Shantae and the Seven Sirens (formerly known as Shantae 5) is the fifth installment of the series. The first part of the game was released for, and alongside, Apple Arcade on September 19, 2019.
After initially being slated for late 2019, the second part of the game was delayed.[1] Eventually, it released for Apple Arcade on March 28, 2020, with the full game being released to several platforms on May 28 of that year.
Story
Shantae and the Seven Sirens takes place after the good ending to Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.
Wayforward:: The excitement begins when Shantae visits a tropical paradise where she befriends new Half-Genie allies, but things quickly go awry as she discovers that sinister secrets are stirring beneath the island's surface! As Shantae gets wrapped up in the island's mysteries, she'll use all-new dance abilities and instant-transformation Fusion Magic to explore the nonlinear, interconnected world and battle an assortment of diabolical foes...not the least of which are the enigmatic Seven Sirens!
Gameplay
The game returns to the nonlinear, Metroidvania-esque style of the first three entries in the series, following Shantae as she explores an interconnected world with multiple towns and dungeons.
As Shantae rescues the other Half-Genies and Rottytops, she receives Fusion Coins, allowing her to transform instantly into new forms without dancing. She also gains new Fusion Dances with different environment-affecting abilities from the first four Half-Genies.
The game also introduces the Monster Cards, which boost Shantae’s abilities in various ways such as enhancing her mobility or strengthening her hair whip. Common and Uncommon Monster Cards are obtained by defeating various enemies in the game, but the Seven Sirens' cards can only be obtained by exchanging Golden Nuggets with NPCs on the island. Up to three cards can be equipped at once, allowing players to augment Shantae’s abilities to their preference.
Characters
Protagonists
- Returning:
- New:
Neutral Characters
- Returning:
- New:
Antagonists
- Returning:
- New:
- The Seven Sirens
- Water Lily Siren (Sunbathing Seaweed)
- Coral Siren (Drills to the Gills)
- Tubeworm Siren (Parasite Petting Princess)
- Angler Fish Siren (Deep Sea Creep)
- Octo Siren (Eight Times the Terror)
- Lobster Siren (reforms after kidnapping the Half-Genies)
- Empress Siren (The Seventh Siren)
- The Seven Sirens
Voice cast
- Cristina Vee as Shantae, Risky and Harmony
- Karen Strassman as Sky
- Kayli Mills as Plink
- Laura Stahl as Vera
- Cherami Leigh (uncredited; to be fixed in a future update) as Rottytops/Fillin
- Erika Ishii as Zapple
- Xander Mobius as Mimic
- Ross O'Donnovan as Bolo
Gallery
.png "Shantae and the Seven Sirens (cast).png (1.05 MB)")
.jpg "Shantae 5 opening animation project ost(back).jpg (1.05 MB)")
Reception
Shantae and the Seven Sirens received "generally favorable" and "mixed or average" reviews on Metacritic getting a metascore of 80/100 on PC,[2] 82/100 on Nintendo Switch,[3] and 70/100 on PS4[4] & Xbox One.[5]
Trivia
- When part one was released for Apple Arcade, 16 early sketches in total of some portraits for Shantae, Risky, Sky and even Rottytops can be found in the files, despite Rotty in her normal self initially not appearing in the game besides the opening; these were eventually finalized by the time part 2 came out.
- Despite Shantae rescuing the other four Half-Genies (Plink, Vera, Zapple and Harmony), we don't get to see them properly do their show for the Half-Genie Festival.
- Mela Lee is mistakenly credited in the game for voice work instead of Cherami Leigh.
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References
- ↑ https://twitter.com/WayForward/status/1205185630587805697
- ↑ Metascore for Shantae and the Seven Sirens on PC, Metacritic, Retrieved June 18, 2020
- ↑ Metascore for Shantae and the Seven Sirens on Nintendo Switch, Metacritic, Retrieved June 18, 2020
- ↑ Metascore for Shantae and the Seven Sirens on PS4, Metacritic, Retrieved June 18, 2020
- ↑ Metascore for Shantae and the Seven Sirens on Xbox One, Metacritic, Retrieved June 18, 2020