The Messenger

Back to 2D platformers. If only i were playing this right now, but instead I already did a couple of months ago and will share my thoughts posthumously, which I accept myself as a use of word now it's finished and I'll likely never engage with again (after writing this, obviously). That's not to make a comment on the quality of the game, just that once I've finished a game, normally I never returnnexcept in rare circumstances, like when I played Portal 2 for a second time a few months ago (those loading times, wow. were all 360 games like that?).

So yeah, the messenger is a retro game with pixel art to go along with, appearing in both 8 and 16 bit art styles due to it's time travelling puzzle mechanic. I say puzzle, it kind of is because they change the layout of the world to open up different path ways but you're mostly led through the portals as part of the game.

So, the gameplay. It is fantastic. It plays like a classic platformer (although one with weapons where in general I prefer a none weapon based one (see Sonic (or to be more contemporary, Celeste)). It does get really challenging towards the end of the game which is something to look out for but there is a slow build towards it (because, games) that teaches you how to play and adds new challenges and enemies frequently.

The first half, maybe a little less of the game is linear (just how I like it) that takes you onwards, through different areas and boss fights, progressing the story nicely just like most of my favourites do. Then it becomes a metroidvania, which I don't have a problem with per say, but it's the cryptic clues that bothered me. You get sent on a search around the map looking for certain items with crossword clues (not literally , just in that style) to figure out where to go. You can buy hints but these only really show you where to start. I ended up mostly having to use an online guide for this section of the game, which is a shame as I was sill enjoying the gameplay but really took me out of the experience by having to check the online map against my own every few minutes. You could claim this was me being dumb, which there is an element of, but such unclear puzzles should be left for obtuse games that I get bored of and stop playing after a couple of hours cause they're super frustrating (another dig at Observation there and no I didn't go back to it).

The Messenger does have a fun story, kind of meta in places but it's interesting and actually quite funny, for a game anyway (which granted means it's not really all that funny). This release came to (sigh) Switch last year but thankfully came out on the proper games consoles (Ps4, Xbox) a few months ago so proper people can play them (I may have mentioned before that I don't get the appeal of Switch, well that's not strictly true, I don't really play handheld games because I don't have any frequent long travels where this is a necessity. I just don't see why someone would play a handheld game at home, nor why they'd rather play a game on Switch on their TV over a ps4/ xbox one (PC gaming is also acceptable)).

It's a good addition to the platforming landscape on current generation game consoles, something I may do a list on some day, after the Sonic one I haven't even started yet (just got one more mobile game I wanna play first). If you like 2D platformers and a challenge, then in the immortal words of Richard Taylor, this is for you.

You may also like: Celeste

I am now playing through shakedown Hawaii, only an hour or so it s of now so not got much to say right now. Also, Villa got promoted. Awesome!