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The Messenger

Plattform: PC Veröffentlicht: 30.08.2018

19,5€

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Preis Update 26.03.24

Während der Belagerung seines Dorfes durch eine Dämonenarmee bricht ein junger Ninja allein ins Abenteuer auf. Er kämpft sich durch eine verfluchte Welt, um eine Schriftrolle abzuliefern, die für das Überleben seines Clans von größter Bedeutung ist. Was als klassischer Action-Plattformer beginnt, entwickelt sich schnell in ein ausuferndes Zeitreise-Abenteuer voller Spannung, Überraschungen und Humor.

Dynamisches, akrobatisches Gameplay und eine extrem saubere Steuerung, die eines epischen Ninja-Abenteuers würdig sind.

Charakter-Upgrades, neue Fähigkeiten, versteckte Levels und verzweigte Lösungswege.

Akribisch umgesetzte 8-Bit- und 16-Bit-Grafiken, -Animationen und -Hintergründe channeln die großen Klassiker des Genres.

Eine denkwürdige Zusammenstellung ungewöhnlicher Schurken, Endgegner und Verbündeter.

Original-Soundtrack des bekannten Chiptune-Komponisten Rainbowdragoneyes, handgemacht mit Famitracker.

Minimum
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CPU: Intel core i5-4210 1.7ghz
GFX: Intel HD Graphics 4400
RAM: 2 GB RAM
Software: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or newer (64 bit)
HD: 1200 MB verfügbarer Speicherplatz
SFX: Onboard soundcard or better
LANG: Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Spanisch, Chinesisch

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Deutsch (7)
Englisch (128)

100 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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2821 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 22.05.21 19:43

Best Platformer

251 Produkte im Account

5 Reviews

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926 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.01.21 20:58

Um mich kurz zu fassen: Große Klasse was hier abgeliefert wurde.

Die lange Fassung: The Messenger bietet ein extrem gutes Gesamtpaket. Der Art Style hat seinen einzigartigen Charm und Wiedererkennungswert. Der Soundtrack ist einer der besten die ich je gehört habe und immer passend zum jeweiligen Level. Die Story, wenn auch einfach gehalten, passt perfekt zum Ton des Spieles besonders aufgrund des Humors. Der Humor ist einfach nur erstklassig, gerade weil er nicht so forciert ist wie bei bestimmten anderen Franchises. Grüße gehen raus an den Ladenbesitzer und Manfred.

Das Gameplay erinnert zunächst sehr an Hollow Knight, jedoch mit ein paar unterschieden wie z.B. der fehlende Dash für den es stattdessen den Grappling Hook gibt. Besonders am Anfang ist der Schwierigkeitsgrad recht niedrig, steigt aber im Verlauf des Spieles an. Das äußert sich am meisten durch das erweiterte Fähigkeitenset, wodurch man das Platforming schwieriger gestalten kann. Das Combat stagniert von der Schwierigkeit her gegen Mitte des Spieles, hauptsächlich weil wenig neue Gegnertypen eingeführt werden.

Das kostenlose DLC sollte man auf jeden Fall auch einmal gespielt haben. Wer das Base Game mag, wird das DLC mindestens genauso mögen.

Ich rate jedem dazu, der nur ansatzweise Interesse an diesem Spiel hat, das Spiel zu kaufen.

61 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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2018 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 25.11.20 19:10

guad is!

529 Produkte im Account

5 Reviews

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917 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 11.07.20 22:48

Gameplay macht Spaß und ist anspruchsvoll mit einer sehr guten Lernkurve. Der Soundtrack des Spiels ist ober-mega-affen-geil :D
Dialoge sind auch teilweise sehr humorvoll geschrieben. Das Spiel nimmt sich nicht so ernst bei der Story :D

37 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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2125 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 15.12.19 22:13

Schneller Adventure-Platformer mit Speedrun-qualität, welcher im Verlauf des Spiels zu einem Metroidvania wird ... kurzum, cooles Teil! Sehr zu empfehlen

825 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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987 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 11.12.19 17:38

Das beste Spiel des Jahres für mich (Habe es erst jetzt entdeckt und komplett durchgespielt)! Perfekte Steuerung, geniales Leveldesign, sehr viel Liebe zum Detail. Dazu tolle Pixelgrafik und ein fantastischer 8/16-Bit Soundtrack. Danke Sabotage Games für diesen Meilenstein! Ihr wisst was echte Retro-Gamer lieben!

28 Produkte im Account

1 Reviews

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994 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 30.11.19 10:23

Ninja-Action, Dämonen, liebevolle Retrografik, der aktuell beste Chiptune-Soundtrack. Und unaufgezwungener Humor, der immer wieder zündet. Man bekommt alles, was der Trailer verspricht und ich liebe, was man bekommt :)

9 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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1589 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 27.12.22 04:32

Literally such and under rater masterpiece

245 Produkte im Account

16 Reviews

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2644 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 01.12.22 12:40

This game is FUN!!! If you are looking for a platformer that is filled with content sprinkled with little gags and jokes to break the mold, look no further. The storytelling is great as well a bit of clever story placement that was truly some of the most thought provoking storytelling through text(optional) that i have ever read in a game.
The platforming is smooth, and can be taken at the player pace with the exception of a few situations, the fighting is very similar to puzzle solving and learning patterns but never too difficult. 10/10 loved every minute of it!

113 Produkte im Account

8 Reviews

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1191 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 27.11.22 22:46

Excellent 8/16-bit retro, hilarious dialogue, clever plot twist.
Easy platformer besides ♫♪♫♪♪ star messenger race.
Not actually too metroidvania.

130 Produkte im Account

15 Reviews

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1621 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.11.22 20:31

Loved the game but...

No playable shopkeeper :(

419 Produkte im Account

7 Reviews

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1058 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 25.11.22 19:29

Must buy and play for all retro fans! Great music and story. A+++

559 Produkte im Account

1 Reviews

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2762 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 25.11.22 11:16

Amazing metroidvania. Great story, some sections are really chclanging but it's worth the effort. Additionally it has amazing soundtrack.

155 Produkte im Account

23 Reviews

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5409 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 07.11.22 23:35

been trying to get my friends to play this game for 3 years.

Have succeeded a total of 0 times. They don't know what they're missing.

103 Produkte im Account

18 Reviews

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2184 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 29.10.22 03:40

Shopkeeper: Why don't you put that curiosity to good use in the outside world, and maybe, I don't know, save humanity?

3334 Produkte im Account

132 Reviews

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756 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.10.22 21:18

Excellent game, nice aesthetics, music and traversal with fun boss fights and the shopkeeper is just the best to chat with and annoy.

113 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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425 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 07.05.22 18:00

short: Very good vibes, beautiful pixel graphics, great ideas and concepts BUT bad controls/mechanics (in general)

I hate to say it but, I can't recommend this game based on the fact that it's core gameplay is 2d platforming and how badly it's affected by the stiff controls despite some other wonderful features about this title.

long:
BUT the controls are just awful, there's a power up you get having to do with something in the air [spoiler] the squirrel glide thing [/spoiler] which ends up conflicting with another air power up that you start the game with, the cloud jump. When you're in the startup animation of the [spoiler] squirrel glide [/spoiler] you can't grab onto walls which is frustrating. Plus, in hectic situations when you are trying to just jump out of somewhere you're needing to basically mash the jump button and then you end up dying because you can't get out and you can't see clearly enough if your character has the icon for cloud jump because it has no contrast against some backgrounds.

I've played a ton of platformers and rogue-likes with platforming elements: rogue legacy, hollow knight, spelunky, etc. but this game makes me feel like I'm working extremely hard just to get the ninja to jump over a wall. My hand was actually in pain and I had to rest from playing. It just feels so stiff, especially while using the [spoiler] squirrel glide [/spoiler] powerup - when you are anticipating horizontal momentum and get virtually none then just fall to your death. It's very frustrating.

The shop seems to encourage farming but the farming mechanic is really weird, unless I'm not understanding it correctly. For example, collecting 200-300 um.. currency.. is a good chunk in this game. One of the upgrades cost 1000, how exactly can you even get that much? The only way to acquire more money is to die then the area gets sort of reset, and a portion of your earnings goes to pay for your revival anyways. It's unholy backtracking mixed with grinding. Basically, knowing that information means you would just choose the easiest most profitable level and plan on collecting all you can then intentionally dying, over and over again. I don't know.

Next, let's talk about boss mechanics, some of it is memorization which is okay I guess, but almost every time the bosses use a new move on you it's a sure thing you will take damage because it's a surprise gotcha attack that you would have had to know about before hand as there is no time to dodge. That being said, I really don't believe there is any amount of innate talent, or cautious technique from a skilled player that could get through the game without falling victim to the gotcha deaths. And speaking of gotcha deaths there are other instant or near instant death things like bottomless pits, being crushed, and certain things that do huge damage (3 of your 4 points without upgrades) which means you're dead if you didn't have full health.

Some things just feel lazy or done for the sake of increasing difficulty which is okay I guess? But for me personally I didn't really like it. For example, there is an enemy that you see literally copy pasted on every single level and he just keeps shooting fireballs at you. The fireballs can pass through walls so you always have to contend with him. It gets really old when you're trying to enjoy the beautiful levels or just want to focus on your path, but instead it's always -- fireballs! Why do they go through walls but then your throwing stars cannot? It just feels fatiguing to endure.

Falling from high places and having to redo a long sequence of jumps. Please limit these situations...

