This time our hero will have to rely on items and pirate gear to do the job, including classic concepts like potions and attack-boosting drinks, as well as more game-changing upgrades like a downward slashing scimitar and a gun.īecause her newfound powers and items are so fun to play around with, the sometimes clunky transportation setup is excusable. WayForward’s formula for Shantae is among its best work, and every jump, hair whip, and ability use feels perfect. Having said that, the actual mechanics are as slick as ever. The bosses also aren’t as memorable this time around, and even a comical boss rehash doesn’t do the trick. It helps that the core game itself is so solid that it’s fun to roam around, but it can get tedious over time to have to island jump over and over. The task isn’t always clear, so it may require players to search every previous island inside and out before progressing with the story. Instead of teleporting around using spots in one hub, Shantae has to get back to the start area each time, access the ship, and sail somewhere else.Īfter unlocking a new island, this usually comes into play in the form of some puzzle that must be solved before accessing the new dungeon. All of them have their own unique themes (a desert, a snow world, and an undead bog for instance), but the maps themselves feel small, and getting from place to place can be a hassle. It’s noble that WayForward would want to mix up the formula, but each map as a separate entity feels less impressive than one actual world. Instead of following the concept of Revenge‘s giant, singular open world, Curse instead has a small collective of islands, which function as mini-worlds with the same focus on exploration. The conceit this time involves an unlikely alliance with Shantae’s nemesis Risky Boots, to put down the evil curse of the Pirate Master, Risky’s old boss, once and for all. It’s never “laugh-out-loud” funny, but WayForward does a decent job of keeping things interesting, and their characters likable. As usual, the narrative is over-the-top and wacky with jokes and references galore. It feels like a natural progression of the story, and it’s interesting to see Shantae interact with people around her as a human. This doesn’t change up the formula much, as she still has her signature “hair whip” ability to attack enemies, and will still gain new powers over the course of the game - they’ll just be a little less genie-like in nature (though I miss her transformation forms dearly). Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse follows the storyline so far, which sees Shantae living a normal life without the genie powers that were taken from her at the end of the last game. Shantae and The Pirate’s Curse (3DS, Wii U)ĭeveloper: WayForward Technologies / Inti Creates While Curse takes a few steps back from the formula developed by its predecessor, it’s still a great action romp that any 2D fan can get behind. Shantae: Risky’s Revenge for the DSi is one of my favorite games in the genre, so naturally I gravitated towards the follow-up, Pirate’s Curse. While WayForward can be hit or miss these days, I can always rely on their ability to craft a good platformer. I’ve always thought that Shantae is a bit of an underrated series.
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