Oh Shantae, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
As I've noted before, rarely do video games make me literally smile while I'm playing, but WayForward's Shantae series has me grinning like a durn fool. I'm besotted with these adventures, having fallen in love with their wonderful visuals, energetic soundtracks, vibrant worlds and, most of all, warm and lovable cast of characters. Particularly, these plaudits belong to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, a game I've gone on record as saying is a masterclass in perfect game design. Pirate's Curse is in my Top Ten of all-time, and the Shantae series as a whole is embedded in my heart. I can't quit the Half-Genie Hero.
It's with this spirit of devotion that I approach this review of WayForward's fifth entry in the Shantae canon, Shantae and the Seven Sirens. Eschewing the typical release format, Seven Sirens arrived piecemeal on Apple Arcade, launching alongside the platform back in September 2019. The second half of Seven Sirens arrived on Apple Arcade in March of this year, with the game now finally available in its entirety on other platforms. A very curious delivery method, one which frankly does not suit an eight-hour, single-map metroidvania. Still, it is what it is. Let's see if it has been worth the wait.
It's time to dance into danger once again... RET-2-GO!
