Devolver Digital and developer Sabotage have teamed up to bring the platforming throwback that is The Messenger to Nintendo Switch. Announced during today's Nindies Showcase, the game is a 2D platformer in the vein of the classic Shinobi series, with lots of tongue-in-cheek humour, skill trees for character progression and some brilliant-looking (and downright silly) bosses.
Oh, and it's also a time travel tale as well, with the titular ninja leaping into a portal, where his 8-bit world is suddenly transformed into a 16-bit one. What fresh hell is this? Set to launch this summer, the game will also support speedrunning, if running like a crazy person through a cursed land filled with monsters is your thing.
Does The Messenger pique your interest? How about mashing up the genres? Share your thoughts with the community below...
Comments 35
Looks neat!
Not totally convinced by the SHINOBI comparison as this seems to be a very different type of game. However, anything evocative of Sega's masterpiece series will certainly be considered for purchase.
Yes
One to watch, but nothing in the Direct really blew me away
This game looks pretty awesome. This and Fantasy Strike were the games of the Nindie Direct for me.
This made the Direct. Looks great!
This looks decent
This game looks great and will be on my wishlist on the Eshop. So it doesn't get lost to the eshop's poor design. Nintendo Needs to update the eshop soon make it more like the Wii U eshop is layout.
This looks beyond awesome! It's like a cross between Shadow of the Ninja, Ninja Gaiden, and Strider (NES)! Day one!
Looks right up my alley will be downloading.
This looks real cool!
This sounds awesome.
Nintendo should really get that Strider remake on the Switch. Loved it on the Xbox.
@BensonUii This. SOLD!
I see all the potential of this game.
This looks very good
Oh so the 8-16 bit shifting is time travel. I was wondering what that was as it wasn't explained to well in the presentation and or trailer.
I like it! Neat concept!
Looks pretty cool! Is it just me though, or do the platforms amd a lot of graphical 8-bit assets look identical to Shovel Knight’s?
Love it.
Will look nice on my 16:9 tube
@Grawlog
Yes, much more Ninja Gaiden than Shinobi. Hopefully it plays well as the clips thus far look great.
I am so excited for this it’s not even funny. Not funny at all. Uuggghh.... is it out yet? How about now?
Looked kinda neat, and piqued my interest. Then the 8-bit/16-bit change was introduced as a Time Travel mechanic and it got upgraded way beyond "kinda neat" for me
Looks like Ninja Gaiden meets Shovel Knight meets Super Metroid. Day one for me.
Really loving everything I've seen of this game so far.
This and Bomb Chicken were my main interests during the showcase.
Most appealing game at the showcase for me. Banner Saga being second.
This is the only one that really jumped out, by far, and looked like they took their pixels and chiptunage seriously.
What's with the minimalist visuals in a lot of these other indie titles? So many look like an HD Intellivision game with a "super-rad techno soundtrack". Is it for maximum "port-ability"?
Day 1 if not earlier.
Hopefully there will be a physical release. Can't wait for it.
Looks pretty fun to me. But it'll depend on the price/length of game before I buy it. these metroidvania-ish games can be pretty short, so I don't wanna shell out $20 for something that is only 4-5 hrs long. The progression system seems indicative of a longer campaign though.
Shinobi? This is Ninja Gaiden through and through.
Looks promising.
This was my favorite game of the reveal.
It'd be better if it went from a 16-bit style to 2.5D modern graphics. I'm sick of these retro enthusiasts who think 8-bit style graphics ever looked good outside of a few select NES games.
Looks lovely.
Defiantly on my list. The time travel mechanic looks really neat. Also, NINJAs!!!
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