Please login to submit a screenshot

Several developers worked on a third game (names such as Saboteur 3, Sabot3ur and Saboteur 3D), none of which were ever released. One such game, titled simply Saboteur, was being developed by Tigon Software for the PlayStation and PC in the late 1990s.

Saboteur! is believed to be based on routines and ideas from Clive Townsend's Death Pit, a game that was cancelled before development on Saboteur started.

In Saboteur you play a ninja warrior with a mission to break into a security building and escape with a computer disk. The building is maze of platforms and ladders, but there's no irate gorilla at the top hurling barrels at you, but a team of security guards trained in martial arts. Fortunately, you're a dab hand with the high kicks yourself and if you manage to collect some of their weapons, you can avoid scuffing your shoes by using knives and throwing stars to deadly effect. If you manage to find the disk, your next job is to find the helicopter waiting to whisk you to safety. The graphics are large and clear and the game is packed full of playability.

DEATH is only a footstep away as your black-clad saboteur, expertly trained in the martial arts, flits through dingy warehouse corridors in search of the secret information disc.


The disc contains the names of rebel leaders who must be located and eliminated by government forces. Your mission is simply to enter the warehouse, avoid the rabid-looking dogs, kill the guards who get in your way and find the helicopter in which the information is stored.

When you arrive on the scene you have only one weapon - a Shuriken - a star-shaped metal device which you can throw. When that has been used you will have to discover more weapons. Those include hand grenades, knives, bricks and stones. On occasion you can use your fists and feet, although close combat is the most risky to your survival rating.

In the best traditions of mercenary achievement, your pay depends on how many dogs and guards you kill. The largest incentive is £10,000 if you manage to steal the disc and escape.

Time is also an important factor. It's no use having the muscle if you haven't got the sense to find the information disc.

The game is very realistic, the graphics are outstandingly smooth and there is no colour clash or flicker to speak of. There are nine levels of play, ranging from extremely easy to extremely difficult.


Publisher Durell Price £8.95
Memory 48K Joystick Kempston, Protek
*****

John Gilbert

It's a race against the clock, as you take on some of the fiercest Kung Fu fighting Ninjas the Spectrum has ever seen. Would-be anarchist Sue Denham dons her fighting togs and battles through the endless maze of Dwell Software's smash game Saboteur.
There have been a fair few martial arts games released or due for imminent release on the Spectrum of late - System 3's International Karate, Melbourne House's The Way Of The Exploding Fist, Imagine's Yie Ar Kung Fu and US Gold's Bruce Lee to name but a few! But none is quite like the latest offering from Durell Software.
The scenario for Saboteur thrusts you into the part of a sabotaging Ninja warrior, sneaking around an enemy warehouse that's much more than it seems at first sight. Your task is to search out a floppy disk from one of the many computer terminals scattered around the computer complex and escape with it. But before you go, you've got to leave a little present for your pursuers - a time bomb. Which doesn't leave you too much room to negotiate a safe path home!
The game itself comprises 118 different screens, which all go to make up the four-level warehouse - there is the warehouse itself, a computer complex, and two layers of labyrinth-like sewers; the latter areas have a tendency to look the same, which can be a great problem for those who have an aversion to making maps of the best route to safety. All the weapons a self-respecting Ninja could want, can be found by stumbling across them on your adventures. But you can only hold one weapon at a time and, once you've used it, you'll have to search round for another. Points are awarded for killing the guards - by weapons or skilful use of martial arts - but your real adversary is time... and the final objective of stealing the floppy disk and getting clear of the warehouse before the fuse burns down.
Overall, the game is addictive and great fun. There are nine levels of difficulty - but on the easiest level, you can work out the structure of the game and prepare yourself for the terrors of playing at the higher levels. Map-makers will be in their element when they first start playing the game, but it will be the rugged Kung Fu fighters who will out in the end.
Saboteur manages to combine the good graphical representations of the other Kung Fu games with the solid background of an action-packed story. One to be recommended.

Sue Denham

As a gun for hire you've been hired to liberate a computer disk held within a high security fortress cunningly disguised as a warehouse. The disk holds the names of a number of rebel leaders and you're up against the clock. The idea is to find a bomb, hidden somewhere within the complex, get the disk and leave the bomb behind, ticking down to detonation. All this before the time limit expires and the information stored on the disk is sent to outlying terminals. Being a sensible sort of chap, you want to escape and there's a helicopter lurking on the warehouse roof, just waiting to be stolen.

