The Messenger

The Messenger surpassed my expectations in its first two hours. Then it went on to become one of the most joyful, rewarding, and memorable gaming experiences I’ve ever had. To say developer Sabotage succeeded at making a great platformer is a huge understatement. The Messenger transcends the platformer genre and should be played by everyone, regardless if it’s their style of game.

The Messenger is the real deal. It's the most polished, thoughtful, and accurate tribute to retro gaming that I've seen in a very long time. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

The Messenger is a prime example on how to study the fundamental rules of a genre that has been replicated a million times before. To then follow these rules, bend them and eventually break them into something of its own calibre of quality is something quite special indeed.

This is just a immensely well-made game that has a rock-solid foundation with the hero’s movements and controls. On top of that, it layers on an onslaught of laudatory elements, whether it’s a winning, humorous tone, the excellent linear level design, or the marvels of the late-game exploration.

The Messenger is not just a brilliant love letter to the 8-bit and 16-bit games that inspired it. It’s proof that even in a market saturated with retro-style platformers, there are still clever ways to approach the genre. It is one of the most well-designed games I have ever played on both a gameplay and storytelling level. Sabotage really created something special here and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

The Messenger is a real accomplishment for the fledgling Sabotage Studio. There are development teams that work for years trying to come within the same hemisphere of quality that The Messenger comfortably resides at. Its gameplay is both polished and electric, fostering a constant desire to push forward and discover every secret that its world contains. While some of the writing isn’t executed as well as it could be, the sum of The Messenger‘s parts absolutely makes up for this single, flawed fragment. It’s an essential title for anyone’s library of Switch games and I really hope at some point it gets a physical release.

The Messenger pays tribute to gaming classics in a fun, involving and memorable way that will get players to quickly enjoy the experience and get the most of its hilarious plot and marvelous audiovisual environment. This is all reinforced by its in-game transition from an 8 to a 16-bit environment, which might seem a bit confusing at first but will easily be seen as an integral part of the game.

Packed with clever story surprises and dynamic, richly-constructed gameplay, The Messenger is both a tribute to and affectionate pastiche of 8 and 16-bit game design, storytelling and nostalgia. It belongs in every Switch owner’s eShop library.

The Messenger stands alongside the likes of Shovel Knight as an example of classic platforming mastered. By retrofitting modern sensibilities, fine-tuned controls and deep replay value into the heart of a traditional game formula, it creates an experience that's nostalgic, yet new and exciting.

Twist after twist, The Messenger turns out to be an amazing game. Everything looks and feels perfect, from its sense of humor to its level-design. It’s a must-have for every retro games lover.

If there's any real "downside" to The Messenger, it's that its music and effects can be repetitive, but well... that's nitpicking. At its core, this game is damn-near perfection of the 2D action-platforming genre. Humorous writing, great boss fights, well-thought-out level design, and challenging but not painful execution make The Messenger a must-have for any Switch owner.

The Messenger is a horrible name for a game that pays homage to Ninja Gaiden. Don’t let the name stop you, though. This is one of the best of its type and is worth checking out. I do wish it was more widely available across consoles, but Switch and PC owners should certainly not miss this one.

The Messenger's game design may originate from NES and SNES classics, but it functions as an ancient scroll that passes pixel-perfect gameplay on to a new generation in the best possible way.

Despite the writing, which is definitely an acquired taste, The Messenger is a truly excellent classic platformer and a bloody good Metroidvania.

Quotation forthcoming.

With its tight controls in full tow, The Messenger is a fantastic debut from a studio that may play deeply on their sole influence but, crucially, find the means to push beyond mere imitation to create something aesthetically fresh. A stellar platformer and one many will remember for some time.

If you’re a fan of classic action-platformers, The Messenger is another indie game that you need to own. It’s much more than a tribute to Ninja Gaiden.

2D side-scrolling action games like The Messenger may be a dime a dozen these days, but you’d be missing out on something special by passing this one up. Featuring a surprisingly long campaign, an incredible soundtrack and tight, challenging level designs, The Messenger stands as a shining example of great game design. We’d highly recommend you pick this one up; it’s the very definition of a modern classic.

I cannot say enough about The Messenger. The retro side-scrolling action works in both 8-bit and 16-bit. The story is one of the best in any retro game I’ve ever played. The soundtrack is absolute dynamite. There are some nitpicky things here and there mostly in the controls department, but nothing that kills the vibe. The Messenger is a love letter to a bygone era that drops me right back into those wonderful times as soon as I turn on the Switch.

