Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero – Nindie Spotlight – Gaming’s Best Genie
The Shantae series is one of my favorite indie game series on the market, and Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero is an absolutely amazing title that saw WayForward jump onto Kickstarter for the first time. Backers were very pleased with the campaign, how WayForward handled communication, and ultimately we got one of the better modern-day Shantae games!
My name is Jason, and this is your Nindie Spotlight for today: Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero!
Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero
Shantae embarks on her first full HD adventure! When a mysterious crime wave sweeps Sequin Land, it’s up to Half-Genie Hero Shantae to save the day! You use Shantae’s devastating Hair-Whip Attack to send monsters flying, or you can Belly Dance to transform into a more powerful creature form. Topple the masterminds behind each criminal caper and prepare for the ultimate showdown against Shantae’s arch nemesis – the bodacious buccaneer Risky Boots!
For those unfamiliar, the Shantae series follows an adorable protagonist that is a living, breathing genie. She is very powerful, but she is also subject to hardships in life and difficult decisions.
Shantae dances to transform into creatures that help her along the journey in these spectacular metroidvania titles. I personally reviewed the newer Shantae and the Seven Sirens, but honestly, 1/2 Genie Hero may be my favorite in the series.
The Cast of Characters
One of Shantae’s greatest assets are the lovable and fantastic characters that are sprinkled throughout the series, and what makes it all even better is how WayForward continues to include each of these characters into their stories as they make new ones. Outside of Shantae herself, the second star of 1/2 Genie Hero is none other than her arch nemesis: the evil-doing pirate, Risky Boots!
Bolo and Sky are long-time friends of Shantae, and then you also have Rottytops, a cute zombie friend that is as ridiculous as she sounds. Every character serves a grand purpose not only to the story but also to the fun and silly antics that happen throughout.
For a game that is seemingly not-so-serious, I assure you that the characters are all wonderfully presented and cater towards a fantastic story in the Shantae universe. It is simply hard to not fall in love with every single one, including that dastardly Risky Boots.
Big Scale and Fun Boss Fights
As is the case in most metroidvania games, Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero presents the player with some amazing boss fights! One thing that the Shantae series is especially know for are the massive scale of the bosses and how they differ incredibly from the common enemies, and this is no different in 1/2 Genie Hero!
I also love how 1/2 Genie Hero changes the formula of a standard 2D metroidvania boss fight. Instead of just simply going back and forth, dodging as you can and attacking at the right times, 1/2 Genie Hero tries different things, like adding layers to the boss fight or even providing a seemingly circular arena as you run around plotting your next attack opportunity.
The Shantae series has always done an amazing job challenging its players in unique and fun ways, and I think 1/2 Genie Hero is one of the best when it comes to its bosses and setups. Some may be quite the challenge, but they are all beautifully and wonderfully made.
Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero is a part of one of the most successful indie franchises out there, and this beyond successful Kickstarter title is possibly the greatest Shantae entry yet. There is just so much to love about this game and the series, and I cannot wait for WayForward to deliver us more Shantae goodness on Switch!
So get ready to shake those hips and transform into some fantastic beasts, because Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero is an indie game you absolutely need to download on your Nintendo Switch. Make it so!
There is your Nindie Spotlight on Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero. Check back again next time for a look into another great Nindie title. What are some of your favorite indie games? Let us know in the comments below! Thank you for visiting Nintendo Link. Happy gaming, everyone.
What's Your Reaction?
