The Messenger is an action retro-style 2D platformer from Sabotage Studio and published by Devolver Digital.
Harkening back to games like Ninja Gaiden, The Messenger has you jumping and climbing off walls as a young ninja after the army of demons have returned. Tasked with delivering a scroll across the land, you set off on your journey through 8 and 16 bit.
What instantly sticks out is how tight the controls feel. Each move comes together to create an experience that is fluid. The rope dart in particular is great, allowing players to grapple onto hooks, enemies, and walls. All of these moves can be combined for combo like movements, like a double attack jump into a rope dart grapple, then a glide to a lower platform. It all feels incredibly smooth.
The time control mechanic is pretty wild compared to other games with similar schticks. When you pass through a time portal, not only does the level change layout, but also the entire graphical style of the game, swapping from 8 bit to 16 bit. It was definitely an audible “wow” moment for me when it first happened. I found myself wanting to go back and forth to check out each style since they are both so well done.
We’ve seen a lot of retro pixel style games, but The Messenger stands out graphically with stunning pixel art that rivals other masterworks in the genre. Bright explosive colors paint the screen, with many levels of detail that is translated to both 8 and 16 bit with precision.
All things considered with what we played, The Messenger stands to be a breakout indie hit. Shovel Knight was able to recapture the magic games like Mega Man and Duck Tales, and it looks like The Messenger is doing just that only with Ninja Gaiden.
