Retro Platformer The Messenger Confirmed for PS4, Makes the Jump Next Week

Don't shoot the messenger

by Stephen Tailby Tue 12th Mar 2019

Well, that didn't take long. Following last week's story that acclaimed retro platformer The Messenger had been rated by PEGI for PlayStation 4, developer Sabotage has now officially confirmed it's coming to Sony's platform.

The game blends together 8-bit and 16-bit styles as you guide your ninja protagonist through an interconnected map full of tricky platforming and various enemies and bosses to defeat. It's a surprisingly lengthy and challenging experience that'll be well worth a look when it comes to PS4 on 19th March.

Writing on the PlayStation Blog, the developer also highlights that some free DLC will be coming to The Messenger later in the year. "This summer, the story of The Messenger will take an unexpected turn with the release of a free expansion entitled Picnic Panic. This resolutely silly adventure will test your skills even more as our ninja heads to Voodkin Island in order to thwart Barma’thazël’s wicked plan."

Are you looking forward to trying The Messenger on PS4 next week? Look for a Power Seal in the comments below.

[source blog.us.playstation.com]

Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of video games to his role as Assistant Editor. Having grown up playing every PlayStation console to date, he's developed an eclectic taste, with particular passion for indie games, arcade racers, and puzzlers. He's also our go-to guy for Sonic-related matters, much to his delight/chagrin.

1
kyleforrester87
Tue 12th Mar 2019

one for @BAMozzy i reckon.

2
Kraven
Tue 12th Mar 2019

Hell yes! I can't wait for this.

3
LieutenantFatman
Tue 12th Mar 2019

This looks pretty awesome, and that soundtrack is niiice. Definitely interested.

4
Enuo
Tue 12th Mar 2019

Great news to be sure, but that might be the worst possible time to release it.

5
BAMozzy
Tue 12th Mar 2019

@kyleforrester87 How well you know me....

I honestly couldn't watch the whole trailer - that audio is unbearable. Funny how I didn't mind it so much back in the 80's. The game-play looks straight out of the 80's too - something I almost certainly would have played back then too - perhaps even rated it as one of the 'best' games of the year back then. It looks like it has everything I would have wanted if it was released on the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC464 &/or whatever Spectrum it was at the time.

However, my tastes and expectations for 'gaming' has evolved along with the evolution of technology. Now I cannot tolerate the cacophony of the 'audio', incredibly low res pixel art style and 2 dimensional game-play - which I am sure you knew anyway...

I am perfectly happy that games like this exist - if for no other reason that gamers who missed out on 80's gaming, get to experience games like this to have an understanding and appreciation of where modern games have evolved. If others get to enjoy these from a nostalgic perspective too, great but I prefer to play the games from the modern era and have an increasing backlog to get through without going back in time to that era of gaming.

I would happily jump back to the 80's musically - go back to an era where we actually had musicians. Back to a time that the majority of my guitar playing is based around and my 'heroes' and influences were selling out massive stadiums. Rock was hedonistic and fun - until the 90's when grunge went all dark and miserable. However, I am much happier with the evolution that has taking place in video gaming thanks to the evolution of technology. I am looking forwards to the next generation now and not looking backwards in this particular area of my 'hobbies'.

6
Lando_
Tue 12th Mar 2019

Finally playable with a decent dpad.

7
Ralizah
Tue 12th Mar 2019

I really, really like the sharp, detailed pixel art in this game. It has been on my to-buy list for the Switch for quite a while, but I just always seem to have more games in the pipeline.

8
carlos82
Tue 12th Mar 2019

@BAMozzy we'll put you down as a maybe then 😀

9
BAMozzy
Tue 12th Mar 2019

@carlos82 LMAO - I may have to pre-order....

10
GoodGame
Tue 12th Mar 2019

Revenge Of Shinobi anyone ?

11
kyleforrester87
Tue 12th Mar 2019

@carlos82 @BAMozzy Haha

12
CFDennett
Tue 12th Mar 2019

Reminds me of Hawkeye on c64. I was an amstrad guy myself so whenever I saw parallax scrolling and colour at my mates I was blown away.

13
Nyne11Tyme
Tue 12th Mar 2019

Looks like a slightly more accessible spiritual successor to Ninja Gaiden....wooooo! In case anyone else is curious- Devolver does NOT publish trash. This game gon be swweeeeet

14
nessisonett
Tue 12th Mar 2019

@BAMozzy I have to disagree on the 80s rock argument. Post punk was stylistically still ‘rock’ but was one of the most interesting movements of the decade. The game equivalent would be... uh, no clue tbh. Maybe Sweet Home?

15
BAMozzy
Tue 12th Mar 2019

@nessisonett I don't care whether you agree or not - even if you have COMPLETELY missed the point of my comment. I certainly wasn't comparing music to video games at all. The point I was making is that the only reason I would want to go back to the 80's was for the music I loved and the reason that I picked up a guitar and started learning to play a guitar. Absolutely NOTHING to do with gaming, just the 80's era and what I still enjoy from that era today...

The 80's was the era of Glam Rock, LA Rock, Good time hedonistic Rock, etc from bands/artists that inspired me to play guitar and the ONLY thing from the 80's that I still enjoy today!! Nothing at all to do with gaming...