Flying enemies: why can they fly through walls and why can you not slash diagonally or up? I can't believe in the history of games we still haven't realized that backing up strategically so that the flyer eventually lowers its level to yours so you can hit it with a straight on attack is terrible because it breaks the game flow. Man, I'll tell you Zubat really did a number on the gaming industry, seems like every gamer is conditioned to love and hate bats. Game designer memes: it's not finished until i make the bat mobs. hehehe. I'm not asking for the moon here, and there's already a crouching slash. Just basic QoL stuff.

Also, maybe I'm just not that far yet but... if I'm a ninja is there no dash attack? Imagine I'm about to be hit and I know I can't avoid it because my walk speed is to slow but it's a long drawn out telegraphed thing, that's really no fun at all. It's just something that you can't stop but you're forced to watch and endure like the Oscars on TV. But if there was an opportunity to use skill to get out of that situation, then it would open the door for more options and exciting gameplay and allow for a higher skill ceiling. In a platformer, mobility is everything

I really do respect this game for it's very cool retro feel, the menus, the dialogue boxes, the pixel art, all are actually amazing. And I get that it's trying to recreate something like shinobi or ninja gaiden or whatever for the original NES but sometimes being too faithful to the original is a bad thing, like in movies adaptations have to be made (cue the haters, lol). I think the magic of that era can still be captured (including the difficulty) without also porting the frustration factor and stiff controls in full.

If the game devs ever read this: please just put in ledge climb up. please take away that awful air technique, it's just unnecessary. It's momentum very rarely outperforms cloud jump + [spoiler] rope dart (grappling hook) [/spoiler].

The music, it is fine generally, but that same tune gets very grating, there needs to be more variety. Again, the idea of being fully married to recreate the NES style hurts here as the music is then less expressive. The music doesn't always have to be in your face, crazy adrenaline action music. It can sometimes be slower, atmospheric and relative to the environment the character is in. Even if the music still sticks to the chiptune style, it can become more expressive and the volume needs to be attenuated with more crescendos and decrescendos to improve the tone and don't be afraid to use the triangle wave for a longer smoother sustained voice.

Anyways, there's so much potential in this game, but maybe a sequel could be made and another chance would be had to redo some mechanics and gameplay ideas.

And just so you don't think I'm a super duper hater, things I love about this game:
-basically every piece of art, the bosses especially the big ones are so cool, the backgrounds, the fading, the menus, dialogue box, and the shop (my favorite place in the game hands down).
-the dialogue is very good, story is to the point and cut all the fat, great. The shop dialogue is hilarious and in good taste
-the objectives are clear, how things work is very clear
-most of the boss themes

309 Produkte im Account

17 Reviews

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877 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 03.05.22 21:20

I picked this game up solely based on the opinion of the Completionist. It was a great homage to the old 8 bit platformers, and progressed into an interesting metroidvania as you went along. Very tight controls, interesting mechanics, nostalgic visuals, and great music combined to create a very enjoyable experience.

38 Produkte im Account

20 Reviews

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1597 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 02.05.22 17:47

The Messenger is a surprising metroidvania with chaming graphics and a great sense of humor. The game is filled with surprising moments and reveals that are very ineteresting and fun. The gameplay is also good, so it is a great game overall with no big issues. Very worth a try.

46 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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2180 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 30.04.22 19:01

Just a really great game. I mean, even the water level is great.

730 Produkte im Account

77 Reviews

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1181 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 17.04.22 06:45

A great and simple retro platformer. cool items and gratifying platforming tech, with plenty of surprises in store. Try to play it blind

65 Produkte im Account

30 Reviews

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1625 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 25.03.22 18:58

is this a jojo reference ?

1185 Produkte im Account

5 Reviews

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1809 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 15.02.22 02:09

This game is a gem and 100% worth getting.

The platforming, humor, and the feel of it's mechanics with the items/abilities you can collect are extremely refreshing. I hope they end up making a second game in this genre as this was a wonderfully unexpected treat.

It does turn into a metroidvania towards the second half, so if you hate the idea of any form of backtracking you may not like it, but if you don't mind some of that you'll probably like this game too.

395 Produkte im Account

100 Reviews

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707 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 15.02.22 01:18

---{Graphics}---
☐You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{Gameplay}---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It‘s just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{Audio}---
☑ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{Audience}---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ All

---{PC Requirements}---
☑ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{Difficulity}---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Significant brain usage
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{Grind}---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You‘ll need a second live for grinding

---{Story}---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It‘ll replace your life

---{Game Time}---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{Price}---
☐ It’s free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{Bugs}---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ Cyberpunk 2077

---{?/10}---
☐1
☐2
☐3
☐4
☐5
☐6
☐7
☑8
☐9
☐10

338 Produkte im Account

9 Reviews

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1372 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 24.11.21 23:37

The Messenger is a really great 8-bit / 16-bit game, with a lot of addictive platforming and metroidvania mechanics. You really feel like a ninja, in fight and movement terms. The controls and animation are really smooth, the pixel art is amazing and the music is surprisingly catchy. I dont really get into the comedy aspect of games usually, but the humor of this game is really good and makes you chuckle few times. I also love chatting with the shopkeeper, and hearing his stories, lol. Getting 100% of achievement was quite challenging due to one achievement in special, from the DLC (which you can get for FREE, and its quite harder than the main game, but really fun). But no worries on trying and trying again, you get tons of motivational speech everytime you die... right?

Totally recommended, even more if you like the genre :D

158 Produkte im Account

4 Reviews

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829 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 01.11.21 23:56

Every so often, A game comes around that reminds you how fun gaming can be and why you started gaming in the first place.

The Messenger was on my radar for a long time but I was worried that the Ninja Gaiden inspired gameplay and retro aesthetic would feel out-dated and boring to play. I was so wrong! The controls are tight and the movement is intuitive and satisfying. The game starts you out with limited abilities and lets you discover new ways to move, without holding your hand, through brilliant level design akin to Mega Man X. The game constantly evolves as each new ability gives you new ways to approach obstacles and the amount of care and detail put into each stage is evident throughout.

This game is a 2D action platformer that evolves into a metroidvania. It appears very linear and short at first, but later reveals itself as a much larger game with enough depth to keep you occupied for hours on end. The gimmick that everyone is familiar with, is the ability to switch between past and future, which also switches the game between 8 bit and 16 bit graphics. But this ability is more than just a gimmick to switch aesthetics. It adds another layer of strategic depth to the game that keeps the stages feeling fresh when the metroidvania style gameplay calls for the player to traverse stages that were once completed in order to discover something new.

The characters in this game are unexpectedly hilarious and continuously break the fourth wall to communicate the self-awareness of the devs and the tributes they're paying to classic metroidvania titles, ninja gaiden, 2D platformers and more. The story ebbs and flows, expertly weaving in great storytelling, with tension and comedic relief. The game handles progression well and never overwhelms you with things to do, and yet, it somehow still gives you the freedom to make choices and complete the game in whatever order you wish.

The Messenger takes classic retro platforming and injects new life into it. The level design is nothing short of spectacular and the different level mechanics sprinkled throughout the game will keep surprising you and challenging you in unexpected ways. This game feels very familiar and yet very fresh. It does so much with so little, once again proving that passionate game design and attention to detail can create an exciting and fresh gaming experience without the need for modern graphics.

I couldn't put this one down until I had finished a full playthrough and I'm tempted to dive back in again. The Messenger is fun, challenging, funny, satisfying, endearing and addictive. It had me blown away by it's intelligent level design and creative use of game mechanics. It had me in stitches laughing at it's amazingly self-aware humour. At times it had me wanting to throw my controller across the room in frustration, only to win me back when a moment of clarity allowed me to execute the perfect combination of well-timed moves to complete a challenging section in the most satisfying way possible.

I can't recommend this game enough. It truly is a special title that I will be raving about for years to come. Well worth the price of entry.

203 Produkte im Account

23 Reviews

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313 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.09.21 23:08

Ninja gaiden but funny and widescreen. Also has a banging soundtrack.

6.5/10

284 Produkte im Account

12 Reviews

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2575 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.09.21 05:47

Great game! The right amount of challenge and so much fun! The humor is a great touch. Highly recommend.

67 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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3361 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 23.09.21 21:45

A cool ninja game where you do cool ninja stuff.

163 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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2204 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 23.09.21 13:52

Play this game, it really starts to get amazing at the half way point. I cant stop playing this!

1143 Produkte im Account

86 Reviews

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1095 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 20.09.21 18:07

The Messenger - Full review over at Nepiki Gaming

[hr]

Join my Curator page to always be up to date with my reviews!

[hr]

Nepiki's Stats

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Overall length	8-12 hours for beating and completion.
Overall difficulty	Medium difficulty
Overall score	★★★★☆

Review

While The Messenger may look like your regular ”indie game inspired by the classics at first”, the complete package easily surpasses that expectation. This is mostly because the argument can be made that the game changes how it progresses halfway through. At first, it already satisfied me with a platformer that had fun level design, boss fights that kept getting better, and especially the smooth controls that feel satisfying to master. Upgrades to the kit of our ninja were relevant at all times, all working together to make cloud stepping work very well. And the game also gives you enough opportunity to master the mechanics, with minimal punishment on death and unlockable abilities that… may be a bit too helpful, and also very cheap to unlock with the in-game currency. Halfway through the game however, progression switches from a level-to-level basis to a 16-bit Metroidvania with time travel. This gave us the ability to revisit all of the levels but in our own desired order, which was generally fun to do as they hadn’t seen just a graphical upgrade, but entire layout changes. However, the Metroidvania aspect of the game isn’t very good, mostly due to the world being linear instead of interconnected, forcing us to go through entire stages just to reach a destination. It also didn’t really give much of an incentive to explore beyond the required story-locked upgrades that are only used in a specific part of the world. Granted, I did still have a lot of fun exploring these levels again, especially with the reward gained from the free DLC that, in its own right, was a fun experience for those looking for more content from this game.

