Shantae and the Seven Sirens

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,450 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Shantae and the Seven Sirens Game Cover
Shantae and the Seven Sirens is easily the best in the series and one of WayForward's most enjoyable video games to date.
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In Shantae and the Seven Sirens, Shantae, the belly-dancing half-genie, finds herself in a tropical resort island for a dance competition. However, things take a dark turn when her friends are kidnapped by the Seven Sirens. Join Shantae as she explores the island, battling monsters, solving puzzles, and using her hair-whip and dance moves to save her friends. The game features stunning 2D hand-drawn animations and a variety of new abilities and transformations for Shantae.

  • iPad
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  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,450 reviews
music198 positive mentions
grinding76 negative mentions
  • The game returns to a metroidvania style, allowing for exploration and a larger interconnected world.
  • The animated cutscenes and character designs are visually appealing and add charm to the game.
  • The new card system allows for customization of abilities, enhancing gameplay variety.
  • The game is significantly easier than previous entries, with an abundance of healing items making it hard to die.
  • Loading times between areas are excessively long, impacting the overall pacing of the game.
  • Some characters and bosses lack depth and personality, making the story feel less engaging.
  • music453 mentions

    The music in "Shantae and the Seven Sirens" has received mixed reviews, primarily due to the absence of series composer Jake Kaufman, which many fans feel has resulted in a less memorable soundtrack. While some tracks are enjoyable and capture a fun chiptune vibe, others are described as bland or lacking the energy and distinctiveness of previous installments. Overall, the new compositions are seen as a step down, though they still fit the game's aesthetic and provide a decent auditory experience.

    • “The gameplay is so satisfying and well polished, it has this Nintendo platformer quality feel, the writing is great - all the jokes landed for me and I can say that this is the most hilarious humor in the series so far and the music... oh man, the music is amazing!”
    • “Seven Sirens, like Half-Genie Hero before it, has a colorful, cute, and expressive hand-drawn art style for all the characters, enemies, items, etc. that is really a treat to look at, a fantastic soundtrack with tunes that range from chill and relaxing to intense and rocking, all of which had me jamming along as I played.”
    • “The music is the best in the series, yep I said it, I love Jake Kaufman's score in Half-Genie Hero & Pirate's Curse don't get me wrong but I feel like Seven Sirens has more upbeat, catchy & memorable songs that don't get annoying after listening to them on repeat while being in a certain zone.”
    • “The music lacks an overall identity, I feel.”
    • “The music was ehhh, not very special; the only one I can really say I liked was the intro. The only good part of the game is the animations; they're pretty well done (if you can ignore the boring designs of most characters).”
    • “Very little of the music in this game sticks in my mind, whereas I could basically recall almost every tune in Half-Genie Hero.”
  • gameplay416 mentions

    The gameplay in "Shantae and the Seven Sirens" is a refined blend of metroidvania elements and classic platforming mechanics, featuring smooth controls and instant transformations that enhance fluidity. While many players appreciate the return to exploration and the introduction of new mechanics like collectible monster cards, some criticize the overall ease and repetitiveness of gameplay, suggesting a lack of challenge and depth compared to previous titles. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals, engaging humor, and enjoyable mechanics, making it accessible for both newcomers and series veterans.

    • “The gameplay is so satisfying and well polished, it has this Nintendo platformer quality feel, the writing is great - all the jokes landed for me and I can say that this is the most hilarious humor in the series so far and the music.....oh man the music is amazing!”
    • “Seven sirens brings plenty of new ideas to the series as well, such as a fully interconnected world map in true metroidvania style, a collectible card mechanic that will give you small bonuses or minor enhancements to abilities, and a streamlined dance/transformation system, with transformations now mapped to a button or automatically triggering when usable, and gorgeous fully animated cutscenes throughout the game done by Studio Trigger.”
    • “This is a perfect back to form with the metroid style gameplay...mixed with Zelda, Mega Man, Mario, Metroid/Castlevania...literally, the gameplay is perfect.”
    • “Honestly a waste of money, the gameplay was really boring, hit enemy, get powers that basically do the same things, buy overpowered powerups from the store and make the game really easy, and the story was the worst part, super generic and very predictable.”
    • “I found the gameplay to be too repetitive and with so much backtracking.”
    • “This is a new low point in the series to me, after half genie hero which was already a deeply flawed game, this one is absolutely nihilistic about its gameplay and balance.”
  • story354 mentions

    The story of "Shantae and the Seven Sirens" is generally described as lighthearted and entertaining, featuring a straightforward plot that, while predictable and sometimes shallow, maintains the series' trademark humor and charm. Many reviewers appreciate the colorful visuals and engaging character interactions, though some express disappointment in the lack of depth for new characters and the overall simplicity of the narrative compared to previous entries. Despite its shortcomings, the game is seen as a fun addition to the franchise, appealing to both newcomers and long-time fans.

