The Messenger

Personal favorite of 2018. Great art, Fun story and NPC interactions. Smooth gameplay and a masterclass in level design. Prepare a spot on your playlist for this game's music.

Really enjoyed the main campaign, it feels exactly like an oldschool platformer but with some new age mechanics. The lore is fun, the graphics/art style are perfect, I even enjoyed some of the humor. It did feel a little on the easy side for most of the game except for a few segments of some of the levels and a couple of the bosses. It's definitely worth buying on sale if you enjoy retro platformers/oldschool Ninja Gaiden. However, after beating the game (or what I thought was beating it) it says there is more stuff you have to collect by replaying all of the same levels, and it feels like an artificial way to extend the length of the game and kind of unnecessary. If it simply ended after beating the final boss it'd be better. Still a very solid 8 out of 10, definitely recommend.

Classic platformer with very fun movement mechanics and options, combined with metroidvania style progression with boss fights, power ups and backtracking.

The special 8-bit 16-bit visual change time travel mechanic you get in the middle is very cool visually and feels smooth to play alongside everything else. I first though would be annoying to manage when backtracking but it's chill.

The stand out feature for me is definitely the writing humor. All dialogues and banters are so funny to read, especially the shopkeeper.

Later on, the progression are given to you via riddles from the prophet, which are decently fun to solve, and if you are stuck you can just buy a hint for a little bit of grinding currency (or just wiki it)

Other than that, the game is very polished, not any super new idea but they are executed well. That includes the platforming, the powerups, bosses and the lore.

The music in this game is pretty good, not outstanding but I don't find any track bad either.

Play time is solid, around 10 to 15 hours (now with an extra free DLC).
If you like metroidvania or platformers, or are interested in the retro graphics and soundtrack then I'd recommend.

On the whole a really good platformer. Decently challenging, great music, funny writing, good looking retro graphics in 8- and 16-bit styles. But it has some flaws.

The game has a really good pace for the first half, which consists of linear stages (with funny interactions with the shopkeeper and optional challenging side rooms along the way) ending in challenging boss fights. At a certain point, though, the game seriously loses momentum as you are expected to backtrack through the map to do some tedious fetch quests. The map is barely interconnected, because it's designed like a linear platformer, and there are very few warp destinations, so it doesn't lend itself well to repeatedly backtracking over the same areas. This disappointing mid-game does ultimately lead to great new linear stages, though, and the game ends on a high note with a great final stage and boss.

The controls in the air felt a bit clunky to me as well, I often found myself mashing attack and jump since it was often difficult to keep track of whether I still had a jump in hand in the more crowded, panicky areas.

Still, on the whole, I really enjoyed The Messenger and would recommend it to anyone who likes challenging platformers. But if you're here specifically because you're looking for a Metroidvania, then don't bother, it isn't one

if you like metroidvanias and haven't played this game yet, please do so. Very refreshing experience, doesn't feel like any other game I've played until now. Insanely unique mechanics and beautiful pixel art, interesting combat and neat collectibles. Definitely recommend this to ANY metroidvania enjoyer.

Also have to mention the Soundtrack. It's insane and I love it.

Just an amazing game both in story and gameplay, these devs will have me hooked on their games until they go bust.

game is fun, art style is gorgeous, writing is really good, but my favorite part of the game is easily the time travel mechanic along with the soundtrack switching. man this soundtrack is so damn goated.

also the game is short and cheap so you don't have a reason to not play this right now after reading this.

An amazing game with unbelievable amounts of sarcastic humor, awesome artwork, and a phenomenal soundtrack! Quickly become one of my favorites in the genre!

Walljumping is a bit fucky and the glide mechanic i would rather it be a separate button, but besides that? This has to be one of the thightest most well made gameplay i've seen in a 2D platformer. The level design, music, and graphics are impressive, the gimmick is meh but its a way to experiment with new soundtrack and visuals so i tolerate it.

It's impressive how much "hit anything and you get to jump again" quickly turns into an impressive way to traverse the world without touching the ground.

Very fun Ninja Gaiden-like Metrovania Platformer. The game has a very good sense of humor and is very self-aware.

Recommended. And I don't even fancy ninja settings. But there is quite a bit to enjoy about The Messenger: The pixel art and the soundtrack are simply gorgeous, the gameplay is fluid and the storyline is captivating. Dialogues, in particular, are more intelligent than what you'd expect from your usual jump-and-run title. The twist at the half-way point even surprised me, which is something not many games manage to do these days.

