I’m always happy to embark on fantastic journey through time! And that’s exactly what The Messenger promises. The Messenger is an adventure game from 2000 published by Dreamcatcher in North America in 2001, which is the version I have. Although I’m not in the habit of picking up Myst clones or FMV games, my interest was piqued by this one. I don’t know exactly why though. Maybe because I’m planning a trip to Paris, or maybe because some reviews I read were not dismissive. I do know that I didn’t opt for another game in the same category which the seller also offered, namely Dracula: Resurrection. Again, I don’t know why I didn’t pick that one up as well, as it’s the same sort of game that was reviewed about the same as The Messenger.

The game comes with a catalogue from the publisher that features more of these games:

• Dracula: Resurrection
• Beyond Atlantis
• Traitors Gate
• The Sacred Amulet
• The New Adventures of the Time Machine
• The Crystal Key
• Safecracker
• Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy
• The Forgotten
• Lightbringer
• Beyond Time
• The Legend of Lotus Spring
• Quest for Karma
• Jewels of the Oracle
• Jewel II: The Ultimate Challenge
• Pharaoh’s Gold

All games that I recognize from adverts on the local online marketplace. A lot of people try to sell these all the time. And they invariably look pristine, like they’ve never been opened. Just like the game I bought. I actually have Traitors Gate, but the reason I bought that is because it comes in a thick carton enveloppe instead of a big box. I’ve never played it.

And accidentally, I read about Nightlong just last week, after I encountered it in a webshop selling Amiga games. It’s a game that got an Amiga conversion, which was rare by that point in time. For such a late Amiga game it reviewed quite favorably, but most reviews for the earlier PC release weren’t that good.

I’ll try to play The Messenger before I go to Paris, or maybe I’ll wait so I don’t spoil the actual experience…