is a tough game, one that will cause frustration quite easily. Luckily there are unlimited lives in the game, so areas can be played over and over again with no consequences.
Con Not much of a story
The basic plot is that you are trying to save your crew members, but really it is just a loose story to tie the levels together as there is really not much there to discover.