The Saboteur™

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 894 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Saboteur™ Game Cover
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"The Saboteur™" is an open-world action thriller set in 1940s Nazi-occupied Paris, where you play as tough Irish racecar mechanic Sean Devlin seeking revenge against Colonel Kurt Dierker. Fight using stealth and disguise to sabotage German forces, liberating neighborhoods and bringing color back to the city. Scale iconic landmarks, navigate diverse terrain, and command various vehicles in your mission to undermine the Nazi occupation.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 894 reviews
story70 positive mentions
stability27 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique black-and-white aesthetic that transforms to color as players liberate areas, enhancing the immersive experience.
  • Gameplay combines elements of stealth, parkour, and open-world exploration, allowing players to approach missions in various ways.
  • The story is engaging, with a charismatic protagonist and humorous dialogue, making it a fun experience overall.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and bugs, particularly when trying to exit or access certain menus.
  • Driving mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
  • The stealth system is inconsistent, often leading to frustrating moments where players are detected despite being in disguise.
  • story281 mentions

    The story of *The Saboteur* is primarily a revenge-driven narrative set in WWII-era Paris, featuring the protagonist Sean Devlin, an Irish mechanic turned resistance fighter. While the main plot is engaging and includes some interesting twists, many players find it somewhat predictable and light on depth, often overshadowed by the game's focus on chaotic gameplay and side missions. Overall, the story is described as enjoyable and immersive, with a mix of humor and darker themes, though it shows its age in mission variety and execution.

    • “The story surprisingly has its own twists and characters; I didn’t expect to be this interested in the whole thing, but it is done right.”
    • “The story, atmosphere, world, missions, and gameplay—everything about this game is fantastic, in my opinion.”
    • “The story is charming as hell, and we all ought to remember the importance of fighting Nazis as they came to occupy a larger share of our daily considerations.”
    • “The story is half-baked in a sense that it has some nice characters but terrible plot and story.”
    • “The story seems a bit shallow and more of a revenge tale when it could have been a larger picture contributing to the war cause.”
    • “While Sean is a fun character to hang around with, the generic revenge plot and rather weak execution of the story do make you focus more on mayhem and fun gameplay.”
  • gameplay154 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Saboteur" is a blend of open-world mechanics reminiscent of GTA and parkour elements similar to Assassin's Creed, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Paris. Players engage in a variety of activities, including driving, sabotage, and combat, with a focus on mayhem and destruction, although some mechanics feel dated and repetitive. Despite its flaws, the game offers a fun and engaging experience, particularly for fans of action-adventure titles, with a unique visual style that transitions from black-and-white to color as players liberate areas.

    • “Gameplay-wise, it's really surprising as The Saboteur is a mix of games: you have the GTA-like mission lines, a parkour system from Assassin's Creed, gunplay from Freedom Fighters, and the atmosphere from Mafia 1-2.”
    • “The gameplay is a fun mix of good stealth and action, with a great freedom of approach towards your goals through parkour, simple stealth mechanics, and a wide arsenal of weapons.”
    • “The gameplay loop is an utter treat; the weapons all feel good to use, and once you unlock certain skills and perks, it becomes even more engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is rather shallow as most missions can only be described as filler since they require driving to a location, completing an objective or series of objectives, and then driving back to a safe house for more missions or to unlock another part of the story.”
    • “While 'The Saboteur' was an interesting game back in the day, especially with its unique black-and-white-to-color mechanic representing the liberation of Nazi-occupied Paris, the gameplay itself hasn’t aged gracefully.”
    • “The mechanics feel very unpolished, and the game suffers from a few technical issues and clunky mechanics, mainly the climbing.”
  • graphics101 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, with many reviewers noting that they resemble titles from the early 2000s, despite being released in 2009. While some appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric visuals, particularly the use of black-and-white with color accents, others criticize the technical limitations, such as low resolution defaults and graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals may not impress by modern standards, but they still hold a nostalgic charm and contribute to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The atmosphere is very good, also the visuals for occupied territories are iconic in this game.”
    • “The art style is absolutely on point.”
    • “I was hooked in the first 30 minutes and loved the Sin City-like aesthetics upon visiting German-occupied zones.”
    • “Forced to play the game at 30 fps, low graphics, and 800x600 screen resolution.”
    • “The graphics are underwhelming (even for 2009) and honestly the entire game should have just been in black and white to hide the lackluster visuals.”
    • “The graphics are pretty outdated and worse than other games in this time period like GTA 4, Mafia 2, or Just Cause 2.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive quality, featuring a well-curated selection of vintage tracks from the 1920s to the 1950s that enhance the atmosphere of the setting. Players appreciate the blend of authentic era music and original compositions, which contribute significantly to the game's overall aesthetic and emotional impact. While some users express a desire for a downloadable soundtrack, the existing music is noted as a standout feature that complements the gameplay and enhances the experience of navigating the game's world.

    • “The one thing I miss in this game is a way to download the original soundtrack, because the vintage music is very well done and greatly helps with immersion into the world of our grandparents as they experienced it.”
    • “The music itself is amazing.”
    • “It created such an ambiance: period music from the car radios, Parisian cabarets, period weapons, everything you could ask for to support immersion in a 2009 title.”
    • “The music is nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done.”
    • “The music’s also more depressing and devoid of any hope.”
    • “Because there are more important issues than musical historicity; sound effects and gun sounds are too weak and ineffective, making them feel less powerful, and cars generally go utterly quiet after a few miles on the road, which is bad and gets tiresome.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized for being "buggy," with numerous reports of glitches, crashes, and freezing issues, particularly when exiting to Windows. While many players find the gameplay enjoyable and the game runs well on certain platforms like the Steam Deck, the persistent technical problems detract significantly from the overall experience, leading some to deem it too unstable for a full recommendation.