    • “The main plot resolves in a convoluted but pretty interesting way.”
    • “It matches it in quality of storytelling, character development, amazing music, and amazing visuals!”
    • “The story keeps you invested in what's going on in a straightforward manner.”
    • “You guys have so many great characters and so much interesting lore here, just take that to the next level instead of giving us a plot that's on the level of a Saturday morning cartoon.”
    • “The story is so predictable and shallow that it's ignorable.”
    • “Unlike the past games where the story revolved around the characters and the lore of the world, this game has a pretty generic and predictable storyline with no surprises.”
  • graphics287 mentions

    The graphics in "Shantae and the Seven Sirens" have received widespread praise for their vibrant, hand-drawn art style, which enhances the game's overall aesthetic and charm. Many reviewers noted the impressive animated cutscenes and detailed backgrounds, marking a significant improvement over previous titles in the series. However, some criticism was directed at the inconsistency in art styles and the reuse of assets, which detracted from the overall visual experience for a few players.

    • “Amazing art style, and amazing mini animated cutscenes.”
    • “The graphics are awesome.”
    • “Seven sirens keeps the absolutely gorgeous art style of half-genie hero but with a more open, 'metroidvania'-style world.”
    • “I was skeptical of this game at first, mainly because the conflicting art styles, obviously reused assets, and cheap animation positively scream low-budget.”
    • “The visuals of the game are flat, the world is a sort of Atlantis-type fallen city, and every part of the map just feels like that, oh here's Atlantis but it's blue, here's red Atlantis, and green Atlantis.”
    • “Bland characters, bland visuals, bland music... if you like the Shantae series you're probably going to get this one eventually, but I'd wait until a price drop because as it is currently it's not worth the $30 price tag.”
  • humor125 mentions

    The humor in "Shantae and the Seven Sirens" is widely praised for its classic charm, featuring a mix of lighthearted jokes, clever writing, and beloved characters like Squid Baron, who often breaks the fourth wall. While many players find the humor to be engaging and entertaining, some feel that it lacks the depth and originality of previous entries, with a few moments coming off as cringe-worthy. Overall, the game maintains a fun and whimsical tone that aligns with the series' trademark style, making it a delightful experience for fans.

    • “The gameplay is so satisfying and well polished, it has this Nintendo platformer quality feel, the writing is great - all the jokes landed for me and I can say that this is the most hilarious humor in the series so far and the music... oh man, the music is amazing!”
    • “The world is awesome, Shantae is still the same adorable half-genie we all know and love, the humor is still there, Squid Baron is still the funniest (to me at least), music is good and a new to Shantae is cutscenes and they are fantastic.”
    • “There are short but beautiful animated cutscenes, tons of fun writing with the same silly sense of humor that we’ve come to expect from the Shantae games, and of course, lots of fan service.”
  • grinding78 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to collecting rare drops for cards and items, which often require excessive repetition and can feel unfulfilling. While some enjoy the pacing during a normal playthrough, those aiming for 100% completion report frustration due to the lack of tracking for collectibles and the randomness of drop rates, leading to a repetitive and sometimes annoying experience. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “WayForward does a great job with pacing in the Shantae games; at no point do you feel rushed, you don't need to grind, and there are no tedious parts.”
    • “Drops are rare, so grinding for all the cards takes forever.”
    • “The collecting aspect is simply tedious, annoying, and unfun.”
    • “Completing the game at 100% is pretty tedious, since there is no way of telling which areas you already found everything in, so completing it basically just boils down to trying every power everywhere once you got them all.”
  • character development36 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant character designs and fluid animations, which remain a highlight of the series. However, some players feel that the depth of character development, particularly for bosses and new half-genies, is lacking, leading to a sense of underwhelming storytelling compared to previous titles. Overall, while the aesthetic and design elements are celebrated, there is a call for more substantial character growth and narrative engagement.

