Shantae: Half-Genie Hero 2016

Released: December 20, 2016
Anniversary: Turns 10 on December 20
Genres: Platform · Adventure · Indie
Platforms: PlayStation 4 · PC · PlayStation 5 · Wii U · PlayStation Vita · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch
Developer: WayForward
More info: Wikipedia IGDB

Where to buy

On sale: $26.09 $29.99 -13% as Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition on Fanatical More deals on Fanatical, and in Adventure
Digital: GOG Fanatical Steam Nintendo Xbox PlayStation
Physical: Search on Amazon

Affiliate links: GOG, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, ININ Games and Amazon

Is it still worth playing?

WayForward Technologies' 2016 platformer, the fourth Shantae game, crowdfunded on Kickstarter and PayPal with over 900,000 dollars. You play Shantae, a half genie who attacks with her hair as a whip and collects dances that transform her. The monkey and elephant return, joined by a bat that crosses long gaps, a crab that moves underwater and a mouse that crawls into small mazes, and each form can be upgraded with new abilities. Those forms open the stages up. Unlike the connected maps of earlier games, this one is split into action stages that you replay to reach new items with the powers you gain, and some of those visits are required to progress. On top of that, a magic meter lets you cast unlocked spells at will. Stages that hold more each time you return with a new form still give a reason to replay them today.