A ninja, a scroll, and an 8-bit world that tears open to reveal something else entirely.

The profile is still thin, so easy does it. Where it shines most is the feel in hand, ahead of a little over three quarters of games, and the soundtrack right behind, ahead of nearly three quarters of titles. Careful though, both of those rest on a single vote each, so the early returns suggest real snappiness more than they confirm it. Fun lands slightly below the middle and the urge to rediscover it sits right in the average. Nothing overwhelming, but a solid base when it comes to pure playing pleasure.

Against other platformers and metroidvanias, The Messenger plays the card of surprise and tongue-in-cheek wit. It starts simple and unfolds, exactly like a game hiding its true face behind a retro front.

So, who's it for? You, if you love a demanding, responsive platformer that rewards you for mastering movement, all backed by music that keeps up. Much less so if you're after a heavy emotional charge or a world to cling to for a long time.