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[hr]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/764790/The_Messenger/

190 Produkte im Account

5 Reviews

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1450 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 17.09.21 16:55

Fun game, not too much of a time investments. Plenty of places to take breaks.

367 Produkte im Account

13 Reviews

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1407 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 09.09.21 00:56

A really fun game that features a variety of elements from early console games. Plus, the game has enough challenge to keep you engaged throughout and the dialogue is witty and lighthearted. Two thumbs up!

331 Produkte im Account

23 Reviews

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1571 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.09.21 23:06

Top notch controls, graphics and INSANE good soundtrack !
Anyone with pair of them nostalgia goggles for 8 and 16 bit will enjoy this to fullest.

374 Produkte im Account

23 Reviews

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1262 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 13.08.21 01:42

A must play regarding sidescroller platformers. One of the most unique and fun metroidvanias out there so far, with charming graphics, music and story, not mentioning the fast paced action gameplay with puzzle twists that it offers. Totally worth it.

Godspeed, Messenger!!!

63 Produkte im Account

6 Reviews

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1396 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 08.08.21 19:04

10/10 super fucking fun, Banging music.

176 Produkte im Account

33 Reviews

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1595 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 07.08.21 16:00

Esta bueno, pero lo alargaron demasiado (en todo sentido).

31 Produkte im Account

1 Reviews

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1792 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 28.07.21 02:36

Extremely fine tuned movement, combat, level design and progression. Memorable storytelling, music score and visuals

62 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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795 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 10.07.21 17:55

APPETIZER

What else can be said about this almost perfect game!

It has everything! EVERYTHING, I tell you!

MAIN COURSE

Looking for beautiful 8-bit/16-bit animation and graphics? This game's got it.

Looking for simple innovative gameplay mechanics that are easy to understand, but hard to master? This game's got it.

Looking for cool boss battles? This game's got it.

Looking for fantastic level design that'll make your head do a couple of spins? This game's got it.

Looking for responsive and tight controls that rival those found in Celeste? This game's got it.

Looking for an incredible 8-bit style soundtrack that will have you headbangin' more than in a (insert favorite artist here) concert. Yep, this game's got that too.

Looking for a solid story filled with twists, puns, self-awareness and topped off by some of the most ingenious comedic relief I've ever experienced in a game? You guessed it, this game's got it.

Looking for replayability and newgame + features? Oh yea, this game's got it.

Looking for a game that makes you feel like a badass ninja with so much swag that it would make Ric Flair jealous? Yes, this game's.. well.. you already know what I'm about to say.

DESSERT

Saying all that, I do have to go back and address the first line of this review and explain why is almost a perfect game.

The only minor gripe I found was with the variety of common monsters/enemies. There aren't too many types and expect to encounter the ones at the beginning of the game appearing even in the final stages of your first playthrough.

This is not as detrimental as it sounds since the game's emphasis is more on platforming than anything else. Monsters are mainly there to provide an additional challenge, keep the balance of action/platforming fresh, or work as jump off points using your 'Cloudstep' ability in order to traverse through the different stages/levels.

Final Note: If you're not into retro 2D action platformers or metroidvania esque games, then I would suggest you pass on this one.

TL;DR – Almost everything about this game is executed flawlessly and with passion. It's one of the most fun, beautiful, and memorable experiences I've had in gaming in recent years. Definitely recommend if you're into retro metroidvania/platformers. A MUST play!

See ya!

372 Produkte im Account

28 Reviews

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141 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 08.07.21 06:26

Fans of the original Ninja Gaiden on NES will find a lot to love in this game. Funny and witty dialog is as enjoyable as the old school clever gameplay mechanics.

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3 Reviews

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340 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.07.21 00:16

Amazing game

764 Produkte im Account

9 Reviews

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2082 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 05.07.21 23:54

A dang-near perfect fusion of metroidvania exploration with break-your-controller platforming, with a lovely gimmick where you swap between 8- and 16-bit graphics and music as you time travel between two eras. A good use of 10-12 hours if you like Ninja Gaiden, Super Meat Boy, etc.

805 Produkte im Account

17 Reviews

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536 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 04.07.21 11:32

It's a humorous and nostalgic game, and I loved it at first. Now I merely enjoy it. In small doses... There's some almost Celeste-like frustratingly hard parts where you need to not make any mistakes for what feels like much too long or else have to do the exact same thing all over again. And again, and again, and again. That feels unnecessarily punishing and wears on me, or I would've likely still loved the game. Maybe I just had the wrong expectations going into it.

1255 Produkte im Account

49 Reviews

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1181 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 03.07.21 02:45

I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked this game. I had the luxury of playing the game completely blind, because I bought it on Humble Bundle, looked at two or three screenshots, then decided to redeem it. What I thought was going to be another cheap indie pixel platformer turned into one of the most fun games that I've played in years.
I'll say this, if you find the game interesting from the screenshots alone, don't bother reading reviews, you'll get MUCH more out of the game playing it knowing as little as possible.

The graphics are very similar to something like Shovel Knight where they mimic the old retro styles, but updating them ever so slightly. Making them look like how we think we remember an old NES game like Ninja Gaiden looked like back when we first played it.

The gameplay is insanely solid. One of the best feeling platformers I've played in a long time. My only issue is with the wall climbing. There's one glitch that happens frequent enough that I tried to avoid wall climbing as much as possible: Sometimes you just get stuck, you can jump off and reset, but it just feels bad when you cling onto a wall then hold up, but just stay in place when you're in the middle of the wall.

Now, probably my favorite part of game was the music. I'm not a music critic so I don't really have the vocabulary to explain why I like the music as much as I do, but what I can say is that, outside of Hideki Naganuma's work, I haven't actively searched out the soundtrack for a game like this since Dustforce.

My biggest complaints mainly just come from the DLC. I didn't like the surfing minigame, the totem boss had an instant kill that roadblocked me for almost a half hour, the last half of the DLC just isn't all that fun to play, and the DLC unlike the main game wasn't designed as a metroidvania, but instead as a normal linear platformer. That being said, the final boss in the DLC is amazing and I'd argue is worth trudging through the DLC for.

220 Produkte im Account

9 Reviews

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960 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 02.07.21 12:40

It's fine.
I like how the whole thing unfolds from 8-bit platformer to metroidovania with nice gimmicks. Other than that gameplay is pretty basic and just a little bit too easy for my tastes.
Humor is cheesy and on the nose, but occasional breaking of the 4th wall can be funny.
Soundtrack is nothing special.

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1 Reviews

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1710 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 23.06.21 03:10

Play it. Simply Amazing.

786 Produkte im Account

45 Reviews

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1803 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 15.06.21 21:09

Excellent action platformer. Second metroidvania-ish pa[rt is good, but not great. The game has a smooth difficulty curve, but gets b$@tard hard towards the end. Great soundtrack, and writing.

608 Produkte im Account

98 Reviews

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1248 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 14.06.21 19:55

Awesome retro plateformer, with smooth controls, great music and funny humor.
Regarding difficulty, the base game is kinda easy, and the (free) DLC is true hell.

52 Produkte im Account

13 Reviews

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2264 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 03.06.21 23:55

Hilarious writing and engaging gameplay, would recommend for sure

983 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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1068 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 31.05.21 13:34

Expected game: simple platformer.
Actual game: metroidvania masterpiece.

244 Produkte im Account

175 Reviews

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1889 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 17.03.21 04:19

+ Amazing story and gameplay. This game is full of surprises, twist after twist. Not only the twist for the story, but also twist for the gameplay itself.
+ Good sense of humor
+ Amazing soundtracks
+ Great level design
+ Beautiful retro art

- Lot of backtracking due to lack of fast travel portal

154 Produkte im Account

18 Reviews

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1624 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 08.03.21 00:10

It is a crime that The Messenger isn’t talked about as much as it deserves to be.

I never see anyone talking about this game, and that’s a damn shame. The Messenger is so stupidly good, and probably one of my favorite platformers of all time. The Messenger has everything a good 2d platformer, or even game in general, should have. The combat, although simple, is insanely satisfying. Just running and constantly slashing is just so fun. The abilities are all fun and pretty necessary, giving you a reason to want to get them. The story isn’t really that impactful, but it’s memorable and FUN. This is also just one of the *coolest* games, and probably not for the reasons you would think. Unfortunately, talking about it even remotely would spoil it.

The cloudstep mechanic is one of the best combinations of genius and fun. This is probably one of the most unique gameplay mechanics in this game, and it is SO. GOD. DAMN. FUN. Anything that you can hit, including projectiles, will, when you hit them, give you an extra mid-air jump. This is great for platforming, it's very fun to use, and it can save you from death very simply. This is honestly one of the best platforming mechanics in a while, but unfortunately it would really only work in a game like this. Thankfully this game works with it *extremely* well though.

