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Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is definitely a title that should be on your radar.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
music, story
grinding, optimization
90% User Score Based on 1,481 reviews
Critic Score 76%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4XboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStationPlaystation VitaXbox Series X|SPCWii UWiiXbox One
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Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Game Cover

About

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a single player platformer game with fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by WayForward and was released on December 20, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

The ultimate edition of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero comes with all of the previously released DLC, Modes, and Costumes in one epic collection! Includes an exclusive Blue Bathing Suit for use in Beach Mode!

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero screenshot
+8
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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,481 reviews
music397 positive mentions
grinding39 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and art style that enhances the overall experience.
  • Catchy soundtrack that complements the gameplay and keeps players engaged.
  • Fun and charming characters with humorous dialogue that adds to the lighthearted tone of the game.
  • The game is relatively short, with a main story that can be completed in about 6-8 hours.
  • Excessive backtracking is required to collect items and complete quests, which can feel tedious.
  • Some transformations feel underutilized and only serve specific purposes, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
  • music
    610 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Shantae: Half-Genie Hero" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and upbeat soundtrack composed by Jake Kaufman. Players appreciate the variety of tracks that enhance the game's vibrant atmosphere, although some noted that the music can become repetitive due to the game's backtracking mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment and immersion.

    • “The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal.”
    • “The music is killer!”
    • “The music is fantastic, the visuals are equally so, and it's a lot of fun, if not a little bit on the easy side.”
    • “There was also no volume slider for music, so you can't turn it off, which was extremely irritating.”
    • “My only real complaint is that the music can get a little repetitive due to the metroidvania nature of the game, forcing you to backtrack a ton and hear each track plenty of times.”
    • “They put so much time and money into the graphics (and the music I guess) that the rest of the game feels lazy.”
  • story
    493 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Shantae: Half-Genie Hero" is generally perceived as light-hearted and whimsical, featuring a mix of humor and pop culture references, though it often feels disjointed and episodic. Many players noted the reliance on fetch quests and backtracking, which detracted from the overall narrative flow, making the plot feel simplistic and lacking depth compared to previous entries in the series. While the characters are charming and the dialogue entertaining, the story's brevity and lack of significant stakes left some players wanting more.

    • “The story and platforming strike a perfect balance of challenging and engaging, and the characters are all equally adorable and lovable.”
    • “The characters are enjoyable, the story is cute and funny; it's just a fun time.”
    • “The story is a bit lackluster in this one but it's still solid.”
    • “The story is just as goofy and filled with pop culture references as well as callbacks to past games like the chef and her dog Wobblebell and even the barons (ammo, squid, tech, and hypno).”
    • “The story doesn't go anywhere and there is so little content that finishing the game in 7-8 hours isn't even a challenge.”
  • graphics
    477 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Shantae: Half-Genie Hero" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant, hand-drawn art style and smooth animations, marking a significant upgrade from previous pixelated entries in the series. The blend of 2D characters with 3D backgrounds creates a visually appealing experience that captures the whimsical charm of the game, making it a standout feature for both newcomers and long-time fans. Overall, the game's aesthetic is praised for its colorful and engaging design, contributing to its fun and immersive platforming experience.

    • “The graphics have been greatly upgraded to look like you're playing a cartoon without sacrificing those fluid controls the franchise is just as famous for.”
    • “The graphics are vibrant and full of rich color; the animation is silky smooth; the music is kickin'; the sense of humor is as meta and fanservice-y as ever.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, the music is catchy, and the gameplay is pretty solid.”
    • “The graphics are so primitive and ugly in this game.”
    • “Pixel graphics in previous games are way much better and beautiful.”
    • “The first disappointment was when I realized that the flat 2D graphics are turned into fancy 2D/3D.”
  • gameplay
    451 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Shantae: Half-Genie Hero" is characterized by its smooth controls, vibrant visuals, and engaging platforming mechanics, making it a solid entry in the series. While the game retains the charm of previous titles with its transformation abilities and exploration elements, some players feel it lacks the depth and complexity of earlier installments, leading to a more linear experience with significant backtracking. Overall, the game is enjoyable and accessible, appealing to both newcomers and fans of the franchise, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and level design.

