The Messenger (2018)

This videogame is a retro-inspired action platformer that begins as a straightforward, tightly designed 8-bit side-scroller before transforming into a more expansive Metroidvania-style adventure. Its sharp controls and acrobatic mechanics make traversal and combat consistently satisfying, while the time-traveling twist between 8-bit and 16-bit eras keeps the gameplay and presentation fresh.

The game’s humor and witty writing stand out, with self-aware dialogue that playfully pokes fun at genre conventions. Its soundtrack is a highlight, shifting seamlessly alongside the visuals between eras and giving each area a memorable energy. I genuinely consider the OST of this game one of the best of all time in gaming history, to the same level of old time classics, or even something like Undertale and Deltarune.

While a lot of people praise its creativity and polish, some feel the second half slows down due to backtracking and limited fast travel. Though fortunately for me, I'm quite the opposite when it comes to this aspect, similar to something like SOTN (spoilers ahead) when you reach the upside-down Dracula Castle, it was as mind-blowing as when the (more spoilers) the MC opens up the scroll he is carrying, mid-way through the game.

Still, the charm, challenge, and clever design cement it as one of the most beloved indie releases of its year, earning strong critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase. I consider this one of the best games that I've ever played, it has an insane level if quality on every aspect it tries to convey, exploration is one of it's best elements, you have a lot of movement abilities to play around. One of the standouts of this game is the humor, I laughed really hard in some sections, there are no cheap unfunny jokes, at least for my taste of humor, this was perfect, not to mention the amazing 4th wall break it happens sometimes.

This is one of those games that I wish I could forget everything about just so I could play it all over again, for the first time, this is how good this title is. I highly recommend doing 100% on this one, it is one of the most satisfying 100% I've done in a while. I also advise not skipping the DLC, it is fairly short but still carries the amazing quality of the base game. And finally, don't sleep on Sea of Stars, it lives in the same universe of this game, while also being developed by the same devs, and finally, it is as good as this one.

Ha sido una grata sorpresa. Jugué en su día a Sea of Stars y aunque a nivel mecánico o la historia no terminó de encantarme, amé su diseño artístico y su OST. Hace poco me compré el libro de arte de hecho, porque lo amo. Pasó el tiempo y decidí probar el primer juego del estudio, y la verdad que ha sido increible. Sin spoilers, decir que ha sido de los juegos que más me ha sorprendido y con los que más me he reído de los últimos años. Es fresco, original y desenfadado. No se toma en serio, pero tiene un concepto detrás increíble, y ha sido de los mejores ¿metroidvanias? ¿juego de acción/plataformas? que he jugado nunca. Es un juego que recomiendo jugar sin haber leído nada, ya que en el terreno de los spoilers diré que:

El concepto del cambio de presente a futuro con el diseño y la OST en 8 y 16 bits es de las cosas más brillantes que he visto nunca en un videojuego. El tendero (¿o es tendera?) es de mis personajes favoritos ever en un videojuego y sus diálogos de lo mejor del juego

El DLC ha sido la guinda del pastel, todavía más divertido, alocado y disfrutón. Ahora quiero jugar al DLC del Sea of Stars de hecho.

10/10 jueguénlo y por favor Sabotage Studio hagan más juegos como este o Sea of Stars.

I very much liked The Messenger and it exceeded my expectations. No, it's not a perfect game and while some critics of it's design have made their case, I would like to remind those of you who have complained that you probably wouldn't be able to finish other similar games that it is modelled after without a guide either. Take Super Metroid (or even the original Metroid) while possible to complete without any such guides it would take a good chunk of time. I'm unsure if The Messenger should get knocked on because it incorporated that design into the last half of the game. Granted, there are no hints and no other modern conveniences really, and they could have done more than the cryptic hint system to have improved this segment of the game.

In any case, the game is a second-rate Shovel Knight with a heavier-handed bolt-on design approach and updates its influences to current standards. IMO, the game doesn't really play like any Ninja Gaiden game. You do hit lanterns for drops and sort of bounce about on them like a ninja though. It's a fairly smooth-playing and well controlled game that I feel is responsive, however as you make progress the controls get a bit complex in the mechanics and moves you can make (you have to alternate a button or let go of a button to do some things like go from float to grappling hook, though I found this could be alleviated by switching default controls, i think?) And this makes it really easy to make mistakes and screw up your jump and just fall into pits.... The game looks slick and sick. And the music, while in some spots I felt it doesnt always fit the levels/scenes is just AWESOME!

Some players may not like the comic tone, fourth wall breaking/self-referential humor this game has (Why, I saw one of you lot complaining the other day about that in a thread) But for me, it's a barrel of laughs and a real hoot. This game has some truly funny and rather well-written characters and dialogue. I thought it was fantastic writing.

Also, the game also has a friendly, but depressed Golem!

