History VideoGame / TheMessenger2018

!! Tropes Associated with ''The Messenger'' include:

''VideoGame/SeaOfStars'', a retreaux turn-based RolePlayingGame, was released on August 29, 2023. It is a {{Prequel}} that is set in the same universe as ''The Messenger''. Notably, Creator/YasunoriMitsuda was a guest composer for the game.

Not to be confused with the 2001 French computer game ''VideoGame/TheMessenger2001''.

Originally released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, the game would later be released on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne.

''The Messenger'' is a 2018 {{Retraux}} {{Metroidvania}} platformer video game developed by Sabotage Studios and published by Creator/DevolverDigital.

Originally released only on UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} the game would later receive releases on UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne.

In 2020, Sabotage revealed that they are working on a game called ''VideoGame/SeaOfStars'', a {{Retreaux}} turn-based RolePlayingGame set in the same universe as ''The Messenger'', and will serve as a {{Prequel}}. It released on August 29th, 2023. Notably, Creator/YasunoriMitsuda was a guest composer for the game.

!! Tropes Associated with The Messenger include:

* XanatosGambit: Barma'thazël pulls a rather elaborate on in ''Picnic Panic''. [[spoiler:He lures the Ninja by kidnapping Phobekins and using their fear to activate the Voodoo Altar creating the Dark Messenger, then he uses the Voodoo Idols in the Voodoo Heart in order to kill Quarble and try kill the Ninja for good. When that fails? Barma'thazël also wanted that, as he needed to unlink Dark Messenger from his greed demon and "do the thing". After he's defeated again, he ''also'' planned for that, and uses the energy of the fallen Dark Messenger into a Magic Seed and manages to run away. [[SequelHook He then tricks Colos and Suses into growing the thing for an unknown purpose]].]]

* SpikeBallsOfDoom: Blue demons shoot spiky balls. There are also large spiky balls attached via links also swing back and forth. Some spiky balls also drop down from trees.

* StalactiteSpite: Green crystals wait for the player before dropping.

* InterfaceScrew: The Butterfly/Bat Matriarch's [[MakeMeWannaShout sonic scream]] doesn't do any damage, but reverses your controls.

* AlternateUniverse: Serving as the framing device for the [=DLCs=], these exist and the Blue Robes are fighting the demons in them too, because if the demons wins in an alternate timeline it will [[HandWave somehow]] overwrite their victories in the main dimension.

In 2020, Sabotage revealed that they are working on a game called ''VideoGame/SeaOfStars'', a {{Retreaux}} turn-based RolePlayingGame set in the same universe as ''The Messenger'', and will serve as a {{Prequel}}, currently slated for release on August 29th, 2023. Notably, Creator/YasunoriMitsuda will be a guest composer for the game.

* CrypticallyUnhelpfulAnswer: The Prophet delivers these when asked where to go [[spoiler:after opening the map to exploration. You can either pay the Shopkeeper for a straight answer, figure it yourself, or look up for a guide.]]

** Once the Demon General has been defeated, [[spoiler:the Shopkeeper neglects to tell the ninja the rule of "if your messenger isn't back in ten seconds, it means that they died" until more than ten seconds have passed.]]

** The bird and caged creature in the Shop turn out to be the Shopkeeper’s colleague after a magic accident and a traveler that kept trying to open the Shopkeeper’s cabinet. Neither like hearing about their [[NoodleIncident incident]].

** The Shopkeeper gets uncharacteristically panicked [[spoiler:when she realizes he messed up and forgot to tell Ninja (acting as the Shopkeeper) that he ''must'' send Quarble to save the current Messenger, or else the guy dies for real]]. This even allows Ninja to get some jabs in which the Shopkeeper has no dry or witty comebacks for him.

*** Also, collecting a Power Seal instantly counts it towards your total, even if you die before reaching a save point after collecting it.

** The Ninja can be turned into a Quillshroom if the Queen of Quills hits him with a spore. Mashing the buttons will snap him out of the curse.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: The Shopkeeper tells you that "[[VideoGame/NinjaGaiden John Gaiden]]" invented the Climbing Claws, because the game is, so far, [[SpiritualSuccessor similar to Ninja Gaiden]]. [[spoiler:Once you take her spot and the Soldier takes yours, you give him the Charge Beam upgrade and tell him it was invented by "[[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Ray Troid]]", and shortly after that, [[OpeningTheSandbox the world opens up]] to become a {{Metroidvania}}-style map.]]

* ForcedTransformation: The bird and caged creature in the Shop turn out to be the Shopkeeper’s colleague after a magic accident and a traveler that kept trying to open the Shopkeeper’s cabinet. Neither like hearing about their [[NoodleIncident incident]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: The Queen of Quills is stated to be a "previous Messenger". [[spoiler:As it turns out, [[HistoryRepeats there's been many, many other "previous messengers".]]]]
** Savvy players will note some oddities in the level design which always leave room for backtracking. [[spoiler:The game becomes a {{Metroidvania}} after a major event and backtracking becomes a necessity.]]
* ForestOfPerpetualAutumn: The appropriately named Autumn Hills, the first area of the game that’s home to a [[PlantMooks leaf monster]].

* HeroOfAnotherStory: [[spoiler:As it turns out, many Messengers have taken the journey to carry the scroll eastward. The Soldier ''could'' have had his own sprawling adventure to deliver the scroll to the Glacial Peak. Unfortunately, he perishes not too far in, forcing the Ninja back into action]].

