Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Critic Reviews

Pirate's Curse works in a way so positively different than the previous games that it may represent the pinnacle of the series.

Whether or not you’re a platforming fan, and whether or not you’ve played any of the previous titles in this series, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is an exceptionally well-crafted game that should not be ignored.

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a must-play game. If you’ve enjoyed the previous Shantae games at all, or you just like well-designed platforming action games, this is something special.

The gameplay is fun, varied and challenging, and will test the skills of even the most hardcore platforming fans.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is packed full of good times guaranteed to please fans of platforming games.

It's a great experience, one that you won't regret getting into.

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.

As was the case with so many games from the Golden Era, the pros in Pirate’s Curse far outweigh the cons. If the Super Nintendo has a special place in your heart, like it does in mine, this is a game you’ll want to waste no time in picking up. Even if you’re of the misguided opinion that other generations are better (hint: you’re wrong), if you like platforming, pirates, genies, or just good games in general, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is worth your attention.

High quality level design and music deliver a funny adventure with the lovely Shantae; this quest is a truly enjoyable one, even if it ends a little bit earlier than expected.

A well-done and solid title, a simple yet intriguing metroidvania. There's a little bit of backtracking and the game is pretty short, but the replayability is good and the price is definitely right.

The best retro throwbacks rise above their influences to become something endearing of their own accord. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse does just that, with quality and production values that rival many AAA releases. The franchise clearly has a lot of heart, and the developers at WayForward have established a bright world filled with fun and interesting characters.

The lack of meaningful obstacles lessens the overall experience a bit, but Shantae and the Pirate's Curse still stands as an excellent addition to a series with a devoted fan base. The Pirate's Curse adheres to the Metroidvania formula from previous games, but everything here feels bigger and better. I imagine the devoted fan base will only grow after more people play it.

Without magic, Shantae is even more charming than ever, and transforms this pirate's curse into a blessing. The belly dancer not only captures all the platformers tricks, but she also expresses her hairy character to boot. Such mischievous narrative, passionate work, sharpened gameplay and gripping adventure will generously fulfill the wishes of the genre's lovers.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a testament to the way platform games were made back in the days of GameBoy, with a lot of attention to details and pixel perfect jumps:in 2015 this is still the way to go for 2d games, no matter the platform and the budget.

Shantae has always been a passion project for WayForward, but this is the first time the series feels like it properly realizes the developer's ambition for it. A fun, funny, and pleasant substantial Metroid-alike boasting phenomenal old-school visuals and a refreshing sense of optimism, it's both an eShop standout and a great (though by no means final) conclusion to a slow-burning trilogy of games.

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 might put off a lot of its target audience with its bright and cartoony graphics, but devoted Metroidvania/platformer fans will not want to miss this excellently animated sprite game.

Fans of Shantae's previous adventures will likely find more to love with Pirate's Curse, but there are enough superior retro-inspired games (Shovel Knight, Strider, Azure Striker Gunvolt, etc.) to make this one hard to recommend unless you've already played them all. However, there is fun to be had if you're a tenacious enough pirate to dig for WayForward's buried gold.