Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

 Switch
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 78 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 78
  3. Negative: 10 out of 78

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  1. residentvl
    Jun 10, 2017
    0
    I was mostly enjoying this game for its nice and cute graphics, fairly good game play and story all up until i got to what is the final level. You are expected to have what must require a true 2d platformer professional credentials to actually get past a certain point. i looked up what other people had done to get past it and responses include landing on a single pixel ledge beforeI was mostly enjoying this game for its nice and cute graphics, fairly good game play and story all up until i got to what is the final level. You are expected to have what must require a true 2d platformer professional credentials to actually get past a certain point. i looked up what other people had done to get past it and responses include landing on a single pixel ledge before switching to a more manageable character in that to get past this trap. while others recommend simply making more attempts until you finally succeed, this is a game when most things can be done literally in 1 or 2 tries max but this puzzle was clearly going to require dozens of attempts before a freakishly lucky chance got me past. i have no idea what the ending is like, no game is worth a difficulty spike that goes from fun concentration to not constantly die and succeed after one or two mistakes to an endless barrage of death with no ability to fine tune movement. **** this game avoiding all 2d platformers again because of this, not worth it.… Expand
  2. tdub154420
    Dec 1, 2017
    0
    Mechanics need a lot of polishing. The gameplay works fine when the demands are simple. Interfacing with basic enemies and uncomplicated platforming works great, and feels smooth- but when the challenges become more complex you will find shortcomings in the mechanics that make it difficult to make your way through the game. The gameplay simply isn’t easily adapted to the increasedMechanics need a lot of polishing. The gameplay works fine when the demands are simple. Interfacing with basic enemies and uncomplicated platforming works great, and feels smooth- but when the challenges become more complex you will find shortcomings in the mechanics that make it difficult to make your way through the game. The gameplay simply isn’t easily adapted to the increased difficulty in the game. You need to switch forms and juggle New abilities in the face of harder enemies and level design, but it feels like the juggling of these abilities just wasn’t quality tested because it does not work well. Refinement is needed.… Expand
  3. dunco64
    Nov 26, 2017
    0
    DO NOT BE FOOLED by the positive things you hear about this series, this game is an absolute smelly trash heap of a **** game. It starts out somewhat promising albeit very easy but with okay platformer mechanics, but the game IMMEDIATELY makes you backtrack to levels you have already been to, and not in a fun way like how in Metroid you backtrack because you get something new and cool toDO NOT BE FOOLED by the positive things you hear about this series, this game is an absolute smelly trash heap of a **** game. It starts out somewhat promising albeit very easy but with okay platformer mechanics, but the game IMMEDIATELY makes you backtrack to levels you have already been to, and not in a fun way like how in Metroid you backtrack because you get something new and cool to use and find more stuff in a previous area, no, they just tell you where to backtrack to and force you to go there and collect more ****
    The game is pretty much 95% backtracking which would be okay if the levels were fun enough to play again, but they are not at all satisfying to go back to over and over again, especially if you're not sure what they are having you backtrack to find. It all just becomes infuriating and boring, I recommend you do not waste your money on this piece of **** game unless you enjoy hating yourself and everything around you. Got about 2 hours out of it before it became unplayable.    … Expand
  4. Subject98
    Aug 26, 2020
    4
    I'm a fan of platformers and metroidvanias, and while this game certainly functions okay in terms of controls, the way it was constructed utterly ruins the whole experience. Instead of being true metroidvania with an interconnected map, this one is broken into 6 separate linear levels which require you to return to and replay each several times to do very minor tasks. I'm not even jokingI'm a fan of platformers and metroidvanias, and while this game certainly functions okay in terms of controls, the way it was constructed utterly ruins the whole experience. Instead of being true metroidvania with an interconnected map, this one is broken into 6 separate linear levels which require you to return to and replay each several times to do very minor tasks. I'm not even joking when I say I probably went back to the water level a dozen times. They do allow you to skip segments of each level but of course the water level had to have a sliding section at the end of it where you can't pause the game to skip it. Not to mention most of the quests you have to return to levels for make absolutely no sense, so it's not uncommon to go through an entire level again only to find out that wasn't the right place to go with the new transformation you unlocked or item you got. This is a 2 hour game stretched out to 6 or 7 hours with loads of padding. Way Forward do make really good games sometimes, I was quite fond of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse and The Mummy Demastered, but they missed the mark hard on this one.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best Switch Game of 2017
73
#73 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
50
#50 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Pocket Gamer UK
    Sep 19, 2017
    80
    A bright, sharp 2D platformer that's brimming with diversions and exciting set pieces.
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  2. FNintendo
    Aug 9, 2017
    70
    Shantae: Half-Genie Hero brings the series to the Nintendo Switch and it certainly is a fine specimen that makes use of its marvelous visuals and sound to bring a fun action platformer experience to Nintendo's new console. While some elements need a bit of polishing, such as the control precision in key moments and the overall level design, this is a game that opens good prospects for the Shantae series.
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  3. Gaming Age
    Aug 4, 2017
    83
    The positives in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero ultimately more than outweigh the negatives. Again, you'll probably like the game much more if you're going in as a Shantae fan to begin with, but this game is enjoyably pleasant enough that that's by no means a prerequisite.
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