Traaaaaaannnnssssss....fooooooorrrmmmm......
I have to confess that I have never heard of or played a game starring Shantae: Half Genie Hero until now. A series of games that is now four installments in. This installment was funded via a Kickstarter campaign and blasted through its initial funding goal nearly reaching one million dollars. This is the series first entry onto this generation of consoles and with character DLC on the horizon was this a Kickstarter worth backing?
Shantae: Helf-Genie Hero is a gorgeous looking 2D platformer where you jump around collecting items and whip the crap out of any enemy that dares to cross your path with your hair. There are five distinct world's to collect and fight through with each loaded with secrets and collectibles. You can also buy various items from Scuttle Town which serves as the game's hub where you can also engage with NPC’s to gather more information and further the story. Scuttle Town is your central transportation hub and from here you can choose which level you want to revisit among those you have already unlocked. You can also get information regarding the amount of collectibles you have found in each level so you can track down those hidden objects. A handy little feature which other games of this type could take a cue from is the whistle mechanic which you can use to transport you back to Scuttle Town rather than completing the whole level again.
Like all 2D platformers the controls need to be tight and super responsive. I'm glad to report that they are spot on and you'll soon find yourself leaping around the levels annihilating every enemy that dares to cross your path while collecting everything you can see. During the game Shantae is given magical transformation dances (yes you read that right) which let her transform into a variety of different animals. At the end of each chapter you are rewarded with a new transformation. You can find some transformations throughout the world but you can also buy them. The transformations empower you with abilities which allow you to pass through areas/objects you wouldn't normally be able to. One transformation turns you into crab so you can explore the water filled platforming levels or a mouse that lets you squeeze into tiny passages and the monkey that boosts your jumping height. Each transformation can also be upgraded some are mandatory but other are optional.
You'll definitely need to unlock every upgrade if you're the type of gamer who must collect every single object.
Working in tandem with the transformation spells is the magic and relic system. These are optional in game purchases. These allow Shantae to engage or defend with her enemies from a much greater distance in a huge variety of different ways. You can also upgrade these abilities to make them more powerful. Relics that act as power-ups can also be found throughout the game or purchased. They will reduce the damage you take when hit or speed up your transformations. The intriguing things about these relics is you are in total control of them and you can even switch them on and off in the pause menu.
I absolutely love Shantae: Half-Genie Hero's aesthetic. It's bright, colorful and cartoon graphics pop out of the screen at you. The animation of the characters is gorgeous and fluid. Every thing character moves with such a feeling of emotion that you have to see it to believe it and because of that the world feels vibrant and alive. The soundtrack is composed by series regular Jake Kaufman and each piece of music fits it's stage like a glove.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is fairly short in length and with all relics switched on you could probably breeze through it in just a few hours but if you want to collect everything it will take considerably longer than that. A fantastic 2D platformer packed to the roof with things to do and that's not including the already announced free DLC which promises to add even more longevity. This has clearly been a labour of love for WayForward and I cannot recommend it enough.
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: WayForward
Website: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Twitter: @WayForward
Review code supplied by XCN.