I mentioned the story and humor before, and they are TOP TIER. In my head at least it has that classic Devolver humor, but I think what I think of as Devolver humor came from this game. The humor is on point, it’s meta, and it’s just really good comedy. I can’t really mention the story without spoiling, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s fun, and it’s funny.

Give this game the praise it deserves.

Objective - 8/10;
Subjective - 8/10;

233 Produkte im Account

11 Reviews

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869 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.03.21 14:51

I tried playing through this game a few times now and it is a lot of fun.... for the first half. At roughly the halfway point it becomes kind of tedious to play and just feels like too much backtracking and it just slows down too much for me personally. the soundtrack and design is amazing and i still think its worth playing just for that amazing first half but be warned that you may be like me and restart the game from time to time but never finish it. Its not even that difficult its just that its not fun anymore. this review sounds pretty negative but i still enjoyed the game a lot for most of my playtime.

140 Produkte im Account

6 Reviews

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903 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 28.02.21 21:12

10/10, totally nails the SNES/retro experience.

+ Lovable characters bursting with personality
+ Smooth, rewarding and challenging gameplay, but not to the point of being obnoxious
+ Fun and creative game mechanics
+ Absolutely amazing soundtrack that will get stuck in your brain

223 Produkte im Account

11 Reviews

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829 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 27.02.21 05:15

Music go bumba dump
Sword go swish swish
Conversations make me go ha ha
10/10 Would Messenger again

151 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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906 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.02.21 15:05

Go in blind.

12 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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659 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 18.02.21 15:44

100/10
Best game I've played in years, would absolutely recommend. This game has it all, its cheap, it has free DLC, awesome story, shocking plot twists, catchy and great music, comedy and funny moments and even more! I could go on and on but I'll stop here and let you find out.

9 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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916 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 07.02.21 22:29

An awesome Ninja Gaiden type game that will give you plenty of hours of enjoyable gameplay. A game which requires skill and challenges you, but doesn't push it too far. I highly recommend this game if you are looking for a new action singleplayer game.

150 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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418 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 07.02.21 05:04

Tight controls, fun and challenging platforming and very funny!

BUY THIS GAME! 10/10

600 Produkte im Account

13 Reviews

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1257 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.02.21 10:25

Loved it. The time traveling is a nice concept executed flawlessly. The writing and the music are great as well. 10/10 would recommend

41 Produkte im Account

20 Reviews

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1004 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 05.02.21 05:15

One of the best games I've played in the past half year! Brilliant level designs, catchy soundtracks, a quirky story, REALLY cool gameplay mechanics that experiment with the format of the genre itself - all make The Messenger a really fun game to play! Absolutely cannot wait for the sequel.

662 Produkte im Account

105 Reviews

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1353 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 04.02.21 22:46

I havent finished it yet, but that doesnt matter. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, that this is an outstandingly good game, easily GOTY, and you cant convince me otherwise.

Just play it for yourself. It starts strong, and it GETS BETTER

Edit: So, i finished the game, and its DLC, with 100% of stuff done, and frankly, this is one of the best 2D platformers i have ever played, period.

The boss fights are one of the best i have ever played, and paying 3.3€ for this is frankly legal stealing, on my part. This is the kind of game you should buy, even at full price.

292 Produkte im Account

34 Reviews

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1235 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 31.01.21 06:41

Easily one of the best retro action platformer, a must play

Great soundtrack
Very funny
Well timed progression
Scratches your NES Ninja Gaiden itch completely
And just fun to play
10/10

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8 Reviews

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948 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 29.01.21 18:11

Masterpiece
great controls
cool mechanics
neat humor
not too long / not too short
The soundtrack will stay in your brain.
satisfying gamplay overall.
10/10

+ free dlc which is great on its own

206 Produkte im Account

25 Reviews

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510 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 25.01.21 01:15

gonna be honest though the game had good platforming writing and bosses but just lost all the energy to play when i had to go back to every single area i visited and had to do some vague quest.

129 Produkte im Account

10 Reviews

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876 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.01.21 17:43

Amazing game. One of the best I've played in some time.
The gameplay is constantly evolving and the story getting more involved. Good pace, when you're playing, new stuff comes along and it's exactly what you felt missing for a game like this.

148 Produkte im Account

37 Reviews

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518 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 05.01.21 02:54

Hour 1: pretty decent Ninja Gaiden clone
Hour 2: music is sick! love the humor
Hour 3: ok I died a lot
Hour 4: well that's a pretty short game
Hour 5+: wtf?! This game is amazing and hilarious!

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105 Reviews

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1189 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 01.01.21 04:34

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.

86 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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1152 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 29.12.20 19:42

To start with, if you enjoy retro platformers, you'll love The Messenger. It pays really good homage while still feeling more fair than some of those games do. The humor is also on point.

Gameplay-wise, this game is incredibly fluid. Once you unlock the rope dart, you can just speed through screens. Cloudstep and the various other tools you use only further add to this. Bosses are very fair, as they telegraph their attacks and give you ample room to dodge.

Graphically, it looks great, particularly once you reach the second half of the game, where things change.

Control-wise (I played with an X-Box controller) everything is well-bound, excluding one ability bound to LT, which should've just been a passive ability and not one you needed to hold down. (You barely use this ability, though)

All-in-all, if you're looking for a light-hearted 2D platformer you'll love The Messenger.

294 Produkte im Account

27 Reviews

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738 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 29.12.20 06:09

10/10. Mwah. Controls are tight. The platforming and grunts are challenging, but balanced just right and never too stubborn given you buy your upgrades and tools. The boss fights are engaging, and sometimes make 3-5 minutes feel like fifteen, but with the tight controls and repeating patterns never feels wholly unfair and keeps you coming back until you take 'em down. The music is an excellent flavor in chiptune, and the witty conversations with the shopkeeper and others add character to the game where you can tell effort was put in to this game to make it good.
And it is good.

The icing on the cake is there are several areas of the game you cannot get to on the first play-through, granting this game solid replay value.
I'd buy it at full price, but especially on sale a recommendation is easy.

388 Produkte im Account

7 Reviews

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1383 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 28.12.20 19:08

Not only the game is good and very polished, it has a really funny shopkeeper.
Please chat with him every time there's new dialogs.

405 Produkte im Account

4 Reviews

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1298 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.12.20 21:58

The Messenger is a retro-style, narrative driven 2D platformer. As others have noted, it is a game of two halves. The first is a fairly straightforward platformer, whereas the second takes on some Metroidvania elements. A 'Metroidvania-lite' if you will. It has some problems, but overall I would recommend this game to fans of the genre who are looking for sharp platforming coupled with a good story. If you enjoyed games such as Shovel Knight, Celeste, Hollow Knight, Dead Cells and Super Meat Boy, you will probably enjoy this game. More detailed pros and cons below:

Pros:
-The writing is fantastic. This game has a strong sense of identity with a great narrative to carry it along. Even when things started to feel a little tedious towards the end (see cons), I was determined to see it through to the end because I'd gotten so connected to the world and characters within it.
-Sharp and satisfying platforming.
-Cool bosses (though the fights themselves are relatively simple)
-Beautiful retro aesthetic.
-OST is phenomenal - do NOT play this game on mute, you will be doing yourself a disservice.
-Potato PC friendly
-A relative degree of replayability to obtain enough time shards to unlock absolutely everything, although be warned this will be an enormous grind. This could be a con depending on your perspective.

Cons:
-The Metroidvania elements of the 2nd half are an interesting twist, but sadly I felt they were somewhat half baked. The time portals are great and frankly save the 2nd half from being unbearably boring, but the lack of accessible fast travel make all of the backtracking a real pain. An artificial extension of game length in my opinion.
-Combat is shallow compared to the rest of the game. Not a con for me as I don't mind simple, but could be off-putting for others.
-Lack of enemy variety - you do meet new enemies along the way, but you will keep bumping into the same demons all the way through the game.
-The ending is...okay...but could have been better.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 - likely to be worth your time if you are a fan of the genre

Thanks for reading.

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1 Reviews

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286 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 18.12.20 17:50

Great controls, gameplay, writing, visuals and game design in general, very fun experience and a great example for indie titles.

569 Produkte im Account

141 Reviews

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73 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 12.12.20 14:50

Feel like a kid again! Go 1990s!
These are the kind of games we need it.

73 Produkte im Account

72 Reviews

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1493 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 30.11.20 23:19

This is perhaps one of the best platformer games I have ever played. The story was fun and engaging, plenty of comedy in it that had me laughing, the 8-bit and 16-bit graphics looked great, controls felt solid and responsive, lots of puzzles that require both thought and skill, and the difficulty felt balanced so I could never blame the game for my mistakes. The Messenger is soo much more than just a simple ninja game. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys platformers.

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14 Reviews

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1355 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 27.11.20 18:42

I'm not even qualified to review this game.... I only got it to have a chat with the shopkeeper. 11/10

639 Produkte im Account

196 Reviews

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790 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 27.11.20 08:25

6-8 hours into the game there comes a huge gameplay twist so if you don't want to get spoiled on that, stop reading reviews and buy the game! It's good!

The Messenger is actually 2 games. One in 8 bit style and one in 16 bit style. You start out linar traversing levels until a twist happens and you are teleported into the future then everything changes and the game becomes an actual metroidvania. It has a dual world system where you can swap between past and future.

The game is really good at keeping up appearances and if you don't know the twist then it really looks like you reach the end just for it to blow your mind.

