Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Reviews
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse tells an old story wrapped in humor with a cast of character’s you may genuinely feel emotion for.
Entertaining character interactions, the inclusion of an enemy respawn mechanic and a retro-facing aesthetic art-style offer enough to save this Metroidvania love-letter from the trappings of repetitive gameplay, an uninteresting plot and predictable enemy movements.
A solid retro-minded throwback that packs some funny dialogue but ultimately fails in its backtracking-heavy quest structure
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse has many of the trappings of a fantastic Metroidvania game, but has a few notable flaws holding it back from greatness. For people who can't get enough of the genre, the game will likely serve as an enjoyable and light-hearted diversion, but for gamers looking for a Metroid substitute on the PS4, there are better options like Axiom Verge or Guacamelee! already available on the system.
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 highly enjoyable platformer that doesn't take any risks. It's almost like comfort food in a way. You know what to expect, and it scratches that particular itch, but it's ultimately empty calories. Hopefully WayForward Technologies will take more chances and innovate with the next entry in the series, 'Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.'
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse might put off a lot of its target audience with its bright and cartoony graphics, but devoted Metroidvania/platformer fans will not want to miss this excellently animated sprite game. The controls are good, and there is a lot of interesting locations to explore as this has more of an 'adventure' feel to it than Castlevania does. The progression is slower than would be preferred, and the humour and style can be off-putting, but this is a game that is evident the people who made it actually tried, which is a rarity with games these days.
This is a fun, but relatively simple, Metroidvania - beginner-friendly, but a title that can easily satisfy a craving, especially if eager for a solid 2D platformer.
…it’s plain to see that Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a deep and instantly inviting adventure
There are no secrets and nothing cool to find, just a frustrating design mechanic of incessantly backtracking through areas you have already completed
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.
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.