GAMER LOUNGE 20XX (NO CASUALS!!)

[Terminal Devastation]

After reading the explainations on both sides of whether Shantae: 1/2 genie hero is a metroidvania or not... I'm finding both argument lack something and yet, both have very valid points.  In my experience, the levels felt more metroidvania upon a revisit, but mostly felt more like a linear platformer on the initial run. In most linear platformers, a new ability just didn't open up THAT much of a level. It's usually just a small niche in MMX for example, and the extra abilities don't so much as open up the level, as make the primary path easier.
 
Shantae's levels open up a lot with new abilities and some actually drastically alter what the primary path IS, especially combined with what ever reason you're revisiting the levels, since the goal area is now much different. This is more like a standard metroidvania, rather than a linear platformer. Unlike a metroidvania, Shantae does have a pretty clear main road, and the opened paths are clearly shortcuts and side streets.

Really the levels are built more like some of the more linear portions of say, portrait of Ruin (the academy comes to mind)... Or just individual sections of a true metroidvania, but built to not need the context of the area's around it, if that makes any sense.

Honestly I'd either call it a linear platformer with Metroidvania elements, or say... a half metroidvania.