iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

This would've been funnier if I was playing as Tails lol. Game's still broken frfr

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

And I think I broke the record for highest air time too

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

So I did the second Miku festival the other day because I wanted the rewards and was bored, so I tried coasting through it for my 1k points. I swear I always find a new way to fall off the track every time

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

And there we have it, my full thoughts on every Shantae game! This series was an absolute blast to play through, and I cannot wait to see what's in store for us when the new game releases in 2027! I will be there day one! For now, I recommend everyone else to play these games as soon as they can! 💙

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

All resulting in another really fun game to speedrun! The character portraits done by Nami Sakurajyousiui are also immaculate and are one of my favorite art styles! I would really love to commission them someday, and hope that they make even better art for the next game!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It also introduces Crypts, they're sort of mini labyrinths which are fun to explore. 3 of those in total. The world shifting gimmick leads to some pretty interesting puzzles to access the labyrinths and find collectibles, leading to a more unique gameplay loop compared to the rest.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The 16-bit pixel art was back and still beautiful looking, and the gameplay gimmick was quite unique! Unfortunately, there are only 3 labyrinths and it's on the shorter side, but it's overall better than Risky's Revenge as a more complete package.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

...and wasn't out of place at all playing in chronological order. The dialogue is really funny and sometimes meta considering the game was cancelled for 20 years. The soundtrack composed by Maddie Lim has some great tunes and some remixes of Jake Kaufman's tracks.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

And finally, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution (released on Game Boy Advance through Limited Run Games, then modern platforms a year later), is at the bottom of A tier. Despite being the latest game, it really feels like a proper sequel to the first game on GBC...

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

With all of these factors, the game is very fun to speedrun. Although Pirate's Curse does edge it out in some ways that pushes that game to S tier, so the top of A tier is more fair for Seven Sirens. Being the second best game in the series is still very high praise however!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Rule Breaker and Full Deck modes are fun to play with too, as the former lets you equip all cards in the game, and the latter starts you off with every card in the game.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Monster Card system is another really cool addition to the game as it views as a bestiary to look at their art and learn their names, and they also give you small buffs by collecting enough of those cards and equipping them!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

...animated cutscenes for the first time ever (and they're gorgeous!), beautiful hand drawn backgrounds, a huge sprawling world on Paradise Island, and a great soundtrack, while not composed by Jake Kaufman, still retains the magic of his music thanks to the work of the new composing team!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Shantae and the Seven Sirens (First on Apple Arcade, then on modern platforms), top of A tier, pivoted back to the old Shantae formula and it was much better off for it. 5 labyrinths just like Pirate's Curse, new and engaging characters with great writing and a great story...

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A casual 100% run in the main game is still very fun regardless, and I believe that the game is still worth playing regardless. Even casually playing the DLC modes would be fun, but absolutely with breaks in between. Even the worst Shantae game is still really good.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Because of that, the game becomes extremely repetitive when you start going for 100% with all achievements and win screens across every mode. It is an absolute slog to 100%, and I wouldn't recommend doing so unless you are truly dedicated.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

...(including the first ever vocal track, Dance Through the Danger), unfortunately the game lacks that special formula that Shantae is known for by having a standard level by level structure. Making it feel like the game is just missing something in comparison.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (modern platforms, I played the Ultimate Edition release) is in C tier. While the new 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds look striking and the story is as good as ever, and Jake Kaufman making yet another pretty good soundtrack...