The Messenger is an essential for lovers of the design of the classics of the NES and SNES, with a high level of difficulty and a story full of irony, sarcasm and above all memorable characters.

The Messenger is a very good game that has lots of twists, whether it's in its narration or in it's gameplay. This game seems more aimed at the nostalgic gamer rather than the younger audience with lots of references to games from the 8 and 16 bit era.

The Messenger is undoubtedly one of the best indie games that have been released this year. Its graphics halfway between the 8 and 16 bits and the amazing change it undergoes in its gameplay make this title a breath of fresh air that makes it an essential title for fans of Metroidvania style games.

Challenging old-school platforming with a brilliant chiptune soundtrack and tight controls.

The much-advertised fact that the world can move between different periods of video game history is hugely impressive and slickly executed, but it's in fact only one of this throwback's brilliant subversions. I won't spoil anything else here, but this is a relentlessly inventive game that turns out to be a lot more ambitious than it first appears.

It’s tempting to make comparisons given the deluge of similar games in recent months, but The Messenger proves its worth through unique merits. The eventual shift from linear to open progression, the swapping back-and-forth between two retro aesthetics, and the evolving mechanics and satisfying platforming make a strong argument for why you should give The Messenger a closer look.

Two retro styles for the price of one, this is a great, if occasionally frustrating, homage to a hardcore classic. [Nov 2018, p.84]

The Messenger combines modern gameplay with a mix of graphic styles. The fun, humor and challenging gameplay is amazing, but it wears off a bit when the more open structure is introduced in the second half of the game.

In no way treated as an intro sequence, the expanded Metroidvania style second half of the game inadvertently overshadows those opening hours of brilliant platforming and action. But even so, The Messenger features an understanding of design, from the 8-bit to the 16-bit to the modern era, that make it more than a throwback.

Ninja games have been around since 8-bit classics like Ninja Gaiden, Strider, and Shadow of the Ninja. The Messenger fits right in with its tight gameplay, challenging degree of difficulty, and satisfying campaign.

While there are a thousand or so indie games on the Switch already. It’s hard to look past The Messenger as a game that should be in everyone’s home menu. The gameplay is very responsive, and the game is a lot of fun as well. However, the lack of a challenge may be something that would turn platforming fans away from the game. Then, on the other hand, the dialogue is very witty, and it is worth reading every text box that pops up. There is definite room for improvement for a possible sequel, but The Messenger is definitely worth checking out.

The Messenger is a really solid game for fans of the platformer and Metroidvania genres. Had the first half of the game been a little more condensed, and the second half not been too dragged out, the game could’ve been near-perfect. Even so, if you have even an appreciation for retro or old-school games, you can’t go wrong with The Messenger.

The Messenger is yet another quality indie title that comes to Nintendo Switch this year: if you've grown up playing Ninja Gaiden or any Castlevania game (both pre and post Symphony of the Night), this is the adventure you've been waiting for.

Even with a shaky back-half, The Messenger is still an adventure worth seeking out. The agility focused platforming provides a satisfying challenge, the writing is surprisingly clever, and the graphical shifting is more than just a simple gimmick.

The Messenger takes the best parts of the action-platformers it takes influence from and reinterprets them well. With clever writing, well-designed levels, and balanced difficulty curve, the game continuously hooks you with enticing skill-based challenges and satisfying payoffs. Your character might have an immediate imperative to delivering a world-saving scroll, but the journey there definitely one to savor.

When you’re fully geared up and The Messenger is hitting you with brand new stages and challenges that you haven’t seen before, The Messenger is an amazing, must-play experience. Taken as a whole, it’s brought down only by fetch quests that make The Messenger last several hours longer than it feels like it should.

Regardless of its mid-game identity crisis, tight controls, excellent platforming, and exciting combat make The Messenger a retro journey worth embarking on.

Sabotage Studio's debut title, The Messenger, is an impressive evolution for the platforming genre. It takes risks that at times work in its favor but also create frustrating mechanics for players to look past. The melding of 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics into a love letter for the NES era of platformers is nothing short of genius, but the style outweighs the gameplay in some areas, including the difficulty level.

There's a lot to love and appreciate, but the sum fell short of greatness for me. [Issue #36 – November/December 2018, p. 18]