4/5 ★ – Diluted_Thought's review of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.

I'm new to this franchise so I don't have much context to go by as fas as understanding the relationships between certain characters and where they started but none of that is particularly important to me when it came to playing this title. "Half Genie Hero" has been on many lists of games that should be experienced ranging from Best Platformers on the Vita, to Best Platformers on the Switch to Best Modern Platformers. This was everywhere, so I finally gave it a shot. I can now understand the love that this game has garnered. For one its a really pretty platformer with wonderfully vibrant aesthetics, a great cast of characters, silly writing and a banger soundtrack. The game doesn't outstay its welcome either as there are only a handful of levels but they are packed with secrets to find so there's plenty of backtracking. Plus this feels less like a Metroidvania and something more akin to Mega Man X. It also has plenty of challenge without ever feeling impossible. Add to that, there are a few transformations like the Bat and the Harpy that are super exploitable and can get you through certain levels in a snap. There really is plenty to enjoy here and I recommend this title for anyone still interested in 2D platformers. "Shante: Half Genie Hero" is a great summer game for sure and even though I personally gave it an 8 out of 10, it's definitely a 10 in its genre.