The Saboteur™
- March 7, 2024
- Pandemic Studios
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"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
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of gameplay elements from GTA, Assassin's Creed, and Just Cause, providing a fun and engaging experience.
- The black-and-white aesthetic that transitions to color as you liberate areas adds a visually striking element to the gameplay.
- The story, while simple, is enjoyable and features a charismatic protagonist, Sean Devlin, who delivers humorous one-liners throughout the game.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and resolution problems, particularly when trying to run at higher refresh rates.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as climbing and stealth, can feel clunky and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience.
- There is a lack of modern features like achievements and cloud saves, which may disappoint players accustomed to contemporary gaming standards.
- story207 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of *The Saboteur* is generally well-received, featuring a revenge-driven narrative set in WWII-era France that combines elements of action, stealth, and open-world exploration. While some players appreciate the engaging characters and the unique use of color to signify liberation, others criticize the plot for being somewhat predictable and repetitive, with many missions feeling like filler. Overall, the game offers a fun and immersive experience, despite its dated mechanics and occasional bugs.
“The plot/story is surprisingly engaging, features some likeable characters and a surprising amount to do in the open world.”
“The story is gripping and well told.”
“Overall, it's an amazing experience with a really well-written story and memorable characters.”
“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.”
“The story is incredibly rushed and you can tell the developers ran out of time, but for $10, this is classic pandemic fun.”
“The story is half-baked in a sense that it has some nice characters but terrible plot and story.”
- gameplay116 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *The Saboteur* is a blend of open-world mechanics reminiscent of GTA and Assassin's Creed, featuring a mix of action, stealth, and parkour elements. While the core gameplay loop of sabotage and destruction is engaging and fun, many players note that the mechanics can feel clunky and repetitive, with some missions lacking variety. Despite its dated design and technical issues, the game offers a unique experience set in WWII Paris, appealing to fans of sandbox-style gameplay.
“The gameplay is a fun mix of good stealth and action.”
“The Saboteur delivers fun gameplay focused on mayhem and open approach with great visual style.”
“It's a mix of Just Cause, Assassin's Creed, and GTA in terms of mechanics, and it works so well.”
“Most of the mechanics feel very unpolished.”
“Outside of content that relates to ambiance and visuals, 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.”
“The save mechanic also sucks; it is practically impossible to make progress on free play objectives because nothing is saved when you die, and quick loading spawns you at a safe house which is usually halfway across the map from where you died.”
- graphics87 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Saboteur" are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2009 release, with many reviewers noting that they fall short compared to contemporaries like "GTA IV" and "Mafia II." However, the game's unique art style, particularly its use of black-and-white visuals that transition to color as players liberate areas, is praised for its aesthetic appeal. While some technical issues and graphical glitches persist, the overall presentation is still appreciated for its nostalgic charm and artistic direction.
“The game stands out through its art, the aesthetics, and the sound; oh, the sound is great.”
“The looks, the sounds, the choice of music, the aesthetic, the overall feels are just mesmerizing.”
“Let us talk about something less heavy, I like The Saboteur's visuals; the black-and-white colors, as well as the themes of intrigue and conspiracy, evoke film noir and make for some very cool scenes as explosions and muzzle flashes strike through monochrome.”
“Graphically, it reminds me of Just Cause (2006) and Gun (2005); these games are older than The Saboteur and look just as good, so in that department, it falls down a bit.”
“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 dated but the story and missions themselves ease that discrepancy.”
- music38 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create an immersive atmosphere, blending era-appropriate tracks with original compositions that enhance the World War II setting. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's variety, including jazz and blues, which complements the gameplay and aesthetic, making it a standout feature. While some note the lack of strict historical accuracy in the music selection, the overall vibe and quality of the soundtrack are considered exceptional, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The looks, the sounds, the choice of music, the aesthetic, the overall feels are just mesmerizing.”
“The music was awesome, the variety of elements, from car chases (so many cars to try!), stealth missions, shooting nazis, gunning down zeppelins and of course the belle... definitely scan around the community for help with graphics.”
