Customer Reviews

The Saboteur

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was a bit on the fence about if I was going to get this game or not, mostly I just wanted something to play while I'm waiting for next years games to come out.. but this was a really good surprise!

The graphics are good, there's a pretty interesting (but predictable) storyline..plenty of side missions to keep you busy and lots of gameplay that's not as repetitive as some games (ahem Assassin's Creed). It's pretty cool to be running around in a GTA/mercenaries type free roaming game from that time period. Some missions can be challenging and there were parts that I wanted to throw the controller at the tv for getting stuck on-but then you just try to go about it differently and usually do fine: you can try to go through a mission by stealing a Nazi uniform and trying to blend in, or by just blazing your way through everything, or a mix of both (which helps keep it from getting old). There's a bunch of weapons you can buy and have at your disposal, you can collect cars to store in your garage, ect. there's just a lot to do.

My couple of complaints about the game are that the controls were a little awkward at first and driving cars around is really annoying, but you kinda get used to it and they're not so bad. Other thing is that once the Nazi soldiers spot you it's annoying as heck to try and get back to a anonymous status, and you spend a good part of the game just escaping from them...and running.. and running- yeah i thought it was a bit frustrating. Also for the climbing buildings aspect of it; I wasn't too impressed by having to hit X every time to hold onto something as you climb, plus you can't climb just anything.. which made it easier just to run around the ground in most cases.

Overall these aren't really big issues and I'm glad I got it!

For parents there's a lot of language and nudity in parts, so I would not recommend this as a holiday gift for the younger crowd (hence why it's rated M, duh)

This game could have been great, and when you look at the other games that the studio behind it has created you can see that. The trouble is that this game came at the tail end of Pandemic Studios' career and was actually released after the studio closed, leaving what might have been a real gaming great unfinished.

Now the core gameplay, run around occupied Paris and its environs blowing stuff up, all the while avoiding the Third Reich is solid and enjoyable. The missions will keep you entertained even if the game can be somewhat unforgiving to those that don't save often. Where the issue comes in chiefly is the game's other core mechanic: racing.

Car races were obviously a central point in the game and should have occupied a larger segment of it or even just have been available for the fun of it. However, aside from the main storyline races, there are only two one time only races available and the end result is that you feel like there is a whole dimension of the game left out because once you beat these races you can never race again unless you count fleeing from the Nazi's through the city streets as racing.

The other major hang up is in story and character development. Initially both of these hold together just fine, however once you have gotten half-way through the game the story begins to fall apart and the characters' development starts to get rushed. Multiple characters and their stories are completely abandoned and there are characters who are alluded to constantly up to the end of the game, and yet they barely have a single cameo despite the constant allusion to their presence.

By the time I got to the end of the game I was looking around wondering what had happened to these characters, I certainly didn't kill them, they just seemed to disappear for no readily apparent reason. And it isn't just side characters that disappear, there are characters who have been around since the beginning of the game who just vanish, never to be heard from again. After I liberated Paris I was wondering if there was an after game where you pursue these characters further because they quite simply cease to exist.

No such luck I'm afraid, the plot holes are never filled, and you never discover what happens to these characters. Now for all this griping, don't think I didn't enjoy the game, I did. Being able to run around blowing crap up in the black and white world of the Nazis is amazing and while the game may feel unfinished, the world does not and they even rip off Assassin's Creed in one respect in that you can find 'vantage points' which give you amazing panoramic views of the city.

The climbing mechanics are simple and solid, giving you the ability to think in three dimensions when fighting against and fleeing from the Nazis. The shooting is what you'd expect from a third person adventure game and while rudimentary, the cover system does do its job. And running isn't your only option when avoiding the Nazi's. The various ways to avoid detection are amusing in and of themselves and I found myself intentionally pissing off soldiers so I could run into the nearest brothel or kiss some unassuming passerby to effect a comical escape...or if you're feeling particularly desperate, go leap in the Seine and swim for it.

