Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Reviews
The half-genie is back at last. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a fantastically fun game, although it doesn't bring anything new to the platformer genre.
There are no secrets and nothing cool to find, just a frustrating design mechanic of incessantly backtracking through areas you have already completed
Brisk and almost effortlessly pleasing, WayForward's Shantae returns in her richest adventure to date, with all of the personality intact.
…it’s plain to see that Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a deep and instantly inviting adventure
The best retro throwbacks rise above their influences to become something endearing of their own accord. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse does just that, with quality and production values that rival many AAA releases.
While Shantae and the Pirate's Curse may fall on the simple side when it comes to Metroidvanias, its simplicity winds up being one of its biggest strengths.
I would love to see Shantae released as a physical copy, due to my collecting habits, to put her newest adventure on the shelf with the greats, where she belongs.
These days, it’s pretty easy for me to tell a platformer to sashay away. The genre is feeling a bit tired overall, but WayForward managed to make their game feel fresh, while still pouring on enough nostalgic charm to make my ancient, decrepit gamer heart swell with happiness.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse works just as well on a console as it did on a handheld.
*Not actually scientifically proven, this is just hyperbole. I’d hope I don’t need to clarify this, but just in case...
If you’re a fan of 2D retro platformers that test both your mental acuity and your thumb dexterity, then Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse should be right up your alley.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a fantastic game. It’s a celebration of platformer and role-playing games but it doesn’t particularly attempt to copy other games of either genre. I especially enjoyed how Sequin Land has a sense of connectedness, containing large environments brimming with secrets. It makes the world feel real. It’s certainly a unique experience in gameplay and it is packed with quality content. Once you make it through the first dungeon, you’ll be hooked until the end.
Quibbles aside, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is still a breath of fresh air for the buried concept of sprite-based 2D platformers.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a brilliant platformer that's fun, challenging, humorous, and looks great. If you haven't already checked this out, I highly recommend that you give it a go!
At the end of the day, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a very enjoyable game.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a short, but fun adventure that knocks a lot of AAA console games out of the park. The animation, gameplay, music, and style far outweigh any problems. Yes it’s repetitive, fairly easy except for a few weird puzzles, and the story and dialogue is hit or miss. Complaints aside, it’s a must play for sure.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a triumph for WayForward and a treat for gamers. Very minor issues aside, this is one of the strongest titles on Nintendo's eShop and should be looked at as an example of how polished and robust a downloadable game can be. We're glad to see Shantae expand her horizons with the multiplatform Half-Genie Hero, but it's going to be hard to top this excellent Nintendo-exclusive adventure.
If you're looking for a great, retro-styled platformer/Metroidvania game, then you can't go wrong with Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. It stands out above the crowd, thanks to smart and polished gameplay, and is a welcomed addition to the Xbox One's library.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a fine conclusion to the current running trilogy for WayForward's heroine, and a nice approach for an all-new adventure coming to the Wii U next year. It may not follow the tradition of previous games, but it's fun in its own right, with unique gameplay and strong design that will certainly please fans of the series. She can whip her hair around us any day.
We'd give this game a strong recommendation to anybody who hasn't played it yet and would still encourage veterans to consider double dipping.