https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/30/17800398/nintendo-switch-eshop-indie-games-list-the-messenger-freedom-planet

Nintendo already teased a number of new game releases earlier this week, as part of a showcase highlighting some of the best “Nindies” heading to Switch over the next year. Some of those are already on the eShop this week — like Into the Breach, a beautiful strategy game and one of 2018’s critical darlings — and they’re joined by several other small titles worth your attention.

That includes two games that wear their influences proudly. The Messenger, out today, is built on the familiar Ninja Gaiden formula from the NES-era — before deviating from that genre to follow the Metroidvania schema instead. Combined with its visuals, The Messenger is a love letter to two of the most popular, old-school styles of gameplay. But, as we noted in our review, the switch from traditional action combat to the recently revitalized Metroidvania-style play makes this ninja adventure game far more interesting than its initial veneer suggests.