All in all, The Saboteur is fun for fans of games like Mercenaries or Red Faction: Guerrilla and you'll find much of the same gameplay from both titles here. So long as you don't look at or care about the glaring plot holes and vanishing characters you can just have fun wreaking havoc in the missions and world which you do with gleeful frequency. Just don't get too attached to the races and savor them while they're available. This game is a good bit of explosive fun...it's just too bad that Pandemic wasn't able to finish putting in all the powder before closing their doors.

Assassins Creed gives you; mapping, stealth/sneaking, climbing, walking, riding, running, jumping, swimming and killing. Fallout3 gives you, mapping, lots of weapons, snipering w/zoom, walking, running,swimming, climbing, blowing things up, where disquises, sneaking to mention a few. GTA gives you; driving/racing vehicles, running over people, shooting, etc. All have open world and limited open world gameplay.

Well "SABOTEUR" GIVES YOU ALL this and MORE!!!! MUCH, MUCH, MORE!!!!

Storyline (loose); You are Sean Devlin an Irish race car driver touring France when the Nazi Occupation occurs in the early 1940's. (prior to outbreak of WWII)
Being trapped in Paris and local countryside Devlin has limited choices. Drive around and be harrassed by the Nazi's or get involved with the Resistance (French and English) His driving skills are needed badly!!!! The rest is up to you!! Trust me this is a must have game!!!!!

Game Description/Background; you have approximately 20 square miles of open world game play, centered in Paris (famous landmarks ie. the Effiel Tower (which you can climb),surrounding detailed countryside, towns, coastal locations, railroads, factories etc. What an amazing canvas to play in.
COMPLETE INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT!!!!

SABOTEUR STUFF!!! These are the high lights of the most used features in brief (a tease) PERKS - the more proficient you become the better stuff you can get.
CONTRABAND - everything is worth something for trade/purchase in the black market. MAPS - ( NOTE:You will always have a your local eye sight map picture on the screen).Map mode displays entire game play area. Buying maps gives you detailed information on this map, Nazi emplacements, check points, Resistance Head Quarters, Auto repair shops and black market traders, Also roads, towns, railroads, factories, rivers, bridges etc. Very detailed need to know, for Saboteur planning, carrying out mission and escape route (this is A MUST for successful mission completion). (NOTE: There are several maps to earn/buy throughout the game. FUN STUFF!!!

WORKING WITH THE RESISTANCE; Unlocks for you;Auto repair shops, Head Quarter locations, (NOTE: THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN SAVE YOUR GAMES!!!! So find as many as you can for saving) BLack Market locations - restock all your supplies/stuff. Maps and Nazi locations. Resistance assistance (send help when you need it!!!). Weapons and upgrades. Automobile from clunkers to race cars, Disquises, certified traveling papers for traversing Nazi check points. Skill experience.

Sean Devlin's Skills; Race car driver (you'll do a lot of driving) try driving all the game vehicles they handle very differently. Know your escape route !!!
While being chased you don't want them to direct you into a trap/dead end!! (NOTE: I always before the mission attempt I stage the cars escape direction to the straight route initially to gain distance. USING YOUR MA FEATURE PUT YOUR PURPLE MARKER ON THR RESISITANCE HG. when you enter the vehicle the route is labled/traced on the map so you can follow the purple trail back to safety.

Hundreds of sites/targets to explore, dozens of vehicles to driver, dozens of weapons /ordnance to use.

As you can see the detail is amazing. In short my Devlin load out is; Pistol w/silencer, Sniper rifle w/zoom, gernades, and dynamite!!. Best place to be rooftops (like Assassins Creed) Get high and destroy Nazi snipers in towers first. Always check 360 degrees before taking shot. If the see yo escape is must. ALWAYS PLAN AN ESCAPE BEFORE!!!!!. Blow things up have a ball!!!

This is an awesome game at least 150 hours of open game play. Great Graphics and plenty of fun and surprises in store. I free lance to destroy targets along escape route. This is a thinking mans game so have at it.

This only a tip of the iceberg. A MUST HAVE GAME. Thank you EA this is a GREAT GAME, MY SLEEPER HIT OF THE YEAR!!!!!!
ENJOY!!!