The controls are very precise and feel good. Visually the 16 bit style looks quite nice, so a shame that for the game to work you spend most of the time still in 8 bit. At least the music is better in the 8bit variation.

The one downside is the enemy variety. There are only a handful enemies that repeat every level and most of them are trivial. Even bossfights aren't that hard (except for the last 2 before opening up). The main challenge in the game is level design and paltforming. But at those the game excels.

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13 Reviews

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278 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.11.20 03:06

I actually played and completed the The Messenger on the Switch. If you are feeling nostalgic for 8/16-bit action platformers, The Messenger is for you. It has tight controls and a unique take on platforming that is both challenging and satisfying to master. The soundtrack is rockin' and there's even a splash of humor to keep you chuckling.

Definitely pick this up if you grew up loving old-school platformers!

135 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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1542 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 23.11.20 00:03

the music, characters, mechanics of the game are sooo fkn satisfying and good.

there are so much passion put on this game.

glad i played it.

401 Produkte im Account

125 Reviews

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819 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 21.11.20 00:01

Got any stories to tell?

Introduction

The Messenger, developed by Sabotage Studio is an interesting experience, to say the least, as it’s a combination of two subgenres; an action platformer for the first half, a Metroidvania in the second, and it’s done very well. The reason I enjoyed it is because it started at 2D platformer and then, half way through the game, it changed to a Metroidvania. It felt like the game had changed, which was awesome and differnt. The game takes inspiration from the classic Ninja Gaiden games, as well as other retro games. There are wonderfully crafted characters that are interesting to interact with, as they have moments that make them funny and unique. My favorite character was Quarble, as he does not want to help the Ninja but he has to because he’s only in it for the money.

Pros and Cons

Pros

A very interesting story with well crafted characters.
Fun retro style gameplay elements.
Unlocking new items evolve how you navigate the game.
Catchy 8-bit and 16-bit graphics and soundtracks.

Cons

The game has a lot of backtracking that can ruin the experience of the game.
Some of the hints I was given were confusing.
Time Shards become pointless, as soon as you get all the upgrades.

Story

In a cursed world, there is a village called Ninja Village; it holds the last few survivors of humanity. Legends have stated that a demon army is fated to attack so they can wipe out humanity for good; however, it is also stated that the village is to be saved by the Western Hero. You play as Ninja, who is eager to leave The Village. The The Western Hero appeared and drove away the Demon Army, he then tasks the Ninja with a scroll and gives him the title The Messenger, who then must deliver it to a mountain called Glacial Peak.

The story of The Messenger is crafted very well. It’s full of humor and charm that I loved. The characters are the bread and butter that make up the story. You have the oddly-named Ninja who hates learning history, yet asks about the history in the surrounding areas that he visits. He usually asks the Shopkeeper, who is my favorite, as she always has a story to tell in every new area you visit. The story is quite interesting and will keep the player invested with the many characters that are crafted wonderfully. Qurable is a character that is only with the Ninja for the money and had a lot of messages to say to you when you die. They are interesting to read and makes him deveolpe as a unique character.

Gameplay

Now, the The Messenger has some really interesting gameplay mechanics. It’s a 2D platformer for the first half, and in the second half, it’s a Metroidvania. You have the basic abilities, like sword slashing or jumping. However, you also have a unique ability called Cloudstep. As long as you slash an object like an enemy or a lantern, you can jump in midair. This can be very useful for platforming and such, it may be a little hard to do at first but after some time you should get the hang of it, without problems.

You will also get access to some Climbing Claws, which allow you to climb walls, a Wingsuit to help you glide in the air, and a Rope Dart (or Grappling Hook) that will allow you to climb certain objects. You can also get optional upgrades with the Time Shards, like increased health or damage. I had a lot of fun going through all the areas, as they offer enjoyable platforming, supported by creative level design.

At the end of each level, you fight a boss, the first few are easy, however, the later ones can get a little challenging. They are really fun to fight and I like how they were used. The Messenger is not a hard game, but it will have its difficult moments. If you die, you will be brought back to life at certain checkpoints, thanks to Quarble, however, he hangs around you and consume some Time Shards as a fee.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2228588343

Halfway through the game, you will be transported through time. The graphics will turn from 8-bit to 16-bit, with updated music and levels. The game will turn into a Metroidvania. All the levels you visited will be put together, and you will be tasked to find these music notes to unlock a music box. Some areas will now have accessible rooms that you could not get to previously. If you get stuck, you can get a hint from the Shop Keeper who can point you in the right direction.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2228588670

The Messenger did not really have many negative aspects when I first started playing it, but as soon as the second half started, the issues started to arise. The biggest concern I had was the amount of backtracking you do. I don’t mind backtracking in games, but The Messenger has a ton of it, and it can ruin the experience of the game. The only thing new, with the previous areas you visit, are new rooms to get something to advance to another room you could not get to. To make matters worse, some of the hints I got were a bit confusing, and figuring them out was a bit tricky. The reason they were confusing is because the map was difficult to understand. What I found frustrating was they did not tell you which room to go in on the map which made it difficult to understand. The Time Shards also start to become useless as soon as you get all the upgrades, getting Quarble to collect them and actually serve a purpose when you die.

Graphics, Soundtrack, and Performance

Now, I typically don’t put all three of these subjects in the same paragraph, but for The Messenger it’s warranted. The graphics are done very well and have a nice retro aspect to them, both 8-bit and 16-bit. The soundtrack also changes when you switch time periods, and the music sounds different. It’s different in quality but still feels the same, more like a remix. There are a lot of examples I would like to show, however, Steam only allows three links to be shown. My favorite song is The Frozen Light-past, it's very catchy because you are going up a frozen mountain. I tested the game with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM storage. The game runs really well at 60 FPS, and I came across no problems at any point when playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7zie7Ms4KE&ab_channel=SmolAnon

Final Verdict

The Messenger is an amazing game that combines the two subgenres in one. If you are looking for a good experience with some humor and interesting characters, then you can’t go wrong with this game. It has interesting gameplay mechanics that are nice to use, with some useful upgrades on the side. There may be some backtracking that can be heavy at times with some confusing hints, and useless Time Shards, however, if you can look past those issues then you will have a hell of a good time.

206 Produkte im Account

15 Reviews

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1258 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 11.11.20 05:18

it aint nes ninja gaiden, it's got it's own thing goin on and tbh it's got a lot of charm, proper challenge and all.
It kinda goes metroidvania mode at the halfway point though and I'm not the biggest fan of that, but whatever, i guess. give it a shot if u got money to waste or just play it free on gamepass or something iono. whatever, it's your life.

1231 Produkte im Account

282 Reviews

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357 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 02.11.20 21:20

Early Impressions - Stage 9/11 - About 4 hours

So far this is a very fun action platformer with bosses and upgrades. Fun and varied. Challenging without it feeling impossible.

Would recommend

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44 Reviews

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1348 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 01.11.20 02:36

This game will blow your tits out.

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2033 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 31.10.20 21:37

Outstanding game from the beginning to the very end. The difficulty is perfectly balanced: not stupidly hard, but quite challenging. If you play this game, you'll feel that the people who created and developped it at Sabotage Studio are real passionates and put all their heart into it. Y'a même été traduit en joual québécois, peux-tu crére? Merci à vous la gang à Sabotage Studio! :)

450 Produkte im Account

9 Reviews

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1364 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 31.10.20 04:23

This game is so good that I keep buying it for people (that I know IRL) just so they can play it. Only trouble is that explaining why it's so next-level great would involve spoiling the surprise. So I guess I'll just vaguely mention the consistently satisfying and satisfyingly consistent controls, near-complete lack of bugs, inspiring and entertaining writing, impeccable art, and fantastic music.

534 Produkte im Account

120 Reviews

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818 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 30.10.20 08:58

The Messenger is fun as a retro (both 8- 16-bit) 2D platformer but fails miserably as a metroidvania. The first half of the game, which is linear for the most part, is absolutely brilliant, whereas the second part, where you are forced to backtrack continuously, felt like a chore. It honestly seems as if the two halves of the game were designed by different people.
Thankfully, the ever-entertaining shopkeeper and great free DLC makes up for the miserable experience that is the second half of the game.

Played with PlayStation 4 controller

✔️Positive:

What makes the first half so good? Glad you asked:[olist]
The progression of the first half feels great. The platforming is centered around the Cloudstep mechanic, where your jump resets if you hit something with your katana. As you get more familiar with the Cloudstep and acquire other abilities on the way, the game follows with increased difficulty. With some practice, the movement becomes second nature and extremely satisfying to execute. Level design and pace are also spot on.
The shopkeeper is the highlight of the game. The shopkeeper essentially guides you on your journey, provides you with additional upgrades, and is just an excellent conversationalist. Sometimes quirky, sometimes motivational, the witty dialogue and stories really impressed me. Every visit to the shop felt like a mini-holiday from the game and was rarely unsatisfying. Perhaps it is just my impression but it felt like the developer really poured himself into creating the shopkeeper. *Don’t touch the cabinet!*
Bosses who end up being entertaining NPCs. Although I appreciate the well balanced difficulty of the boss fights, what I really enjoyed were their personalities. Often the boss fights took place due to misunderstandings and the bosses are just nice dudes, so you end up with plenty of memorable encounters and inside jokes. Ogre brothers, you rock!
Sabotage (developers) released an excellent free DLC: Picnic Panic, that follows the tone of the first half of the game by providing more humorous encounters, entertaining dialogue, and most importantly, difficulty. Where the second half of the game lacks in difficulty (both for platforming and boss fights), the DLC more than provides. If it weren’t for this DLC, I likely would not have recommended this game.
DO THE THING

➖Neutral:

This is probably just a matter of taste but I was not a big fan of the soundtrack. I found the music either annoying or forgettable.

