The Messenger

 PlayStation 4
The Messenger Image
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 83 Ratings

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  • Summary: As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan’s survival. What begins as a classic action platformer soon unravels into an expansive time-traveling adventure full of thrills, surprises, and humor.

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The Messenger - Teaser Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. TheSixthAxis
    May 10, 2019
    90
    Judged by its visuals alone, The Messenger is a charming retro adventure with pixel perfect platforming. Even that high praise is to do it a disservice, as the game soon opens up to be an unexpected, yet brilliant metroidvania, delivering a plot that twists, turns, surprises, and has humour to spare. Ultimately, the Messenger is one of the best indie games I’ve ever encountered. You really should play it.
  2. PlayStation Universe
    Mar 23, 2019
    90
    Resolutely challenging without ever being unfair, frequently gut-bustingly humorous and stuffed with all manner of unexpected twists and turns, The Messenger one of the most essential platformers on PS4. It really is that simple.
  3. Cultured Vultures
    Mar 26, 2019
    85
    The Messenger is a retro-styled old school challenge that starts off easy but will soon test any player’s hidden ninja skills. This is a multi-genre homage to some real classics that manages to feel like a long-lost gem.
  4. Gameblog.fr
    Mar 19, 2019
    80
    As expected, on PS4 The Messenger is stil. a very good action platformer that manages to deliver love of the 8/16bits eras and doesn't forget to put some fresh and very clever ideas in the mix.
  5. The Games Machine
    Mar 26, 2019
    80
    The Messenger is a great example of “old school platform”. It’s fun to play, challenging but never frustrating, with good graphics and an excellent soundtrack.
  6. Metro GameCentral
    Mar 21, 2019
    80
    An inspired homage to old school Ninja Gaiden games, with a clever blending of genres and near perfect retro graphics and music.
  7. Cubed3
    Apr 22, 2019
    70
    The Messenger is a unique and enjoyable 2D platformer with a strong personality and exciting gameplay, and its fine-tuned appearance on the PS4 is a welcome one. The first half of the game is worthy of unfettered praise, but the experience takes a hefty blow at the halfway point from a failed attempt at expanding the scope. This aside, it remains a lovingly conceived game and is well worth playing through on this basis, but its flaws prevent it from going down as a true classic. In light of the fact that this is the first game by Sabotage, it's fair to say that the studio's future is bright.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. Ruzaky
    Aug 6, 2020
    10
    This game is so much fun. Music is awesome. Gameplay is super fast and tight. characters and dialogues in this is funny. Just great game overal.
  2. wikgh3li4trg
    Nov 3, 2021
    10
    Fantastic gameplay, music and writing. Not usually a massive fan of 2d retro games, but this one is different. Highly recommended.
  4. matbris
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    One of the best platformer on the console if not the best. Nice and sharp gameplay, hard but not unfaire. Will charm old and young gamer withOne of the best platformer on the console if not the best. Nice and sharp gameplay, hard but not unfaire. Will charm old and young gamer with it's crunchy humor and retro style. Il you speak french I strongly recommand you to select the "Québécois" language (most of the dialogue are clearly meant to be read in this language and it's where the humor is at it's best).

    The gameplay is realy similar to the old Ninja Gaiden on NES but sharper and with more moves.

    Dont' hesitate to buy it if you're fan of this genre, it's worth every penny... even more.

    P.S. : Don't look in the closet.    … Expand
  5. Crysouls
    Jul 25, 2021
    9
    Prós:
    - Lojista
    - Jogabilidade - Direção de arte - Level design - Dificuldade - Enredo/Diálogos - Trilha sonora Contras: - Falta    Prós:
    - Lojista
    - Jogabilidade
    - Direção de arte
    - Level design
    - Dificuldade
    - Enredo/Diálogos
    - Trilha sonora

    Contras:
    - Falta variação de inimigos ao decorrer do game.

    Vale a pena? É obvio, jogo super divertido e desafiador mas não tanto ao ponto de te irritar, com uma jogabilidade muito fluida e uma transição entre 8-bits e 16-bits sensacional    … Expand
  6. Roman_LAV
    Aug 12, 2022
    8
    Это интересная аркада в духе старой школы. По модной тенденции эта классика с умеренной пародией на жанр, то есть - много юмора и отсылок.Это интересная аркада в духе старой школы. По модной тенденции эта классика с умеренной пародией на жанр, то есть - много юмора и отсылок. Прекрасное музыкальное сопровождение и и разнообразный игровой процесс. Рекомендую… Expand
  7. BITESCREEN
    Apr 15, 2019
    7
    The Messenger sieht zwar etwas aus wie das klassische Ninja Gaiden – orientiert sich aber eher am NES-Underdog Kabuki Quantum Fighter und demThe Messenger sieht zwar etwas aus wie das klassische Ninja Gaiden – orientiert sich aber eher am NES-Underdog Kabuki Quantum Fighter und dem modernen Indie-Hit Celeste. Im Hardcore-Sidescroller dasht Ihr mit Katana und Wurfstern durch flinke wie fiese Gegner und meistert dabei gut getimt Platformer-Einlagen mit Puzzle-Einschlag. Die bunten wie abwechslungsreichen Levels und deren Bosse sind zwar manchmal etwas generisch, dafür motiviert The Messenger durch gute Spielbarkeit, ein hohes Tempo und jede Menge Meta-Humor. Die unzähligen Anspielungen auf frühe Retrogames erreichen derweil ihren nostalgischen Höhepunkt, wenn Ihr später mit nur einem Knopfdruck zwischen 8-Bit- und 16-Bit-Grafik wechselt. Leider wird The Messenger gerade zu diesem Zeitpunkt etwas repetitiv, während der Schwierigkeitsgrad aufgrund unschön gesetzter Checkpoints etwas ausartet.… Expand
  8. WithFieryTruth
    Sep 10, 2023
    3
    I heard this is supposed to be a great Metroidvania, but then I learned the hard way that it doesn't start off that way. Your first have toI heard this is supposed to be a great Metroidvania, but then I learned the hard way that it doesn't start off that way. Your first have to play through several hours of awful, old school side-scrolling action.
    The idea is kinda cool, but it's extremely poorly executed, because they've also included many of the glaring issues that made those old games (that this was inspired by) so infuriating. Those issues include, but are not limited to:

    - Enemies respawn constantly and indefinitely.
    - You get knocked back (often into a pit) whenever you're hit by something.
    - You die instantly from various falls.
    - You take damage simply by touching an enemy's hitbox.
    - You have low HP that only lets you take a few hits.
    - There are no, or very few, invincibility frames, meaning you can get hit by several different attacks, objects and traps in succession.

    You're also punished every time you die. Not only do you respawn with depleted health; there's also a creature that starts following you around and steal all your loot for a while. Whoever thought that this was a good idea that would add entertainment value to the game is clearly delusional and should not be allowed to make decisions during game development.

    I love Metroidvanias, but having to endure all this crap just to (allegedly) reach the good stuff eventually isn't something I'm willing to waste my time on when there's so many other games out there that are great right from the getgo.    … Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best PS4 Game of 2019