This is a downloadable content (DLC) expansion for *Shantae: Half-Genie Hero*, released in 2017. It is available on Wii U, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. To play this DLC, you'll need the base game, *Shantae: Half-Genie Hero*.

Story and Premise

In *Friends to the End*, Shantae succumbs to dark magic, finding herself trapped in a Nightmare Realm of her own making. The story shifts its focus to Shantae's friends: Sky, Bolo, and Rottytops. You'll take control of each of these characters as they navigate remixed versions of locations from the main game, along with new challenge levels, all in an effort to rescue Shantae.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Each character offers unique gameplay mechanics that change how you approach levels and challenges. Bolo uses a grapple claw for swinging across gaps and traversing the environment. Sky can launch eggs to attack enemies and reach distant platforms. Rottytops has the ability to consume brains, which is essential for solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles. Successfully navigating levels and defeating enemies requires strategic switching between these characters, utilizing their abilities to their fullest potential.

New Features and Content

The DLC introduces new puzzles designed around the characters' unique abilities, requiring players to strategically switch between them to progress. While smaller in scope than the main game, *Friends to the End* offers a self-contained story arc with a concentrated set of levels and challenges.

How does this change the main game experience?

This DLC adds a new dimension to the *Shantae: Half-Genie Hero* experience by allowing you to play as Shantae's friends, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles. It also provides new challenges and puzzles that require you to think creatively and use the characters' abilities in tandem.

Scope and Structure

The scope of *Friends to the End* is more compact compared to the main game. It delivers a focused narrative experience with a curated selection of levels and challenges, designed to complement the original *Shantae: Half-Genie Hero* gameplay.