It's time to ninja.
It's time to ninja.
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The Messenger review — more than a simple Ninja Gaiden tribute

  • Posted byby Mike Minotti
  • Updated
  • 3 min

The Messenger is another indie game taking inspiration from the action-platformers of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. But while the likes of Shovel Knight and Sundered borrow most from Castlevania and Super Metroid, The Messenger is a tribute to ninja-based games like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi.

But this PC and Switch release (which comes out on August 30) is more than a spiritual successor. The Messenger has clever mechanics and some big twists that help make it one of the best retro side-scrollers of the modern era.

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Written by

Mike Minotti

Mike Minotti has been with GamesBeat since 2012, starting as an intern. Based near Youngstown, Ohio, he now manages GamesBeat's editorial team. He's also a prolific podcaster, appearing on multiple shows covering the gaming industry.