❌Negative:

The second part of the game, however, extends the game by another ~6 hours but feels rushed, poorly thought out, and quite frankly, boring:[olist]
Now armed with the ability to warp, you are expected to backtrack to every map to search for hidden collectables and follow vague prophecies. The pace of the game suddenly slows down to a crawl. At this point you have already obtained all the abilities, which means that you have to walk through early-game levels in an end-game state. There is no real sense of difficulty or challenge, just a series of fetch quests.What’s worse is that the warps are few and often very inconveniently located, making the boring task of backtracking even longer. I contemplated stopping many times.
Little to no dialogue with the shopkeeper. Given how much I enjoyed these interactions, not having any dialogue felt like a punch to the liver.
Difficulty plateaued after the first half. None of the new areas or bosses really put you to the test, despite being the end-game. The fabled Demon King, for example, was a disappointing mess that could be killed by abusing invincibility frames. It’s only a shame that you have to play through this to get to the good DLC.
The ending felt rushed and left me dissatisfied. After the chore of collecting all music notes, you are suddenly bombarded with backstory information that is completely irrelevant to the rest of the game, followed by yet another mediocre boss.

????Verdict:

★★★☆☆ Half great, half terrible

The Messenger had the makings of a great modern retro-feel platformer: tight controls, spot on humor, and the magnificent shopkeeper. Unfortunately, the disappointingly tedious second half drained most of my enthusiasm for the game. Without the DLC, which focuses on all the things that make The Messenger great, the game would have been a lost cause. The only real downside is that you need to finish the game in order to start the DLC. In the end, I chose to recommend this game because the enjoyable moments are more memorable than the disappointing ones. Buy at your own discretion.

[/tr]

If you found this review helpful, please give it a thumbs up and follow me on my curator page. ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????!

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2371 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 23.10.20 17:44

It's a wonderful game with great story telling, humor and precise control, which allow for an excellent game experience. From time to time, however, I had to pause the game and continued writing my PhD thesis, because the latter was less frustrating.

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2502 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.10.20 22:57

an absolute must play for any retro platformer fans

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1229 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 14.10.20 21:35

The Messenger is an excellent hybrid between a platformer and a metroidvania. There's a funny story, a huge game world, great retro graphics, well designed bosses and an awesome soundtrack. Being able to switch between 8-bit and 16-bit graphics (AND music) to solve puzzles is very cool!

I do agree with many other user reviews that the backtracking the second part of the game becomes annoying and sometimes even frustrating. You'll be playing the same area's over and over again, because there are barely any warp points.

I won't give this game a negative rating for this tho, because everything else is SO good. So please don't let this keep you from buying and playing this master piece.

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1660 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 02.10.20 21:23

a great platformer game with ninja gaiden and metroid vibes.

+ OST are simply awesome specially transition b/w 8 bit and 16 bit.
+ visuals they also toggle from 8 to 16 when you transition to future and vice versa.
+ smooth gameplay and mechanics
+ humor and 4th wall breaking
+ boss fights were punishing yet rewarding

hit right in nostalgia, must play if you into such games.

Thanks to the

developers - Sabotage,
composers - Rainbowdragoneyes
Publisher - Devolver Digital

for this lovely game.

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626 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 21.09.20 00:44

Like Skyrim but, like a Ninja Gaiden-Vania. Pretty good game, great soundtrack. Tight controls.

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816 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 07.09.20 20:41

It's an award-winning game for good reason. Do yourself a favor and just get it.

Pros:
- One of the better NES games that never existed.
- One of the better SNES games that never existed.
- Platforming/checkpoints strike a good balance between making you feel great when you pull it off without making you want to smash your controller.
- Funny
- ++Art & Music

Cons
????

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822 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.09.20 17:22

The Messenger starts as a linear action platformer and then around halfway through transforms into a Metroidvania.

It does a lot of things well but also fails in other ways that make the game frustrating and annoying.

The first half of the game is pretty good. It's too easy for the most part, but talking with the shopkeeper, the humor, the semi-quick levels with boss fights keep the game flowing and entertaining. The positive elements of the game outweigh the negative elements. Once you hit the second half of the game, it slows down considerably and the positive elements of the game show up less and the negative elements show up more often.

To start the list of problems, the game has a grapple walls mechanic. This game suffers from the same problem pretty much every other game that has this mechanic does. You will constantly cling to walls you don't mean to cling to, have issues falling or jumping off them properly, or fail to cling to walls/objects that you should have but the game decided you didn't. At one point you even talk to the shopkeeper and he jokes about this. It's sort of funny, but then you realize that they understand their game has a significant issue with one of its major mechanics and couldn't be bothered to fix it.

The controls are a frustration in some of the platforming segments. You're quite often having to swing your sword to gain extra jumps while gliding around or hookshotting things and the controls often become a hindrance to what you're doing rather than making it easy to do the things that you're trying to do. The hookshot is unintuitive and causes problems at certain points.

The combat is incredibly simplistic. All you can do is swing your sword and throw a ninja star. This would be fine if the enemies gradually got harder and required more skill as you went along, but the enemies never get harder. You're killing the same simple enemies over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. The gameplay can't sustain a combat system this simple for this long. The game is around 3 hours too long. If they could've cut a lot of the random running about down in the second half, the game would've significantly benefited.

There are several reasons why the game slows down in the second half.

You spend much of the second half running through levels you've already played trying to find objects in rooms you now have access to so that you can then go to some other level you've been to before to explore some new rooms to find objects…... etc. There are a couple new levels you gain access to and maybe 3 new bosses, but that's mostly it. Almost all of the enemies you run into are enemies you've seen in the first half or reskins of them. None of these enemies are challenging. I think there's only 1 new ability you find and you barely use it. The shopkeeper doesn't have any new dialogue in the levels you've already been to before, so the humor mostly goes away. You're given some “prophecies” on what you're supposed to be looking for, but they're quite often vague or meaningless. You can pay 300 shards to the shopkeeper for a “hint”, which puts a point on your map telling you exactly where to go for that prophecy. You're going to want/need to do that if you play this.

There are only 6 quick travel points in the game and around 15 levels. This means if you want to go to some of the levels, you have to run through 1 or 2 other levels first to get there. I think only 2 of those quick travel points are openly available when you start, so you have to discover the others before you can use them. There are a bunch of portals to the shopkeeper on every level. They could have easily made it so when you reach a shopkeeper portal on a level during the second half that it then triggers as a quick travel point. Traversing the levels in order isn't that useful as you often need to find something on a later level and travel back to these sections, assuming of course you remember where you're suppose to go to. I can't fathom how so many games with maps still haven't figured out how to do something simple and let you mark points on your map with a note so you can remember where characters/things are at or why you left that room unexplored.

The game has a lot of insta death pits and smashers. I don't mind these during the linear part of the game as you get by one and never need to see it again. Unfortunately, a lot of time in the second half is spent running back and forth through levels you've already run through several times. As I mentioned the game isn't very challenging, so you'll be rushing through these levels because where you want to get to is 5-8 minutes away from the quick travel point you went to. In your rushing about, you're going to die often enough to insta death things that it gets tedious and time consuming. It was a terrible design decision.

The past/future time shifting mechanic is handled nicely and seamlessly but is underutilized. Most of the time a path is blocked in one of the time frames, so you run through a shift point and now the path is opened. Mindblowing!!! Other rooms will have multiple shift points where you run through the first one, which blocks the way out, so you run through a second one which opens the exit back up but you're unable to get to the exit now. You then run through a third one which closes the exit again but gives you access back to the first one, You run through the first one and now the exit is open and you leave. There are some parts of the game where you need to be in one time frame or the other but there's no time shift point in the room. So when you reach those portions you're required to then run back multiple rooms just to find a shift point and then run back to the room you need to go to. Why waste our time doing this? Just put a shift point in the room that it's needed in.

The game also has some bugs. Sometimes the ceiling doesn't render properly and enemies can jump off the map and vanish. I managed to go through one of these ceilings and got stuck outside the map. I had to quit out to get back in. The triggers for smashers and moving objects sometimes mess up.

The game comes with a free DLC that adds some postgame levels, so that's nice if you enjoy the game.

I think the game is decent. It just got too many things wrong in the 2nd half to be a good one.

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2286 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 04.09.20 17:21

Simple yet great mechanic, time travel between 8-16 bits, amazing music, funny dialogue. Moderate difficulty. 8/10

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2422 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 25.08.20 17:00

I think this game does not need any more praise, but, oh boy, I just want to say something about this: IT'S AMAZING, PEOPLE, GO AHEAD AND STOP PLAYING WHATEVER YOU'RE PLAYING AND BUY THIS.
The music is fantastic, the art is really pretty, but where it shines the most is the story and the gameplay.
It has plot twists that I definitely did not see coming and changed the game entirely. It's basically two games in one and both play smooth.
The combat is difficult to master, but easy to get a grasp of. It's really intuitive, as well, and it's just a blast to go through. I did not realized I hada played 40+ hours unless Steam had told me so, and I think that says a loooot about how it plays.

