Software:Saboteur II: Avenging Angel

From HandWiki
Saboteur II: Avenging Angel
Publisher(s)Durell Software
Designer(s)Clive Townsend
Composer(s)Rob Hubbard
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC, MS-DOS, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release1987
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Saboteur II: Avenging Angel, also known as Saboteur 2, is an action-adventure game created by Clive Townsend and released by Durell Software in 1987 for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS compatible operating systems. A sequel to 1985's Saboteur, the player controls a sister of Ninja from the first game on a mission to avenge his death. Saboteur II was one of the first action-adventure games with a female protagonist and was well received by critics.

Gameplay

The game starts with a drop into the building from a hang glider. Then, while watching out for pumas and robotic guards, the player has to search through the command center for boxes of supplies. Some of the boxes contain one of 14 pieces of punched tape, which on all but the first level must be collected and taken to the computer terminal. Once this has been achieved, the player must make their way to the bottom centre of the caves, and escape using the motorcycle which can be found there.[1][2] In all, the site covers over 700 computer screens.[3] There are nine missions of increasing difficulty level (codenamed Rin, Kyo, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai and Zen), each with more objectives (such as collecting more pieces of punched tape, or having to disable an electrified perimeter fence protecting the tunnel).

Map of Saboteur II on the ZX Spectrum loading screen.

The game offers two subtle ways to assist the player. The loading screen shows the compound and a building in the background, which included a pixel dot map representing each screen. There is also a hidden screen containing a glowing crate which would reward the player with infinite energy.[4] This screen is so well hidden it was missed off several maps printed in computer magazines of the time.[5][6][7][8]

Plot

The player takes control of a female ninja named Nina (a sister of Ninja, the deceased hero of the original Saboteur), who must break into a dictator's high-security compound to alter the course of a nuclear ballistic missile and then escape. The enemy’s command centre and office complex is being built on top of a mountain filled with tunnels and caverns. An armoury building is on the top left of the mountain, a missile silo is on the top right, while the central top area is still being developed; there is only one way out of the mountain, which is the long entrance tunnel on the bottom left.

Development and release

Saboteur II was one of the first action-adventure games with a female protagonist.[9] According to Luke Plunkett of Kotaku, "for a serious game released in 1987, that was kind of a big deal, especially since she wasn't a princess or cartoon character. She was a ninja".[10] The game's designer Clive Townsend said it was a conscious decision: "I wanted something original, and it seemed quite different to most other games. It's become acceptable now after Tomb Raider, but at the time it was a bit strange. Why shouldn't ninja characters be female?"[11] Nevertheless, the PC version features a male ninja on the cover.[12] Townsend traced the character art for the game's loading screen from an erotic magazine.[11] Saboteur II itself was supposed to be followed by the cancelled Saboteur 3D for the ZX Spectrum, which would feature isometric perspective graphics.[11]

Despite the four released formats being very different in hardware and programming (the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC notwithstanding), the different versions all looked and played almost identically. Usually, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the Amstrad CPC, PC and Commodore 64 versions (colour clash being the giveaway for the ZX Spectrum version). The game was re-released by Hit-Pak in 1988[13] and by Encore in 1989.[14] It was also released as a bonus with an issue of Zzap!64 in 1993.[15]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Crash83%[1]
CVG27/40[16]
Your Sinclair9/10[2]
80% (re-release)[17]
CU Amiga-6481% (re-release)[18]
Zzap!6452% (re-release)[19]
ASM36/40[20]

Initial reviews of the game were positive. For instance, Phil South from Your Sinclair opined that the game was "a fine sequel, but possibly more important, it's a fine game in its own right. Saboteur was an original twist on an old platform riff, so that makes Sab II a double twist with a backflip and a lager chaser!"[2] When the game was re-released in 1989, Your Sinclair's Marcus Berkmann wrote that "if it doesn't perhaps hold up too well now, it's still an entertaining enough chase-and-kick 'em up with the novelty of a female hero".[17]

Legacy

A remake of the game was released in 2019 (32 years after the release of the original game) on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. It came with a few additions like new graphics, many remixes of the original music, and more information on the lore.

