Be sure, that just because I helped fund this game on Kickstarter that I will be giving it a fair and honest review. Ok, let’s get into our 4th Shantae review, which is also her 4th game. I’ve reviewed the 5th but don’t think I’ve reviewed the second one. I’ll need to check. Been doing this long enough that I need to remind myself what I’ve reviewed. (See the end of this review for links)
This is the 4th game in the Shantae series and was announced while Pirate Curse was still being developed, Pirate Curse had a bit of a long development time, Shantae’s early career was kind of cursed with things like the console the game was being made for was about to be replaced. But Half Genie Hero was announced on Kickstarter and multiple stretch goals reached meaning we would get a few additional levels and playable characters.
Set after Pirates Curse, so Shantae has all her magical powers back. She wakes up to a strange call in the middle of the night and finds herself soon in a deep cave where an envoy of the genie realm warns her of a coming danger. Then she wakes up, meets with her uncle who’s building some contraption, and Risky Boots attacks, steals the blueprints and you get into the first proper level.
The game is episodic with each level being its own mini plot with characters that lead up to the stage and an end of level boss. After which you unlock a new transformation which will allow you to get to areas in levels you weren’t able to. For example the first part of the first level very early on you encounter water. Shantae is buoyant so she’s going to float. But after beating the second level you get the ability to transform into a crab, who sinks to the bottom allowing you to explore what’s down there.
You will have to return to old levels to get items that ether work towards opening the next level, or giving you further abilities for your forms, such as the ability to snip with the crab claws which can open more paths that were blocked underwater by seaweed. The whole thing gives a pseudo Metroid Vania feel. There isn’t an inter connected map but new abilities open up new areas.
While you normally play as Shantae, thanks to the dlc which is included in complete versions of the game you get to go through the game with an altered story playing as Shantae in different outfits (that yes have different story) Risky Boots, or Shantae’s main three friends working together, so there’s plenty to keep you going.
As said, I helped back this game so I got to play a beta build of it, BUT because I messed up on region information I wasn’t able to play it on my Wii U which was what I had set the code to be sent to, but it was on sale awhile back on the Nintendo store for my Switch so I got this at the same time I required Pirate Curse. It was nice to play through it again, and I’ve still got the alternate stories with different characters to do. See how that switches it up, Core game itself is worth it though. Good to get fun colourful platformers that aren’t just from Nintendo.
Rating: 🎮🎮🎮🎮
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