"Shantae and the Pirate's Curse" is a popular game for the Nintendo 3DS console. It is the third entry in the "Shantae" series and was developed by WayForward Technologies. The game was released in 2014 and received positive reviews from both critics and players. In "Shantae and the Pirate's Curse," players take on the role of the titular character, Shantae, a half-genie who must save her world from an evil pirate named Risky Boots. Unlike the previous games in the series, Shantae has lost her magical abilities and must team up with Risky Boots to retrieve magical items and defeat a group of villainous pirates. The gameplay in "Shantae and the Pirate's Curse" combines elements of action-platforming with exploration and puzzle-solving.
Plot Summary: Bean would be describes as a tomboy; she wears dresses as seldom as possible, isn't afraid to get dirty, and loves to play pranks on her older sister, Nancy. Bean's mother tries to encourage her to be nicer to her sister and to play with the new neighbor, Ivy who Bean thinks is the polar opposite of herself (AKA boring). Until one day, while Bean was trying to pull a prank on Nancy, Ivy comes out of her house in a black robe with stars and moon shaped pieces of paper and a golden stick and Bean is intrigued and can't help but ask Ivy what she's up to. Ivy then explains how she's going to do magic when suddenly, Bean realizes her sister is stepping on the prank and Nancy is telling Bean to get out of the bushes. As Bean's plans fall to pieces and Nancy threatening to tell their mother, Bean runs away and asks Ivy to hide her and Iby complies. They start to talk and Ivy explains how she's practicing to become a witch and practice her spells. Ivy then shows Bean her room and Bean can't help but be interested in the separating lines in Ivy's room which divide different sections (dressing room, a doll area, and an art area). They talk more and plan to put a dancing spell on Nancy as revenge. Bean paints Ivy's face to make it more witch-like so her powers become stronger. For the dancing spell, they need words so they sneak past different backyards to get to Bean's backyard because it is full of worms. They collect more than 13 worms in a bucket and go and find Nancy. They find her in the dining room table talking about Bean negatively. Bean becomes so overwhelmed with anger that she screams through the window and Nancy tries to drag her in the house but Iby intervenes and when Nancy starts being mean to Ivy, Bean throws worms at Nancy and as they run away and hide from Nancy, Nancy slips in the mud and lands in a puddle with more worms. Bean gets in trouble (but not too much because Bean's mom laughed a little at the situation). Bean and Ivy decide they were going to see each other again the next day and the next day.
Plot Summary Bean would be describes as a tomboy; she wears dresses as seldom as possible, isn t afraid to get dirty, and loves to play pranks on her older sister, Nancy. My son who is between the girls has shown no interest to the books, but he did listen as his sister read it to me, usually while he did his piano practice.
The gameplay in "Shantae and the Pirate's Curse" combines elements of action-platforming with exploration and puzzle-solving. Players navigate through various levels, defeating enemies and collecting items while also using Shantae's special abilities to progress. These abilities include the ability to transform into different creatures, each with their own unique abilities.
Ivy and Bean witchcraft practitioner
Series: This is the first book in the Ivy and Bean series. This book explains the start of the friendship of two opposite girls living on the same street and just one of their adventures.
