Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a 2D platformer game developed by WayForward Technologies. It was initially released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2014 and has since been ported to other platforms. In this game, players take on the role of Shantae, a half-genie who must team up with her nemesis, Risky Boots, to save Sequin Land from a curse that has turned various creatures into powerful monsters. The curse also strips Shantae of her genie powers, forcing her to rely on Risky Boots and various pirate-themed abilities to navigate through the game's levels. The gameplay of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse focuses heavily on exploration and platforming. Players control Shantae as she jumps, attacks enemies, and solves puzzles to progress through the game's interconnected levels.
The gameplay isn’t entirely original, but Pirate’s Curse does a superb job of capturing the spirit of the Metroidvania platformer. Instead of one giant environment, Shantae must explore six disparate islands. With unique enemies and environmental hazards, I found that each island had a distinct feel that kept me from growing bored as I explored every inch of them. Harnessing the power of Shantae’s increased abilities to steadily fill in each island’s classic grid-based map scratches that completionist itch, and with an assortment of hidden items to discover, including optional battles that directly determine whether you get the good or bad ending, there is certainly a push to explore as much as you can. But by spreading the action across six separate locations and clearly displaying how many secrets are still undiscovered at each, the task never seemed all that overbearing. The smaller, more focused approach kept me engaged.
Harnessing the power of Shantae s increased abilities to steadily fill in each island s classic grid-based map scratches that completionist itch, and with an assortment of hidden items to discover, including optional battles that directly determine whether you get the good or bad ending, there is certainly a push to explore as much as you can. It offers an even blend of combat and puzzle solving; you ll smoothly go from whipping your enemies with Shantae s magic hair to utilizing a bevy of pirate tools to further explore the islands and their dens of evil.
Players control Shantae as she jumps, attacks enemies, and solves puzzles to progress through the game's interconnected levels. Along the way, she can collect upgrades and new abilities, such as a pirate hat that allows her to glide or a cannon that can be used to reach higher platforms. One of the game's standout features is its vibrant and colorful art style, which draws inspiration from classic 16-bit platformers.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse Review
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse has all the makings of a good 2D Metroidvania platformer; clever puzzle design, progressive empowerment through new abilities, and an emphasis on exploration. It’s the sharp sense of humor and vivacious world, though, that ultimately propel Pirate’s Curse to greatness and help it stand out from the glut of retro-inspired platformers.
Loading PlayDuring the 10 hours or so it took me to completely traverse its six islands, I appreciated the many nods Pirate’s Curse expertly makes to the classic gameplay of Metroid and Castlevania. It offers an even blend of combat and puzzle solving; you’ll smoothly go from whipping your enemies with Shantae’s magic hair to utilizing a bevy of pirate tools to further explore the islands and their dens of evil. The pacing feels just right, and though there are gigantic bosses to slay and multi-step puzzles to solve, neither overstay their welcome.
The gameplay isn’t entirely original, but Pirate’s Curse does a superb job of capturing the spirit of the Metroidvania platformer. Instead of one giant environment, Shantae must explore six disparate islands. With unique enemies and environmental hazards, I found that each island had a distinct feel that kept me from growing bored as I explored every inch of them. Harnessing the power of Shantae’s increased abilities to steadily fill in each island’s classic grid-based map scratches that completionist itch, and with an assortment of hidden items to discover, including optional battles that directly determine whether you get the good or bad ending, there is certainly a push to explore as much as you can. But by spreading the action across six separate locations and clearly displaying how many secrets are still undiscovered at each, the task never seemed all that overbearing. The smaller, more focused approach kept me engaged.
Though cutting through enemies with Shantae’s hair is mostly fun, the second half of the story is bogged down by a few areas with constantly respawning enemies. Levels become filled with enemies that reappear in seconds. This isn’t such an issue the first time you visit an island, but it begins to wear thin as you travel back and forth across each island multiple times. Though you can upgrade Shantae’s attack, it isn’t until very late in Pirate’s Curse that you become powerful enough to cut through the onslaught with ease. With no fast travel, or an ability to skip to specific spots on an island, things can sometimes turn into a grind.
