Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

You could likely beat Shantae: Half-Genie Hero in a couple of sittings, but the platforming action is so varied, and the levels so explorable, it’s worth playing well beyond that. While it's neither innovative nor high-concept, its hand-drawn look and toe-tapping music successfully channel a joy and enthusiasm that has become far too rare in modern video games.

There is nothing more satisfying than when a developer learns from their past mistakes, and WayForward has finally refined the Shantae experience. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is the belly dancing heroine’s best adventure yet, and doesn’t suffer from any huge leaps in difficulties like previous titles.

Shantae: Half Genie Hero is great. It’s a long game, and the more you play, the more you unlock, so you get tons of value for your dollar. Longtime series fans will be happy, and those new to the series can definitely start here. My only complaint is that it takes a bit to get going, but really, it’s just one level. Once you reach the first boss, it’s smooth sailing from then on. Highly recommended for fans of combinations of the words “platform”, “RPG”, “action”, “adventure”, and “Metroidvania”.

By taking the product as what it is and not what it should be, however, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero ends up as one of this year’s strongest platformers, packed to the brim with secrets, clever writing and a stellar soundtrack. While the repetitiveness of revisiting levels can drag down the experience at times, Shantae fans and platforming fans alike shouldn’t miss out on the half-genie’s newest adventure.

In the end, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is still a great platformer that’s worth seeking out. It stands with some of the greats of the 8 and 16-bit eras and modernizes a lot of genre tropes. The first class presentation draws you in, and the dialogue and humor of the game strike a balance that doesn’t stray too far into the references and memes that are all too common nowadays.

Going into Shantae: Half-Genie Hero as someone who had no experience with the series has left me feeling impressed by the undeniable charm of the titular heroine, and has all but guaranteed that I will be going back to check out the earlier games in the franchise for some more half-genie action.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero spent a lot of time cooking, but the end product is well-built. There are occasional tedious moments, and the story's disjointed at times (which can be chalked up to the fact some characters and chapters were added as Kickstarter campaign stretch goals), but it's still a must-play for Shantae fans. And if you're not a Shantae fan … what's wrong with you?

The move to sharp graphics makes the game feel modern, yet the series' old-school charm lives on in the vibrant colors and expressive character animations. And the soundtrack is surprisingly catchy--with hilariously passionate (if minimal) voice work and a great score. It's easy to get wrapped up in fighting and platforming through Half-Genie Hero, which speaks to the pedigree of the series, and how well it translates to Shantae's latest adventure.

It just wasn’t satisfying to engage with the platforming and enemies, it was too simple, too easy. I’m not looking for a punishing experience, but I do enjoy having my skills challenged in platformers. Regardless, the beauty on display and the energy in both the soundtrack and movement of each and every character impressed me. I just wish it had a little more bite.

Everything that is loved about this series remains, while a brand new art style and a simple story put the barrier to entry very low. There's a lot of backtracking, and we found the combat to be a bit shallow, but the gameplay is largely very good, and you'll constantly be switching forms as you explore and hunt down everything the game has to offer.

If it was not for the music and the superior graphics, Half-Genie Hero would be viewed even less favourably for the simple fact it is not fun. Much of the goofy charm of the series has long been extinguished, and the main character is grating at this point. The platforming, despite having previous in the series that was great, is shockingly bad. Pretty graphics cannot hide the fact that after one too many trips to the bottom of the endless towers they climb, this game is simply not good, especially when the company, and the genre as a whole, offers so many better options.

A little more linear than usual, but Shantae and her friends have never looked or played better in this amusingly silly Metroidvania. Gorgeous art style and graphics, and an equally good soundtrack. Clever level design and the relics and transformation system ensure plenty of variety.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero features some of the best platforming of recent years, and it’s easy to recommend to anyone that’s a fan of platformers or Metroidvania style games, though a couple more levels to combat the game’s repetition would have been perfect. Wayforward will have to settle for almost reaching that mark instead.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a must play for any fan of 2D platformers. I’m glad XSEED decided to do a limited retail release for this because it more than deserves it. It may have released near the end of 2016 but you’d be doing yourself a favour by starting 2017 off with Half-Genie Hero.

Channeling its Metroidvania roots, Shantae offers newcomers and genre aficionados alike a taste of what made the genre so great back when it was new and uncharted while offering plenty of upgrades to keep the journey feeling progressive.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is WayForward’s finest entry in the series yet. Platformer enthusiasts and people who can’t get enough of collecting virtual trinkets will undoubtedly find something to get lost in here.

Con un diseño de niveles muy logrado, una fantástica ambientación, cantidad de cosas por hacer y mucha simpatía, esta curiosa genio nos ha cautivado nuevamente. Puede que no sorprenda tanto como antaño y que nos haya parecido un título más corto de lo esperado, pero a pesar de eso se trata de un juego de muchísima entidad dentro de su categoría.

No me queda más que recomendar este título que sin lugar a dudas es un indispensable para los fans de esta franquicia y algo que definitivamente tienen que voltear a ver quienes esperan disfrutar de una buena aventura de plataformas que nos remonta a otra época pero en una finísima presentación que demuestra que Wayforward aprovechó muy bien la confianza que le otorgamos quienes aportamos un grano de arena para poder hacer realidad este juego que hoy recibimos con mucha alegría.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero es una verdadera buena noticia para los amantes de los juegos de plataformas en dos dimensiones, así como a los aficionados a la saga de Wayforward. Es posiblemente el juego más completo de la saga, y aunque tiene algunos pequeños defectos, es un título súper recomendable.

Notre danseuse du ventre perd cependant un peu de son charme rétro à travers l'aspect plus cartoon de ses traits, une modernisation qui se traduit aussi dans la structure ouvertement épisodique de l'aventure. Inspirée par la mode, en particulier du financement participatif, l'égérie de WayForward s'affine à la taille, sans pour autant délaisser l'exploration.

Il offre un gameplay agréable et varié qui marie les genres avec réussite, sans pour autant se transformer en fourre-tout indigeste. Les transformations sont nombreuses et il est impossible de s’ennuyer. Mais c’est son design général qui remporte la palme, avec une héroïne charismatique, des animations bluffantes et un style qui semble tout droit sortie d’un dessin-animé.

Четвертая часть приключений Shantae удалась на славу. Милый дизайн, отточенный геймплей, великолепная музыка. Кое-где можно придраться к дизайнерским решениям, но в целом прохождение вызывает исключительно положительные эмоции. Действительно хочется тут же сесть за игру снова, перепройти ее, заспидранить, получить все трофеи. И все же, The Pirate’s Curse была чуточку лучше.