    • “The gameplay is fast-paced and highly enjoyable.”
    • “Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a charming platformer that boasts smooth gameplay and a lovable cast of characters.”
    • “The gameplay is fluid and runs at a constant 60 fps.”
    • “Main negatives: level design is a step down from Pirate's Curse, the enemies stop mattering after about an hour of gameplay, and you have to retread the same levels a lot.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay and mechanics have been simplified a bit; it is more platformer and less metroidvania than previous Shantae games, there are no puzzles or dungeons, and it is much more linear than the previous games.”
    • “The transformations are fun to use but they are not as good as the pirate gear from the previous game due to having to pause and wait to select the transformation you want to use, which can ruin the flow of the gameplay.”
  • humor
    168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Shantae: Half-Genie Hero" is widely praised for its quirky, light-hearted, and often self-referential style, with many players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny. While some reviews note that the humor may not reach the heights of previous entries in the series, it still delivers a charming and entertaining experience filled with clever writing, amusing puns, and memorable characters. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a delightful platformer for fans of the genre.

    • “Few games make me audibly laugh over anything that isn't an incredibly bad design choice, but this game had me laughing a lot, in particular Squid Baron's gag about paid DLC skins.”
    • “The writing is always fantastic, the dialogue between characters often has you laughing out loud as they always have quirky conversations.”
    • “Shantae and her friends are utterly hilarious and witty, and it's worth playing the game just to see them bounce quips off one another.”
  • character development
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant decline compared to previous entries, particularly "Pirate's Curse." While the character designs and animations are praised for their quality and charm, the narrative lacks depth and fails to build on established character arcs, leaving fans disappointed. Overall, the focus seems to shift more towards aesthetics and gameplay rather than meaningful character progression.

    • “The character designs are absolutely top notch and a treat for the eyes, whether they be cute, sexy, or both, not to mention that they are animated so fluidly and gracefully.”
    • “An incredible entry in the Shantae series featuring exploration, animal transformations, and some of my favorite character designs of the series.”
    • “The new art design is absolutely gorgeous, with painstaking attention paid to both the animation fidelity and character design.”
    • “All the character development is thrown out the window instead of rewarding cult following.”
    • “Finally, this game has even less character development than 'Pirate's Curse' (as in, none at all).”
    • “Now for the story, I know the story isn't really the main focus in these games, but 'Pirate's Curse' did a pretty good job on that aspect and this game seems to ignore some of the character development from that game.”
  • grinding
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding the backtracking and item collection tedious, especially in a metroidvania context. While some appreciate the added mobility from transformations that alleviate some of the tedium, others feel that the repetitive nature of revisiting levels can become monotonous, particularly when aiming for 100% completion. Overall, the experience can vary significantly based on individual tolerance for grinding and backtracking, with some players enjoying the challenge while others find it frustrating.

    • “Good humor and not too tedious, especially when you have to backtrack as it gives you new abilities to have fun with and explore. I would recommend it for anyone who likes platformers and maybe someone who doesn't play games too much.”
    • “It's not tedious to collect everything in the game, far from it. Especially in a game designed around replaying levels and collecting things, it can be enjoyable, even if sometimes going through levels to collect one item you think you might have missed gets a little tedious.”
    • “You'll often find yourself constantly transforming back and forth for some challenges, which gets tedious quickly.”
    • “This might seem okay at first, but as you unlock more transformations, it will get tedious and slow at times.”
    • “What follows is the tedious kind of backtracking: revisiting previous levels to find that one block you could not previously break, that one spot you could not previously climb, that one platform you could not previously reach, all while traversing exhausted content that has lost its meaning by the time you come back with your bag full of upgrades.”
  • replayability
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the variety of modes, collectibles, and challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some reviews note that the replay value may be limited for those who feel they have fully experienced the game in one run, and the reliance on DLC for additional content has drawn mixed reactions. Overall, while there are significant replay options, opinions vary on their sufficiency and appeal.

