Previous games also had an optional late game sidequest that would unlock the good ending, but there’s nothing like that here, leaving the ending feeling anticlimactic, in spite of having one of the better final boss fights. Plus, since most of the game takes place in underground mazes, most of the game looks and feels rather drab, compared to the bright and sunny visuals the previous games are known for. Here, despite being featured in the title, the Seven Sirens – like the Hydra-esque Tubeworm Siren or the mecha suit wearing Coral Siren – are somewhat minor in comparison, and their encounters are far too brief. Similarly, Half-Genie Hero flexed its visual muscles regularly, with enormous, extravagantly designed boss fights. It still uses the same high res sprites as Half-Genie Hero, but that game featured some attractive 2.5D backgrounds, those have been removed in favor of completely flat 2D. This game was used at the launch of the Apple Arcade platform, and there’s definitely a sense that it was tuned for casual gamers, as opposed to 2D action platformer fans.īut other elements seem curiously stripped back from its predecessor, as if it were constrained by budget, particularly the visuals. You’ll also probably run out of stuff to buy long before you reach the end of the game. Health restoratives are abundant, and regular use of your magic attacks will make quick work of almost any boss. In contrast, Seven Sirens is almost hilariously easy. However, while the Shantae games were rarely all that difficult, they could at least provide some semblance of challenge. The supporting cast of the other half-genies – prideful Zapple, polite Vera, cutesy Plink, older sister type Harmony, and zombie Fillin – are cute, but they’re drastically underutilized, and feel like they’re more part of the “cute girl in revealing attire” quota that the Shantae series has been leaning into more and more. There’s also a scheme that sees Shantae outfitted in warrior bikini armor and encased in a blister pack, in a gag that’s taken more or less directly from a Treehouse of Horror episode from The Simpsons. Key moments include the introduction of the brother of Ammo Baron, the Armor Baron (who is apparently quite handsome according to Skye’s taste), as well as the return of Squid Baron, who reveals his dream to become a game creator. This being the fifth entry, the Shantae series has found its groove as far as its storytelling, and this one is much like the rest. It’s a nice subsystem, reminiscent of the Souls from Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, but somewhat limited by the fact that you can only equip three at a time, and some are far more useful than others, like the ones that increase damage or allow magic regeneration. There’s also a subquest to hunt for hidden gold nuggets, which can be traded to townspeople for super powerful cards. Instead, the dances are now used to summon spirits, which can have various effects on items on the screen – Seer Dance will reveal hidden platforms and enemies, Refresh Dance will nourish plants (and replenish some health), Spark Dance will zap the screen with electricity, and the Quake Dance will shake the ground and break certain walls.ĭefeated enemies will now drop associated cards, and collecting enough of them will provide some kind of perk, like increasing the speed of various forms, strengthening magic spells, and increasing item drop rates. You also can break blocks with the Bonker Tortoise get a triple jump in the form of the Jet Octo, using its ink jets to propel you through the air. For example, you’ll turn into the Dash Newt when you hit the dash button, allowing you to cling to walls, or change into the Gastro Drill and Sea Frog whenever you jump into dirt or water respectively. This entry has streamlined some of the transformation mechanics, so you no longer need to execute a dance move to change – instead, you’ll automatically change into the relevant form when you hit the button, then change back to human form when you hit the ground. As to be expected from these types of games, when you rescue one of the half-genies, they’ll grant you their powers. Paradise Island just happens to have been built on top of a gigantic labyrinth, with its interconnecting hallways feeling sort of like the PS1 classic Mega Man Legends, and it’s easily the most cohesive world design seen in the Shantae series. While the series’ previous title, Half-Genie Hero, was a stage-based platformer, Seven Sirens returns to the Metroidvania-style structure of the previous games. Things go awry almost immediately during a stage performance, where everyone except her is kidnapped, leaving her to begin an adventure to save them all. The purple haired heroine has been invited to Paradise Island to participate in the Half-Genie Festival, where she can mix and mingle with others of her kind. Shantae and friends decide to take a vacation in their fifth game, Shantae and the Seven Sirens.
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