Shantae Half-genie Hero is the fourth game in the series, which originated from a successful Kickstarter. The story is 95% independent in each game, (with the exception of Pirate's Curse, which takes into account a twist at the end of the previous one) so you don't have to play the old ones first. This package includes all the patches and DLC that were added to the game as stretch goals on the disc.

In my opinion, the game takes a step back compared to the fantastic Shantae: The Pirate's Curse, and focuses more on making the leap to HD graphics. The world is now divided into stages, where each one seems to have an episodic form and tells a self-contained story. Shantae's powers return to the old, albeit slightly improved, system of magic and transformations. All the stages are designed in a way that you have to replay them many times as you acquire new powers to uncover secrets and complete side quests. Many powers even allow you to skip large portions of the old stages so you can focus on what you came to do.

I don't see why the game is not open world with dungeons like the old ones. I also don't see why the stories of each stage are so self-contained and each plot that starts ends half an hour later. I don't see why the gameplay returns to transformations while the tools of the previous one worked so well. Finally, I don't see why a part of the plot is cut off and described separately in DLC (which fortunately is available in this package), instead of being included in the main game and providing variety.

The included DLCs are:
"Pirate Queen's Quest" where you play as Risky Boots and it takes place parallel to the game's story, having the gameplay of Pirate's Curse.
"Friends to the End" where you play as Shantae's three friends who are trying to save her at some point in the game, which had a unique gameplay.
"Ninja Mode" where you play as a Ninja with unique gameplay.
"Beach Mode" where you play in your swimsuit with unique gameplay.
"Officer Mode" where you play as a Policewoman with gameplay similar to the game Mighty Switch Force.
"Jammies Mode" where you play in your pajamas with unique gameplay.
Most of them (especially the costumes) repeat the stages and bosses you have already played with variations to be compatible with each one's different gameplay. Only the two story DLCs have some different assets besides the character you control.

The game is not bad!
On the contrary, it is one of the best 2D sidescrollers you can find in today's era!
The problem is that the previous game did so many things better that it overshadows it.