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Some of those songs are still stuck in my head! This game is the ultimate culmination of everything that came before and is an absolute must play for platforming and Metroidvania fans! One of the absolute best 2D platformers of all time, and an instant top 10 game for me!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The writing is really funny, the story has high stakes and has lots of great moments, the pixel art got even better and more detailed, the 2D art for the character portraits are beautiful and stylized, and Jake Kaufman made his magnum opus with this soundtrack.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, modern platforms) is the absolute peak of the franchise at S tier. Despite the fact that Shantae is human and has no magic abilities here, the pirate gear she does get is immensely fun and satisfying to speedrun with.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Character portraits would also be introduced to really compliment the story and writing. Unfortunately because of the DSi size limitations, the game is unfinished and very short, with only two labyrinths. Hence why it's top of B tier. Still a great game and very fun to speedrun.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Shantae: Risky's Revenge for Nintendo DSi (Director's Cut version for modern platforms) was a noticeable improvement in many ways over the original, with gorgeous 16-bit pixel art to boot, and Jake Kaufman returning for another top tier soundtrack with the upgraded sound chip!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Though it did create the core gameplay loop of grabbing key items to explore labyrinths and features 4 of them. Jake Kaufman also made some of the greatest 8-bit music I've ever heard, making an iconic soundtrack! It's a really good start!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Starting with Shantae for the Game Boy Color. Bottom of B tier because although the game is seriously impressive for a GBC title with the day/night cycle that was never replicated again, and the towns you can go to, it is dated in some aspects.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

With every Shantae game fully completed, it's time to put together my final thoughts and tier list. I'll be giving brief reviews and explanations for my placements. All of these games are incredible, but some are better than others. I'll be going in release order for 23 posts.

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I'll be making a tier list and put together my full thoughts on each game tomorrow

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

So with that, I have now officially achieved 100% completion of every Shantae game in the series. I am now officially a super fan of Shantae, I loved every game! This franchise is peak and I can't wait until 2027 when the new game releases!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Shantae and the Seven Sirens has been 100% completed with all achievements and win screens. Managed to cram everything into 3 runs, with my 100% speedrun not upgrading my health in the Hula costume in Rule Breaker mode, and my any% speedrun in Full Deck mode

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I got one of the coolest commissions ever from an artist who would like to be referred as Gloria! She did an incredible job bringing my idea to life of a race between Delilah and Wave at Aquatic Capital using their Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity extreme gear! 💙💜

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

And my best time for the all in one win screens Jammies Mode run While I do enjoy the visuals and the level structure of Half-Genie Hero, overall I believe this to be a downgrade over Pirate's Curse. Hopefully Seven Sirens can improve from here though as the last game I need to play! 💙

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Best times in Friends to End, Ninja Mode, Beach Mode, and Officer Mode (all in one win screens)

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

My achievements, best 100% time in Hero Mode, and best any% (no upgrades) and 100% times for Pirate Queen's Quest

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I have finally achieved 100% completion of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. This was the absolute grindiest one by far as you have to repeat so much content with the different modes. Game is still good and fun casually though, just a grind to 100%. Main game win screens

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

*which is really fun and rewarding Not me having a typo bruh

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

My achievements and any% and 100% speedrun times, both in Pirate Mode which really fun and rewarding to play on your second playthrough and onward. Seriously, this game is incredible, go play it

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

One of my closest friends was right, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse was one of the best platformers ever made. It's so snappy and fluid, the story is great, it's funny, the soundtrack is incredible, and extremely fun to play and speedrun! This is absolutely the peak of the series 💙

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Next up will be Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, which is supposedly the best the series has to offer, and I'm excited to finally play it! My times for my any% and 100% speedruns respectively

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I just finished 100% completing Shantae: Risky's Revenge! Super short compared to the others, and the transformations aren't as snappy to use, but it's very fun to speedrun!

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Yesterday I 100% completed Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution with all achievements. A step up from the original in terms of gameplay, as it feels faster and snappier to play. The writing is on point too! The shifting mechanic is cool too! Genuinely a really good game! 💙✨

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I just finished Shantae for the GameBoy Color 100%! For a GBC game, it's seriously impressive with its level of detail (towns and NPCs, day/night cycle, world building, etc). The game was really good, and I'm excited to see what the rest of the franchise has in store for me! 💙

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Reposted by StubblyList1981

CokiCoki - S @cokicoki-s.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

On the beach

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StubblyList1981 @stubblylist1981.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

That Bubsy 4D Black Hole update was absolutely peak! It was very much worthy of being a post game challenge, but it's still fun to speedrun despite the difficulty. @fabraz.bsky.social cooked with this update 💙 The 100% art was very sweet and the Platinum Y award got a good laugh out of me

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