<s>
Shantae	B-Device
:	I-Device
Half-Genie	I-Device
Hero	I-Device
,	O
stylized	O
as	O
Shantae	B-Device
:	I-Device
½	I-Device
Genie	I-Device
Hero	I-Device
,	O
is	O
a	O
platform	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
WayForward	O
Technologies	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
,	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
Stadia	B-Application
,	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
fourth	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Shantae	B-Device
series	O
,	O
following	O
Shantae	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Pirate	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
first	O
to	O
be	O
specifically	O
developed	O
for	O
high	O
definition	O
game	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
,	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
December	O
2016	O
,	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
the	O
following	O
June	O
,	O
for	O
Amazon	B-Operating_System
Luna	I-Operating_System
in	O
October	O
2020	O
,	O
and	O
Stadia	B-Application
in	O
February	O
2021	O
along	O
with	O
Shantae	B-Device
:	I-Device
Risky	I-Device
's	I-Device
Revenge	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
was	O
made	O
available	O
in	O
November	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
previous	O
installments	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
control	O
of	O
Shantae	B-Device
,	O
a	O
half-genie	O
who	O
can	O
use	O
her	O
hair	O
as	O
a	O
whip	O
to	O
attack	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Shantae	B-Device
can	O
obtain	O
dances	O
that	O
allow	O
her	O
to	O
transform	O
into	O
various	O
forms	O
,	O
each	O
with	O
their	O
own	O
abilities	O
that	O
can	O
access	O
otherwise	O
inaccessible	O
areas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
past	O
Shantae	B-Device
titles	O
,	O
which	O
featured	O
connected	O
world	O
maps	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
freely	O
explored	O
,	O
Half-Genie	O
Hero	O
is	O
divided	O
up	O
into	O
several	O
action	O
stages	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
replayed	O
to	O
obtain	O
new	O
items	O
that	O
become	O
accessible	O
with	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
certain	O
powers	O
,	O
some	O
of	O
which	O
are	O
required	O
to	O
progress	O
through	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
magic	O
meter	O
system	O
from	O
Risky	O
's	O
Revenge	O
returns	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
Shantae	B-Device
to	O
use	O
unlocked	O
spells	O
at	O
will	O
instead	O
of	O
purchasing	O
them	O
individually	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Completing	O
the	O
game	O
unlocks	O
"	O
Hero	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
gives	O
Shantae	B-Device
access	O
to	O
several	O
of	O
her	O
transformations	O
from	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
facilitate	O
speedruns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Late	O
one	O
night	O
,	O
the	O
half-genie	O
Shantae	B-Device
is	O
awoken	O
by	O
the	O
sound	O
of	O
a	O
voice	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
it	O
outside	O
,	O
she	O
discovers	O
a	O
secret	O
cave	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
messenger	O
from	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
warns	O
her	O
of	O
an	O
impending	O
evil	O
that	O
only	O
she	O
can	O
defeat	O
,	O
but	O
disappears	O
before	O
it	O
can	O
elaborate	O
further	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shantae	B-Device
suddenly	O
awakens	O
,	O
revealing	O
the	O
experience	O
to	O
have	O
been	O
a	O
dream	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shantae	B-Device
gives	O
chase	O
and	O
defeats	O
Risky	O
,	O
retrieving	O
the	O
blueprints	O
,	O
but	O
Mayor	O
Scuttlebutt	O
once	O
again	O
fires	O
her	O
from	O
her	O
position	O
as	O
the	O
town	O
's	O
guardian	O
genie	B-Language
due	O
to	O
Risky	O
's	O
escape	O
and	O
the	O
damage	O
incurred	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mimic	O
reveals	O
that	O
several	O
components	O
are	O
still	O
needed	O
to	O
complete	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
,	O
so	O
Shantae	B-Device
begins	O
searching	O
across	O
Sequin	O
Land	O
for	O
the	O
remaining	O
components	O
,	O
helping	O
those	O
she	O
finds	O
in	O
need	O
of	O
assistance	O
along	O
the	O
way	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
help	O
from	O
her	O
friends	O
Sky	O
,	O
Bolo	O
and	O
Rottytops	O
,	O
Shantae	B-Device
retrieves	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
components	O
needed	O
to	O
finish	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mimic	O
switches	O
the	O
device	O
on	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
goes	O
haywire	O
and	O
blasts	O
Shantae	B-Device
with	O
dark	O
magic	O
,	O
turning	O
her	O
to	O
her	O
Nega-Shantae	O
form	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Risky	O
appears	O
and	O
reveals	O
she	O
had	O
swapped	O
Mimic	O
's	O
blueprints	O
with	O
her	O
own	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
she	O
plans	O
to	O
power	O
up	O
the	O
machine	O
and	O
use	O
it	O
to	O
invert	O