I offer my highest recommendation for this game. Imagine an open-world sandbox game like Grand Theft Auto but with a grown up theme. This is The Saboteur. Instead of street violence stuff for teenagers, this decidedly mature title takes you to a rich and interesting period in history - occupied Paris in 1940. You join forces with the fledgling resistance and engage the Nazi occupation in a free form setting. The music, the Mansard roofed buildings, and the overall atmosphere are very rewarding and immersive. If you have spent time in Paris, it's fun to visit familiar landmarks.

Some have commented that the storyline is a bit predictable. Well, yes. The war is over, and we know how it turned out. :)

Gameplay depends on you - sometimes the subtle approach is best, such as sneaking over the rooftops at night to sabotage a watchtower that overlooks a planned escape route. Sometimes it pays to be direct - commandeering an anti-aircraft turret is very direct and lots of fun. Frequently a combination works best, such as using a disguise to sneak past an outer layer of security before letting loose a handful of grenades. Thinking ahead pays big dividends, and the game rewards inventing creative solutions.

The excellent music effectively sets a tone appropriate to occupied Paris. It is lush and stylish and sounds very appropriate to the times. The soundtrack is so good I am going to buy it. Not all the songs are absolutely period (i.e., Nina Simone was 7 in 1940 but appears on the soundtrack), but all of them are appropriate in style.

I shopped on-line for days looking for a game aimed at adults - many titles seem to target only teenagers. This one is different. If you are a grown up looking for a game to engage not just your trigger finger, but also your mind and imagination, The Saboteur is a very good bet.

P.S. There is a limited amount of low level nudity and a good deal of the kind of language that resistance fighters might have used. This is not a game for children.

When the Saboteur was first released I was a bit skeptical about picking it up. The graphics looked great but the whole sand-box driving/shooting/climbing idea was looking a bit underwhelming (especially considering the better looking releases that were a full priced $60 like Assassin's Creed 2 and Infamous). However, now that Saboteur has dropped down to the $20 I've picked up and played a copy and can say it's well worth the money!

The story (as you probably know)is a fun little espionage/revenge story where you play Irish racer turned freedom fighter Sean Devlin as he battles Nazi's in France during the occupation of World War 2. The story plays out very sylishly and while it's not the most memorable in gaming history it is very gripping and entertaining. The characters in the story are all over-the-top (even Sean himself) but are fun to watch and listen too and they add to the pulp-ishness of the plot.

The gameplay is a fun mishmash of driving/climbing/open-world mayhem with a bit of stealth thrown in. The driving is VERY sluggish (I hate using the R2 bumper to accelerate in ANY game), the climbing feels awkward (you have to press jump each time you go to a different ledge), and the stealth is laughable (though disguises are a nice touch). Thankfully shooting and blowing things up is so much fun I can overlook just about everything else in the game!

The graphics in this game are very good with great detail put into characters faces even during in-game conversations. The use of black-and-white is also a nice touch giving the game a noir-ish quality which it looses somewhat when you complete a mission and the area gets colorful again.

The sound in this game is also very well done. There's always period music and ambient sounds which draw you into the WWII game world. The voice acting is quite good as well with Robin Atkin Downes particularly memorable as the foul-mouthed Sean (I know alot of people criticised his accent but coming from a working-class Irish family I can say the only thing unconvincing about his voice is the fact you can actually understand what he's saying!).

The Saboteur does lack the polish of alot of current games and definitly made me overlook it at it's original $60 price tag. Now that it's down to $20 it's easily worth your money and a must for open-world destruction fanatics!

I just completed this game and I have to say it is awesome. I really liked the open format of the game, you are constantly trying to get freeplay targets and missions completed. I really enjoyed it!

I started out liking this game, but after a couple of days it started to become repetitive. You spend a lot of time running to get away from the enemy and some of the missions even when playing in casual mode are way too annoying. I for one have never been interested in repeating missions over & over & over, just to fail and start over again.

PRO: Graphics are fairly decent, and changing from a black & white background to color after you liberate an area was pretty cool. Has a GTA4 like free roaming gamestyle.
CON: Repetitive gameplay

I would recommend renting this one before buying!

