The Messenger

 Switch
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 234 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 200 out of 234
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 234
  3. Negative: 19 out of 234

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  1. Daisuk
    May 26, 2020
    7
    The first part of this game is excellent, a relatively difficult platformer with great mechanics and cool bosses, sprinkled with a bit humour - the second half though ... it's like popping a balloon. The game loses direction, and you need to backtrack by simply doing large parts of the map yet again - which just feels unneccessary. It would be a much better game if it just stayed a pureThe first part of this game is excellent, a relatively difficult platformer with great mechanics and cool bosses, sprinkled with a bit humour - the second half though ... it's like popping a balloon. The game loses direction, and you need to backtrack by simply doing large parts of the map yet again - which just feels unneccessary. It would be a much better game if it just stayed a pure platformer throughout instead of trying to be a metroidvania towards the end, in my opinion. Still worth playing for the first part alone.… Expand
  2. Rtheom
    Sep 23, 2018
    6
    Unfortunately this game could have been great if they had just worked on the controls a little bit more. The big main mechanic of the game is "cloud stepping" where you can jump again in mid-air after attacking an enemy or object. The problem is that they tried to bog the jump mechanic down with so many other functions that the game often has trouble figuring out what exactly you want toUnfortunately this game could have been great if they had just worked on the controls a little bit more. The big main mechanic of the game is "cloud stepping" where you can jump again in mid-air after attacking an enemy or object. The problem is that they tried to bog the jump mechanic down with so many other functions that the game often has trouble figuring out what exactly you want to do.

    Not only do you have the double-jump after an attack, you can also jump and press jump again to glide, jump and press a button to do a downward attack, jump and press a button to launch a grappling hook and you have wall claws to cling to walls. Because so much is tied to jumping, I often found myself gliding when I didn't want to, clinging to walls at the worst moments and missing critical grapples. Worst of all, there's often a big of lag between your aerial attacks and your ability to jump again, meaning that you've often fallen a fair distance from your target before you get that second jump off.

    Other than that, the enemy designs are meh, mostly just copy pasted from other games, the platforming portions are meh, neither too hard nor really interesting, and as others have said, the "skill tree" is utterly pointless.

    TLDR: This would be a fine game to pick up for $5 or less. It's not worth the full $20.    … Expand
  3. Dacoo
    Sep 5, 2018
    6
    At the core, the mechanics are simple, but really fun. I grew up playing NES and love metroidvanias and 2D action games, so I think I would be the target audience. I was enjoying the game quite a bit until reaching the metroidvania part. I'll keep the issues that weight it down direct and brief.
    1. You might think that the frequency of warp points is a trivial issue, but this causes    At the core, the mechanics are simple, but really fun. I grew up playing NES and love metroidvanias and 2D action games, so I think I would be the target audience. I was enjoying the game quite a bit until reaching the metroidvania part. I'll keep the issues that weight it down direct and brief.
    1. You might think that the frequency of warp points is a trivial issue, but this causes immense frustration may sound like a minor issue. Going back for secrets often means replaying a 5 minute level because there is no faster way to get there.
    2. The game suffers from slowdown in some areas. At it's worst, button presses are not read and the game slows significantly, making it frustrating to play.
    3. The game opens up and let's you explore freely, but the game will only give you one or two objective clues at a time, so going to a different area is entirely pointless.
    4. The music in the NES versions is generally pretty cool. The 16-bit versions are quite atrocious.
    5. The upgrade system is pretty limited. Some skills are must haves, where there are a few that are almost worthless (including one that I'm pretty sure does nothing). You get so much money that you stop caring about it altogether.
    6. It's pretty easy overall. You can breeze through most areas without really trying.    … Expand
  4. GabFire
    Aug 10, 2020
    7
    Não consegui gostar do jogo, achei meio fraco e sem graça nenhuma, fiquei jogando por umas horas e cheguei num ponto que me cansei de tão chatinho que estava.
  5. Foxylary
    Apr 16, 2022
    5
    Just one of my favorite indie game ! It's like Shinobi but better with a precise gameplay, great humor, cool caracters and a good story. The game is foul of surprise to the beginning at the end and I particulary appreciated hiddings dialogs. I can't wait to play the next game of Sabotage studio !

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best Switch Game of 2018
25
#25 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
25
#25 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. FNintendo
    Nov 26, 2018
    90
    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.
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  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Oct 29, 2018
    75
    There's a lot to love and appreciate, but the sum fell short of greatness for me. [Issue #36 – November/December 2018, p. 18]
  3. Gaming Nexus
    Oct 23, 2018
    90
    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.
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