The trouble is that the headquarters are heavily guarded by a number of armed guards and watchdogs as well as automatic defence systems which monitor your position in a room and then start zapping you with a laser. Your mission starts in a rubber dinghy moored just off a small pier leading to one of the warehouse entrances. Clad totally in SAS attire, black jumpsuit and bootpolish all over your face, you are initially equipped with a throwing star. As you wander through the security complex various other weapons can be found, picked up and used - each weapon can be used once only, but can be aimed at your target. Trained to a very high degree in various martial arts, you can also partake in a bit of physical baddie bashing rather than just lobbing the odd throwing star or brick about. You have a choice too: a killer punch or a ninja style dropkick are both equally deadly to any guards you may find.

The security complex is split among three different sections. The first is the warehouse front, containing the helicopter and primary defence force. If you get down into the sewers then you can link up to the underground train taking you into the first part of the computer centre. From here the second underground train has to be found to get you into the second computer centre. This is where the disk and bomb are held. Once the disk has been rescued and the bomb primed a countdown starts showing the remaining time in which to reach. the helicopter. A quick dash back through the sewers and train systems is required unless you like having dead mercenary smeared all over the walls.

Whilst bashing your way through various adversaries your progress is charted via two screens, the main screen shows a sideview of the room you are in. Your saboteur is about a quarter of the screen high and sproings and cavorts about in full animation. As well as running and fighting he can also perform a nifty tuck jump for bouncing over chasms and gaps. Using the ladders, platforms or steps provided, your hero travels around the complex of colour coded levels.

The bottom quarter of the screen is used to display your status. Only one object can be held at a time, the object you're holding appearing in a window on the left hand corner of the status area, while objects close by and available for collection are shown in the window to the right side of this screen. Pressing fire uses the object within your grasp, or if another object is within reach it'll be transferred into your possession.

An energy bar along the bottom of the screen shows how your energy level is faring. Your lifeforce is sapped by contact with fighting guards, who fire rubber bullets, guard dogs, which bite, and the laser defence system which is generally bad for your health. Standing about doing nothing for a while, however, allows ebbing energy force to return.

The game isn't played for points - what self respecting mercenary works for points? Money's the name of the game; and a paymeter clocks up a few hundred dollars each time you do for a guard. The big money is only picked up for collecting the disk in the time limit, planting the bomb, and escaping. The programmer's obviously a dog lover, though. There's no money in killing dogs - "so why bother?' the inlay reminds you.

Producer: Durell
Price: £8.95
Author: Clive Townsend



CRITICISM
'Though bearing some initial resemblance to Impossible Mission, Saboteur holds a lot more upon further inspection. The game is absolutely great, it's like playing a part in a Bond movie. Maybe this is the sort of game that should have been used by Domark. Level one is quite easily solved, given a bit of time and thought, but there are nine different levels each subtly harder than the last. The animation of the man is great and he's very responsive indeed. Overall a this deserves to be a hit and should have pride of place on many a Spectrum users shelf.'

'After Critical Mass I was expecting great things from Durell and they've certainly come up with the goods. Saboteur must be one of the most original games of '85. The drawing point of this type of game is that it puts you in the shoes of a hero/spy just like Spy vs Spy and when you walk you crouch down just as if you were an intruder. The overall game is very addictive due to the variety of routes you have to take on the higher levels. Great use is made of colour - the characters are huge, with no attribute problems at all. One thing that made me laugh was the so called 'underground train', it really does look like a brilliant picture of a holiday caravan. I hope Durell gets a CRASH Smash for this 'cos it certainly deserves it.'

'Durell Software really have pulled their act together this year. After a couple of years of mundane releases they're now producing classics like Saboteur. The game concept is fairly original, and as such the game is quite fun to play but what really put Saboteur up in my esteem was its sheer playability. Graphically the main sprite is a bit similar to the one in Impossible Mission but his range of movement is far greater. Overall the best release yet from Durell and one of the better releases for the Spectrum this year.'



