Shantae and the Seven Sirens

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 72 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 72
  3. Negative: 10 out of 72
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  1. mbestvina
    Aug 27, 2020
    7
    After Shantae 3 (Pirate's curse) and Shantae 4 (Half Genie Hero) leaned more and more into a linear action style akin to Shovel Knight or Duck Tales, I was thrilled to see this 5th Shantae game return to a true Metroidvania style with an interconnected map. While this absolutely has a positive impact on the game, it is dragged down by its frustrating magic abilities, its mandatory fetchAfter Shantae 3 (Pirate's curse) and Shantae 4 (Half Genie Hero) leaned more and more into a linear action style akin to Shovel Knight or Duck Tales, I was thrilled to see this 5th Shantae game return to a true Metroidvania style with an interconnected map. While this absolutely has a positive impact on the game, it is dragged down by its frustrating magic abilities, its mandatory fetch quests, and its abysmal balancing.

    The dancing has been altered to magic attacks like lightning, earthquake. While this is fine on paper, these abilities often require you to use them with little indication. The first one you get, in particular, makes invisible objects visible. The glaringly obvious problem with this is that there's rarely any indication that something is hidden. Much like the visors in Metroid Prime, you just kind of have to use this thing in every room if you want to find everything. The other abilities are better but even the others occasionally offered frustrating moments. You have to use the love magic on a random NPC at one point to advance the story and the one heart piece I missed required me to use the earthquake spell in a room with no hint, while all the other times gave an obvious sign-post. It doesn't help that the map does absolutely nothing to help completionists as well, I happily put the game down without collecting all the gold ores, most of which require the magic abilities. I really just don't like these magic abilities. They're not mechanically interesting at all, they'll halt your progress through the game with unclear signage, and they make the 100% quest a nightmare.

    My next big issue is the random fetch quests. Shantae has several main dungeons as usual, but in between each one, you're always forced to do some kind of contrived fetch quest, often several in a row. If you've played Link's Awakening, you'll know what I mean. Some of these quests are fun, but most are dull and a few are really unclear as to how to progress, often synergizing with the unclear magic abilities. I don't think I ever used a guide in a previous Shantae but I used one several times here. These quests are clearly padding and they stifle the otherwise joyous exploration through this massive world.

    Lastly, this game is horribly balanced. For whatever reason, this one was designed for Mobile first and I think it shows in the difficulty balancing. Right out of the gate, you are bombarded with healing items, far more then you'll ever need. You can also buy more, bolstered by the fact that there aren't enough upgrades to buy. Then, you get a healing spell partway through, albeit being limited by your magic bar. Then, about halfway through, I got an upgrade that made my magic regenerate over time. At this point, I was completely unstoppable. I am honestly struggling to think of another game where I was so invincible. This obviously destroyed any tension or engagement I had with the combat.

    While I've spent most of this complaining about these problems, Shantae is still an enjoyable game. Everything that's worked in prior Shantaes continues to shine here. I especially love that they returned to the interconnected MetroidVania style. That said, its problems are so glaring that I can't recommend it over the other games in the series. Shantae 2 still has the best exploration in the series and is the one I recommend to MetroidVania fans, Shantae 4 has the best action and I recommend it to NES/Shovel-Knight fans, and Shantae 3 is a good halfway point between the two (and I believe it's the fan favorite). Shantae 5 is still a good time but it can't stick the landing.    … Expand
  2. storageheater
    Apr 25, 2021
    7
    It looks and plays like a fun platformer. I just wanted to get that out of the way: I enjoyed it, despite the high price for what it is. It's very accessible (although honestly the awkward and padded fetch quests were occasionally poorly signposted, but talking to characters in town usually meant they'd direct you.)

    It's just very odd and mediocre. Its bloated array of obsolete upgrades    It looks and plays like a fun platformer. I just wanted to get that out of the way: I enjoyed it, despite the high price for what it is. It's very accessible (although honestly the awkward and padded fetch quests were occasionally poorly signposted, but talking to characters in town usually meant they'd direct you.)

    It's just very odd and mediocre. Its bloated array of obsolete upgrades is overdesigned and underutilised, and they fail to disguise the fact that almost all of them are just ways to cross barriers. The map has a surface bit, and some underground bits that are colour coded, that's all of its identity.

