Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

IGN

Scott Thompson

8.5 / 10.0

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.

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Metro GameCentral

David Jenkins

8 / 10

Some of the best 2D sprite work ever seen in a video game, and all used to support an impressively varied and imaginative Metroidvania.

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Game Informer

Tim Turi

7 / 10.0

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

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USgamer

Jeremy Parish

With this game, a cult favorite comes into its own. 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.

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Destructoid

Chris Carter

7.5 / 10.0

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.

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Game Revolution

Anthony LaBella

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.

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Hobby Consolas

Alberto Lloret

78 / 100

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is the very same game from 2014 (even from the graphical side), with few improvements, like rumble HD. A fast port that Shantae's hardcore fans and newcomers will enjoy, but for all those that already played it on 3DS, Wii U, PC or Xbox One, there are better options out there, like Half-Genie Hero (also on Switch).

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Hardcore Gamer

Geoff Thew

4.5 / 5.0

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

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