the	O
magical	O
polarity	O
of	O
the	O
entire	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
,	O
turning	O
them	O
evil	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shantae	B-Device
attacks	O
the	O
group	O
while	O
Risky	O
escapes	O
with	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
in	O
tow	O
,	O
but	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
friends	O
manage	O
to	O
snap	O
her	O
out	O
of	O
her	O
trance	O
,	O
returning	O
her	O
to	O
normal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
prevent	O
Risky	O
's	O
plan	O
,	O
Mimic	O
creates	O
a	O
Magical	O
Polarizer	O
to	O
reverse	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
's	O
effects	O
,	O
and	O
Shantae	B-Device
sets	O
out	O
for	O
Risky	O
's	O
hideout	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
arrival	O
,	O
Shantae	B-Device
defeats	O
Risky	O
and	O
the	O
Dynamo-powered	O
Tinkerbrain	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
messenger	O
from	O
her	O
dream	O
pulls	O
her	O
into	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
and	O
reveals	O
their	O
magic	O
has	O
already	O
been	O
corrupted	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
no	O
choice	O
left	O
,	O
Shantae	B-Device
decides	O
she	O
must	O
destroy	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
to	O
keep	O
the	O
world	O
safe	O
and	O
destroys	O
the	O
repowered	O
Tinkerbrain	O
,	O
returning	O
to	O
the	O
real	O
world	O
and	O
escaping	O
the	O
exploding	O
hideout	O
as	O
Risky	O
swears	O
vengeance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shantae	B-Device
reunites	O
with	O
her	O
friends	O
at	O
her	O
lighthouse	O
,	O
where	O
Mayor	O
Scuttlebutt	O
announces	O
Shantae	B-Device
is	O
rehired	O
as	O
Scuttle	O
Town	O
's	O
guardian	O
genie	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
others	O
depart	O
,	O
Shantae	B-Device
expresses	O
regret	O
for	O
having	O
to	O
destroy	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
messenger	O
appears	O
and	O
reveals	O
that	O
Mimic	O
's	O
Magical	O
Polarizer	O
worked	O
,	O
purifying	O
their	O
magic	O
and	O
saving	O
the	O
Realm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
messenger	O
also	O
explains	O
that	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
mother	O
is	O
alive	O
and	O
well	O
in	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
,	O
having	O
given	O
up	O
Shantae	B-Device
as	O
a	O
child	O
to	O
keep	O
her	O
safe	O
while	O
devoting	O
her	O
own	O
life	O
to	O
protecting	O
the	O
real	O
world	O
from	O
greater	O
threats	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Finally	O
understanding	O
her	O
mother	O
's	O
sacrifice	O
,	O
Shantae	B-Device
leaves	O
to	O
celebrate	O
with	O
her	O
friends	O
as	O
the	O
messenger	O
returns	O
to	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
Shantae	B-Device
defeats	O
the	O
Tinkerbrain	O
without	O
acquiring	O
the	O
Magical	O
Polarizer	O
,	O
an	O
alternate	O
ending	O
occurs	O
where	O
Shantae	B-Device
accidentally	O
destroys	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
,	O
consequently	O
losing	O
all	O
of	O
her	O
genie	B-Language
powers	O
and	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Pirate	O
Queen	O
's	O
Quest	O
,	O
Risky	O
Boots	O
gives	O
an	O
exaggerated	O
explanation	O
of	O
her	O
actions	O
after	O
stealing	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
,	O
collecting	O
components	O
to	O
strengthen	O
the	O
machine	O
and	O
Genie	B-Language
Crystals	O
to	O
open	O
the	O
way	O
to	O
the	O
Genie	B-Language
Realm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Friends	O
to	O
the	O
End	O
,	O
after	O
Shantae	B-Device
is	O
transformed	O
into	O
Nega-Shantae	O
by	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
,	O
she	O
is	O
knocked	O
out	O
and	O
a	O
portal	O
is	O
created	O
from	O
the	O
excess	O
dark	O
magic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sky	O
,	O
Bolo	O
and	O
Rottytops	O
enter	O
the	O
portal	O
,	O
which	O
takes	O
them	O
into	O
the	O
Nightmare	O
Realm	O
formed	O
from	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
now-corrupted	O
memories	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
three	O
must	O
work	O
together	O
to	O
reach	O
the	O
true	O
Shantae	B-Device
within	O
and	O
restore	O
her	O
to	O
normal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Costume	O
Pack	O
DLC	O
and	O
a	O
post-launch	O
update	O
add	O
four	O
non-canon	O
"	O
what-if	O
"	O
storylines	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
Shantae	B-Device
undergoes	O
ninjitsu	O
training	O
,	O
seeks	O
out	O
the	O
perfect	O
beach	O
spot	O
,	O
hosts	O
a	O
slumber	O
party	O
,	O
and	O
becomes	O
a	O
cybernetic	O
peace	O
officer	O
from	O
Mighty	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
Force	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
WayForward	O
Technologies	O
unveiled	O
Shantae	B-Device
:	I-Device
Half-Genie	I-Device
Hero	I-Device
in	O
early	O
September	O
2013	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
for	O
home	O
consoles	O
,	O
featuring	O
graphics	O
by	O
Inti	O
Creates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Matt	O