Loading PlayStill, those brief moments of frustration are usually washed away by the strong writing and vibrant look of Pirate’s Curse. The dialogue is consistently funny, and readily breaks the fourth wall throughout. The offbeat humor is built into the puzzle-solving, too. In one early example, Shantae wakes a dragon with the scent of a ham, causing it to drool down the mountain it’s perched upon. The drool collects in a pool, which attracts a couple of spring breakers, whose pale skin reflects the sunlight onto a nearby temple wall, revealing a hidden petrification spell Shantae has been searching for. In those moments when a particular puzzle or boss left me feeling fatigued, some inane, hilarious scenario like this would pull me right back in.
These off-the-wall scenarios are brought to life with detailed, expressive sprites. Shantae and her enemies look sharp and move fluidly, with no slow down whatsoever. Like the characters, the majority of the environments are bright and full of life, reflecting Shantae’s own carefree attitude. The colorful backgrounds and vibrant characters are especially impressive in 3D, and I kept it turned up for the entire thing. Pirate’s Curse is, simply, a joy to watch.
30 ImagesVerdict
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse succeeds by building a funny, gorgeous world around its tried and true Metroidvania gameplay. In the brief moments when the combat becomes exhausting, it’s the writing, in all its self-referential and juvenile glory, and its visual splendor that keep the pace going. Though it’s an unmistakable tribute to Metroid and Castlevania, infusing a sharp wit and bold style helps Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse stand above its retro-inspired contemporaries.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse Review
greatShantae and the Pirate’s Curse takes a good Metroidvania base and makes it great with sharp wit, and a beautiful look.
Though cutting through enemies with Shantae’s hair is mostly fun, the second half of the story is bogged down by a few areas with constantly respawning enemies. Levels become filled with enemies that reappear in seconds. This isn’t such an issue the first time you visit an island, but it begins to wear thin as you travel back and forth across each island multiple times. Though you can upgrade Shantae’s attack, it isn’t until very late in Pirate’s Curse that you become powerful enough to cut through the onslaught with ease. With no fast travel, or an ability to skip to specific spots on an island, things can sometimes turn into a grind.
The game's sprites and environments are beautifully animated, giving the world of Sequin Land a lively and immersive feel. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse also features a humorous and lighthearted storyline, with plenty of witty dialogue and memorable characters. The game's humor adds an extra layer of charm to the overall experience, making it enjoyable for players of all ages. Overall, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a well-crafted platformer that offers a solid gameplay experience, charming visuals, and an engaging story. Whether you are a fan of the series or new to the world of Shantae, this game is definitely worth a playthrough..
Reviews for "Diving into the Deep Sea Explorations of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on 3DS"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Shantae and the Pirates Curse 3ds". The gameplay felt repetitive and monotonous, with the same type of enemies and level design throughout. The puzzles were too easy and didn't offer much of a challenge. Additionally, the storyline was weak and lacked depth. Overall, I found this game to be lackluster and uninspiring.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I couldn't get into "Shantae and the Pirates Curse 3ds" at all. The controls felt clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate through the levels. The graphics were also outdated and didn't do justice to the potential of the game. The dialogue was cheesy and uninteresting, and the characters lacked development. I would not recommend this game to anyone looking for an enjoyable gaming experience.
3. Mike - 3/5 - While "Shantae and the Pirates Curse 3ds" had its moments, I found it to be quite underwhelming compared to the previous installments of the series. The gameplay was decent, but the lack of innovation and new mechanics made it feel like a rehash of the previous games. The story was average and failed to captivate my interest. Overall, I expected more from this game and was left feeling unsatisfied.
4. Emily - 2/5 - "Shantae and the Pirates Curse 3ds" did not live up to the hype for me. The platforming mechanics were frustrating, and the difficulty spikes were poorly implemented. The art style was cute, but the repetitive background and enemy designs became stale after a while. The soundtrack was forgettable, and the dialogue was cheesy and predictable. I was hoping for a fun and engaging experience, but unfortunately, this game fell short of my expectations.
5. David - 1/5 - I regret purchasing "Shantae and the Pirates Curse 3ds". The level design was uninspired and offered no sense of excitement or challenge. The controls were clunky, making it difficult to perform precise movements. The story was forgettable, and the characters lacked depth. Overall, this game was a letdown and a waste of my time and money. I would highly advise against purchasing it.