Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition - Review

 The definitive Half-Genie experience.

Console: Nintendo Switch.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, the fourth entry in independent developer WayForward's mascot series, was funded through a Kickstarter campaign. Due to this, the game has a ton of different modes that are successfully funded stretch goals. These modes were made available as DLC and later bundled together in one definitive package: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition. 

I only just reviewed the base release and while that is a flawed experience I had, for the 2nd time, lots of fun. It made me want to dive into all these extra stretch goal modes that I've yet to experience. 

So, let's dive into the Ultimate Edition of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero and see what all those extra modes bring to the table. If you want my thoughts on the main game, the core experience, and the 2 modes in that package (Hero and Hard) you have to check out that 'base' review I mentioned. 

Pirate Queen's Quest

Pirate Queen's Quest is all about Risky Boots. At the end of the main game you learn that the 4 barons had run-ins with Risky. Well, this is that story. To finish her big bad weapon, Risky sets out to collect the final few parts from the Barons. 

This mode lets you play through the game as Risky using the moveset, the pirate equipment, from Pirate's Curse. The glider hat, the pistol etc. You also have some new equipment like a handy-dandy grappling hook as well as different ammo types for your pistol. A spread shot and seeker missiles respectively. They're one-use items but with how plentiful ammo drops are that's not really an issue.

You play through the 6 levels in any order you choose but the levels are a bit uneven because of this approach. Starting out, Risky is weak. Little health, low damage output. The deeper you go and the more upgrades you scrounge together the easier it gets. More movement options, larger health pool etc. The same goes for the bosses: someone like Ammo Baron is an exercise in frustration as your first level, but as you're last? With the fully upgraded spread shot, he was a piece of cake. 

Running through Scuttle Town as Risky, ´disciplining´ her men. 

Even with this imbalance, I found Pirate Queen's Quest to be my favourite mode. The return of a familiar gameplay style, 2 different kinds of collectables and some neat dialogue and humour with Risky. 

Stray thought: WayForward could very well make a Risky spin-off title with this gameplay. Keep it a 2D sidescroller where Shantae remains a Metroidvania. I think it would work. 

Friends to the End

In ´Friends to the End´ you play as Shantae´s friends Sky, Bolo and Rottytops as they jump into Shantae's memories, the first 5 levels, to save her from corruption. Of all the modes, WayForward seems to have put the most effort into this one. We have an actual narrative here, an actual tutorial, redone music from older Shantae titles and a new final level. 

The mode is more puzzle-focused. Sky, Bolo and Rottytops each have a unique ability and switching between them to chain these abilities to overcome all the obstacles in your way is the name of the game here. Going through each level like this is genuinely fun and neat to experience. 

On the top left you have your health meter of 3 hearts, a magic meter and a level meter. Each character's special move requires magic to use and by collecting gems you can level up your character. This means that attacks hit harder and you use less magic for special attacks. I found this to be a rather meaningless addition: handicapping your combat abilities just... because.  

Rottytops special ability is throwing her head and teleporting to wherever it lands. 

Making the energy meter character-specific was a big mistake if you ask me. You only have 3 hearts and the mode is very stingy on health and magic pickups. With how hard-hitting the enemies are you will lose a lot of health and will need to rely on Rottytops special to regain it. Nothing is more frustrating than finally getting a magic drop only to see it wasted because you weren't expecting it and picked it up with the wrong character. Add in that enemies, especially the bosses, don't seem to be adjusted to the less combat-capable trio and you will suffer many frustrating Game Overs. 

WayForward put quite a bit of effort into this mode and I did have fun but, to me, it was too difficult and frustrating. I really had to push myself to finish it and don't see myself ever playing it again. 

Officer, Ninja, Beach & Jammies Mode

The last 4 new modes are all 'novelty' modes. They use the same level system as 'Friends to the End' and each introduces a unique mechanic of their own, to mixed results. 

Let's start with my favourite: Officer mode. It's a crossover with Wayfoward's Mighty Switch Force.

In a bit of roleplaying Shantae puts on Patricia Wagon's Officer outfit to apprehend all 'Space Hooligan Girls' running all around Sequin Land. 

Shantae puts on the siren helmet, grabs an upgradable pistol and goes through each level with the series trademark pushing and pulling blocks from the background to the foreground mechanic. Use them to create platforms to stand on or push enemies, or herself if she stands in front of one, off the screen. The puzzles aren't very complicated but for a fan of the Mighty Switch Force games, which I am, it's a fun mode to experience. A mini Mighty Switch Force experience with a Shantae flavour. 

Starring Shantae as Patricia Wagon and Risky Boots as a Hooligan Girls. 

For the speedrunners, we have Ninja Mode. The ninja costume Shantae ordered has finally arrived and she takes it on a spin. The ninja outfit increases Shantae's movement speed and gives her a wall jump and a multi-directional teleport. Going fast is fun, especially when you manage to chain teleports, jumps and wall climbs together seamlessly. 

That said: it is easy to lose control of Shantae because of the speed. The levels also aren't made for this type of movement with frequent overshooting platforms and slamming face-first into walls as the result. 

Jammies Mode is quite fun. Shantae decides to invite friends and foes alike to a slumber party. In her payama´s with magic floating cloud, throwable sheep and pillow she embarks across Sequin Land to hand out invitations. 

Fitting for its sleeping vibe, Jammie Mode is a breezy experience. The floating allows you to just ignore certain obstacles and platforming sections, health drops are plentiful and that pillow packs a mean punch. Not a bad mode to waste an hour or two in. Just be wary of the Tower level: the RNG with the floating mechanic, the replacement for the transformations, and the fire-breathing statues can be really bad. 

If you liked Jammies Mode but thought it was too easy, then Beach Mode is for you. Shantae has a beach day and runs all throughout Sequin Land to find the best spot to sunbathe. Everything she can do is the same as Jammie Mode but with a beach twist and a handicap. 

Due to the strong sun and Shantae forgetting sunscreen, she starts taking damage after a while. To stop this you have to collect bottles of sunscreen. This makes the mode a lot more frantic and I'm not a fan. I just don't like a handicap such as this. Also: the problem in the Tower Level persists here. 

Conclusion

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition gives the entire package a lot more content and value. Of all the different modes, Pirate Queen's Quest and Friens to the End are the most substantial ones. They feature new playable characters, some story content and drastically different gameplay. These modes are worth playing through after finishing Shantae's main adventures even if they can be frustrating at times. The other modes are more novelties. They have their own flavour of fun but none of them have any real staying power. If you want to play Shantae: Half-Genie Hero don't cheap out and grab the Ultimate Edition for a bigger, better, experience.