    • “Lots to collect and backtrack for, tons of replayability and extra modes such as max difficulty, playing as other characters, alternate story content, etc. Rewards for collecting are also really great.”
    • “Spent about 8 hours on my first playthrough, but I enjoyed those 8 hours so much, I immediately tried to speedrun the game on 'hero mode' right after finishing, so replay value is high.”
    • “I personally loved the experience, and of course there are achievements and extra modes to add to the replay value and keep you coming back for more.”
    • “If you weren’t already sick of Half-Genie Hero’s lack of replay value, the DLC really hammers it down in the worst way possible.”
    • “In my opinion, it has no replay value, since I got the whole experience on one run.”
    • “However, like its previous installments, the game suffers from its short length and limited replay value.”
  • emotional
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of wholesome charm and moments of sadness, creating a nostalgic experience for players, especially those familiar with the series. While the game features cute characters and a delightful soundtrack that evoke warm feelings, some players express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from their enjoyment, leading to moments of anger and disappointment. Overall, the game is seen as a heartwarming adventure that can evoke a range of emotions, from joy to frustration.

    • “Along the way, the techno/ammo/comic relief baron makes their appearances at varying points in the game, and it just gives you warm fuzzies because of the wholesome cuteness of it all.”
    • “I want to cry right now; I've restarted this level over 25 times now, and each time I get a little further, I get one-shotted.”
    • “Just seeing the characters bob to the beat of the rhythm is truly heartwarming.”
  • optimization
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "Half-Genie Hero" has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and a lack of optimization options, while others report a smooth gameplay experience. Despite its charm and solid platforming mechanics, many users express frustration over the game's performance, suggesting that improvements are needed for a more positive reception. Overall, the game's optimization appears inconsistent, with some players enjoying flawless performance while others encounter notable drawbacks.

    • “It plays better, looks vastly better, is far more optimized and has all the charm and character you'd expect from WayForward.”
    • “I don't see any flaws to this game at all, it's optimized well and the gameplay is smooth.”
    • “I had a very steady frame rate during my playthrough and I felt the controls with the Xbox 360 controller worked really well and smoothly, sadly there wasn’t an option for windowed mode in PC though (very few optimization options in general).”
    • “Performance is terrible.”
    • “I'd recommend this game out of my mind if it weren't for the horrible performance.”
    • “Nothing fixed the stuttering.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is described as cheerful and lighthearted, enhanced by well-tuned music and fluid animations that complement the gameplay. The dialogue maintains a tongue-in-cheek tone, contributing to the overall charm, although some narrative elements may slightly detract from the atmosphere. Overall, the combination of hand-drawn characters and vibrant sprite graphics creates a captivating and enjoyable environment.

    • “The music, as ever, is so well tuned to meet the level's atmosphere.”
    • “Gameplay is solid; the atmosphere and dialogue are lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek, as all Shantae games have been.”
    • “Characters are still funny as ever, and the world maintains that charming atmosphere.”
    • “Once the issue is resolved, the women are obviously gone seeing how you saved them, but it kind of ruins the atmosphere a little.”
    • “As much as I appreciate well-done sprite graphics (and I do), the hand-drawn characters really suit this series, and it goes well with the cartoony atmosphere.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report it as bug-free and enjoyable, others have encountered significant glitches and game-breaking exploits that affect gameplay. Minor graphical issues and animation glitches have also been noted, but many players feel the overall experience is still worthwhile despite these problems.

    • “I would recommend this to people because it has a lot of content and is completely bug-free.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, making for a stable experience.”
    • “I've played for hours without encountering any issues, which speaks volumes about its stability.”
    • “I skipped the cutscene, but the fade to black was still on the screen, leaving it black and making the fight impossible. I've encountered several glitches so far, some worse than others.”
    • “The game has some pretty bad glitches and game-breaking exploits.”
    • “A few animation glitches occur during the opening sequence when Shantae first gets out of bed and in the mid-level save sequence.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, particularly targeting uninformed buyers, indicating a lack of value and transparency in its pricing model.

    • “This version of the game is still available, which just shows how much the developers are focused on cash grabs for players who haven't done their research before purchasing.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems designed to squeeze money from players rather than enhance the gaming experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls and microtransactions that detract from the enjoyment of the game.”
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76%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a platformer game with fantasy and comedy themes.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero was released on December 20, 2016.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero was developed by WayForward.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a single player game.

Similar games include Shantae and the Seven Sirens, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, Freedom Planet and others.