Review of “Sabrina: The Animated Series – Zapped!”

A Trip to Pixel Nostalgia: Sabrina and the 90s Flashback

So, there I was digging through my old stuff — no idea why I even keep this stuff, actually — when I stumbled upon something that hit me like a blast from the past. Sabrina: The Animated Series – Zapped on Game Boy Color. Now, don’t get me started on Wayforward, though I probably will. They’ve done some mind-blowing 2D stuff over the years like River City Girls and, duh, Shantae. But this one? Oh man, it’s a whole different ballgame.

You’re playing as Sabrina, the teenage witch, and honestly, she’s having a rough day. Picture this: she messes up her spells and poof — spits out classmates-turned-animals that run loose like it’s nobody’s business. You gotta jump on their heads (like, literally) and cast spells to change ’em back. Weirdly satisfying. And as you move along, you pick up some wild spells – double jumps and bubble floats. Salem, the sassy cat? Yeah, he’s in on this too, squeezing through crawlspaces or whatever. Good times.

The levels? Let’s talk structure. They’re quirky, yeah? Sometimes you’re floating around in bubbles, which is oddly hypnotic. Sometimes it’s all about that cat hustle — opening up spaces like it’s the coolest gig ever. It’s no Shantae — haven’t I said that already? — but the way it plays with colors and characters is kinda rad. Plus, it’s got this password system that makes continuing a breeze. Sort of.

Anyway — wait — where was I going with this? Oh yeah, those buttons. Man, my hands felt like they were doing some weird dance. Casting, jumping, running — all on one button? Sometimes I’d just stand there like, why is this happening to me, right? But even with those quirks — no, limitations — it’s kind of, you know, charming in a way? It’s one of those "why does this even exist?" kind of charms. I mean, it’s a licensed TV spin-off platformer for crying out loud.

So here’s the gist: it’s not groundbreaking. And it’s nowhere near as sleek as the original Shantae. But you see, without this wonky little adventure, Shantae might not have been the Shantae we know. Spells might wear off after one playthrough, but hey, nothing wrong with a bit of temporary enchantment. Just saying.