RGD suggestion: The Saboteur

[Syndicaidramon]

Out of all the games I'd like to see on RGD, there are two in particular that I not only think are highly worthy of being on the show and fit the standards, but that I also think there's a good chance that Ross will like or at least be interested in. I was gonna dedicate this topic to the both of them, but it turned out too long so I'll make them seperate topics.

 

For this topic -- The Saboteur.

 

The Saboteur:

Released: 2009.

Platform: Windows, PS3, Xbox 360.

 

Why I think it belongs on RGD:

Like most other RGD covered games, it is one that was largely overlooked and has been forgotten since its release. Which is really unfair in my opinion, as it's one that I think deserves much more love than it has gotten.

 

- First of all, it's a neo-noir game.

It's part of a distinct stylistic genre that one doesn't see too often in games. That's always worth discussing.

 

- Second -- A weird blend of gameplay styles.

It's kinda like Grand Theft Auto with a half-baked Assassin's Creed style wall climbing and roof-jumping, with optional disguising and sneaking for more varied approaches. Kinda like in Strife.

 

And you gain currency by sticking explosives to nazi-equipment, be it everything from a couple speakers mounted at the wall of a building on the corner, or experimental radars, supercannons or entire goddamn train bridges. This is where the "Saboteur" part comes in.

 

- The setup.

It's set during WWII, which isn't exactly original, it's set in occupied France, where you take the role as an Irish mechanic/race-car driver fighting for the Parisian resistance movement. That's new.

 

- Real life mental health benefits.

It is, in my personal opinion, THE absolute best game to "tune out" with.

In the game, you explode Nazi stuff. There are over 1300 pieces of Nazi stuff to blow up.

This is something that can be done with relative ease most of the time, meaning you can grind through them, without it becoming routine or same, because all equipment is in a different location, meaning you have to approach them differently.

 

Put on some music and you have the ULTIMATE stress reliever. Which is a justification all on its own to cover this game. We need more ultimate stress relieving games.

This is one of the reasons why I love this game so much, and why it is the ONLY game where I have gotten all achievements on two different systems, both on PS3 and Xbox.

That's saying something for me, I assure you.

 

For music to listen to when doing this, I personally reccommend:

The "Night Electric Night" album by swedish Industrial Rock/Metal band Deathstars. They have a nazi-aesthetic. It fits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE6Txr_LXZc

 

The american Prog Rock/Metal/Djent band BEING.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-VQ-2xZThQ

 

Symphony of Science.

https://melodysheep.bandcamp.com/album/symphony-of-science-collectors-edition

 

The music is for the sake of atmosphere, which I will come back to.

 

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Why I think Ross will like it/find it interesting:

 

- The atmosphere.

I've noticed that Ross really appreciates games that are atmospheric or at least have a certain atmospheric flare to them. I can relate. I am a SUCKER for atmosphere in my media.

And The Saboteur has that. In plenty.

 

For one, the game has a unique visual "gimmick" in terms of how it differentiates between nazi-controlled areas and liberated areas. This alone makes fore some great atmospheric moments.

 

The ambient music is great and really sets the mood for the time and place that you're in.

Not to mention that it has a thing where after you blow up some random piece of nazi equipment it plays this subtle little melody line that just enhances it even further.

 

And this is not to speak of the design of Paris and its countryside and how the fascinating sight of how the Nazi occupation has transformed the city and the landscape.

 

- The main character.

You play as a chainsmoking irish racedriver fighting for the french resistance, using plenty of really "irish" expressions and with a thick accent. And he's a character with great... well, character to boot. Understandably moody, considering everything he's gone through, but still has a sense of humor.

I'm pretty sure Ross will find some appeal in this. Fer sure.

 

- It has a silenced machine gun.

For enhanced sneakage and increased effectiveness of silent nazi pwnage.

 

- It was prematurely kicked out of the house by EA. Like a gay teenager from a religious fundamentalist household.

This was the last game Pandemic Studios ever created before they got shut down. They were shut down before the game was even finished, but EA allowed a few staff members to stay and finish up as much as they could, and it really shows in places. Particularly with how it builds up one of the nazis as being a really big deal and an important secondary villain, only to have said character show up once at the beginning of the game, never to appear again.

 

So it's another case of dickitry by EA, happening at the same time as they were buying up crappy mobile studios.

 

- You can shoot distant Nazi zeppelins with hijacked roof-mounted Nazi cannons.

For cash. And it's not a minigame or setpiece. You can just do it whenever you feel like it.

 

- Stress relief.

Ross seems like he can be pretty stressed at times. Taking time off from the story and just mindlessly sabotaging random nazi-equipment seems like something that will do him good. It sure did for me.

 

And more. I can't give it all away here, now can I?

 

[Reverend_UshankaCat_]

I completely agree, I love Saboteur!

It is a bit like a more "realistic" version of the Just Cause games. And it is set in WWII, so you can kill nazis!

[Jeb_CC]

I give this post +20 points for the consistent colour theme, and +30 points for having 'EA' typed up in red. XP

Looks like a cool game though.

[UndeadNecro]

I'd agree to it as a suggestion if only because it's kind of obscure and a very very interesting game, albeit I never got the chance to try it.

[Selfsurprise]

You've gone all out in pitching this game for the series I hadn't even heard of it, but your description makes me hope Ross will consider covering it in a future episode.

[BTGBullseye]

Torrenting now... Looks interesting.

[Syndicaidramon]

I give this post +20 points for the consistent colour theme, and +30 points for having 'EA' typed up in red. XP

Looks like a cool game though.

 

Thanks.

I know it's a minor thing, but as a graphic designer I always find it pleasing when my efforts to make something needlessly pleasing to look at is appreciated.

And of course EA must be typed up in red.

 

It is a really sweet game, imo. I have two other friends who I've shown it to as well. One of them loves it as much as I, and the other found it to be very meh, so I guess it's kind of a love or indifference kind of game.

I for one adore it, though. I've completed the story mode at least five times. And that's saying a lot for me.

 

I think the only other games that I can say that about are Brütal Legend, Assassin's Creed II and the third game I intend to pitch.

And even on those I've only completed two of them (ACII and BL) 100% once.

 

 

You've gone all out in pitching this game for the series I hadn't even heard of it, but your description makes me hope Ross will consider covering it in a future episode.

 

I hope he will. I really think this game deserves more love than it got.

Same with the other game I intend to pitch. Hopefully I'll get to that one later today or tomorrow.

 

 

Torrenting now... Looks interesting.

 

I was gonna say something like "C'mon, the game is cheap. Just buy the game and support the makers", but then I remembered that Pandemic doesn't exist anymore and that the money would just go to EA or GameStop and no one else, so... yeah. Totes. Go ahead.

[BTGBullseye]

I find it amusing that an Irishman can go up, steal a V1 launcher, and drive it around the Paris streets without anyone caring... Oh, and the nudity, keep that off unless you like LOTS of bouncy orbs with tiny protrusions. (the first 30 seconds of the game has a pair of them in semi-closeup bouncing around for 30 seconds, then it widens the shot enough to see there are Nazis watching them too)

[Icebox]

You made a good case, now I want to see a esp on this.