Deep Cover (a Saboteur 2 prequel for the ZX Spectrum 128) won Best Text Adventure at the Planeta Sinclair 'Game of the Year' awards 2021.

Following the release of the remake, two sequels were planned: Saboteur SiO was released in 2020 and Saboteur ZERO was slated for a late 2022 release.[21]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Crash - No. 41 (1987-06)(Newsfield)(GB)". June 1987. https://archive.org/stream/Crash_No._41_1987-06_Newsfield_GB#page/n101/mode/2up/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Dark Side: Your Sinclair Magazine: Issue 17". May 1987. https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-17/YourSinclair_17_May_1987#page/n90/mode/1up. 
  3. ↑ Saboteur II inlay.
  4. ↑ "Owner modified Sinclair User map showing secret screen" (JPG). Ftp.worldofspectrum.org. ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-maps/s/SaboteurII_2.jpg. 
  5. ↑ "CRASH map showing secret screen" (JPG). Ftp.worldofspectrum.org. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue41/Pages/Crash4100050.jpg. 
  6. ↑ "Sinclair User map missing secret screen" (JPG). Ftp.worldofspectrum.org. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue065/Pages/SinclairUser06500012.jpg. 
  7. ↑ "Your Sinclair map missing secret screen" (JPG). Ftp.worldofspectrum.org. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=YourSinclair/Issue21/Pages/YourSinclair2100050.jpg. 
  8. ↑ "Contemporary (2002) map showing secret screen" (PNG). Ftp.worldofspectrum.org. ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-maps/s/SaboteurII_4.png. 
  9. ↑ "ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 93 (Commodore Force Issue 03)". March 1993. https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-093/ZZap_64_Issue_093_Commodore_Force_Issue_03_1993_Mar#page/n9/mode/1up/. 
  10. ↑ Luke Plunkett (9 November 2011). "What's Cooler Than Sam Fisher? Lady Ninjas, Motorbikes and Pumas". Kotaku.com. http://kotaku.com/5857731/whats-cooler-than-sam-fisher-lady-ninjas-motorbikes-and-pumas. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Retro Gamer 11, pages 92-93.
  12. ↑ "Page 4 - Totally '80s box art!". GamesRadar. 2009-05-07. http://www.gamesradar.com/totally-80s-box-art/?page=4. 
  13. ↑ "Computer and Videogames Magazine Issue 077". March 1988. https://archive.org/stream/computer-and-videogames-077/ComputerAndVideoGames_077_Mar_1988#page/n1/mode/2up. 
  14. ↑ "ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 052". August 1989. https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-052/ZZap_64_Issue_052_1989_Aug#page/n57/mode/1up/. 
  15. ↑ "ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 93 (Commodore Force Issue 03)". March 1993. https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-093/ZZap_64_Issue_093_Commodore_Force_Issue_03_1993_Mar#page/n9/mode/1up/. 
  16. ↑ "CVG Magazine Issue 069". July 1987. https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-069/CVG_069_Jul_1987#page/n25/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Berkmann, Marcus (September 1989), "Saboteur II Re-release Review", Your Sinclair 
  18. ↑ "Saboteur 2 review from CU Amiga-64 (Oct 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amr.abime.net. http://amr.abime.net/review_8813. 
  19. ↑ "Saboteur 2 review from Zzap 52 (Aug 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amr.abime.net. http://amr.abime.net/review_6019. 
  20. ↑ "Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (67 1987)". https://archive.org/stream/asm_magazine-1987-67/ASM_67_1987#page/n5/mode/2up. 
  21. ↑ "Home". http://www.clivetownsend.com/. 
  • Official website
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari





Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Saboteur_II:_Avenging_Angel&oldid=797549"