COMMENTS
Control keys: definable
Joystick: Kempston, Interface II
Keyboard play: extremely responsive, adds to the excitement
Use of colour: mostly monochromatic, but still effective
Graphics: lovely animation, though backgrounds could do with some more detail
Sound: pretty neat two channel tune once loaded, and effective white noise during the game
Skill levels: 9
Screens: 118
General rating: very imaginative: deserves star status


Use of computer 84%
Graphics 92%
Playability 92%
Getting started 91%
Addictive qualities 94%
Value for money 92%
Overall 93%

DEATH is only a footstep away as your black-clad saboteur, expertly trained in the martial arts, flits through dingy warehouse corridors in search of the secret information disc.

The disc contains the names of rebel leaders who must be located and eliminated by government forces. Your mission is simply to enter the warehouse, avoid the rabid-looking dogs, kill the guards who get in your way and find the helicopter in which the information is stored.

When you arrive on the scene you have only one weapon - a Shuriken - a star-shaped metal device which you can throw. When that has been used you will have to discover more weapons. Those include hand grenades, knives, bricks and stones. On occasion you can use your fists and feet, although close combat is the most risky to your survival rating.

In the best traditions of mercenary achievement, your pay depends on how many dogs and guards you kill. The largest incentive is £10,000 if you manage to steal the disc and escape.

Time is also an important factor. It's no use having the muscle if you haven't got the sense to find the information disc.

The game is very realistic, the graphics are outstandingly smooth and there is no colour clash or flicker to speak of. There are nine levels of play, ranging from extremely easy to extremely difficult.

Publisher Durell
Price £8.95
Memory 48K
Joystick Kempston, Protek
*****

John Gilbert

It's a race against the clock, as you take on some of the fiercest Kung Fu fighting Ninjas the Spectrum has ever seen. Would-be anarchist Sue Denham dons her fighting togs and battles through the endless maze of Dwell Software's smash game Saboteur.
There have been a fair few martial arts games released or due for imminent release on the Spectrum of late - System 3's International Karate, Melbourne House's The Way Of The Exploding Fist, Imagine's Yie Ar Kung Fu and US Gold's Bruce Lee to name but a few! But none is quite like the latest offering from Durell Software.
The scenario for Saboteur thrusts you into the part of a sabotaging Ninja warrior, sneaking around an enemy warehouse that's much more than it seems at first sight. Your task is to search out a floppy disk from one of the many computer terminals scattered around the computer complex and escape with it. But before you go, you've got to leave a little present for your pursuers - a time bomb. Which doesn't leave you too much room to negotiate a safe path home!
The game itself comprises 118 different screens, which all go to make up the four-level warehouse - there is the warehouse itself, a computer complex, and two layers of labyrinth-like sewers; the latter areas have a tendency to look the same, which can be a great problem for those who have an aversion to making maps of the best route to safety. All the weapons a self-respecting Ninja could want, can be found by stumbling across them on your adventures. But you can only hold one weapon at a time and, once you've used it, you'll have to search round for another. Points are awarded for killing the guards - by weapons or skilful use of martial arts - but your real adversary is time... and the final objective of stealing the floppy disk and getting clear of the warehouse before the fuse burns down.
Overall, the game is addictive and great fun. There are nine levels of difficulty - but on the easiest level, you can work out the structure of the game and prepare yourself for the terrors of playing at the higher levels. Map-makers will be in their element when they first start playing the game, but it will be the rugged Kung Fu fighters who will out in the end.
Saboteur manages to combine the good graphical representations of the other Kung Fu games with the solid background of an action-packed story. One to be recommended.

As a gun for hire you’ve been hired to liberate a computer disk held within a high security fortress cunningly disguised as a warehouse. The disk holds the names of a number of rebel leaders and you’re up against the clock. The idea is to find a bomb, hidden somewhere within the complex, get the disk and leave the bomb behind, ticking down to detonation. All this before the time limit expires and the information stored on the disk is sent to outlying terminals. Being a sensible sort of chap, you want to escape and there’s a helicopter lurking on the warehouse roof, just waiting to be stolen.

