Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is an action-adventure video game developed by WayForward for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the third installment in the Shantae series and was released in 2014. The game continues the story of the half-genie protagonist, Shantae, as she embarks on a quest to stop the notorious pirate Risky Boots. In Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, Shantae finds herself stripped of her genie powers and must team up with Risky Boots to retrieve her lost abilities and save Sequin Land from an evil curse. The game features a mix of platforming and exploration, with players navigating through various islands, dungeons, and caves, while battling enemies and solving puzzles. One of the main gameplay mechanics in the game is Shantae's ability to transform into different creatures, each with their unique abilities.
The Salem Witch Trials only officially lasted a few months in 1692. But those few months ended with the executions of 14 women and 6 men. The toll would have likely been far higher had the governor of Massachusetts intervened.
The Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate had come before the markers of the witch memorial to do for the victims of the trials what Lincoln did for the Civil War dead at Gettysburg to consecrate and remember, to explain their legacy in American life. His body is buried where he was tortured to death, somewhere among what is now the Howard Street Cemetery visited with this site in my Salem Witch Trial Sites- Itinerary Part C.
One of the main gameplay mechanics in the game is Shantae's ability to transform into different creatures, each with their unique abilities. These transformations, such as a monkey or an elephant, allow Shantae to access previously inaccessible areas and defeat powerful enemies. Players can also collect various items and upgrades throughout the game to enhance Shantae's abilities and combat skills.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
A trip to Salem, Massachusetts without a visit to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial would be sadly incomplete. It is a Must See Gem & a Top 5 Salem Witch Trials Sites , located conveniently downtown. The Memorial consists of 2 parallel, low, stone walls, lined with benches engraved with the names of the 20 victims executed during the 1692 Witch Trials Executions. Along with the names are their execution/ death dates & form of execution- 19 were hanged & 1 was “pressed”, slowly crushed to death by stones. Spread out, each bench bearing a separate name makes you realize how many 20 people really are. It does not include the 5 names of those who died in jail, 4 awaiting trial or execution and a newborn baby, born in jail to a mother (along with a 4 year old sister) accused as ‘witches’. Background info on each of the 25 who paid with their lives is discussed in my Salem Witch Trial Victims post . The Salem Witch Trials Memorial was built & dedicated in August 1992, the 300th Anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials & Executions. A peaceful little nook in a park-like setting, it maintains a quiet, somber presence despite being carved into the heart of downtown. Between the parallel, bench-lined walls standing tall guard are Black Locust trees. Calmly watching over, they are the very type of trees it is believed that the accused were hanged from.
The entrance stones of the walkway are inscribed with the pleas of the accused: ‘Oh Lord! Help Me! God knows I am Innocent! Wholly Innocent of such Wickedness!’ – ‘I would confess, I would save my life… I do not plead guilty.’ – ‘I can deny it to my dying day.’… It would be easy to miss, driving by, or even walking, if you didn’t pay attention. It is quiet, understated & simple. Not touristy, not showy, just reverent remembrance of the innocents & their sacrifice. Reading the quotes, & their names, and the jarring end, “Hanged” is an emotional experience. You can feel the fear and desperation in their pleas. You can’t help but feel a growing, helpless panic as you read them. Knowing their fate. You feel a desperate hunger for the opportunity to go back and instill modern logic & reason, and bring the judges, the accusers, the witnesses to their senses. Sick in your gut for their terror & their pain & the tragedy, but also because you imagine with a shiver had it been you. Their pain is no more, cut short 300 years ago, but we feel its stain, still today. Mourning these souls that I never knew makes me ever grateful for my minor difficulties in this world today. I am blessed. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is Free & always open. It’s between Charter & Derby Streets, behind the Peabody Essex Museum.