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1339 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 14.08.20 21:29

99% great game.

Except the race part vs the evil clone, that was stupid.

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904 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 13.08.20 10:20

pretty great game, love the original Ninja Gaiden vibes and the music is awesome too

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857 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 11.08.20 22:57

I loved this game! I recommend listening to the shopkeepers stories. Can't wait to see a sequel.

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717 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 10.08.20 15:46

A beautiful gem hidden amidst all fancy tripple A titles being released. The dialogues in this game are comedy gold and the shopkeepers are just too cute. It's a perfect blend between satire and standard dad-jokes that makes all characters the funniest in gaming history.

The game presents a rather interesting mechanic - timewarping - which brings you to the future (at the same place). This changes the game from classic 8bit to 16bit and was a nice concept I have yet experienced.

The game was linear up until the halfway-there mark, and after that expanded into a metroidvania type game, where backtracking and exploring was the key to progression.

Character upgrades were nothing special, but they felt like they belong in the game and nothing was too overpowered. All models looks nice but the enemies got too repetitive after a couple of levels. There were perhaps only 5 different Demon enemies which was present on every level and I feel like bigger variety in enemy types could have been explored.

I haven't played the DLC yet, but I'm sure it will be just as good as the main game.

~ Don't look in the closet. ~

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717 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 04.08.20 07:32

Amazing game, well made and a pleasure to play. It has a clear Metroidvania gameplay, but I'd describe it more like an Adventure game, mostly because it strongly reminds me the Kirby games, his fluid platform movement and the combat mechanics.
It took me about 5 hours to finish the main story, it is indeed a short game, but that fact pushed me to continue the story and replay the levels. It feels so natural the world and the growth of the difficulty of it, that exploring every bit of the map and getting all the collectable items, became a pleasure.

Great experience, totally recomended for players looking for a good metroidvania.

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686 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 02.08.20 23:30

After 9 Hours and my first Playthrough i can safely say that this game is insanely Good.
the Humor is insanely well brought into the story and also relevant at most times.
at first i was kinda bummed out when the Open Metroidvania stuff came but dont feel ashamed to buy the hints from the Shopkeeper.

the story was really damn good in the end and with 9 Hours of Playtime i can say its worth the Pricetag.
( Although i kinda won the Game in a Tourney from another game )
i still bought the game as a gift here for a friend to Support the Devs.

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1047 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 31.07.20 19:55

The Messenger is a game heavily rooted in 8 bit and 16 bit platformers like Ninja Gaiden and Metroid. It presents a relatively no frill approach to platforming at first, that spirals outwards in the second half into something really impressive, and builds on it all the way to the end. Excellent music, great bossfights, and tight, responsive controls make the game a joy to play. Some minor design flaws in the second half bring it down slightly, but don't detract too much from the overall experience. This review will have some minor spoilers for the game, especially it's second half - nothing narrative, but rather game set up.

The game's aesthetic, if you've watched the steam videos, is a mix between 8 bit and 16 bit, done faithfully and on the fly. Graphics and music change without a hitch or skip, and you'll platform away without missing a beat. Music is fitting and memorable, and sets the tone for a variety of areas across your journey, from mountains, to bamboo jungles, volcanos, and crypts. You do a lot of running around in these areas, so having something fun to listen to is always a big plus!

Gameplay feels like Ninja Gaiden NES with a twist. You have a basic sword attack, and a basic shuriken throw attack that is refilled by pickups. The game's major mechanic, Cloudstepping, is the ability to mid air jump again after successfully attacking anything with your sword. Anything means anything - objects or enemies, and this stacks infinitely. As long as you have something else to hit, you can jump again, and never touch the ground. This is used intensely throughout the game, and mastering cloudstepping is critical to finishing the game. Along the way you'll also pick up abilities like wall climbing, gliding, and grappling hooks, that provide a complex interplay of movement mechanics that all work together in platforming sections that look very difficult, and can be, but also feel very satisfying to do successfully. You'll also collect currency used to upgrade yourself along the way with more health, damage resistance, a couple new attack moves, and more. Dying costs a small amount of the future currency you collect, but does not make you lose currency you already have. (unless in New Game+)

The second half of the game opens up, from a linear platformer, to a Metroidvania setup, and it's here that some of the weakness of the game comes to the fore - there's a LOT of backtracking to be done, and while traversing through the areas feels different due to the new mechanics at play, both in your abilities, and narrative changes to the areas, if you don't properly figure out what you should be doing and where (the game does provide hints, and more can be purchased for currency), it's easy to spend a lot of time running around doing what may feel like nothing. Warp points are few and far between, and need to be unlocked from one specific side only, and you spend a lot of time walking(jumping/flying/climbing). The game's bossfights are heavily frontloaded, and there's only a few in the second half of the game to break up the exploration, which mostly consists of platforming challenges and finding items, both for plot and for obstacle overcoming. The ending of the game, however, brings it right back where it started, and finishes on a very high note.

Overall, the game is fantastic. While it does dip pacing-wise in the second half of the game, the world still feels different enough while being traversed to help break it up. If you want to be a completionist, I recommend making at least some use of a guide so you don't waste too much time running around in circles - there's 45 Power Coins for example, and you only get a benefit if you get all 45. It's an all or nothing deal - dedicate to them all or don't bother.

Strong recommendation to any lover of platform games - must be willing to overcome difficult situations. It's not an easy game by any means.

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939 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 30.07.20 08:17

First act, this game is a run-of-the-mill sidescrolling platformer. Second act turns the game into a metroidvania where you waste countless hours backtracking levels you've already beat to get to places you've been to collect mundane bullshit. Third act gets back to being good because it's actual new levels and bosses and no more backtrack horse ass. The humor is amazing and the story is basic but has a ton of twists and turns, even near the end. Whenever dots connect or elements are revealed it actually matters and has an effect on what's going on. Overall good game! Main problem is the middle chunk of the game spent walking back and forth through huge areas and doing the same platforming and fighting the same enemies in the same place with an absolutely abysmal fast-travel system: if you'd even call it that. Took me 12 hours to beat, about 6-8 was the backtracking. Worth buying if it's on sale and you don't mind the poorly done step retracing that comes with metroidvanias. It definitely stands out among the sea of these types of games, and i'll probably come back to it to finish getting all the collectables, do the free DLC, and try the new game plus.

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1398 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.07.20 06:27

Very challenging but rewarding and charming. 10/10.

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1414 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 20.07.20 10:58

The Messenger is truly a wonderful game and it's one of the best and unique games I've ever played in a while. Its art style has a striking resemblance with The Legend of Kage from the NES and the gameplay is quite similar to Ninja Gaiden but of course, The Messenger is way easier than that. It starts off as a simple platformer in 8-bit style then moves onto the 16-bit, and finally it becomes a Metroidvania, merging 8-bit and 16-bit gameplay together with puzzles. The story is actually very good but game doesn't take itself very seriously, thus it fails to make the intended impact I guess. It also has wonderful soundtracks that will get stuck on your head.

In short, The Messenger is a great game which includes a very well balanced gameplay, a good sense of humour, and superb soundtracks. There's also a free DLC that adds tons of new content, including new gameplay mechanics.

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1229 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.07.20 05:40

One of the most satisfying and fun game i've played on steam !
Gameplay is super fluid and rewarding and always bring something new and exciting so the game never get boring, story is very clever and funny with catchy chiptune and the game look freaking beautiful in both 8 and 16 bit <3

9.5/10

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1202 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 09.07.20 13:54

I didn't really know anything about this game other than it was a highly-rated throwback. The genre shifts completely took me by surprise -- and I loved it.

The first 3-4 hours are an *excellent* throwback to NES (& later SNES) Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania, with lots of witty dialogue and a strong character progression arc. This is easily the strongest part of the game, and makes for one of the best level-based platformers I've ever experienced. Perfect platforming and a difficulty that never goes overboard (like those games it emulates, tbh).

Once the game becomes a Metroidvania, though...I don't know. It just wasn't as polished or fun. 2D Metroidvanias make up possibly my favorite gaming genre, but this chunk of the game -- an additional ~8 hours -- is too slowly and awkwardly paced. A handful of wonderful moments based around new content buffered by obscene amounts of backtracking. If there was a quick-travel system -- which, weirdly, there should be based on the game's own lore -- I would've liked this part enough to look past the other issues. That was enough to lower my score, honestly. Besides that, the upgrade pacing is much lower, and the dialogue almost vanishes until the end. That didn't bother me as much, but it definitely highlights this part of the game not quite being on the same level.

De-SPITE those complaints, the platforming never gets old -- the gameplay feels perfect. The soundtrack, too, is glorious. ~Despite~ the latter two-thirds not holding up as much as the first third, the Messenger is one of the best throwback platformers I've played since...well, since its roots were still sold in shops.

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513 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.06.20 02:21

This is a true love letter to the classic Ninja Gaiden series.

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1331 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 21.06.20 07:20

One of the best Games I've played in a long time. I couldn't put it down.
I want more.

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387 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.06.20 03:54

An Absolute Masterpiece.
A Love letter to Ninja Gaiden & Metroidvania's.
Worth Full Price.
10/10

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256 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 17.06.20 23:12

An innovative revisitation of the classic fairy tale of the Princess and the Pea.
Worth the read.

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605 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 10.06.20 15:36

11/10
An homage to the classics and seriously a top notch platformer game. Well done sabotage!