I bought this game brand new at Best Buy for $39.99 and so far what I have played of it, is great. First off, the game is partially in black in white. These black and white areas mean that the Nazis are in control. The color areas of the game are where you (Sean Devlin) inspired a Nazi free culture. The graphics are pretty good I would say, the gameplay overall is slightly awkward in the control aspect. It takes awhile to get used to the strange climbing, running, and brawling controls. The car controls are well...lets say they can use some work. It's no Gran Turismo. As for the AI, it's so incredibly simple to blow by. As long as you know the controls atleast. Also, when you get shot there are blood splatters on the screen, not MW2 realistic but kind of more like Red Dead Redemption when you're skinning an animal. So if you are looking for a challenging game, I don't think I would suggest this one. If you're into more storyline based games then this is definitely for you. I also agree with the reviewer that said this is a mix of GTA, Assassins Creed, and Fallout. It's like Assassins Creed in the way you stealth attack people, climb up walls, and run on roofs. But believe me the controls are not as easy as Assassins Creed. As for GTA, you can hijack cars, go on random shooting sprees if you would like, it's an open world for gameplay, you can buy guns...etc. Fallout with blowing things up, alot of sneaking around, sniping, zoomed shooting with the L1 button. (yes there is assisted aiming). Basically, I would have gave it 5 stars but the controls are a little awkward. Nothing too bad, but if you don't play the game consistently you will be going and checking the controls a few times in gameplay. Definitely worth $40. Also if you buy it new it comes with a special code for the "Midnight Show" which includes nudity so if you're offended by so, don't use the code. The game also requires 4GB of hard drive space to install and it runs in 1080p.

The Saboteur can be described in many ways but probably best as an overlooked game that was too little too late for the developer, Pandemic Studios. Yes, it's true that the developer of such hits as Star Wars Battlefront, Mercenaries and Destroy All Humans final game is The Saboteur. It's a shame because this could really be Pandemic's best work to date.

The Saboteur places you in the shoes or Irishman racer/mechanic Sean Devlin in 1940's Europe - mostly in France and bits of Germany. The Nazi's are at poised to invade France. Sean enters a race known as the Saarbrucken Grand Prix and is cheated out of a win by a Nazi Colonel. Seeking revenge Sean and his best friend Jules seek to sabotage the Colonel's race-car. That's when things go quickly out of control and Sean & Jules bite off more than they can chew. I'll stop there to avoid any spoilers. I will say that the majority of the game takes place on the streets of Paris with one area of Germany available later on in the game.

The storyline isn't going to win any awards but I found it decently compelling and interesting. Along Sean's adventure to extract revenge on the Nazi's he'll encounter various groups and individuals with differing motivations. If you enjoy blasting away at Nazi's then this game is going to be a gratuitous grand adventure for you. This is a sandbox style game so you're free to complete storyline quests at your choosing. Along the way you'll unlock different areas of Paris and get closer and closer to the Nazi's seat of power in the region.

The graphical style of the game is perhaps the most compelling aspect of the game. The graphics while not cutting-edge are fantastic. Paris is initially draped in black & white to signify the Nazi suppression of the citizens. As you liberate areas from Nazi oppression color will once again return to the city, block by block. It's a very cool way of seeing the city transform and to track your progress.

The main story can be completed in around 10 hours but plenty of side-quests and items known as `Free-Play Event's' will keep you busy for many, many more hours. The game features tons of weapons, vehicles and even military equipment that you can high-jack and use for your own destructive adventures. The Free-Play Events consist of various Nazi targets that you're tasked with taking out. It's completely optional but does earn you money and unlock more areas of the map.

If The Saboteur has one glaring issue it has to be the game-play. While generally good parts of the game are unpolished. The racing sequences for example are silly and incredibly easy - almost gimmes. You can bounce off fences like they're made of rubber and cruise into first place easily. Another problem would be the frequency of building climbing that you're going to do and how painfully slow it is to climb.

For the discount price I would recommend this as a buy to anyone but the most discerning gamer. The Saboteur is a fine swan song for a developer that will be missed.

Definately a great buy, I'm not much for alot of games, and I can't put this one down, Lots of freeplay and missons, and beautifuly animated. Glad I could get it,It's not availabe for sale in my country...but amazon to the rescue!!!