The PC version of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero seems to be a badly tested port and runs with a bad frame rate without tweaks. It's unfortunate that this wasn't fixed by Wayforward, and players have to apply their own fix for it.

The game comes with a 32-bit DX9 version and a 64-bit DX11 version. It is recommend that you use the 64-bit DX11 version. Note that the way Steam handles alternate executables can be a bit weird. The desktop shortcut will by default always launch the first option, the 32-bit DX9 one unless modified, while when launching from the Steam client, it will ask you by default with an option to remember a an option.

It seems like the builtin frame limiter of the game when VSync is off (Which it seems to be by default with no in-game setting for it) doesn't correctly limit the frames to 60 FPS and ends up at around 34 FPS to most players.

In addition to that, the game speed is tied to FPS, and if your monitor refresh rate is higher than 60hz the game will run at that speed, so we also need to change the monitor refresh rate while playing the game.

And even more, "Fullscreen Optimizations" of recent Windows versions change the type VSync/frame buffering that the game will end up using, which results in the game running at an unsteady speed, with the game suddenly speeding up and slowing back down, so that needs to be disabled as well.

Screenshots are taken on Windows 11, but the same steps can be performed on older Windows versions though the exact appearance of the buttons will vary.

1. Open explorer and type %appdata%Wayforward\ShantaeHeroUltimate into the address bar
2. Open wfEngine.ini
   
3. Change the line that says vsync=false to vsync=true and save the file.

1. Right click the game in Steam and select Manage -> Browse local files
2. Open the executable folder.
   
3. Right click ShantaeHero64.exe and select Properties (Or ShantaeHero.exe if you prefer playing the 32-bit DX9 version).
4. Switch to the compatibility tab and tick "Disable fullscreen optimizations", and hit OK.

This will need to be done each time before starting the game and reverted after you are done playing. This is annoying of course, and it can be scripted, though there is no script in this guide for now. (I might add a script to this guide when/if I have one working).

• Right-click an empty space on your desktop and select Display settings.
• Scroll down and select "Advanced display".
• You can then select your refresh rate in the combo box shown. Set it to 60hz before playing the game, and restore it afterwards by following the same steps.

• Right-click the shortcut on the desktop and select "Properties"
• Change the URL from: "steam://rungameid/764300" to "steam://launch/764300/dialog".

There might also be a way to create a shortcut directly to a specific launch option rather then relying on the dialog or remembered default, but I'm not sure what's a working URL syntax for that. See Steam browser protocol.