My chief complaint (other than the common one in which the last half of the game is a bit difficult and tedious) is that some 'rooms' in the levels are poorly designed or have unnecessary platforms or enemy placement, while others are really well thought out. It's just not consistent as you travel throughout the 'world'. This is also true of the difficulty as some rooms are a simple cakewalks then it throws you a pit area that is going to take 10-20 attempts to get past. The second complaint is its cool how the upgrade system works but... it feels like it could be more or isn't enough. It would be neat to have truly special powers for combat or exploration to make the last half of the game easier and not a chore for the players not using a guide (but that might also make it somewhat boring)

As I mentioned this game isn't Ninja Gaiden, its not really Metroid Vania either which people seem to slap the label onto it. its actually very similar to a lot of the japanese action role playing genre that's long since been forgotten such as the old Nihon Falcom games (it's a lot like how I remember games like Faxandu to play) and some of the platforming and fighting feels a bit like the first few classic Megaman games. Style of the overworld and the way you gotta do this-and-that reminded me of Demon's Crest or Act Raiser? There are also brief dragon riding SHMUP sections that feel like something Hudson-y from the TG-16 (I forget which Bonk or Adventure Island it was that had this dragon riding minigame before boss battles? But this definitely reminds me of it) these segments aren't too lengthy or any challenge really and are just tossed in for fun. I found myself remembering certain bits from very specific games (the squid fight in the DLC is very much a sewer battle out of TNMT Arcade) The game makes clear references and easter eggs to lots of things. (I love the death noise lol)

The game took up a good chunk of time. at least 20 hours. the DLC is neat but I had to give up at the very end when doing the shadow ninja race That's just crazy difficult for me in giving you random rooms to do so you cant memorize it anymore..

All in all, it's A must have for Shovel Knight fans and/or retrogamers. I hope I didn't spoil it for anyone, I'd caution against reading too much about it just know to resort to a guide when and if you feel you need it and (hopefully like I did) you'll have a worthwhile experience with it.

Extremely enjoyable action platforming in the vein of (obviously) ninja gaiden, with enough modern twists to make it enjoyable beyond the nostalgia - particularly the cloud step mechanic, which lets you double jump only after hitting an enemy or projectile with your sword. The writing of the game is also pretty enjoyable - light and fun and not too self-serious.

The back half of the game lacks the polish of the very strong opening, where it shifts genre into a metroidvania. In particular, there aren't enough efficient ways to travel around the map beyond tediously backtracking, and the time shift mechanic is fun but not robust enough to carry the repeated traversal of stale environments. Still, even despite these drawbacks, I enjoyed the hunt for optional items enough to 100% the game, which I count in its favor.

Also worth a call out that the DLC is an excellent coda to the rest of the game - it plays to the strengths of the opening acts while discarding a lot of the tedium that bogged down the later parts.

Would absolutely recommend this to anyone with a passing interest in action platformers - maybe with a caveat to use a guide for the back half if you don't think you'll have the patience to hunt down (potentially false) leads yourself around the relatively large map

Adding to my backlog of retro game category, I expected The Messenger to have something up its sleeve with the game mechanics. Being sent on a quest to deliver a hero's scroll, it would seem like a regular, linear platformer at the start with easy learning curve to work through the levels. Half-way through and you'll learn to either keep loving or start hating the metroidvania factor that The Messenger transferred to. With all the hidden collectibles needed to finish the game, I urge you to save up around that point to afford some helpful upgrades and save your time exploring through and through (I felt lucky having done that).

Not only that, time travel comes into play, which will affect the game's contents in many aspects, for you to find out. With notable characters, such as the shopkeeper, you're in for some entertainment through deadpan humor and take-away lessons learned through some philosophical anecdotes, not to mention enemies' antics.

My biggest grief with The Messenger is that it would have been desirable to have more travel points or means to warp by, to save the time of platformer traversing. I can recommend The Messenger for its game mechanics that unfold in progress, the unusual plot and game twists.

I loved the first part of the game so much. The levels were well designed, the bosses fun and at times challenging, the power ups felt significant, and the story was intriguing. I loved the straightforwardness of the gameplay. It required good navigation of the levels and a solid grasp of the combat and the abilities.

But then the second half turned into a metroidvania. And I was confused on where to go. The barebones map barely helped. I had to backtrack a lot. And suddenly everything felt like a huge fetch quest. The story must have probably still been good, but I quit after 2 hours, I was just too frustrated. Such a shame, this game could have been stellar.

Intro

This is a platformer in which you fight your way through enemies to unlock new items and abilities.

The Good

• The platforming is solid.
• Decent variety of abilities & enemies in the first 80 minutes.
• The dialogue is quite amusing.

The Bad

• Didn't support my controller. Other people have had the same problem.
• Menus use in-game controls. You select an option with Jump and Enter works like Escape normally would.
• Even worse is how the trading menu is closed using the 'rope arrow' button. Neither Escape nor Enter work. I had to try most of my keyboard before i found out.
• Terrible music that i muted right away.
• Not nearly enough checkpoints.
• They introduce a new enemy that cheats (halberd guy) far from a checkpoint. He also caused the game to hang for a moment several times.
• Checkpoints sometimes cause the game to hang as well. Just... why?
• When you die a creature shows up to steal from you. Because it makes perfect sense to make a game harder for people who aren't good at it.
• There are too many instakills and it's often pretty vague if something will instakill you (especially floor spikes).
• Wonky balance. It often feels too easy or too hard.

Conclusion

This is a pretty mediocre platforming game made worse by the lack of checkpoints. I quit after dying and having to replay a particularly tedious section. Apparently the game has tons of backtracking later as well, no thanks.

Right off the bat, WOW what a soundtrack. My favorite track is definitely the future version of "Searing Crags."

Control-wise, this is some of the best “flow” in a platformer from recent memory.

The writing is hilarious, however it sometimes drags on and really just feels like its keeping me one place for WAY too long.

The first half of this game is FULL of wow moments that put a smile on your face. The second half, however, stops throwing those moments at you for the most part, and turns slightly repetitive, rarely changing up the scenery like the first half did constantly.

There are few things more satisfying than repeatedly using the rope dart to cover large distances.

Overall, The Messenger is a great game with great ideas, yet some subtle yet noticeable issues with pacing.