* HighAltitudeBattle: Happens naturally against the boss of Cloud Ruins.

* MoneyForNothing: After buying all of the upgrades, there is nothing to spend your Time Shards on except Quarble's paltry revival fee. Well, almost nothing...
* MoneySink: Due to players complaining about the trope directly above, a [[LiteralMetaphor literal sink]] was added to the shop that you can dump your Time Shards into. It does absolutely nothing other than literally flushing your money down the drain. The Shopkeeper repeatedly tries to explain to the Ninja, who [[EmptyRoomPsych stubbornly refuses to believe there is no reward for putting enough money in]].

*** In the ''Picnic Panic DLC'' [[spoiler:the same scenario happens, except this time the wisp was trying to conjure a spell from his Voodoo Totem to prevent the nearby volcano from erupting.]]

* TallPoppySyndrome: One of the Shopkeeper's stories is the joke on the trope's main page about the cauldrons in Hell. In his version, the AcceptableTargets for whom no guards are needed to prevent them from escaping the cauldron because they keep pulling each other back in are "[[FelonyMisdemeanor people who think the order doesn't apply anymore when another line opens up at the market]]".

In 2020, Sabotage revealed that they are working on a game called ''VideoGame/SeaOfStars'', a {{Retreaux}} turn-based RolePlayingGame set in the same universe as ''The Messenger'', and will serve as a {{Prequel}}, currently slated for a summer 2023 release. Notably, Creator/YasunoriMitsuda will be a guest composer for the game.

Orginally released only on UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} the game would later receive releases on UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne.

* SurpriseCreepy: The game is lighthearted and silly from the very beginning, with even the more macabre-looking characters and places given enough humor to keep them from feeling too scary. Then you get to the Corrupted Future. [[spoiler:It's an utterly nightmarish world, with the landscape consisting entirely of some kind gruesome MeatMoss that has eyeballs randomly growing out of it, there are giant tentacles flailing around in the background, and the moon appears to be shattered. And then you reach the boss, which is a massive eldritch ''thing'' so enormous you can't even see what it looks like in its entirety, and which you can't even kill, only run away from]]. On top of all that, the jokes are completely absent, and they don't come back until you finish what you came there to do.

* WhipOfDominance: The Queen of Quills uses a whip as a weapon. [[spoiler:And continues to do so after you break the curse on her and she turns back into the Monk]].

* WhipItGood: The Queen of Quills uses a whip as a weapon. [[spoiler:And continues to do so after you break the curse on her and she turns back into the Monk]].

* GelatinousTrampoline: In Glacial Peak, there are some places where jelly bounces player into the air.

* SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom: Some sections of levels have crusher traps.

* DemBones: One of the enemies is a type of skeleton that walks around.

* FlashOfPain: Bosses will flash when you damage them and will constantly flash faster and faster the closer you are to beating them.

In 2020, Sabotage revealed that they are working on a game called ''VideoGame/SeaOfStars'', a {{Retreaux}} turn-based RolePlayingGame set in the same universe as ''The Messenger'', and will serve as a {{Prequel}}, currently slated for a Holiday 2022 release. Notably, Creator/YasunoriMitsuda will be a guest composer for the game.

* BalefulPolymorph: The bird and caged creature in the Shop turn out to be the Shopkeeper’s colleague after a magic accident and a traveler that kept trying to open the Shopkeeper’s cabinet. Neither like hearing about their [[NoodleIncident incident]].

* OurOgresAreHungrier: Colos and Suses are Oni, rather than Ogres, but they otherwise play the trope mostly straight. They live in the mountains, are hulking and muscular, and both of them are as dumb as dirt. That being said, they're much more benevolent than most examples of the trope; they fight the Ninja to test his sportsmanship, and there's no indication that either is [[ImAHumanitarian a Humanitarian]].

* DualBoss: Colos and Suses, though thankfully you only really fight one at a time as the other exercises in the background.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: The Shopkeeper tells you that "[[VideoGame/NinjaGaiden John Gaiden]]" invented the Climbing Claws, because the game is, so far, [[SpiritualSuccessor similar to Ninja Gaiden]]. [[spoiler:Once you take his spot and the Soldier takes yours, you give him the Charge Beam upgrade and tell him it was invented by "[[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Ray Troid]]", and shortly after that, [[OpeningTheSandbox the world opens up]] to become a {{Metroidvania}}-style map.]]

Orginally released only on UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} the game would later receieve releases on UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne.

* NiceHat: The Messenger gets a [[AllAsiansWearConicalStrawHats conical straw hat]] when he [[spoiler:is sent to the future]]. The Shopkeeper thinks it looks so badass that she gets an identical one for himself... [[BlatantLies and tries to pretend that she had it first and the Messenger copied]] ''[[BlatantLies him]]''.
-->'''Shopkeeper:''' Ok THAT is a really cool hat.\\
'''Ninja:''' ...\\
'''Shopkeeper:''' Seriously, wow!\\
'''Ninja:''' Any idea what happened?\\
'''Shopkeeper:''' Sorry, I just can't get over the hat.

* LostWoods: Autumn Hills. Where your journey starts, in a secluded place of the world. It's also a ForestOfPerpetualAutumn as its name implies.