Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Reviews

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.7 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2016

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is one of the best 2D platformers out there.

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4 / 5.0
Dec 28, 2022

Honestly, Pirate’s Curse refined the franchise the most and gave fans a lot to hope for and look forward to. While I can see an argument that Seven Sirens is the best game of the franchise, for me, that honor belongs to Pirate’s Curse. And this replay on the PlayStation 5 only served to crystalize that fact for me. So, if you haven’t tried it yet, give the best Shantae game a chance and discover why so many people love this underrated franchise.

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Oct 23, 2014

So, in summary, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse was a fantastic game. It was a streamlined, beautiful and entertaining experience held back only slightly by some minor quibbles. It made me care about the world of Shantae much more than I thought possible, and managed to close the series on a decidedly high note. That’s a long way of me saying this — Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is the best game of the series. For $19.99, it’s a steal, and a game that belongs in any 3DS or Wii U owner’s library. So stop reading and go buy it! It will help pass the time until Half-Genie Hero finally releases, and gets me hooked on genie magic once more.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 23, 2018

When all is said and done, Shantae And The Pirate's Curse is the definitive Shantae experience, and it feels just as fabulous as ever on the Nintendo Switch.

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80%
Apr 2, 2018

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is platforming done right. From the tight controls, excellent level design, beautiful art style and great sound direction, there is much to like about Shantae's latest Switch adventure. There are many hours to enjoy with this one, and as such I highly recommend Shantae to any platforming game fans.

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7.6 / 10.0
Apr 5, 2018

A metroidvania that you will want to explore and collect everything. A game that will make you fight, navigate and laugh from start to finish.

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9 / 10
Mar 29, 2018

If you enjoyed Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, then chances are that you will take to this with a similar embrace. For those that have never played a Shantae game, it’s easy enough to get to grips with without knowledge of the series. On the whole, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a stylish and fun 2D platformer that fits as well, if not better, than it does on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Some of the backtracking may be a bit tedious for some and the save system in particular is less than desirable. These are only small criticisms in the grand scheme of things though because Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse as a whole is an absolute joy to play.

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7.9 / 10.0
Apr 5, 2018

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse was a great game on the Game Boy, and its arrival now on the Nintendo Switch makes is worth a try for those of you that missed it.

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A or higher
Mar 10, 2016

I love this game. It feels great to play, it’s super fun, and I didn’t want to put it down. Some of the Achievements look to be really challenging, so if you’re an Achievement hunter, keep that in mind. A fun challenge, but a challenge all the same. If you’re a fan of old-school gaming (right down to the final level that may have you questioning your sanity after failing so often), this has that with a new-school coat of paint.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 9, 2016

Shantae and The Pirates Curse is a joyful and surprisingly deep pixelated platformer, and is an indie title that you should consider.

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78 / 100
Apr 22, 2016
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (PS4 Review): Pirate Booty video thumbnail
Oct 22, 2014

With this game, a cult favorite comes into its own. Shantae has always been a passion project for WayForward, but this is the first time the series feels like it properly realizes the developer's ambition for it. A fun, funny, and pleasant substantial Metroid-alike boasting phenomenal old-school visuals and a refreshing sense of optimism, it's both an eShop standout and a great (though by no means final) conclusion to a slow-burning trilogy of games.

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