80
A treasure trove of tantalizing trials for players of every possible persuasion. [Issue #34 – July/August 2018, p.72]
86
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition offers an extensive menu of DLC. In some cases, these new contents change the plot. Other contents are focused on the gameplay. However, the player will find the same worlds that the original story offers, but all of them are free in this Ultimate version. It is a version that will not disappoint anyone.
80
As a whole, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition is literally the complete package for fans of the series and genre enthusiasts. It's not the best platformer around, but it is a fun journey, especially with the additional DLC characters. I wish the developer would've embraced the Metroidvania aspects more, gotten more creative with some platforming segments, and included a few more environments for the DLC, but there is not much else I can hold against this truly fun platformer.
10
Exquisito juego, buen lore buenos personajes, la maravillosa shantae y su inigualable esencia es un juegazo completísimo y muy lindos dibujos jugarlo es un placer.
8
A great platformer that has a lot of style. Some of the backtracking through the levels isn't great and some of the hidden areas are a little obscure, but its still a really good entry into the Shantae-verse.
8
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - Ultimate Edition
Released On:
May 8, 2018
Metascore
Generally Favorable
84
User score
Generally Favorable
7.9
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
91% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
9% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
May 15, 2018
100
No matter what, make it your business to download Half-Genie Hero on Switch today, as it’s not just the best Shantae yet, it’s also one of the best platformers on the system, period.
May 6, 2018
90
This game is fun for all ages and provides you with the opportunity to play as a female heroine for once in a while. She uses her hair as a weapon and transforms by belly dancing to save the world. Yes this is awesome.
User score
Generally Favorable
75% Positive
93 Ratings
93 Ratings
18% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
7% Negative
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
Feb 18, 2025
10
Exquisito juego, buen lore buenos personajes, la maravillosa shantae y su inigualable esencia es un juegazo completísimo y muy lindos dibujos jugarlo es un placer.
Jun 10, 2023
10
This is definitely one of Shantae's best outings yet. The art style is cartoony and charming, This game got rid of the more metroid-vania style of adventuring, although adds more interesting platforming that couldn't exist if it were still going metroid-vania style. This game also has plenty ending screens, making you want to try the game in many ways. One of my favorite platformers ever.
Sep 4, 2018
86
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition offers an extensive menu of DLC. In some cases, these new contents change the plot. Other contents are focused on the gameplay. However, the player will find the same worlds that the original story offers, but all of them are free in this Ultimate version. It is a version that will not disappoint anyone.
May 18, 2018
85
Shantae: Half- Genie Hero Ultimate Edition includes the basic version and all the numerous additional contents of the last few months.
Aug 15, 2018
80
As a whole, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition is literally the complete package for fans of the series and genre enthusiasts. It's not the best platformer around, but it is a fun journey, especially with the additional DLC characters. I wish the developer would've embraced the Metroidvania aspects more, gotten more creative with some platforming segments, and included a few more environments for the DLC, but there is not much else I can hold against this truly fun platformer.
May 10, 2018
78
There’s definitely a Frankenstein’s Half-Genie of ideas at play here though; as much as the game does right none of it is original or groundbreaking. Still, I did enjoy playing through it a whole lot, its light and fanciful approach offering a nice break than some of the heavier games of late. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is more than the sum of its parts, but I just wish a few of those parts were original concepts.
Aug 10, 2018
70
Featuring additional content that includes some varied mechanics, as well as some recycled elements from before, this edition is certain to please those who did not get their hands on the original game.
Jul 21, 2022
10
Love this game! Love everything about it! One of my 10 favorite games of all time
Feb 10, 2023
7
The colourful and vibrant characters/levels were very cool to experience, I found the gameplay lacking however with weird controls and at points annoying level designs. other than that I had fun with it.
Apr 18, 2022
7
So this is my first Shantae game and i gotta say, not bad, not bad at all. First and foremost, its a fun game. Thats the most important factor for me. The visiuals are gorgeous, the music is fun and catchy, art is wonderful and the animations are very smooth and expressive. The story is so-so however, but still fun. Levels are great too and the dancing to transform is so much fun. Shantae herself is super adorable and the Platforming is exactly as fun as i want from a platformer. Giga Mermaid is WOW
Jan 29, 2019
4
This was my first exposure to the series, I had been recommended it by a few people and had some money to drop, but holy crap what the heck were they thinking? Why make a platformer with the core mechanic being "STOP!!!!!!!" why put such a focus on character writing if you aren't going to make a cohesive story, and after doing some research I also found out that all the extra modes in this game WEREN'T EVEN AVAILABLE AT LAUNCH AND WERE SEPARATE DLC... this game was already short enough as it is, but holy crap it's unforgivable to release a game like this. If I were to identify the biggest problem, it's gotta be the main mechanic, the transformation system is such a mess that I can't believe a series could've existed for nearly 20 years using this mechanic. Such a pace breaking mechanic with so little application that I can't even fathom what the idea was behind it... if that's what the rest of this series is like, I don't see this series deserving a 6 let alone an 84. I later tried Pirate's Curse as some Shantae fans said that game is great, but god dang it didn't grab me in, guess this series just isn't for me.
Dec 26, 2020
0
It’s pretty much Super Mario Bros but with unnecessary features that make it a lot less fun. One of the only reasons people play is probably the overdone fan service.
SummaryIconic genie Shantae is back in her most thrilling adventure yet! The award-winning 2D platforming series levels-up to stunning new heights thanks to an eye-popping new graphical style, an infectious soundtrack and incredible new game features. Transform into different creatures, dance through dynamic, danger-filled stages, complete ques... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
Platforms:
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- PC
- PlayStation 5
Initial Release Date:May 8, 2018
Developer:
Publisher:
