KMGR of Saboteur

Image by Colony of Gamers via Flickr

Saboteur is a WW2 game where you play one of the resistance fighters taking the fight to the Nazis with your fists and some know-how with explosives and such. You will NOT be wielding guns (until the finale), as this is NOT a shooter. This is like Splinter Cell or Metal Gear, but in WW2. There are also console and PC version of this game. If you play the mobile version, you can unlock special hints and tips for the other versions. While the graphics is a bit on the primitive side, the action is fine and the tension is pretty high. Overall, it's a pretty fun little game.

The mobile game is 2D. You move one guy around the 2D map. It implements the sneak and peek very well. If you walk up to a wall and press against it, you flatten against it with your back to it, then you can slide along the wall and peek around the corner. You also get a little visual warning when you detect heartbeats and breathing and footsteps nearby (i.e. heartbeat sensor, but non-directional). You have two attacks... If you sneak up behind the enemy and get close enough, you can perform an "insta-kill", which basically means you grab the guy and kills him, instantly. If the enemy knows you're coming, and they're at long range, they will pull their gun and shoot! However, if they're at melee range, you can then do a bit of boxing: push in the direction you wish to attack. Dodge their attacks, and punch the soldier two or three times to take them down for the count.
The game basically have you move around the map, killing Nazi patrols left and right, sabotage weapon caches, factories, and whatnot.

There is no in-mission save, but the game isn't outrageously hard. Your life is enough to last the level if you are conservative and careful with your moves, only engage in fist-a-cuffs when absolutely necessary, and go for the quick knock-out instead of the dance.

Graphics is a bit on the primitive side, and the music does get to you after a while, and the sound effects are not that good.

There is a level or two where you just have to run for your life as the target explodes all around you. That can get exciting, and frustrating as one mistake will get you, forcing you to start over. Fortunately, starting over is easy enough.

The final mission can be rather difficult... When you don't have any weapons, run... find a weapon and come back later.

All in all, Saboteur (mobile) is a fun little game that seem to use the mobile interface properly, once you figured out the boxing part. And having extra hints and tips for the other versions never hurts.

Overall rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: simple interface, nice "stealth" action, no guns
Cons: the boxing interface is a bit hard to figure out, initial frustration can be a bit high
Verdict: a fun little WW2 version of Metal Gear / Splinter Cell