Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a colorful action platformer from WayForward. The half-genie heroine defends Sequin Land against a series of puzzling crimes and clashes again with the pirate Risky Boots. The adventure combines hand-drawn characters, side-scrolling levels, boss battles and exploring places you have already visited.

Released Dec 20, 2016 for PC, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One and Wii U. The Nintendo Switch version followed on June 8, 2017. A native PS5 version of the Ultimate Edition was released on Nov 1, 2021 on the German PlayStation Store.

The later Ultimate Edition bundles the main game and additional modes. It is not a sequel to the 2016 adventure.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero has been released for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Wii U and Nintendo Switch. The PS5 version is a standalone release of the Ultimate Edition. Xbox Series X|S can run the Xbox One version via backward compatibility, but it does not get a native version of its own.

The Wii U version comes from the earlier Nintendo console generation. Digital sales on the Wii U eShop were discontinued later.

Shantae jumps through side-scrolling action levels, whips enemies with her hair and uses magic attacks. Items and secrets lie along the way, often only reachable with powers gained later. Bigger enemies lead to new trips back into areas you already know, rather than each area being finished after the first run.

Three larger add-on packs expand the original game: Pirate Queen’s Quest makes Risky Boots the playable character. Friends to the End puts Sky, Bolo and Rottytops in the spotlight. The Costume Pack adds further playstyles with their own costumes and special abilities.

The packs are sold separately for the original PC game. The Ultimate Edition already includes the additional content.

For the PC version, Steam lists minimum requirements of a dual-core processor at 2.2 GHz, 2 GB RAM, a DirectX 9-compatible graphics card with 1 GB video memory and 2 GB free storage. Recommended are 4 GB RAM and a graphics card in the Radeon HD 7800 or GeForce GTX 460 class. The historical OS details on the game page should be distinguished from the current requirements of the Steam client.

Shantae takes on different animal forms through belly dancing. Each one opens different movements or ways to overcome obstacles. Some paths are initially blocked and only become accessible on your next visit. This switch between precise jumping sections and the search for new routes defines the game.

The relic system expands Shantae's movement, attacks and transformations. Unlocked powers change not only combat but also access to hidden areas. With more gear, you can cross familiar locations in new ways.

The story takes you through Sequin Land and back to Scuttle Town. Shantae meets old friends and a range of quirky enemies before she has to face Risky Boots again. Between the action-packed stages, conversations, small tasks and the search for items keep things varied.

Large bosses close off important stages. Their attacks require different reactions from the ordinary enemies in the levels. Combat uses the movement-based core system of jumps, hair attacks and abilities unlocked later.

The base game was released in 2016. The Ultimate Edition bundles later character campaigns and costume modes with the main adventure. If you choose a version, check exactly what it includes. The native PS5 release is sold on the PlayStation Store as the Ultimate Edition.

The PC version supports German menu and subtitle text with English voice acting. Half-Genie Hero is designed as a single-player adventure. On Nintendo Switch, play modes include TV, tabletop and handheld, among others.