Shantae And The Pirate’s Curse has come to the Nintendo Switch, brining one of the best received entries to Nintendo’s new system. But how does it compare after playing Half-Genie Hero on the Switch? Surprisingly enough, its much better than I thought it would be, and I had expected it to be very good to begin with.
What makes this port to Switch great is that there were a number of alterations made. For example, the game has incorporated HD rumble in a subtle way. It is not as extensive as with Half-Genie Hero, but does help make certain parts of the game a bit more immersive. Scenes where the dark magic is absorbed for example, actually feel more involved this way. As I said, this is a more minor way than other games but actually works better this way. This is not the only change however, as I noticed a variety of minor tweaks and improvements to the overall experience. Shantae recovers faster from attacks a few seconds faster, there is slightly more control when falling, and the animation just seems smoother in general.
What is a major addition to this version however, is a new minigame that can be played in the shop. It involves the monkey transformation and moving between two trees to grab items. It isn’t a major game changer, but is surprisingly addictive. This is where HD rumble really does get used well, as the minigame has as impact felt whenever you move between the trees. You won’t spend too much time here, but it is fun for a while, and a good time waster if you want a brief break from the main game for a little bit.
Shantae And the Pirate’s Curse is otherwise the same, and that means it is one of the best games WayForward ever made. It is extremely well designed and just gives you a sense of satisfaction as you play it. If you played Half-Genie Hero and want to play more of Shantae’s adventures, this is a great game to try out and see more. I highly recommend checking this out.
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by WayFoward.