So this is the fourth game in the series, crowd-funded, and pure HD.
There's something i have to say first, and it's that the game isn't yet fully finished. We're getting some DLC.

I sorta find it a bit weird and expensive, but it'll probably get more value as the DLCs release.

If you want reference for how good or bad the series is as a whole, it's good, read my other reviews of the previous 2 games:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/garketmardener/recommended/277890/
Shantae: Risky's Revenge
http://steamcommunity.com/id/garketmardener/recommended/345820/
Shantae & the Pirate's Curse
This time around, they went for a more visually stunning but shorter game, to be expanded with lots of replay value thanks to the upcoming DLCs.
So right now it has the same problem as Switch Force: It's cool, and fun, it's pretty in graphics, but once you've done the 2 modes you're basically done with it. Wait for DLCs.

As it is, and considering how the game's supposed to be expanded, it's good, it's really great. Most importantly, the graphics are really well done and don't even get close to straying off of the style the game usually goes for: Toonish, charming, colorful, vivid, and with noticeable details and tweaks. I believe it's the first time WayForwad does 3d models on one of their IPs, and they did it great for a first time. Characters are still well-put sprites in a 3d-2d parallax world. Really comes together as a modernized classic way of doing things.
60FPS engine, but animations aren't all 60fps. It still looks consistant and doesn't really bother. Also, yes, it comes with chest jigglies. As it's obvious. I mean, WayForward? Fanservice? Isn't that the same thing? /joke

This however doesn't stop the game from being fun and really great. As always, the prime 3 aspects i like about this company are on point: Decent difficulty (questionable here but whatever) and fun gameplay, great artstyle and personality, absolutely rocking synth muslc from Jake Kaufman AKA Virt. Album is out on bandcamp now btw

game's a bit short, you can get 100% in the base game mode in 5-6 hours approx, considering how the other games took up to 8 hours for that (all of those are player-dependant times, might take longer if you're not familiar with the games or genre).

The game's very iconic and takes everything positive from the other games, such as returning gags, levels, enemies, bosses, transforms and abilities, while still refreshing everything really well.

On the minus side, because of how short the game is, some features fell under the "situationally helpful" cape of negligence, but at least they get used once. There are a few annoying mechanics that were uncalled for, overall for the very stupidly placed pauses inbetween the action (Why is the level start Ready! screen a thing, and why can't you move while it's playing?), but for the most part it still is a great game.

Buyer's advice: Play the other games before. Some of the content might go unappreciated if you haven't played the other games, or just watched a full gameplay. Any works. But still, playing is much more fun than watching, at least for me.

Overall, i give it a [8.5-->10]/10 depending on how well executed the DLCs and extra modes come along.

[h1][u]But wait! There's more![/u][/h1] [b]So this is the fourth game in the series, crowd-funded, and pure HD.[/b] [u]There's something i have to say first, and it's that the game isn't yet fully finished. We're getting some DLC.[/u] I sorta find it a bit weird and expensive, but it'll probably get more value as the DLCs release. If you want reference for how good or bad the series is as a whole, it's good, read my other reviews of the previous 2 games: [b]http://steamcommunity.com/id/garketmardener/recommended/277890/ ːshantae_relaxːShantae: Risky's Revenge http://steamcommunity.com/id/garketmardener/recommended/345820/ ːshantae_relaxːShantae & the Pirate's Curse [/b] This time around, they went for a more visually stunning but shorter game, to be expanded with lots of replay value thanks to the upcoming DLCs. So right now it has the same problem as Switch Force: It's cool, and fun, it's pretty in graphics, but once you've done the 2 modes you're basically done with it. Wait for DLCs. As it is, and considering how the game's supposed to be expanded, it's good, it's really great. Most importantly, the graphics are really well done and don't even get close to straying off of the style the game usually goes for: Toonish, charming, colorful, vivid, and with noticeable details and tweaks. I believe it's the first time WayForwad does 3d models on one of their IPs, and they did it great for a first time. Characters are still well-put sprites in a 3d-2d parallax world. Really comes together as a modernized classic way of doing things. 60FPS engine, but animations aren't all 60fps. It still looks consistant and doesn't really bother. Also, yes, it comes with chest jigglies. As it's obvious. I mean, WayForward? Fanservice? Isn't that the same thing? /joke This however doesn't stop the game from being fun and really great. As always, the prime 3 aspects i like about this company are on point: Decent difficulty (questionable here but whatever) and fun gameplay, great artstyle and personality, absolutely rocking synth muslc from Jake Kaufman AKA Virt. [b]Album is out on bandcamp now btw[/b] game's a bit short, you can get 100% in the base game mode in 5-6 hours approx, considering how the other games took up to 8 hours for that (all of those are player-dependant times, might take longer if you're not familiar with the games or genre). The game's very iconic and takes everything positive from the other games, such as returning gags, levels, enemies, bosses, transforms and abilities, while still refreshing everything really well. On the minus side, because of how short the game is, some features fell under the "situationally helpful" cape of negligence, but at least they get used once. There are a few annoying mechanics that were uncalled for, overall for the very stupidly placed pauses inbetween the action (Why is the level start Ready! screen a thing, and why can't you move while it's playing?), but for the most part it still is a great game. Buyer's advice: Play the other games before. Some of the content might go unappreciated if you haven't played the other games, or just watched a full gameplay. Any works. But still, playing is much more fun than watching, at least for me. [i][b]Overall, i give it a [8.5-->10]/10 depending on how well executed the DLCs and extra modes come along.[/b][/i]