What I didn't like quite as much:

- Most rooms have been built with multiple approaches in mind (e.g. grappling or gliding over a chasm). A few rooms, in contrast, enforce exactly one correct solution (e.g. grapple only)---but the room layout doesn't clearly communicate this, and other approaches fall short by minimal amounts (e.g. gliding is off by just a very few pixels).

- Many rooms feel like they have been designed as a one-time traversal challenge. This is OK for serial progress in the first half of the game. Yet, it gets tedious once you have to navigate through rooms multiple times during the second half of the game.

- The controls aren't as bad as, say, in La Mulana or in the original Castlevania and feel fluid during normal gameplay. However, controls are not as great as, for example, in Ori or in Shovelknight: Climbing inadvertently sticks you to walls---the game even jokes about this---and the double mapping of one key for gliding and jumping means you have to expedite your buffered double jump before changing to gliding mode.

- Normal enemies are a little boring and lack variety. Spikes and, even more so, bottomless chasms are the main hazards, which is somewhat frustrating.

- The standard boss fights are just okayish. Yeah, you can probably learn boss moves and make every hit count, but tanking and slashing still is the easier solution---especially considering the Messenger's extreme attack speed.

- Upgrades aren't exactly novel or interesting and don't really make your character feel much stronger than at the beginning of the game.

- One or two of the achievements are excessively annoying to get, because they require you to use mechanics that haven't been necessary in the remaining game.

- The final turn of the storyline (i.e. the cutscene before the final level) feels like needlessly complicated exposition and breaks the overall pacing. I think I'd have enjoyed an ending as in the mid-way point more than a grand conclusion.

- The German translation isn't bad, but picks the wrong words at times. For example, the space-time "tear" becomes a "Träne" (i.e. eye fluid), and the musical "note" is a "Notiz" (i.e. memo).

A very fun platformer with enough surprises, twists and throwbacks to keep things interesting.

Fantastic soundtrack and the first part of the game is solid. While the soundtrack and story are still good in the second half, I didn't really care for the "Celeste" style gameplay switch to "Hollow Knight" style gameplay in the second half

It's still worth a play. Go in blind and don't look up guides!

Edit: The "Hollow Knight" style works. Just pay the shopkeeper for the secret locations to save you time.

This game is beautiful in nearly every way, the art, the mechanics, the story, this game is great! It doesn't take up much time and while it can be difficult at some times, the game is quite forgiving compared to rage bait games. If you want a challenge that wont make you want to throw your keyboard against the wall, this is the game for you!

The Messenger – A Fun but Quirky Adventure

The Messenger is a fantastic game with strong platforming, fun combat, and great music, but it comes with a few quirks that may turn some players away. While technically a Metroidvania, the early game plays more like a level-based platformer, only shifting into a more open-ended structure later on. If you're expecting a full exploration-based experience from the start, you might find the linearity off-putting. That said, I appreciate that the game doesn’t let you get lost, and revisiting areas remains engaging due to strong level design.

The combat is simple yet effective, with a responsive jump, attack, and shuriken, alongside additional abilities gained throughout the adventure. The standout mechanic is the Cloud Step, which lets you reset your midair jump after attacking something, allowing for creative platforming and evasive movement in combat. Enemies have small health pools, making encounters short and sweet without feeling like a chore. Boss fights are another highlight, with each featuring distinct patterns to learn, ensuring they remain fresh and rewarding.

The platforming is a major strength, as the game constantly introduces new challenges that test your reflexes and mastery of its mechanics. Controls are tight and deaths always feel fair, a critical component for any platformer. Each environment offers something different, both in aesthetics and level design, keeping the experience fresh throughout.

The music is rad, with each area featuring a distinct theme that shifts when transitioning between dimensions. The way the soundtrack dynamically changes underwater or during certain sections is a nice touch that adds extra depth to the experience.

However, the dialogue and cutscenes are where The Messenger stumbles. Cutscenes are unskippable, which is a major flaw for replayability. The game also leans heavily into humor, and while I personally enjoyed it, I can see it being hit-or-miss for others. Dialogue sections drag on longer than necessary, which can slow the pacing down unnecessarily.

