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Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016)

WayForward

Nintendo Switch · PC (Microsoft Windows) · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · PlayStation Vita · Wii U · Xbox One

3.60 from 344 ratings

1366 members have it in their collection · 47 playing now · 625 backlogged · 237 wish listed

How long? Main story 6h · with extras 7h · 100% 7h (from 22 logged playthroughs)

Shantae embarks on her first full HD adventure! After three highly successful outings with Shantae, Shantae: Risky's Revenge, and Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, Shantae and her friends finally get a full HD console-based sequel! Boasting vivid, detailed high-definition graphics that retain the 2D hand-drawn sprites the series is known for, this newest entry in the Shantae series almost looks … Read more
Shantae embarks on her first full HD adventure! After three highly successful outings with Shantae, Shantae: Risky's Revenge, and Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, Shantae and her friends finally get a full HD console-based sequel! Boasting vivid, detailed high-definition graphics that retain the 2D hand-drawn sprites the series is known for, this newest entry in the Shantae series almost looks like a playable TV show! Presented as a stage-based 2.5D platformer with heavy exploration elements, Shantae uses her trademark Hair-Whip Attack to dispatch enemies, then takes advantage of her Belly Dance Magic to transform into 8 different forms that each have their own unique abilities and move sets. As new forms are mastered, old stages can be re-explored to unearth new items and secrets, ensuring there's plenty of content on offer for novices and platforming gurus alike. Topple the villainous Baron behind each criminal caper afflicting Sequin Land, and prepare for the ultimate showdown against Shantae's arch-nemesis: that bodacious buccaneer, Risky Boots! Read less
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Details

Developers
WayForward
Publishers
WayForward, XSEED Games
Genres
Adventure, Indie, Platform
Themes
Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Series
Shantae
Event
PlayStation E3 2014 Press Conference
Steam
View on Steam

Release dates

  • Dec 20, 2016 (Worldwide) PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
  • Dec 20, 2016 (Europe) PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U
  • Dec 20, 2016 (North_America) PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Xbox One
  • Jun 08, 2017 (North_America) Nintendo Switch
  • Jun 08, 2017 (Europe) Nintendo Switch
  • Nov 02, 2021 (North_America) PlayStation 5

Also available on

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DLC

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Featured in lists

02 - B Tier by imklubb · 56 games · 0

Rating distribution

5 stars
44
4 stars
157
3 stars
111
2 stars
24
1 star
7
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Community All Reviews Statuses

killerstar

Status killerstar Mar 31, 2026 Abandoned

After a few hours, this game is ... kinda bad? Besides the good-looking art, I just don't get what people see about it. Levels are just fine, but the transformation mechanic is a chore. The monkey is kind of fun to use, but the crab moves like shit so using it is a net loss.

Level structure seems to follow …

Read more

After a few hours, this game is ... kinda bad? Besides the good-looking art, I just don't get what people see about it. Levels are just fine, but the transformation mechanic is a chore. The monkey is kind of fun to use, but the crab moves like shit so using it is a net loss.

Level structure seems to follow the same path: beat a level, randomly get a new transformation, and then go play an earlier level to finish a quest-fetch to unlock the next level. The pacing is terrible.

The story seems to be a completely disconnected series of contrivances that don't have any overarching plot and come at you with no warning and leave without any impact.

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2 Comment Permalink
maeday

Status maeday Jun 19, 2022

Never played a Shantae game somehow but always wanted to. Picked this up for cheap on Xbox sale tonight and it's pretty fun. A nice little platforming excursion from the heavier stuff I'm overburdened with at the moment.

3 Comment Permalink
SelfTeachingKings

Status SelfTeachingKings Sep 16, 2018

A fine game with a lot of ways to play.

  1. Finished the Game in Hardcore Mode
  2. Finished the Game in Hero Mode 100%

I really like this game. There is so much to unlock, the exploration is nice and the situations are funny. Overall a great package for those who like 2D action platformers sprinkled with Metroidvania elements. Maybe it …

Read more

A fine game with a lot of ways to play.

  1. Finished the Game in Hardcore Mode
  2. Finished the Game in Hero Mode 100%

I really like this game. There is so much to unlock, the exploration is nice and the situations are funny. Overall a great package for those who like 2D action platformers sprinkled with Metroidvania elements. Maybe it is because of how accessible the game is, but I find myself wanting to 100% it. It has a lot of different modes that alter the gameplay in, sometimes, curious ways. Some are a miss, like the "Beach Mode," but most add a nice new way to play that keeps me coming back.

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1 Comment Permalink
SelfTeachingKings

Status SelfTeachingKings Sep 14, 2018

Enjoying it quite a bit after a "rough" start.

First and foremost I will say that I started the game in Hardcore mode and this really shaped the first few hours of the game for me. Many enemies one shot you at this mode if your don't get the defense upgrade. After the upgrade, then the game became a lot …

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Enjoying it quite a bit after a "rough" start.

First and foremost I will say that I started the game in Hardcore mode and this really shaped the first few hours of the game for me. Many enemies one shot you at this mode if your don't get the defense upgrade. After the upgrade, then the game became a lot smoother for me.

After making Hardcore more controllable I found myself really enjoying the game. The platforming is tight and the game is filled with unlockables to buy and discover, which make it a joy to progress.

Every time I return to a previous area, because of a timely set quest, I find new things thanks to new upgrades and abilities.

Overall really enjoy it and am looking to play more.

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1 Comment Permalink
dylanado

Status dylanado Oct 3, 2017

Currently playing Shantae 1/2 Genie Hero and Metroid: Samus Returns. I will be playing games on my Scheduled to Play shelf through May 2018. After that, I plan on splitting my time between an "all Zelda games marathon" with my daughter and games on my Want to Play shelf. Feel free to recommend games from my backlog to play.

0 Comment Permalink