Parents' Guide to

The Saboteur

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Over-the-top fictional take on WWII has murder and nudity.

Game PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360 2009
The Saboteur Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • The Saboteur Game: Screenshot #1
  • The Saboteur Game: Screenshot #2
  • The Saboteur Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 8 parent reviews

BounceMaster
BounceMaster Adult
May 1, 2012
age 11+

content update

The nudity has been removed in the sense that it cant be viewed any more, because of a server take down, if that changes parents mind.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
lrush31
lrush31 Parent of 13-year-old
March 6, 2011
age 13+

Good for about thirteen or older, lots of fun and educational.

The Saboteur takes place in 1940's Paris, France during the Nazi invasion. In the game, you'll do such things as driving fast cars, blowing stuff up, and killing Nazis in various ways, with guns, dynamite, or cars, whatever you think, you can do in this game. You can even smoke cigarettes by standing still and clicking the left stick. You play as Sean Devlin, an Irish auto mechanic who came to Germany to race the Saarbrucken. However, after getting cheated out of the win by a Nazi, you drive his car over a cliff as revenge. The Nazis take you and your brother, Jules. Your brother is killed, but you escape the facility and you set out for revenge on the Nazis, meeting a colorful cast and playing incredibly varied missions. The Saboteur is based on the true story of William Grover-Williams, so there IS an educational value here. You also learn more about Paris and the Nazis throughout the mission if you keep your ears open. Sean is a hero, looking out for the good of France and trying to stop the war at the same time. He kills a lot of Nazis during the game, and he inspires the people of Paris to join the Resistance during the game, so Sean is a good role model. There is language, if you're concerned by that thing. There are also topless women, but this can be changed by turning the nudity switch on the options menu to "off." The game isn't any less appropriate or violent than any other game out there in this genre. If you're looking for a fun game with a great story and good characters, The Saboteur is the game for you, if you can avoid some bad words here and there. I never understood why people think that words can be offensive.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
See all 8 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Just as movie goers soaked up Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, a fictional tale of revenge during World War II, Pandemic Studios' THE SABOTEUR lets video gamers experience a less-than-historically-accurate-yet-still-enjoyable recreation of Nazi-occupied France in the early '40s. In this "open-world" action game -- meaning you can roam freely throughout Paris, on foot or in vehicles -- you play as the young Sean Devlin, an Irish race car driver who seeks vengeance against the Nazi regime. The backdrop to the compelling story is introduced over the first 90 minutes or so, and you'll also get a feel for the game's mechanics, such as walking around and talking with characters, driving cars and trucks, climbing buildings, scaling rooftops and fighting enemies with guns, flamethrowers, explosives, or hand-to-hand fisticuffs. While working as a saboteur, you'll also collaborate with allies, including the French Resistance and British Intelligence, while blowing up petroleum stations, armored vehicles, and zeppelins, derailing trains, and engaging in other acts of sabotage against the German army.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (10 ):

Yes, but The Saboteur isn't an "A"-grade game. While varied, the missions aren't horribly original, plus the computer-controlled enemies aren't the smartest, therefore the missions are on the easy side (which might frustrate seasoned players looking for a challenge). Hand-to-hand combat and some weapon handling isn't as intuitive as it should be. But the game does have its strengths, plus those familiar with Paris architecture might appreciate many landmarks you can play through, including the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. As a stylistic decision, the game turns mostly black and white when the Nazis take over the country at the start of the game, implying an oppressive state, but as you continue to fight back, the world becomes more colorful, or liberated. The Saboteur is a fun and attractive single-player adventure that, while not revolutionizing the crowded open-world action/adventure genre, manages to entertain with a gripping story, great-looking environments, and fun missions.

Platform Notes: All three versions of the game look and play the same, but the PC game ships with the extra (and racy) content, whereas that same content must be downloaded on the console versions.

Online interaction: There is no multiplayer component but you can download extra content online which includes topless women.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this game is similar to Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds: An over-the-top fictional take on WWII, where revenge is taken out on Nazis during the French occupation. Interesting comparison? Are games that let you go back and rewrite history more rewarding than contemporary open-world games, such as the Grand Theft Auto variety?

Game Details

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