Shantae and the Seven Sirens Review: a defective but fun adventure
THE Shantae The series of platforms has always been a quirk in the independent play space. While most Indies exist as standard,, Shantae is now five strong games. The series dates back to 2002, when the original Shantae Launched on Game Boy Color.
Despite an eight -year interruption, the series resurfaced in 2010 with Shantae: Risky’s revenge For Nintendo DSI. Since then, the developer-publisher Wayforward has published successful entries like Clockwork. This is proof that large franchises do not always come from massive studios.
Shantae and the seven sirensThe last entry of the series, published for the first time in 2019 for iOS and Mac as part of Apple Arcade. Some half year later, Seven sirens Finally made its way to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Make no mistake: despite the launch on Apple devices, Seven sirens is a full -fledged Shantae following. There are platforms, Metroidvania power-ups, dungeons, boss battles, etc. And everything is linked to a magnificent presentation adapted to its $ 30 price.
The end result is a largely pleasant adventure, even for those who are new in the series. Unfortunately, there are problems – namely a tedious backtrack and a general lack of difficulty – which retain Seven sirens real size.
Vacay turned Nay-Cay
Shantae and the seven sirens Offers a simple entry point for the series. The holder Shantae descends from a line of magic geniuses. While the geniuses are extinguished, the half -ganies – the by -product of a human father and a mother genius – live.
Seven sirens Open with Shantae arriving on Paradise Island with her uncle Mimic and her friends Sky and Bolo. Shantae was invited to the island to participate in a festival alongside other half-ganies in the world.
Shantae soon befriends the other half-ganies: Harmony, Zapple, Vera, Plink and Fillin. However, the night of their great performance, the girls disappear, with the exception of Shantae. Armed with her transformation and dance powers, Shantae intends to save her companions.
Along the way, Shantae will explore the mysterious city. Located under the surface of the island, the city tunnels and rooms in the city hide various secrets. The city also houses the seven sirens – mythical beings who will help or hinder Shantae in its quest.
It is a simple configuration, a reflect of Seven sirens“A bigger story. Although there are a lot of dialogues, cut scenes and twists and turns, the story ultimately serves as a reason to explore. Expect to fall into a rhythm soon: navigate in the casting city, conquer a siren dungeon and release a captive half genius.
Admittedly, this is normal for the course for most platforms. But games like Celestial,, OrAnd Hollow knight have raised the bar with regard to the narration and construction of the world. In comparison, Seven sirens“Narrative – although entertaining and well written – takes place without inspiration.
Shantae’s legend
Or Shantae and the seven sirens Note The relay is with its gameplay. In an ode to Zelda,, Seven sirens Tasks of players to sail in a labyrinthine world. The world is separated into various biomes, each with its own dungeon to beat and the siren boss at best.
There are a lot of interesting things to see and do here. Shantae’s quest brings him to various cities, each with its own stores and NPCs. In the world, you can also discover an optional puzzle rooms, which generally reward you with currencies or cardiac calmars (that is to say hearts).
Seven sirens Also share his DNA with Metroidvanias. In each dungeon, Shantae has access to a new crossing power, such as an outdoor dashboard or a triple jump. By learning new capacities, Shantae can go to new areas of the map and discover previously inaccessible collectibles.
As you may have guessed, Seven sirens Carries his inspiration on his sleeve. However, what the game lacks in the unique character, it compensates for execution.
I whip my hair back and forth
Navigation in Shantae is child’s play. This is largely thanks to a tight platform, fluid crossing options and reactive controls.
The fight is also simple, but fun. With the tap of a button, Shantae takes out her hair to attack enemies without distrust. Think of (real) whip of Castlemixed with the flair of Bayonetta. It is a cool decision and one with a satisfactory weight with each strike. (The Switch version in particular uses its high effect HD rumble.)
Shantae also has access to various spells during fighting. By spending MP, you can launch a powerful magic, fireballs with floating scimitars. You will also acquire various dance movements throughout the story, allowing even more devastating attacks.
The dungeons are also very fun. The game takes familiar clues from Link getaway, tasks players to find a dungeon card, door keys and power to help progression. In addition, each boss has its own flavor and offers a satisfactory meaning of the scale and the spectacle.
