The Messenger (2018)

Played the DLC.

Not generally a fan of single-player DLCs because once it's been a few months since I played the game, I've forgotten how to play, the mechanics, the map/items, the general feel of the game, etc (I still haven't touched Hollow Knight DLC for this reason, waiting until I replay the game), but I gave it a shot and was sucked back in once I reached the island, only a little bit of re-learning mechanics needed.

The water area, I appreciate the change of pace and the minigame, but it was very fast - sort of the reason I can't play 2D Sonic games - my eyes just can't keep up with it. Still managed to get the feathers without too much work. But definitely preferred the platforming levels. Same thoughts on the final boss - cool idea for a shake up, but would've loved a normal fight as it wasn't super intuitive to me. (In fact I still have no clue how some attacks worked) The little speedrun area as well, cool stuff but there were some mechanics (particularly with momentum during jump/hook) that I never fully got and made it awkward.

I didn't realize the island would have no backtracking - I skipped a few of the mask pieces because I figured I'd backtrack later, but that is not the case, there's no metroidvania-ness here, you just restart each level from the beginning if you wanna do that. Was a little bit disappointed that neither the mask nor the money sink actually had any effect on gameplay, would've liked some sort of actual bonus.

Overall, great DLC and love that they tried new things even if they weren't all for me, but the two platforming levels were solid like usual, and thank god for the new enemy variety!

Interrupted my Mass Effect Andromeda run because I got The Messenger (PS4) for review.

I'm liking it a lot. But I was ready to hate it after the first "John Gaiden" joke. I thought it was gonna be a lot of referential humor and I'm sick of that after Guacamelee 2.

Thankfully, It was just that joke and the rest of the game actually has funny jokes.

Heads up!!!

Found out if you get Amazon prime or even a free trial of it at the moment, you can get Broforce, both Hotline Miami games, Strafe, Crossing Souls, The Swords of Ditto, Hacknet: Complete Edition, SNK Bundle, Smoke & Sacrifice, Poi and The Messenger free to keep forever through their desktop app.

Can gift anyone the non-Devolver ones if they don't want to mess with subscription nonsense.

Going to finally try The Messenger!

I think I have to stop playing this game because it is painful. Literally painful. I am playing on the Switch with the built-in joycons since thought it would be a good plane game. Originally when I played it there was no ability to change controls and it was too tricky and uncomfortable for me to hold down jump (B) and hit slash (Y). A recent update allowed for changing the controls but it is still not completely helping. I found after an hour of gaming I was getting a cramp in my hand and I am sore on my thumb pad. I haven’t felt this since my original Nintendo days with its angular controllers.

I also don’t quite get the rhythm of jump, slash, jump again, glide, slash, jump again that is required for certain platforming sections. I conceptually understand it but my brain can’t quite get my hands to do what is required to make it happen. I liked Super Meat Boy for hard platformers but can’t quite get into this one where I am having fun as I am only occasionally hitting that perfect timing. Even when I do I am not quite sure what I did. The snarky demon that makes fun of me when I die has completely worn out his welcome.

Ugh, that’s it I’m done with this. The platforming is just bad. Maybe there is a market for those who like really old school platforming but I like to think gaming has evolved to far better. Super Meat Boy and Guacamelee 1/2 are games that do a far better job of movement. Guacamelee’s natural incorporation of combat moves into the platforming is fantastic and the instant death traps result in a near instant respawn. Messenger seems to prefer its snarky death messages and losing a lot more progress.

The control scheme is what kills me. I remember working my thumb numb as a kid having to hold B while sometimes also pressing A simultaneously on my Nintendo. I don’t actually want to go back to that. If they had just let me customize the buttons I would be much happier.

Meh. This seems like it is too retro. I am a couple hours in and they haven’t really introduced many mechanics or interesting elements. The game’s aesthetic is so old school 8-bit that it has the aspects I hated about those games. For example, when it wasn’t clear what is a ledge, pit, or passageway. The pogo stick mechanic I feel is very hard to pull off with the default button layout and there is no way to change it (another “revolution” of modern gaming: changing buttons). The bosses are also totally boring and just pattern memorization.

Having just come off of Dead Cells maybe I am comparing it too much but the controls in Dead Cells were very tight and movement was enjoyable. Messenger not so much.

This game aggressively scratches the same itch that Shovel Knight did for me and then very politely scratches some others (namely, the Metroidvania itch, the fluid skill-based movement itch, the actually funny video game humor itch, and the weirdly specific "self-indulgent love letter to gaming itself" itch) on top of that. Not only does this game leave me pleasantly itch-free, it blasts some kickass tunes straight into my earholes while doing so. If this game were an animal, it would be a dog. He'd have backscratchers where his feet were supposed to be and a boombox playing chiptunes built into him somewhere. He'd be sweet and lovable and loyal and goofy and willing to protect me and my family by any means necessary. And I'd pet him and give him treats whenever he wanted.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that this game is a good boy.