    I'm sure it won't disappoint younger players or anyone looking just for a more simple platformer, but it's not even the best Shantae game by a long way - and in terms of being a "metroidvania" it is right at the bottom of the barrel.    … Expand
  3. GameCorp_Meyk
    Sep 13, 2021
    7
    Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a good entry in Wayforward's Metroidvania franchise. With nice graphics, a nice soundtrack and lovable characters, the title offers a nice entry point for those interested in the series and the genre. However, the gameplay does not differ enough from its predecessors to give the game its own identity and thus does not quite reach the heights of Shantae andShantae and the Seven Sirens is a good entry in Wayforward's Metroidvania franchise. With nice graphics, a nice soundtrack and lovable characters, the title offers a nice entry point for those interested in the series and the genre. However, the gameplay does not differ enough from its predecessors to give the game its own identity and thus does not quite reach the heights of Shantae and the Pirates Curse from 2014. Likewise, the low difficulty could bore some players with repeated playthroughs. However, the customization options through magical items and monster cards can revise this point a little.… Expand
  4. Sunshadow87
    May 8, 2021
    6
    The seven sirens recupera los elementos metroidvania que la saga había perdido en la última entrega, pudiendo haber sido este uno de los mejores juegos de la saga.
    No obstante, acaba siendo todo lo contrario por toda una serie de decisiones que no parecen haber sido previamente meditadas y testeadas... Para empezar, lo que más tira atras es la NULA DIFICULTAD de este juego: no reta al    The seven sirens recupera los elementos metroidvania que la saga había perdido en la última entrega, pudiendo haber sido este uno de los mejores juegos de la saga.
    No obstante, acaba siendo todo lo contrario por toda una serie de decisiones que no parecen haber sido previamente meditadas y testeadas... Para empezar, lo que más tira atras es la NULA DIFICULTAD de este juego: no reta al jugador de ninguna forma, ni siquiera al intentar conseguir los bonus de tiempo, siendo la parte más difícil del juego seguramente el comienzo cuando somos débiles; pronto acabaremos con un inventario hasta los topes de objetos curativos que nos harán prácticamente invencibles incluso aunque fuéramos mancos (¿que tal suena llevar 70 ítems curativos en un juego que incluso posees magia para curarte a ti mismo?). La rejugabilidad es también más limitada que en otros shantae, habiendo menos retos a conseguir (o quizás sea impresión mía debido a la dificultad).
    Siendo un metroidvania, otro punto donde el juego puede ser divertido, a pesar de la ausencia de dificultad, es en el hecho de explorar todo el mapeado y conseguir todos los coleccionables. Sin embargo, el juego también falla en este punto. Es cierto que hay multiples coleccionables a coleccionar, pero conseguirlo todo se vuelve tedioso si no utilizas guía. ¿El motivo? Buena parte de estos coleccionables solo aparecen si utilizamos una magia para revelar objetos ocultos, y algunos de ellos se encuentran en lugares donde no hay pistas que te lleven a pensar que hay nada oculto. Esto hace que te tengas que dedicar a ir sala por sala utilizando la magia, viendo la animación, comprobando si aparece algo y pasando a la siguiente sala para repetir el proceso... el resto de coleccionables están bien situados y es divertido, exceptuando las cartas y las estatuas.
    Las estatuas son un coleccionable que creo que no cuenta para el 100% y que solo podrás comenzar a desbloquear cuando estes cerca del final del juego. El problema con ellas es que solo sabes de su existencia gracias al dialogo de un NPC que te dice cuantas estatuas hay en la isla, pero no hay ningún sistema interno que te haga un recuento de cuantas has encontrado, lo cual todo junto acaba haciendo que te preguntes siquiera para que fueron incluidas en el juego.
    Las cartas sin embargo son un drop aleatorio que dejan caer los enemigos y te da bonus a las habilidades de shantae, pudiendo equipar hasta 3 (algunas te harán más rápido nadando, otras harán que los enemigos dejen caer más gemas, etc). La utilidad de las cartas de monstruos acaba siendo casi nula debido a que las cartas de los jefes les dan mil vueltas, especialmente las dos primeras (tienes que comprárselas a NPCs con coleccionables) las cuales te dan Ataque+ y Regeneración mágica infinita... Por suerte no cuentan para el 100% pues conseguir que algunos monstruos las dropeen cuesta bastante, al estilo de conseguir ciertos drops en los castlevanias, solo que aquí prácticamente siempre lo que consigues es decepcionante.

    Me he centrado en lo negativo puesto que este es el típico juego que seguiremos más aquellos que hayamos jugado a otros de la saga. Quitando todo lo dicho, es un juego colorido y desenfadado que puede resultar muy entretenido para alguien que no tenga mucha práctica con el mundo de los videojuegos o que no le apetezca un reto.    … Expand
  5. Mangamanvii
    Sep 13, 2021
    6
    This game is really fun! But, it has some of the exact same issues that were present in Pirate's curse such as the repetitive level design looks and aesthetics, stale jokes and abilities. The gameplay is snappy and responsive and the music is okay, I just hope the next entry will be even better!

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best Switch Game of 2020
47
#47 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. GameMAG
    Sep 12, 2020
    80
    Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a summer adventure designed for children and casual players, offering a simple but interesting gameplay, nice cartoon graphics and a large world to explore. And this is what you need right now after a long absence of interesting games and quarantine.
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  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Aug 29, 2020
    65
    Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a fine Metroidvania, but one of the weaker Shantaes. [Issue #47 – July/August 2020, p. 18]
  3. Cubed3
    Jun 22, 2020
    50
    None of this is to say Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a bad game. In fact, it's a decent game for the younger audience, newcomers, and anyone that isn't expecting Shantae to evolve. Strictly from the perspective of someone that has played many games in the series and is eager for something different, though, this disappoints on many fronts. Uninspiring and rarely ever surprising, with little to make the player feel like they've earned anything, what is left is a generic Shantae game that is like any other before it, crying out for change and originality.
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