A few other minor gripes include the way enemies respawn when re-entering the screen—this isn’t a dealbreaker due to their low health, but it could be annoying for players who backtrack often. Some progression elements require talking to NPCs, which sometimes sends you on long fetch quests that feel like padding. Additionally, dimension-switching portals aren’t always conveniently placed, leading to some frustrating backtracking. The final moment of the game being a quick-time event is a bit underwhelming, though it doesn’t diminish the overall experience too much.

Final Thoughts

The Messenger is a strong game with excellent platforming, tight controls, and a killer soundtrack. Its quirky writing and unskippable cutscenes may frustrate some, and its Metroidvania elements are not as deep as others in the genre, but if you’re here for fun movement, satisfying combat, and great level design, you’ll have a great time. If the humor and music don’t click with you, it might not land as well, but overall, it’s a solid experience worth playing.

They put far more effort into trying to tell a joke than making the player character have any options other than what they wanted.

The gameplay gets stale. This is because they stopped upgrades, and it seemed like the things they added to try to mix up gameplay were more to slow it down and force you learn the button input sequence needed to get to the next checkpoint. I stopped when what was clearly telegraphed as the boss in a chase sequence ended up being another of the same type of boss battles. Not again - no thanks.

cool ideas but the clumsy execution of the second half of the game and the corny meta humor cheapens the experience

I can recommend this game!!
It has gameplay flow, a bit challenge (not too much) and great humor!! Thanks a lot to creators, it's a nice game!

funny game, largely doesn't take its story seriously except for the most important bits.
gots all your metroidvania stuffs with some extra unique mechanics thrown in to spice up exploration. love it, want more of it.

This game is simply amazing. The devs really nailed the oldschool arcade vibe, the graphics, the music, the mechanics and story elements all work together very smoothly to create the pixel platformer experience. The fourth-wall-breaking jokes are a nice touch and makes the game feel like a love gift from its creators who I imagine thoroughly enjoyed working on it. The symbolism is great, how the game's story revolves around time and cycles and loops. Witty, creative, well though out. 10/10, cannot recommend it more.

The Messenger is an incredibly fun game that beautifully blends retro visuals with modern gameplay. At first glance, it may seem like a typical platformer, but it constantly delivers surprises that keep you engaged. The story is compelling, and the dialogue is genuinely entertaining, making me laugh every time. Plus, the music is outstanding—it's the kind of soundtrack that gets stuck in your head long after you’ve finished playing.

Unironically one of the funniest games i've ever played. It's fast paced, fun and engaging.

A+ classic style platformer with a great and funny story. A++ if you have, or plan to, play "Sea Of Stars"

Can't remember when played such a great game when I just simply couldn't stop play and haven't even finished it yet. At the very beggining was a little sceptic, a bit curious, but the more I have played the better it got. Totally worth. Love it!

Amazing game! Chill to play, but enough challenge, beautiful biomes and fun dialogues. Sometimes a bit glitchy, but doesent affect the gameplay too much (:

Decent metroidvania game.

Positive:
1. Quite a humor and twisted plot but unfinished ending,
2. Lot of challenging platforms but quite fair not as hard as Celeste.
3. Decent 16 bit arts and OST style.
4. Battles are fun and some are unique such as riding and shooting on flying dragon.

Negative:
1. This is subjective but I dont quite like 8 bit arts and OST style. I rather developer used both past and future used 16 bit, or maybe used 16 bit for past and 32 bit for future.
2. Green coin reward should be divided like 10 coin reward 1, 20 coin reward 2....collecting all 40s for 1 reward does not feel worthed.
3. Wish double jump is part of upgrade. Come on...mc is a Ninja.

There is something else that I feel bit negative but cant describe it...

Overall this is a decent game, recommended on sale...score 7.7/10.

Message received loud and clear: Play this game!

As a disclaimer, I'm not going to spoil anything. This game has more to offer than I will state in this review. Play it yourself.

This game belongs up there with some of the best platformers (Celeste, Meatboy etc) as it has the tightest controls and really good motion tied with a variety of mechanics and added utilities as you progress in the game. As you get later in the game and unlock more mobility and upgrades the flow of running through levels is incredibly satisfying. The level of challenge for optional content and even mainline content can also get pretty challenging but is seldom unfair.

The Messenger has you take the titular role wherein you must carry a scroll to the top of the mountain as hoardes of demons have invaded the world and you are the saviour of the surviving humans. As you progress you face off against a number of bosses and engage with a plot that has some twists and turns as well as heaps of humour from the interactions between the various characters you encounter.