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1708 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.06.20 19:37

I wasn't expecting much but this game blew me away. I had so much fun playing it and really enjoyed the story. Also the music... just epic!! Highly recommend 10/10

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107 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 05.06.20 22:01

Ninja Gaiden on Linux? I never asked for it, but here it is. And it's fuckin great. Recommended.

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1507 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 09.05.20 13:50

Awsome game. A must buy. Lot of suprises! Good work to the devlopper. The gameplay is tight, music real good!

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838 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.05.20 19:27

Pros

+ Original gameplay (time travel)
+ Unique bosses
+ Platforming is challenging, but not blindingly difficult
+ Humorous dialogue
+ Free DLC is good

Cons

- Backtracking is done poorly
- First 2-3 hours of gameplay is really dull
- Controls take some getting used to

Review

For the first hour of gameplay, I honestly considered refunding this game. I knew the game was retro, but holy sh*t, not this retro. The 8 bit graphics along with the dull looking character/enemies and bland combat bored the hell out of me. But clearly this was intended by the developers, because once I got the ability to time travel, the game improved drastically.

For those who don't know, travelling to the future changes the graphics to 16 bit. And boy, I never thought I'd consider 16 bit graphics to look so good. The introduction of the time travelling mechanic also finally introduced some original gameplay. Having to switch time periods made for some pretty unique and engaging platforming. And as the game went along, platforming got harder; but progression is done so well, that by the time you get to the difficult parts, you've already become a master at platforming.

But on to the part that I absolutely hated: backtracking.

Now as we all know, backtracking is a feature of any metroidvania game. But the problem with The Messenger, is that it's simply not done well. If you went through a particularly challenging gauntlet and accidentally missed certain collectibles, there is no way to walk back to get them, because either a door has closed behind you, or you simply cannot jump back to where you originally were.
So what happens then? You restart the level? Nope. You need to go to the nearest teleporter to leave the stage, fast travel to the nearest ZONE (because not every zone has a fast travel point), and then walk all the way back. If you're not careful, backtracking can take hours.

I mean, I don't know why the devs couldn't just leave doors open once I've already made it past all the difficult obstacles.
I also get that too many fast travel points can ruin the experience, but come on, what's wrong with 1 fast travel point per zone? And even putting aside the backtracking for optional collectibles, checkpoints can be painfully far apart for some zones. But... I suppose that gives you additional incentive not to die.
I just wished the optional collectibles didn't unlock such a useful item. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered with them at all.

[h1]TL;DR

[/h1]
First hour of gameplay sucks, but give it a chance. Once you've unlocked all your gear, The Messenger becomes an excellent platforming experience.
8/10

PS: Could be rated higher, but Hollow Knight exists, and it's cheaper

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855 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 30.04.20 03:27

Ninja Gaiden ！Metroidvania！Action!8-bit！Funny story!
It's all mixed together. A good game was born!!!!!!Ohhhhhh,I'll fall in this,dude.

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1036 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.04.20 19:13

This game is absolutely incredible.

Easily one of the best platforming games I've ever played and it's one of my favorite genres.

The only negative thing I can say is one of the middle bosses is the hardest boss in the game, otherwise crazy good game. Perfect amount of time (took 12 hours to beat) and it's action packed all the way through. I can see why this game has a huge % of buyers completing the game.

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881 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 21.04.20 02:38

What can I say about this lovely little game. It reminds me of the good old days of Ninja Gadien. The difficult but fair platforming, the interesting enemies. Not to mention the killer soundtrack that goes with it. If you are a lover of 8bit games, cryptic prophecies, not to mention funny shop keepers. This game is a must by, no questions asked.

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1037 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 20.04.20 12:12

Pretty fun games with some cool ideas for its mechanics. It was cool to see what happened after the half way point. Plot was fun and the Shopkeeper's stories were always entertaining. Difficulty was basically perfect for me, I struggled with some of the platforming areas and bosses but never to the point of frustration

90 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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877 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 19.04.20 14:19

This game is a loveletter to 2d platformers.

324 Produkte im Account

26 Reviews

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1482 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 29.03.20 20:09

Honestly, this game was an absolute joy to play, plenty of content, fantastic banter and storyline.....very very addictive. Highly recommend this if youre a fan of the genre.

So ive just finished the game and also collected all the achievements so i wanted to add the great thing about this game is the additional content you get to go through once you complete it, unlocking new game mode, having to go back to get the achievements.....i really really enjoyed this one...im looking forward to the next instalment.

445 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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952 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 28.03.20 10:40

Such an amazing experience with great writing and awesome visuals, sound and gameplay. Worth it just for the soundtrack alone.

171 Produkte im Account

1 Reviews

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126 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 20.03.20 02:43

What else needs to be said that hasn't already? A fun and clever throwback to pixel games that is a joy to play and hear. If you enjoy games of this type, buy it. Nuff said

175 Produkte im Account

8 Reviews

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808 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 16.03.20 04:21

Awesome 24 bit platformer.

43 Produkte im Account

7 Reviews

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1464 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 14.03.20 04:08

This game is so much dang fun. If you love retro platformers like Shovel Knight, you owe it to yourself to play this game. The soundtrack is a banger. The dialogue is always entertaining and often very funny and it is worthwhile to talk to the Shopkeeper every time you have a chance. Lots of different mechanics which can be very tricky but if you are patient you can master them. It is a challenging game but I feel that checkpoints are abundant enough to keep it from being frustrating.

152 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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1941 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 29.02.20 08:49

DESCRIPTION AND PROS
This game is incredible. It's an action platformer that really lives up to its name.

The combat is simple and satisfying. You have some shuriken but for the most part you'll just use your sword which is a quick slash that you can keep using. This in combination with its quick platforming challenges and options makes The Messenger a fundamentally very fast paced game. Once you learn the controls, grappling around, jumping, gliding through the air and killing enemies in between feels so smooth. The boss fights are great and usually require you to figure out their patterns while also incorporating platforming challenges to make a tense and fast paced boss fight.

The story may seem like its very simple, but almost immediately its clear there's something deeper. The story actually goes pretty in depth and is very interesting. Also the dialogue is top notch. Its funny without trying too hard and really conveys its message. I was interested the entire way through as it continually revealed new twists and depth.

The sprites are beautiful and the transition from 8-bit to 16-bit is flawless. The music is also great(especially glaciers theme) and just like ninja gaiden and games like it makes it fun to play through the levels.

Overall the game feels the most fun when you're in some platforming challenge that involves killing enemies as well. Utilizing all the controls feels great because the controls themselves are tight and responsive.

CONS
This does lead me to the game's cons however. There's a part around the middle where the game opens up and turns into sort of a metroidvania and honestly the game slows down a lot. The problem is they don't introduce many new areas so you end up mostly backtracking across levels you already explored. There is a change in the areas but personally I think the design of the world didn't lend itself to be a metroidvania, though I do love metroidvanias.

Another problem is around the middle you can basically get all the upgrades and the game becomes much easier in terms of platforming and getting past non boss enemies. You have too much health and you're able to get hit once, then propel yourself past a bunch of obstacles and enemies using the i-frames.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Despite the cons, this game is ridiculously fun and deserves your purchase. If you like sidescrollers or action platformers you will love this game.

48 Produkte im Account

1 Reviews

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1328 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 18.02.20 21:03

Tight controls, great movement options, godlike soundtrack, beautiful pixel art, hilarious dialog, challenging bosses, FREE DLC, infinite replay value. Hands down the best indie platformer/metroidvania of recent times. No contest.

8 Produkte im Account

6 Reviews

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377 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 11.02.20 22:13

The Messenger an amazing game. Everything looks and feels perfect, from its sense of humor to its level-design. It’s a must-have for every retro games lover.

271 Produkte im Account

3 Reviews

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1071 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 07.02.20 09:05

PLAY THIS GAME!!!!
with out getting too deep into the story, this is an incredible retro style game. Honestly, this might be the best game I've ever played, funny, charming, witty, and just an all around blast to play. Seriously, play this if you like retro games, metroidvania style games, or just a game that is very charming.

78 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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803 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 01.02.20 20:20

Very well designed and entertaining!

528 Produkte im Account

11 Reviews

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1170 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 30.01.20 23:37

Fantastic game lots of play value very challenging and feels great to figure it all out. Highly recommended if you enjoyed Hollow Knight, Shovel Knight, Etc.

321 Produkte im Account

2 Reviews

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863 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 26.01.20 10:07

*ahem* THIS IS A GREAT GAME!

Great game overall. I did think that the end game bosses weren't anywhere near as challenging as the rest of the bosses throughout the game, perhaps that could be down to the awesome skills of the Messenger, hmm.

Highly recommend this game though.

Music, graphics, artwork, dialog, story, game-play, movement, fluidity, level design, bosses, you name it... all top notch. Try it out!

174 Produkte im Account

12 Reviews

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647 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 25.01.20 08:27

this game fucking slaps

770 Produkte im Account

17 Reviews

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1461 Std. insgesamt

Verfasst: 06.01.20 23:31

It will blow your mind.

And it blew your mind.

- ePrison

- Online-Magazine

Rating auf Steam Sehr positiv

94.02% 3745 238

show ePrison Steam Database

Release:30.08.2018 Genre: Actionspiel Entwickler: Sabotage Vertrieb: Devolver Digital Engine:keine Infos Kopierschutz:keine Infos Franchise:keine Infos

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1 Prisoner hat dieses Spiel schon

48 Steam-Errungenschaften