“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.”
“Because there are more important issues than musical historicity; sound effects and gun sounds are too weak and ineffective, making them feel less powerful than they should. Additionally, cars generally go utterly quiet after a few miles on the road, which is bad and gets tiresome.”
“Music is nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done.”
“The game's atmosphere and concept are outstanding, but the music is very fitting, and while the black and white setting is well made, it doesn't elevate the overall experience.”
- stability31 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and freezing issues, particularly when exiting to Windows. While some players find it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, the overall experience is marred by technical problems that detract from enjoyment. Many users express frustration over persistent issues that have remained unresolved since its initial release, making it difficult to recommend without significant patches.
“Great game, runs great on Steam Deck 9/10.”
“I don't usually have good words to say about EA, but on this occasion, someone who works there clearly liked the game enough to ensure this final release would be bug-free.”
“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).”
“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 bad that sound ticks and the Ctrl+Alt+Del menu won't even get you out; I had to restart the whole rig!”
“It's a buggy combination of Assassin's Creed and GTA set in WWII Paris that, although fun, never quite fully capitalizes on all its potential.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its crude and irreverent style, featuring witty one-liners and amusing accents that enhance the chaotic gameplay. Players appreciate the blend of serious themes with comedic elements, particularly through the antics of the Irish protagonist, whose outrageous actions and dialogue provide a consistent source of laughter. Overall, the game's writing and character interactions contribute to a fun and entertaining experience, making it a standout aspect for those who enjoy humor in gaming.
“The writing is really humorous at times and Sean is a great character to play.”
“A crazy Irishman is under your control in The Saboteur; the Belle dance club has the best vibes in gaming, and the soundtrack is amazing. This game is serious and funny at the same time, absolutely fun to blow up some Nazis.”
“His one-liners as he slaughters yet another truck full of SS are hilarious, and it's good to see that modern attitudes haven't resulted in some of the more choice comments being removed.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 85 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of black and white visuals, authentic World War II-era music, and a richly detailed setting that evokes a cinematic feel reminiscent of classic films. Reviewers highlight the immersive experience created by the rainy Paris backdrop and the presence of occupying forces, which together contribute to a compelling and atmospheric world that surpasses many modern open-world games. Overall, the combination of visual design, music, and thematic elements creates a standout atmosphere that enhances the gaming experience.
“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.”
“The awesome atmosphere of the game is built from: visual design with black and white stylization of levels, streets of Paris, which drive retro cars from the era of World War II, cult music such as classic jazz and blues, and original compositions for the game.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected from a game set in such a rich historical context.”
“While the visuals have potential, the overall atmosphere is dampened by repetitive environments and a lack of engaging sound design.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world and its characters.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report flawless performance and smooth 4K gameplay, others experience significant issues such as sluggishness, graphical glitches, and stuttering. The overall feedback indicates that while it can run well on certain setups, many users find it poorly optimized for modern PCs, leading to a frustrating experience.
“Performance/port wise - the game runs flawlessly providing 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 issue.”
“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.”
“Graphical glitches and stuttering sabotaged my experience.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with clunky controls and cumbersome navigation contributing to the frustration. While some enjoy the freedom of hijacking cars and exploring the environment, the overall experience can feel like a grind, especially for completionists.
“Some missions require you to travel half of the map, but they are not tedious when you can hijack cars and enjoy the views of landscapes in rural areas.”
“A bit grindy and repetitive and a completionist's nightmare.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Riding around Paris and stealing cars is also amusing, although I got very lost trying to get back to base with one I especially wanted to keep - having to escape out and bring up the map is a bit slow and tedious.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the game to have significant replayability, with many enjoying the experience multiple times. However, some feel that the initial playthrough offers the most enjoyment, suggesting that while replay value exists, it may not be as compelling after the first run.
“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.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative 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 despite the initial purchase price.
“Back when games used to be good and not just a $60 cash grab.”