Plot Summary: Bean would be describes as a tomboy; she wears dresses as seldom as possible, isn't afraid to get dirty, and loves to play pranks on her older sister, Nancy. Bean's mother tries to encourage her to be nicer to her sister and to play with the new neighbor, Ivy who Bean thinks is the polar opposite of herself (AKA boring). Until one day, while Bean was trying to pull a prank on Nancy, Ivy comes out of her house in a black robe with stars and moon shaped pieces of paper and a golden stick and Bean is intrigued and can't help but ask Ivy what she's up to. Ivy then explains how she's going to do magic when suddenly, Bean realizes her sister is stepping on the prank and Nancy is telling Bean to get out of the bushes. As Bean's plans fall to pieces and Nancy threatening to tell their mother, Bean runs away and asks Ivy to hide her and Iby complies. They start to talk and Ivy explains how she's practicing to become a witch and practice her spells. Ivy then shows Bean her room and Bean can't help but be interested in the separating lines in Ivy's room which divide different sections (dressing room, a doll area, and an art area). They talk more and plan to put a dancing spell on Nancy as revenge. Bean paints Ivy's face to make it more witch-like so her powers become stronger. For the dancing spell, they need words so they sneak past different backyards to get to Bean's backyard because it is full of worms. They collect more than 13 worms in a bucket and go and find Nancy. They find her in the dining room table talking about Bean negatively. Bean becomes so overwhelmed with anger that she screams through the window and Nancy tries to drag her in the house but Iby intervenes and when Nancy starts being mean to Ivy, Bean throws worms at Nancy and as they run away and hide from Nancy, Nancy slips in the mud and lands in a puddle with more worms. Bean gets in trouble (but not too much because Bean's mom laughed a little at the situation). Bean and Ivy decide they were going to see each other again the next day and the next day.
Plot Structure: The books chapters are episodic. You need to read the whole book in order to actually understand the entire story. The book is targeted for children in grades 3-5 and according to the Dormouse, around ages 7-10, children are actively using fantasy in their play and you see that when the two girls believe that Ivy has magic powers and can actually cast spells.
Strong Vocabulary: The dialogue in the book is easy enough for children in stage 6 (evolving reader) to comprehend. The few pictures do offer some support and the child may have to use context clues to understand any complicated idea in the book.
- Bean: Rebellious, mischievous, and hates wearing dresses.
- Ivy: Opposite of Bean. Red long hair, loves to read, and a girly girl.
- Nancy: Bean's older sister who is the butt of all of Bean's pranks.
- Bean's Mother: Tells Bean to be nice to her sister and to befriend the Ivy.
- Mrs. Trantz: Next door neighbor with a nice, organized garden who doesn't like kids.
Relationship of Pictures to Words: The relationship is complementary because the few, black and white photos add little support to the story's plot. They do help the reader get a clear picture, though.
Themes/Central Concepts: Friendship, magic, sibling relationships, and getting into trouble.
One of the big problems of being a kid is that your parents often try to make you play with people you don’t really like. My parents were forever trying to get me to like the kids of their friends. These kids were often weird. I didn’t want to play with them. It was a problem.
One notable feature of the game is its visual style, which combines pixel art with detailed hand-drawn animations. The game's graphics are colorful and vibrant, creating a visually appealing experience for players. The game also features a catchy soundtrack, composed by Jake Kaufman. The music enhances the gameplay experience with its lively tunes and memorable melodies. "Shantae and the Pirate's Curse" received praise for its gameplay, visuals, and soundtrack. Critics commended the game's level design, which offered a good balance of challenge and reward. The game's story and characters were also praised for their charm and humor. Overall, "Shantae and the Pirate's Curse" is a beloved entry in the "Shantae" series and a standout game on the Nintendo 3DS. Its combination of action, platforming, and exploration, along with its charming visuals and music, make it a must-play for fans of the genre..
Reviews for "How Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on 3DS redefines the platforming genre"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was disappointed with Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for the 3DS. The gameplay felt repetitive and the controls were clunky. The graphics were also below expectations, with pixelated character designs that lacked detail. The story was uninspiring and failed to hold my interest. Overall, I found the game to be underwhelming and not worth the price.
2. Emily - 3/5 stars - Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for the 3DS didn't really do it for me. While the graphics were charming and colorful, the gameplay felt repetitive after a while. The levels lacked variety and became predictable. The boss battles were also a bit lackluster, lacking challenge and excitement. While it had its moments, the game didn't quite live up to my expectations.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars - Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for the 3DS was a disappointment for me. The controls were frustrating, especially in tight and fast-paced platforming sections. The difficulty curve felt unbalanced, with some parts being too easy and others feeling unfairly difficult. The dialogue and story were also not engaging, making it hard for me to care about the characters or their motivations. Overall, I found the game to be a frustrating and unfulfilling experience.