    • “It matches it in quality of storytelling, character development, amazing music, and amazing visuals!”
    • “The character design is as fantastic as it's ever been, with many of the new NPCs and enemies really caught my eye.”
    • “I love the series for its silliness, retro-ness, and character design.”
    • “The lack of character development for the bosses and especially the new half-genies is underwhelming, and the game felt a little too easy with a lack of challenge.”
    • “When are we going to be allowed to start saying Shantae games need to start doing something drastically different with their gameplay instead of selling exclusively on the art and character designs?”
    • “It's a bit difficult to describe, but it was as if the dialogue and character development was by someone else.”
  • optimization33 mentions

    The game's optimization has seen significant improvements, particularly with loading times and stuttering issues, especially after a March 2021 update. However, some users still report performance problems on the PC version, including long loading screens and occasional stuttering, while the Switch version performs better overall. Despite these issues, players appreciate the ability to tweak performance settings for lower-end PCs.

    • “As of March 4th, 2021, the performance issues have been resolved and the load times are amazing now.”
    • “I was able to play the game on a GTX 1050 Max-Q with ease, and even if you can't run the game smoothly at first, there are a few options that let you tweak the performance in terms of detail.”
    • “Although it needs a bit of optimization for lower-end PCs, especially in the cutscenes where it just bugs out, the audio is fine for me.”
    • “The game's biggest flaw is probably its poorly optimized loading screens -- moving between zones causes a huge spike in the game's resource usage, and it often takes several seconds to finish the transition.”
    • “I cannot recommend the PC version of this game due to the horrendous performance issues.”
    • “Although it needs a bit of optimization for lower-end PCs, especially in the cutscenes, in which it just bugs out and only the audio is fine for me.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers various modes and challenges that can engage completionists, many players feel that the overall content does not justify replaying it extensively, especially compared to other titles in the genre. Some reviewers noted that the initial concept for replay value was promising but ultimately lacked depth in execution. Overall, while there are elements that can enhance replayability, the game may not hold long-term interest for all players.

    • “Even with the short story, the game has good replayability with many challenges to complete after beating the game for the first time.”
    • “Great metroidvania with a nice bit of replay value for those completionists out there and great humor.”
    • “Controls are at their best here, combat is way faster than it even is in Pirate's Curse, and there is lots of replayability with all of the different modes.”
    • “You'd have fun playing it for the first time, but I doubt there will be much replay value.”
    • “This nullifies any challenge and replayability.”
    • “I wondered if the game was gonna be as good as the last one, and to an extent it was. Here I’ll be covering the pros and cons about this game, and why I think there were some decisions that would've made the game a bit more replayable or easier to navigate through.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its fun art style and engaging music, particularly in specific areas like the lava dungeon. While some reviewers noted that the music and presentation could detract from the overall experience, the integration of talented studios for cutscenes adds a unique charm. Overall, it is recommended for fans of platformers and metroidvanias, though it may not reach the atmospheric heights of previous titles in the series.

    • “Overall, I'd recommend it to anyone that was interested in platformers, metroidvanias, and games with a fun art style and atmosphere.”
    • “The music is great as well, specifically the lava dungeon is one of my favorite tracks in the game, but every track in the game is pretty great and makes a great atmosphere for the area you're in.”
    • “In Half-Genie Hero, we had a wonderful performance that let us feel the action and epicness of its weird adventure, while Seven Sirens has a very atmospheric feel to it (in my opinion at least) - I think if you're not interested in the games in general, just listen to the OST at least - it's good, really.”
    • “However, this time the presentation and level design somewhat hurt the atmosphere.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed emotional response to the game, with some players finding the characters lacking depth and failing to evoke strong feelings. However, there are moments that resonate, with a few touching scenes eliciting genuine emotional reactions, suggesting potential for character development in future installments. Overall, while the emotional engagement may not be profound, there are still wholesome and memorable moments that contribute to the experience.

    • “There's even a few touching character moments that got a verified 'awww' from me.”
    • “This time with the cutscenes and more voiced parts, it made me feel like Shantae is going to go some places in the near future.”
    • “And with this, I'd say this game is highly recommended if you want to get started with metroidvanias; it’s a wholesome experience packed into 7 hours of gameplay.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with players reporting frequent graphical glitches and prolonged loading times that cause the game to freeze and utilize 100% of CPU resources. This results in noticeable performance issues, including lag and choppy experiences when transitioning between areas. Overall, users are awaiting fixes to these stability problems.

    • “Every loading screen, the game freezes for several seconds while using 100% of your CPU during that time.”
    • “This game is a resource hog; every time you move to a different area, it chugs the whole computer for 5-10 seconds (e.g., YouTube on the other monitor freezes).”
    • “I've been excited to play this, but I'm still waiting for them to fix the graphical glitches.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8hMain story
13hCompletionist
9-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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