The interactions between the characters, especially the shopkeeper and the messenger as genuinely really amusing. The writing here is very fun and the game loves to poke holes in the tropes of the game itself, the plot and other various elements. This game should be listed as a comedy game given how unserious the writing is. It's great though.

Visually the game initially is rather basic, adhering to more simple palettes and sprites with the soundtrack also following a more dated sound. At a point in the game however, the visuals begin to share styles with a more updated aesthetic and the music is also updated in the same sense. It's a really fun means of keeping locations fresh whilst adding a fun technical layer between two variations. Honestly some of the detailing here is incredible and it does not surprise me that the devs second game (Sea of Stars) looks as good as it does.

Without divulging my favourite part of the game (about 1/3rd in) this game starts simple but really expands and builds as it goes. Snowballing into a fantastic game that ultimately plays fantastically and plays with the players expectations. My only genuine gripes with the game are that when dying you spawn with half your health which is rough for certain sections, especially more challenging rooms. Bosses can also be a little simple or underwhelming given the simplicity of the combat. Other than that I think the game is phenomenal.

This is good. Some of the best and tightest 2D level design going, and I wish they'd kept the whole game in that style - whilst the Metroidvania half isn't bad by any means (I don't usually get along well with the genre, but this one was just fine for me) I still think it takes away from what is some excellent linear platforming challenges, where the game is absolute peak. Absolutely brilliant music and sprite art all round, with humour is actually pretty amusing for the most part.

Very fun action platformer with Metroidvania elements. Platforming is tight with surprising depth, pixel art is gorgeous, music is awesome. Story is alright, dialogue in particular got a few laugh out loud moments out of me. The only downsides for me are a bit too much backtracking (especially to get to the optional collectibles) and a slightly uneven difficulty (particularly in the DLC). Overall very recommended for any platformer and/or MV fan.

One of the best metroidvanias I've ever played, with a great sense of humour, great combat and above all great movement options I love playing through the game on ng+ flying through the early stages using the grappling hook and flying suit, mastering the movement in this game feels immensely rewarding

Great game, fun to play. You don't see a lot of games following in the old Ninja Gaiden NES games, but the lack of lives and the more forgiving spikes makes it less frustrating. Some hellish backtracking in the late-game, though, the game needed more teleporters.

Felt pretty lackluster in general. Combat is mostly 1 shot enemies with easily avoidable attacks, not to mention you can very early on just smack the projectiles and make them disappear. I was mostly bored trekking through the levels in the first place. Then having to go back through them while making sure I was in the right point in time for new paths to be accessible, and if not trekking back to the time warps, and then back again was real tedious. Not a game for me, unfortunately.

I was enjoying this game a lot. I died about 38 times until, the Demon Boss. I died over 200 times. Watched a youtube. That's what I was doing... Read the comments. Yikes. Not the only one that doesn't like it... I finally beat the boss. IDK if I'm going to play it anymore. This game was a 9/10. After that boss it's like a 4 maybe. There's too many other games for me to have my time wasted by a cheesy boss.

Well, another great title from Devolver Digital, worth a look if you like platforming! Here are some of my impressions: I was particularly thrilled when the game unexpectedly became a metroidvania; the gameplay trick of switching between the 16-bit future and the 8-bit past is also interesting; and the Shopkeeper's stories are really fun to read — it's philosophical!

Amazing game. If you enjoy platformer with some cool fighting this game is definitely for you.
Also, the shopkeeper is definitely amongst my favourite NPC across all games I ever played.

super good and well designed. the more i think about this game the more i end up liking it. it's just good area after good area with amazing mechanic and obstacle design for 10 hours straight. some of the bosses are kind of iffy but most of them are at least okay, and the rest of the platforming more than makes up for it.

Wanted to start the year off with a video game-ass video game, and this one fit the bill. Really enjoyed most of my time with the game, especially up to the second big twist, but once the initial wow-factor of the game pivoting into a Metroidvania wore off, my enthusiasm cooled a little bit (why they decided to build fast-travel nodes into some zones, but not all, is a question for the ages). I also just generally found the storytelling and humor to be less clever/funny than the developers clearly did. Still executes on its premise as a fun, aesthetically appealing Ninja Gaiden-like with its own built-in 16-bit sequel and an unexpectedly mind-bending plot.