The trouble is that the headquarters are heavily guarded by a number of armed guards and watchdogs as well as automatic defence systems which monitor your position in a room and then start zapping you with a laser. Your mission starts in a rubber dinghy moored just off a small pier leading to one of the warehouse entrances. Clad totally in SAS attire, black jumpsuit and bootpolish all over your face, you are initially equipped with a throwing star. As you wander through the security complex various other weapons can be found, picked up and used — each weapon can be used once only, but can be aimed at your target. Trained to a very high degree in various martial arts, you can also partake in a bit of physical baddie bashing rather than just lobbing the odd throwing star or brick about. You have a choice too: a killer punch or a ninja style dropkick are both equally deadly to any guards you may find.

The security complex is split among three different sections. The first is the warehouse front, containing the helicopter and primary defence force. If you get down into the sewers then you can link up to the underground train taking you into the first part of the computer centre. From here the second underground train has to be found to get you into the second computer centre. This is where the disk and bomb are held. Once the disk has been rescued and the bomb primed a countdown starts showing the remaining time in which to reach. the helicopter. A quick dash back through the sewers and train systems is required unless you like having dead mercenary smeared all over the walls.

Whilst bashing your way through various adversaries your progress is charted via two screens, the main screen shows a sideview of the room you are in. Your saboteur is about a quarter of the screen high and sproings and cavorts about in full animation. As well as running and fighting he can also perform a nifty tuck jump for bouncing over chasms and gaps. Using the ladders, platforms or steps provided, your hero travels around the complex of colour coded levels.

The bottom quarter of the screen is used to display your status. Only one object can be held at a time, the object you’re holding appearing in a window on the left hand corner of the status area, while objects close by and available for collection are shown in the window to the right side of this screen. Pressing fire uses the object within your grasp, or if another object is within reach it’ll be transferred into your possession.

An energy bar along the bottom of the screen shows how your energy level is faring. Your lifeforce is sapped by contact with fighting guards, who fire rubber bullets, guard dogs, which bite, and the laser defence system which is generally bad for your health. Standing about doing nothing for a while, however, allows ebbing energy force to return.

The game isn’t played for points — what self respecting mercenary works for points? Money’s the name of the game; and a paymeter clocks up a few hundred dollars each time you do for a guard. The big money is only picked up for collecting the disk in the time limit, planting the bomb, and escaping. The programmer’s obviously a dog lover, though. There’s no money in killing dogs — “so why bother?” the inlay reminds you.


Producer: Durell
Price: £8.95
Author: Clive Townsend



CRITICISM
•
‘Though bearing some initial resemblance to Impossible Mission, Saboteur holds a lot more upon further inspection. The game is absolutely great, it’s like playing a part in a Bond movie. Maybe this is the sort of game that should have been used by Domark. Level one is quite easily solved, given a bit of time and thought, but there are nine different levels each subtly harder than the last. The animation of the man is great and he’s very responsive indeed. Overall a this deserves to be a hit and should have pride of place on many a Spectrum users shelf.’

•
‘After Critical Mass I was expecting great things from Durell and they’ve certainly come up with the goods. Saboteur must be one of the most original games of ’85. The drawing point of this type of game is that it puts you in the shoes of a hero/spy just like Spy vs Spy and when you walk you crouch down just as if you were an intruder. The overall game is very addictive due to the variety of routes you have to take on the higher levels. Great use is made of colour — the characters are huge, with no attribute problems at all. One thing that made me laugh was the so called ‘underground train’, it really does look like a brilliant picture of a holiday caravan. I hope Durell gets a CRASH Smash for this ’cos it certainly deserves it.’

•
‘Durell Software really have pulled their act together this year. After a couple of years of mundane releases they’re now producing classics like Saboteur. The game concept is fairly original, and as such the game is quite fun to play but what really put Saboteur up in my esteem was its sheer playability. Graphically the main sprite is a bit similar to the one in Impossible Mission but his range of movement is far greater. Overall the best release yet from Durell and one of the better releases for the Spectrum this year.’



COMMENTS

Control keys: definable
Joystick: Kempston, Interface II
Keyboard play: extremely responsive, adds to the excitement
Use of colour: mostly monochromatic, but still effective
Graphics: lovely animation, though backgrounds could do with some more detail
Sound: pretty neat two channel tune once loaded, and effective white noise during the game
Skill levels: 9
Screens: 118
General rating: very imaginative: deserves star status


Use of computer 84%
Graphics 92%
Playability 92%
Getting started 91%
Addictive qualities 94%
Value for money 92%
Overall 93%