Saboteur

Game Title: Saboteur!
Release Date: 1985
Developer: Clive Townsend (through Durell Software)
Platform: Sinclair ZX Spectrum

With proven platform conventions along with some refreshing innovations, it stands one best example of what great platform adventures should be like and what the Spectrum is capable of…

In the mid 80’s the introduction of new game consoles into the video game market expanded the focus of publishers and developers. Even so, home computers still had a place in the video game spotlight. In the United Kingdom they’re a few computer platforms that received attention from game developers and have their fair share of video game gems. One of these gems is a progressive platform adventure by legendary publisher Durell. This game helped defined the ZX Spectrum’s place along the classic game systems of old. That game is Saboteur.
Saboteur! Is a platform adventure game where you play the role of a well-trained ninja versed in organized secret operations. You are sent on a mission to infiltrate a guarded secret facility to retrieve a floppy disk that contains the name and locations of world’s top rebel leaders. Optional objectives include blowing up the facility and/or killing all guards in it. The escape is done by helicopter on the top of the building. As far as the story and other dramatic game elements go it is a straightforward game.

However, there are noteworthy innovations to the conventional platform formula that refine the game to degree that defines Saboteur as its own kind of animal. Instead of side scrolling as a way to progress from one area to the next, the backgrounds remain static staying as one “screen”. When the character leaves one screen, he or she transitions onto a new screen. This makes the graphical aspect of the character’s stride seem more stealthy and nimble like one would expect a ninja’s stride to be.

The game is graphically competent, but images on screen are not bound to mesmerize the player, as the numbers of colors that appear on screen are severely limited. The reason why this does not cripple the game’s quality is that the graphics are very stylistic in presentation and use the limited colors to complement the scheme. The sprite animations are full of detail and flowing continuity. Overall, Saboteur is above average when it comes to its graphical quality.

The music and sound are the two lacking features that take away from the game. The sound effects sound more like they belong on a late 70’s pong 3-in-1 machine. Little effort shows in the short and dull sounds of gunshots, running, and environmental impact. Some aspects of the game, where one would expect a sound effect’s presence, tend to lack sound. Enemy guards who run and walk make no noise and the guard dogs also suffer from the lack of sound. In terms of music, there is no in-game music. There is a musical tune in the game’s main menu, but it isn’t a piece that is compelling nor will it complement the game, as it does not play during the game.

The game’s difficulty is varied depending on what difficulty the player chooses. Settings aside, the game can go from easy going to intensely difficult in a few seconds for the main character’s health lessens at a quick pace when you take on damage. To contribute a little flexibility to the game the health system has an incremental regeneration mechanic. If the main character stands idle his or her health will slowly come back. It will not regenerate if you are ducking, running or fighting. The enemies consist of sentry turrets, guards and attack dogs. There are a couple of environmental hazards like water (drowning) and gravity (falling great distances).

It is clear-cut that there are a bunch of great ideas in this game and since the game offers some innovative and refreshing game play, you won’t have to dig deep to find them. This game offers a new direction to which future platform adventure games can take as well as new ways to stylistically make games more visually compelling. Though the audio is nothing special, the rest that Saboteur has to offer compensates for that lacking feature. In the end Saboteur is a game experience that is most likely to attract most seasoned retro gamers looking for a good platform game that moves the genre in a different direction.