Bozon	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
creators	O
of	O
Shantae	B-Device
series	O
,	O
revealed	O
that	O
the	O
title	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
stylised	O
as	O
½	O
Genie	B-Language
Hero	O
as	O
a	O
tribute	O
to	O
Rumiko	O
Takahashi	O
's	O
manga	O
Ranma	O
½	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
cited	O
several	O
times	O
as	O
an	O
influence	O
on	O
the	O
Shantae	B-Device
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
its	O
digital	O
release	O
,	O
Marvelous	O
USA	O
published	O
a	O
retail	O
edition	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
was	O
released	O
digitally	O
on	O
June	O
8	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
while	O
a	O
physical	O
"	O
Ultimate	O
Edition	O
"	O
including	O
all	O
DLC	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
3	O
,	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
expansion	O
,	O
"	O
Pirate	O
Queen	O
's	O
Quest	O
"	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
August	O
29	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
and	O
stars	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
nemesis	O
Risky	O
Boots	O
,	O
set	O
during	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
final	O
act	O
as	O
Risky	O
collects	O
the	O
parts	O
for	O
her	O
Tinkerbrain	O
weapon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Risky	O
uses	O
"	O
Tinker-tools	O
"	O
as	O
substitutes	O
to	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
powers	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
abilities	O
in	O
Shantae	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Pirate	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pirate	O
Queen	O
's	O
Quest	O
follows	O
a	O
similar	O
structure	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
campaign	O
,	O
but	O
features	O
changed	O
stage	O
layouts	O
and	O
adds	O
new	O
enemies	O
,	O
new	O
puzzles	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
end	O
boss	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
second	O
expansion	O
,	O
"	O
Friends	O
to	O
the	O
End	O
"	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
December	O
12	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
and	O
takes	O
place	O
during	O
the	O
final	O
act	O
as	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
friends	O
enter	O
her	O
mind	O
to	O
turn	O
her	O
back	O
to	O
normal	O
after	O
the	O
Dynamo	O
corrupts	O
her	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
third	O
expansion	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Costume	O
Pack	O
"	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
10	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
includes	O
three	O
additional	O
non-canon	O
story	O
campaigns	O
:	O
"	O
Ninja	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Beach	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Officer	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
each	O
of	O
which	O
features	O
Shantae	B-Device
wearing	O
a	O
different	O
costume	O
that	O
gives	O
her	O
new	O
abilities	O
and	O
alters	O
her	O
playstyle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
free	O
game	O
update	O
on	O
July	O
31	O
,	O
2018	O
added	O
a	O
fourth	O
costume	O
campaign	O
,	O
"	O
Jammies	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
an	O
unlockable	O
transformation	O
for	O
the	O
main	O
campaign	O
based	O
on	O
Sophia	O
III	O
from	O
Blaster	B-Application
Master	I-Application
Zero	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
WayForward	O
Technologies	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
sales	O
on	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
"[broke]	O
sales	O
records	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shantae	B-Device
:	I-Device
Half-Genie	I-Device
Hero	I-Device
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
according	O
to	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGNs	O
Vince	O
Ingenito	O
rated	O
it	O
8	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
approving	O
its	O
varied	O
action	O
and	O
level	O
design	O
,	O
comparing	O
Shantae	B-Device
's	O
animal	O
transformations	O
to	O
the	O
suits	O
in	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
3	I-Application
;	O
he	O
also	O
commented	O
that	O
"	O
its	O
hand-drawn	O
look	O
and	O
toe-tapping	O
music	O
successfully	O
channel	O
a	O
joy	O
and	O
enthusiasm	O
that	O
has	O
become	O
far	O
too	O
rare	O
in	O
modern	O
video	O
games.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
most	O
polished	O
Shantae	B-Device
game	O
yet	O
"	O
and	O
praised	O
its	O
release	O
near	O
that	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
DLC	O
expansion	O
,	O
saying	O
it	O
would	O
add	O
some	O
replay	O
value	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
25	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
a	O
fifth	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Shantae	B-Device
series	O
,	O
Shantae	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Seven	I-Application
Sirens	I-Application
,	O
was	O
announced	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Apple	O
Arcade	O
.	O
</s>