I like absolutely everything about this game in short! 10/10! Try it by your self and you'll understand the power of sarcastic and paradox-al story telling, while the gameplay is atmost perfect and really fun and acrobatic! We strongly await for the 2 DLC's off which were promised by devs after Picnic Panic, especially cause this game deserves endless content releases, endless DLC's, endless game modes, endless powerups, endless character customizations, endless characters to choose as "The Messenger" to play with in full playthrough... this game has endless potential and need more content asap!!! Thanks for everything!

this game is very fun where the first half is a platformer game and the second is metroidvana. the story and the jokes are great. but one thing stands out to me is the soundtrack. somehow I still remember them even though I've finished the game months ago

This is a must play. Story was amazing and kept me enthralled till the end. Gameplay experience I can best describe as simultaneously playing a faux 8 bit and 16 bit Ninja Gaiden that around half way through evolves into a Metroidvania. I've never played anything quite like it. 10/10

This is quite simply one of my favorite games ever. The platforming is fun, the writing is hilarious, and the soundtrack is great and memorable. Between this and Sea of Stars, I’m really into the vibe of Sabotage Studio.

I’ve played through The Messenger three times now (PC, switch, PlayStation) and still find it very enjoyable. It’s getting a ps5 specific release in a few months and I’m already looking forward to a fresh start with a new set of trophies.

I do prefer the first half of the game (2d retro ninja platformer) over the 2nd (metroidvania lite) but it’s enjoyable start to finish. This is a game i go back to often. At the risk of looking like some crazy fanboy….i straight up don’t trust the judgment of people who don’t enjoy this game. There’s so much to love.

Simply put, this game is everything I want in a 2D sidescroller, with two brilliant artstyles, two versions of the same earwormy soundtrack, tough but masterable mechanics that make gameplay feel like a dance at times, and some of the most entertaining dialogue in a game like this I have yet to experience. I am mostly through it and imagine I am going to restart it as soon as I finish it.

Everything about this game is fantastic.
The art styles, the mechanics, the soundtrack, the story, the secrets,
its all perfect.

You may be asking yourself, "Is this game really worth the hype?" Well, let me ask you this: Is a frog's ass water-tight?

If you don't know about this game, go in completely blind.
10/10

The game is amazing. The gameplay is tight, it does follow the ninja gaiden recipe but with many twists here and there.

The story is perfect, the open world part is a bit tedious but the game end is super nice.

Don't let the graphics fool you, this is a really well made game. It's a combination of NES Ninja Gaiden to a Metroidvania.
The simple controls and skill tree is interesting. I had no problems learning and becoming a skilled ninja. Some folks might be turned off by the quirky dialogue, but it gives this game that charm. Especially the more you progress further into the game. As someone who is from the 8-Bit era, The Messenger is a welcoming addition to the modern retro style games I adore. Another great Ninja game I absolutely enjoyed this from beginning to end. The music (and the change into it) is really well done.

Sabotage developer, you did good! Thumbs up for The Messenger and highly recommended.


Works flawlessly on Steam Deck

The game is tough and has a very old school feel to it, but after enough tries I finally get the rewarding payoff of beating a tough boss or reaching the next checkpoint. What makes this game seem so old is the enemies, who are reborn if you return to the spot they were killed, as soon as their tiny area comes back on screen. The way they move and look also seems to remind me of some old Sega games. But the levels are interesting, and there is a more modern upgrade system and I'd say level of polish to the game that makes it deeper in scale and fit for play today.

I loved this game it was overflowing with creativity and non stop challenge

Fun and challenging game with some pretty difficult optional content. Some annoying points in exploration and certain bosses, but a solid package overall. The weakest point for me was the writing. It wasn't for me, but others might enjoy the sarcastic tone.

Even though I hold some disdain for the way this game's (and many other indie games') writing often makes fun of itself in overplayed meta-comedy, I cannot deny that The Messenger is a very fun, visually striking platformer, with a commitment to simple mechanics, that does not overstay it's welcome. The soundtrack is also fire.

A really great Metroidvania with difficulty in a really sweet spot. The love the devs have for the genre and influences really comes through in the design, music, and art. There's some really nice callbacks and commentary from the 8 to 16 bit shift in everything including how game design has evolved since the 80s. Love Ninja Gaiden? Love Metroidvanias? This is the game for you! Can't wait for a sequel!