The Messenger is Sabotage Studio’s debut game and a homage to the 8-bit and 16-bit games of the 80s and 90s, such as Ninja Gaiden and Super Metroid. Its influence is highly notable. It was published by Devolver Digital for PC and Nintendo Switch on August 30, 2018. It is a 2D action-platformer where you control a ninja on a quest to find one of the last remaining ninjas alive and deliver a message. To accomplish this, you ascend a massive mountain and face various enemies until you fulfill your mission.
After a village is attacked by a demon, a hero emerges and tells one of the villagers that he must deliver a mysterious message to one of the last ninjas alive in the world. He is named “the messenger” because of this, which is where the game gets its name. The story is shallow, but the adventure is epic. Moreover, it is filled with pop culture references and ironic and humorous dialogues, which makes it rewarding.
The gameplay is reminiscent of its influences, with one notable difference. By jumping and hitting the edge of poles with your blade, you can perform an additional jump. It’s a simple mechanic but cleverly implemented, and the downside is that this is the only aspect where the game truly innovates. This can be slightly frustrating, although the game is amazing and compensates for every second with a polished, fun, and addictive experience. The controls are basic, such as walking, attacking, and jumping. The map design is shaped in a way that the mechanics are intuitive. The difficulty level increases satisfactorily with each stage.
One of the most interesting features of the maps are the checkpoints. They are indicated by portals to another dimension, and you can enter them. Inside, there is a shop where you can upgrade your character – although the system is quite basic, unfortunately – purchase items and armor, and interact with the shopkeeper. Additionally, a significant portion of the game’s conversations breaks the fourth wall, with the protagonist or a character directly addressing the player. It’s at least intriguing.
Speaking of difficulty, it’s moderate. I expected it to be much more challenging before playing, and that’s great. The gameplay provides just the right amount of challenge. The player is enveloped in a true sense of progression, gradually understanding certain patterns. The game can last between 7 and 13 hours if you only play the main campaign. The replay value is excellent in this regard, and if you complete the game, it can take around 20 hours, but it’s almost inevitable to want to replay the campaign because it’s so good.
The soundtrack is entirely composed by Rainbowdragoneyes, and it’s very interesting. It blends seamlessly with the game’s classic visuals and maintains its quality even when listened to outside the game. In fact, I recommend doing so. The sound effects are also intentionally reminiscent of its influences, and they don’t disappoint in the slightest. The overall sound design is incredible. The art direction is satisfactory. It combines various styles of 2D art, whether in 8 or 16 bits, and for the most part, it’s visually stunning. Characters and environments are beautiful, although I didn’t find some of the bosses aesthetically appealing. The animations are smooth as expected, nothing extraordinary.
The Messenger is a game to relax and indulge in nostalgia, primarily. You’ll become addicted to it, and all the challenges presented are meticulously designed, to the point that even after multiple failures, you’ll keep trying. It’s highly polished, boasts excellent art direction, incredible sound design, and great gameplay. Its only shortcoming is a lack of significant innovation. However, it stands as an exceptional homage.
9/10 — Great
A download code was kindly provided by Sabotage Studio for this review. How do our review scores work?
Originally reviewed on December 8, 2018, by Gabriel Carli.
Games in Orbit 
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