Since the only known remains & exact location of an executed Salem Witch Trial victim is at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, nearby, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial serves as a grave marker for mourners to show their respects for all the executed. The remains of the others have been lost to history, taken away in the night by loved ones and buried in secret, except Giles Corey. His body is buried where he was tortured to death, somewhere among what is now the Howard Street Cemetery visited with this site in my Salem Witch Trial Sites- Itinerary Part C . The actual site of the hangings has been rediscovered in recent years. It has a small memorial and is also visited in my Salem in a Day Part C Itinerary . Nearby Danvers (Salem Village & start of the 1692 Witch Hysteria) has an equally moving & beautiful Memorial to the Witch Trial Victims that I discuss in my post Salem Part A.
One of the Salem Witch Trial Memorial walls lines the Old Burying Point Cemetery , c 1637, aka Charter St. Cemetery. Just yards away from the Memorial to those executed, at least 2 of the 1692 Witchcraft ‘Judges’, John Hathorne & Bartholomew Gedney now lie. Others who were accused (& not executed), as well as family members of the victims, & some who even testified against them rest here, too.
The Cemetery also includes a Mayflower passenger, the only one anywhere that you can visit with the original gravestone at the site where they were buried. Captain Richard More was laid to rest here in the late 1600s. Richard had a very interesting tale of his own. He was not a Pilgrim, himself (which was a religious distinction, though “pilgrim” & wrong year of death was added centuries later to his headstone). Though, he was shipped over with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower at 6 years old. Without their parents, he made the journey along with 3 little siblings, ages 4- 8. All of the siblings died that 1st winter. He would have been at the 1st Thanksgiving & he grew up in Plymouth colony, before moving in his adulthood to Salem. He survived the 1692 witch trials & was buried there a few years after. He may have been the oldest surviving male and only missed being the very last living Mayflower passenger by just a few years.
It is the 2nd oldest cemetery in the U.S. The oldest is in Duxbury, also in Massachusetts, & is the 8th oldest maintained cemetery in the world. The Cemetery is small, Free, and open Dawn to Dusk, year round.
- See our Plymouth, Mass Itinerary & Posts to Explore the Mayflower Pilgrims, the 1st Thanksgiving & Plimoth colony:
The graphics in Shantae and the Pirate's Curse are vibrant and colorful, with detailed character designs and environments. The game features 2D hand-drawn sprites and backgrounds, giving it a distinct visual style. The soundtrack is also lively and catchy, complementing the action-packed gameplay. Overall, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse offers an engaging and enjoyable gaming experience for fans of the series and newcomers alike. With its charming characters, challenging gameplay, and beautiful visuals, it is a must-play for any Nintendo 3DS owner..
Reviews for "The Legacy of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on 3DS: How the Game Impacted Future Installments"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS. While the graphics and music were decent, the gameplay mechanics felt clunky and the controls were unresponsive. The platforming sections were tedious and frustrating, and the combat felt repetitive and lacking depth. Overall, I just couldn't enjoy the game and found myself getting bored quickly. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this title, but it just didn't deliver.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS was a major letdown for me. The story was lackluster and predictable, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The level design felt unoriginal and uninspired, with repetitive obstacles and puzzles that didn't offer any real challenge. The game also suffered from frequent glitches and bugs, which further hindered my overall experience. I couldn't connect with the characters or the world, and ultimately, I felt like my time and money were wasted on this game.
3. Michael - 2/5 - I found Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS to be a rather average platformer. While the graphics were colorful and charming, and the music was catchy, the gameplay felt dull and repetitive. The game lacked innovation and failed to bring anything new to the table. The combat mechanics were simplistic, and the enemies were easily dispatched without much effort. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable experience that didn't live up to the hype surrounding it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a die-hard fan of the series.
4. Emily - 3/5 - Shantae and the Pirates Curse on the 3DS didn't quite meet my expectations. The platforming sections were decent and offered some fun moments, but the game felt lacking in terms of depth and variety. The puzzles were too easy and didn't require much thought, which made the gameplay feel repetitive and monotonous after a while. Additionally, I found the dialogue to be cheesy and the story to be cliché. While it had its moments, overall, I couldn't shake the feeling that the game was missing something to make it truly engaging and memorable.