Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

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.

A solid retro-minded throwback that packs some funny dialogue but ultimately fails in its backtracking-heavy quest structure

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse under-delivers on a few aspects of the overall package, but the fact remains -- genie or not, Shantae is still very much relevant in the current market. Just keep in mind that at times it feels like an appetizer for the upcoming Half-Genie Hero, which sees the full return of Shantae's powers as well as a fully playable Risky Boots.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse has many of the trappings of a fantastic Metroidvania game, but has a few notable flaws holding it back from greatness. For people who can't get enough of the genre, the game will likely serve as an enjoyable and light-hearted diversion, but for gamers looking for a Metroid substitute on the PS4, there are better options like Axiom Verge or Guacamelee! already available on the system.

We'd give this game a strong recommendation to anybody who hasn't played it yet and would still encourage veterans to consider double dipping.

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse works just as well on a console as it did on a handheld.

Honestly, Pirate’s Curse refined the franchise the most and gave fans a lot to hope for and look forward to. While I can see an argument that Seven Sirens is the best game of the franchise, for me, that honor belongs to Pirate’s Curse. And this replay on the PlayStation 5 only served to crystalize that fact for me. So, if you haven’t tried it yet, give the best Shantae game a chance and discover why so many people love this underrated franchise.

Shantae's arrival to the Nintendo Switch does not happen with an original game but rather with a direct port of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. Nothing here is new other than the HD Rumble feature...but there is absolutely nothing to complain about, the game is as marvelous as it was and its superb visuals, level design and gameplay mechanics represent some of the very best to be found in the Metroidvania style.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a brilliant platformer that's fun, challenging, humorous, and looks great. If you haven't already checked this out, I highly recommend that you give it a go!

A metroidvania that you will want to explore and collect everything. A game that will make you fight, navigate and laugh from start to finish.