Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is an action-adventure video game developed by WayForward for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the third installment in the Shantae series and was released in 2014. The game continues the story of the half-genie protagonist, Shantae, as she embarks on a quest to stop the notorious pirate Risky Boots. In Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, Shantae finds herself stripped of her genie powers and must team up with Risky Boots to retrieve her lost abilities and save Sequin Land from an evil curse. The game features a mix of platforming and exploration, with players navigating through various islands, dungeons, and caves, while battling enemies and solving puzzles. One of the main gameplay mechanics in the game is Shantae's ability to transform into different creatures, each with their unique abilities.
Magic Garden
If you spent your childhood on Long Island in the 70s, and especially if you watched TV when you stayed home from school, you will likely remember Carole and Paula, two hippie-esque women who sang songs and frolicked with pink puppets each weekday on The Magic Garden. A local favorite for over a decade, this charming kid’s show certainly left an impression.
Debuting in 1972, The Magic Garden aired on the local WPIX station and was shown exclusively in the New York area. The stars of the show were Carole Demas and Paula Janis, two real-life childhood friends who grew up to become New York City schoolteachers.
Together, they developed the concept for the series and the design of a prop-filled colorful set just begging to be explored.
Each week, the pair interacted with young viewers in the garden by singing folk songs on swings, acting out classic stories, and telling jokes even the youngest viewer could appreciate. They were joined on occasion by a pink, mischievous squirrel named Sherlock and a giggling bunch of flowers known as the “chuckle patch.”
A large chest called the “story box” was filled with props that were used to present plays, and a “magic tree” helpfully lowered objects from the sky from time to time.
If it all sounds a little surrealistic, it most certainly was, but in a fun way – and it brought in young fans by the millions. The Magic Garden ran for 12 years, garnering a number of citations for excellence in children’s programming along the way.
Carole and Paula even managed a Grammy nomination for an album of Magic Garden songs. And, in 1994, a decade after going off the air, a whole new generation of youngsters were introduced to The Magic Garden thanks to the series being rebroadcast on Nick Jr.
Millions of former kids grew up watching this captivating 70s show, enthralled by the friendly duo of Carole and Paula and their magical surroundings. If you were one of them, you’ll be happy to know that the pair remain close friends to this day and still make public appearances to meet their appreciative fans and promote The Magic Garden. It’s nice that some things don’t change.
Did you spend part of your childhood watching this daytime children’s show? I’d love to hear all of your Magic Garden memories in our comments section below.
Ephemeral New York
It was low-budget local TV at its best. Broadcast on channel 11, the show’s hosts, Carole Demas and Paula Janis (Carole had the dirty blond hair; Paula was the brunette), sang songs, read jokes from the Chuckle Patch, and talked to Sherlock the squirrel puppet. Very trippy, but very entertaining.
Former New York City teachers, Carole and Paula originally met at Brooklyn’s Midwood High School. They still perform together, and DVDs of the original show are now available.
One of the main gameplay mechanics in the game is Shantae's ability to transform into different creatures, each with their unique abilities. These transformations, such as a monkey or an elephant, allow Shantae to access previously inaccessible areas and defeat powerful enemies. Players can also collect various items and upgrades throughout the game to enhance Shantae's abilities and combat skills.
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The graphics in Shantae and the Pirate's Curse are vibrant and colorful, with detailed character designs and environments. The game features 2D hand-drawn sprites and backgrounds, giving it a distinct visual style. The soundtrack is also lively and catchy, complementing the action-packed gameplay. Overall, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse offers an engaging and enjoyable gaming experience for fans of the series and newcomers alike. With its charming characters, challenging gameplay, and beautiful visuals, it is a must-play for any Nintendo 3DS owner..
Reviews for "A Retrospective: Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on 3DS Five Years Later"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS. While the graphics and music were decent, the gameplay mechanics felt clunky and the controls were unresponsive. The platforming sections were tedious and frustrating, and the combat felt repetitive and lacking depth. Overall, I just couldn't enjoy the game and found myself getting bored quickly. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this title, but it just didn't deliver.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS was a major letdown for me. The story was lackluster and predictable, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The level design felt unoriginal and uninspired, with repetitive obstacles and puzzles that didn't offer any real challenge. The game also suffered from frequent glitches and bugs, which further hindered my overall experience. I couldn't connect with the characters or the world, and ultimately, I felt like my time and money were wasted on this game.
3. Michael - 2/5 - I found Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS to be a rather average platformer. While the graphics were colorful and charming, and the music was catchy, the gameplay felt dull and repetitive. The game lacked innovation and failed to bring anything new to the table. The combat mechanics were simplistic, and the enemies were easily dispatched without much effort. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable experience that didn't live up to the hype surrounding it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a die-hard fan of the series.
4. Emily - 3/5 - Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS didn't quite meet my expectations. The platforming sections were decent and offered some fun moments, but the game felt lacking in terms of depth and variety. The puzzles were too easy and didn't require much thought, which made the gameplay feel repetitive and monotonous after a while. Additionally, I found the dialogue to be cheesy and the story to be cliché. While it had its moments, overall, I couldn't shake the feeling that the game was missing something to make it truly engaging and memorable.