Despite any complaints I have about the gameвЂ™s direction, the levels themselves were still quite fun to play.ДЇortunately, not all of the classic Shantae-ness has vanished. HGH is comparably short when compared to its predecessors, spanning only six levels, and can be completed (to 100%, even) in just a handful of hours, even if itвЂ™s your first time playing it. DonвЂ™t get me wrong, it still has its charm, but something just feels kind of off about it. But you get the metaphor, right? Honestly, IвЂ™m not entirely sure what WayForward was thinking with this. Abandoning its Metroidvania roots, Half-Genie Hero jumps from the likes of Symphony of the Night to the original Castlevania. All except for one teeny-tiny thingвЂ¦ itвЂ™s entirely a platformer, now. Although not expansive to any extent, PQQ and FttEВ gives you an extended look into both the primary antagonist and supporting characters of the Shantae franchise, and itвЂ™s fun watching the unique interactions between characters which normally wouldnвЂ™t occur were you controlling the gameвЂ™s protagonist.ДЇor the most part, Half-Genie Hero plays exactly like all of the other Shantae games out there. IвЂ™m happy to say that it seems like a lot of love went into these stories, too. Granted, the more arcade-y ones like Ninja Mode and Beach Mode are kind of throwaways when it comes to an actual story (although theyвЂ™re still funny and well-written!), but the more content-heavy modes like Pirate QueenвЂ™s Quest and Friends to the End have a little more narrative weight behind them. ItвЂ™s also worth noting that each game mode comes with its own story as well. HGH is just as lighthearted as every other ShanateВ iteration. DonвЂ™t go thinking that that means youвЂ™ll be dealing with an overly serious story, though. And wouldnвЂ™t you know it, that prediction was absolutely spot-on. The light informs Shantae that the time to save Sequin Land from evil forces is drawing ever-closer and that, as a guardian (half) genie, itвЂ™s up to her to do so. Curious (and kind of sleepy), Shantae crawls out of bed, only to be led into the basement of her Uncle MimicвЂ™s workshop (a building which is normally quite basement-free) and be met face-to-вЂњfaceвЂќ with a mysterious glowing light. One peaceful night, Shantae finds herself awoken by a mysterious voice calling out to her. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate EditionвЂs main campaign, as IвЂ™m sure many of you know, follows none other than everyoneвЂ™s favorite belly-dancing, spell-slinging, hair-whipping heroine on her latest quest to save Sequin Land.

Good genie decks smashing four