Easy magic genius
But all this comes with some unhappy warnings. As interesting as the world and its fight can be, experience is retained by its difficulty – or its total absence.
From the start, I had little trouble sailing Seven sirens“Overworld and beating enemies. With limited starting health, I would not have found so much problem. But, like how Zelda The games decrease in difficulty while you have more hearts, Shantae It is easier than the improvements I have discovered. There are even potions and consumable foods that will restore your health.
To add the insult to an injury (nonexistent), the game sets even more difficulty tools. A purchase -upable upgrade allows Shantae to attack faster. After buying the iterations V2 and V3 of the article – each better than the next – the Shantae was a team of demolition of a girl. Enemies, sirens, same risky boots … No one was standing on their way.
Of course, those looking for a challenge can simply avoid these upgrades. But for anyone looking to buy each item and discover each secret Seven sirens To offer, you will have to make a rather unhappy compromise.
It should be noted that there is a more difficult difficulty that unlocks at the end of the game. But this mode is not available from the start, which means that you will have to play Seven sirens More than once to get a semblance of challenge.
A nightmare backwards
The other major problem found in Seven sirens? Back back.
Almost all metroidvanias have a backtrack. This is practically a conclusion before, given the importance of reviewing areas with new brilliant articles. Although the backtrack is never particularly pleasant, it is something that players often seem to be to appreciate the forces of the genre.
Shantae try to alleviate the problem with a quick travel system. Each biome of the world has its own chain room, which allows you to teleport to any previously visited node. Again, it is a fairly standard practice with many gender titles.
The problem is that this year Ori and the will of the Wisps spoiled me. In this game, you are able to travel quickly anywhereAs long as you have unlocked the quick travel knot you want to visit. You simply remove the card, select your destination and you go.
Seven sirens Demands that the player goes physically to a chain room whenever he wants to travel quickly. It may seem a subtle difference, but it’s like night and day. I found myself a lot, simply because the card is large and the channel rooms are difficult to find.
This is by no means a dealbreaker. But I would love Wayforward to take a signal from Or For future entries.
I have to collect them all
While most elements in Seven sirens are a well-used territory, the game offers an intelligent meta-game that distinguishes it. By beating monsters you meet in your quest, some will abandon a personal business card that you can collect.
In a submenu, you can see all the different monster cards that you have raised. But you can also go further by equipping up to three of these cards at any time. This will provide Shantae additional capacities. For example, a card can accelerate its dashboard speed, while another can increase the damage to her hair.
Unfortunately, these capacities are quite without consequences. They do not modify the gameplay significantly. Unlike a game like Bastionwhich allows you to take up the challenge for greater awards, Seven sirens“The cards do little to mitigate the low difficulty of the game. However, the meta -game is a nice touch for the compreheists – or speedrunners who are looking to shave a free time.
Dancing
If there is one aspect of Seven sirens I have absolutely no scruples, it’s a presentation. The game looks great, with net art, colored environments and expressive enemy drawings. There are also stellar anime kinematics, produced by Studio Trigger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0wdusip1is
In addition, each character in the game benefits from a dynamic inactive animation. Whether it is Shantae Dancing or NPCs that translate to the pace, Seven sirens has an incredible style, and he is not afraid to show it.
Speaking of rhythm, Shantae and the seven sirens To a part of the most catchy music I heard in a platform to date. Produced by a group of composers led by the Japanese composer Kentaro Sakamoto, Seven sirens“The soundtrack is a Russian mountain of bops chiptune.
There is “Laboratory», With its Groovy Crochet and rebounding note sequences. There is “Armor», With its fascinating races and its silky bridge. And then there is “Boss of Boss», A pulse pulse track supported by powerful horns and a leaping bass.
My point is as follows: if you are looking for a chill platform game that is light on history and the challenge, but heavy on the groove, Seven sirens is for you.
Final reflections
Shantae and the seven sirens is a pleasant light point in what was otherwise a depressing 2020.
Of course, the game is a pushover. His backtracking can be a chore, and he is not particularly new. But he struck music, fun platforms, exciting dungeons and a charming protagonist in Shantae.
Resulting from about eight to 12 noon, Seven sirens is an important game that is better than the sum of its parts. The price of $ 30 can deactivate some, but those who are ready to make the jump of faith should find something to appreciate.
Score: 8.0 / 10