    • “Great game, runs great on Steam Deck 9/10.”
    • “The game runs great.”
    • “The Saboteur still holds up and runs great on the Steam Deck (60fps at max settings with no fps dip, quiet fan, and good battery life).”
    • “The game is pretty buggy; none of it was game-breaking, but there were times where enemies would glitch through the wall if they're following you.”
    • “Fun story, gameplay, etc., but if my PC crashes multiple times during play and if I try to 'exit to Windows' and my entire PC freezes, it's not even worth revisiting.”
    • “The worst one is when I exit to Windows and the game freezes so badly that the sound ticks and the Ctrl+Alt+Del menu won't even get you out; I couldn't access anything and had to restart the whole rig!”
  • humor21 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark comedy, crude banter, and amusing character interactions, particularly with the Irish protagonist, Sean, whose one-liners and antics provide consistent laughs. Players appreciate the absurdity of the game mechanics, such as the inability to destroy certain props while wreaking havoc elsewhere, and the humorous portrayal of accents and cultural stereotypes adds to the comedic experience. Overall, the writing and voice acting contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere amidst the serious WWII setting, making it a fun and entertaining experience.

    • “Sean is probably my favorite character in any game - the plot is very dark, but they still manage to make him often hilarious.”
    • “The writing is really humorous at times and Sean is a great character to play.”
    • “A basic heat game mechanic but the methods for escape are hilarious: run away, hide in a shed...or brothel, kiss a girl, go to a bar & order a drink or use a public urinal (so long as no one is looking).”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of black and white visuals, retro design, and an authentic World War II setting, which together create a compelling and immersive experience. Players appreciate the incorporation of era-appropriate music and the overall aesthetic that evokes a classic film vibe, making it stand out among modern open-world games. Despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics, the atmosphere remains a highlight, enhancing the game's charm and engagement.

    • “The atmosphere is very good; also, the visuals for occupied territories are iconic in this game.”
    • “Presentation is actually amazing despite the dated textures; the black and white theme together with a rainy Paris, occupying Nazis, authentic French soundtrack, etc. makes for one hell of an atmosphere—better than many modern open world games by a long shot.”
    • “The game's atmosphere and concept are outstanding; I love the style and vibe of this game. The music is very fitting, and the black and white setting is very well made, and the gameplay is surprisingly good.”
    • “Presentation is actually amazing despite the dated textures; the black and white theme together with a rainy Paris, occupying Nazis, authentic French soundtrack, etc. makes for one hell of an atmosphere; better than many modern open world games by a long shot.”
    • “Most issues I have against this game are not that serious; it’s really done right and it’s fun after you learn how to get used to it and if you get into the game’s atmosphere.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it is really surprising as the saboteur is a mix of games basically: you have the GTA-like mission lines, a parkour system from Assassin’s Creed, gunplay from Freedom Fighters, and the atmosphere from Mafia 1-2.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report flawless performance and excellent 4K capabilities, others experience significant issues such as sluggish performance, graphical glitches, and stuttering. Additionally, there are complaints about poor controller support and targeting accuracy, leading to an overall perception that the game is not well-optimized for modern PCs.

    • “Performance-wise, the game runs flawlessly if you accept its nature.”
    • “Just as fun as I remember, and the performance has been great.”
    • “Thankfully, now that they have put it on Steam, it is nicely optimized, and I can run it in 4K full FPS with no issues.”
    • “If you go beyond this, you will encounter graphical and performance issues.”
    • “Performance is bad; it is also quite stuttery, does not display properly, controls are pretty bad, and controller support is restricted to Xbox (despite a release on PlayStation). Targeting using a mouse is way off.”
    • “Not optimized for modern PCs.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and repetitive, often requiring significant effort to complete tasks. While some enjoy the exploration and hijacking mechanics, the overall experience is marred by clunky controls and tedious navigation, making it feel like a grind. Completionists may find the extensive grinding particularly daunting.

    • “Some are errand missions that require you to travel half of the map, but those are not tedious when you can hijack cars and travel while enjoying views of the landscapes in rural areas.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy and repetitive and a completionist's nightmare.”
    • “Controls are a bit janky/clunky; climbing buildings is tedious as you have to spam the space bar (can't hold it).”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, users highlight a strong sense of replayability in the game, noting that it offers a lot of fun and value for multiple playthroughs. However, some feel that the initial experience is the most enjoyable, suggesting that while replayability exists, it may not be as compelling after the first playthrough.

    • “Tons of fun and replay value.”
    • “Both are two classics with a ton of replay value.”
    • “There's minor replayability, but in my personal experience, the first time is the best.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, as the immersive missions foster a strong connection to the narrative, akin to being part of a movie. However, some express that their emotional attachment, particularly nostalgia, is what keeps them invested despite frustrations with the game's quality.

    • “The missions are really immersive because you become emotionally invested in the cause and feel like you're in a movie.”
    • “If I didn't have the biggest, most heartfelt nostalgia for this game, it would have been wiped from my hard drive in 10 minutes because of how terrible this port is.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviews highlight the appealing character design, particularly praising the beauty of the female characters, suggesting that visual aesthetics play a significant role in character development.

  • monetization1 mentions

    Many users express frustration with the current monetization practices in games, feeling that they prioritize profit over quality, often labeling them as cash grabs rather than genuine entertainment experiences.

    • “Back when games used to be good and not just a $60 cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
2-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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