Hands-On At E3 2018: The Messenger
Every year during the week of E3 there is an event held for Indie developers to get some extra exposure on their upcoming projects. The Media Indie Exchange showcases several Indie titles each year, and there’s always a few games that really catch our eye. The title that completely blew our minds this year was The Messenger, from Sabotage Studios and Devolver Digital, a love letter to retro sidescrolling ninja games like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi. We had a chance to play through the demo at The MIX 2018, and had major flashbacks to The Dark Sword of Chaos.
In The Messenger you are a young ninja tasked by the “Western Hero” to transport a scroll that is key to your clan’s survival, as a demon army has launched a full-fledged assault on your village. While the inspirations from the past franchises mentioned above can be easily seen and felt in its gameplay and visuals, The Messenger makes its own mark by expanding the experience of a traditional retro sidescroller. There are plenty of upgrades to purchase from the shopkeeper (more on him later), gear to unlock, and a unique time travelling mechanic that effects not only the gameplay, but the visuals as well.
There are several portals located throughout each level that seamlessly transition the game from 8 bit to 16 bit. Transporting to two different eras in gaming history isn’t just a gimmick, as it serves as a bit of a puzzle solving tool in the platforming. One of the really nice touches in this feature is that the soundtrack also switches from 8 bit to 16 bit, both of which are incredibly well done.
One thing that all of the trailers and previous footage have not shown is how hilarious The Messenger is. Throughout the demo playthrough there were encounters with the shopkeeper, who really stole the show. Exhausting all of his dialogue options was a must, as he consistently broke the fourth wall and had entertaining exchanges with the protagonist. He also tells long, detailed stories that seem to be leading to a relatable morale to the current situation, but end up having no correlation to what is happening in the game at all.
Our time with The Messenger was short, but it left us craving more. If you’re a fan of retro-inspired games that fill you with some good ol’ fashioned childhood nostalgia, definitely keep an eye out for The Messenger. Slated for a release on PC and Nintendo Switch later this year, The Messenger could very well be the modern day Ninja Gaiden equivalent, much like Shovel Knight was to franchises like Mega Man.
