In my review of Risky’s Revenge, I said the sequel seemed even better.
It is. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse was a blast to play.
It picks up after the events of Risky’s Revenge, where Scuttle Town has been taken over by the Ammo Baron.
Meanwhile, the evil Pirate Master, once sealed away by the genies, is attempting to revive himself. Shantae teams up with her former nemesis, the pirate captain Risky Boots, to stop the Pirate Master’s plans.
Risky’s Revenge felt like a Metroidvania with a few Zelda-like elements, and Pirate’s Curse feels almost like what a Zelda game would be if The Legend of Zelda was a 2D platformer.
Instead of a single overworld with new areas to unlock like in its predecessor, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse sends you to several different islands. On those islands, you’ll go through dungeons filled with locked doors and occasional puzzles and find new pieces of equipment to help you access new areas.
The dialogue is even funnier than it was in Risky’s Revenge, with many ridiculous moments and even a bit of fourth-wall-breaking. Pirate’s Curse has a quirky cast of characters and a stronger emphasis on story, particularly where the characters are concerned.
It might not keep you in tense anticipation of where the plot will go, but I was genuinely intrigued by Shantae’s interactions with her allies, especially Rottytops and Risky Boots.
Depending on how well you do at gathering the game’s collectibles, you’ll also see one of two endings: the basic ending or an extended true ending. Fortunately, the game’s structure generally makes it fun to seek out hidden areas (except for a few tedious areas I wished I didn’t have to backtrack through in search of secrets), and I recommend going for the true ending.
Overall, I found Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse to be a really fun, not to mention funny, platformer. I’m looking forward to playing Half-Genie Hero, although I’ve heard it makes some significant changes.
What are your thoughts on Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse?
