I always wanted to be Lewis Collins!
Sabre Team was released in 1992 by Krisalis and is a turn-based war zone of hardcore strategy. Yep, straight to the point there, and this is also a genre I know very little about. So, let's play. We are in control of an elite SAS squad, who enter the lion's den to kill bad guys, rescue hostages, and save the day. This ain't a fake arcade action affair, but instead, tries to be realistic and thus requires stealth and tactical thought. So, a wrong move could end without assessing the situation, and it could get the team killed. And dead means dead; there are no second chances in this world.
Okay, the first job is to select a 4-man team from eight of the best warriors available. Equip these guys with the right weapons for each mission whilst taking into consideration type, rate of fire, ammo, weight, and noise. There is a lot of cool hardware to choose from, like machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, stun grenades, and gas canisters.
This is next screenshot is of you! Choose your weaponry wisely and specifically for the mission at hand. Remember, some weapons need a reload after each shot. You're not superman, it's often advisable to wear a bulletproof jacket. I hear there are a limited number of medkits? But these will certainly help to recover from injuries.
This guy is ripped yet still manages to look a bit gay. Put on a shirt, mate!
Think covertly
There is a lot to consider, so put aside any ideas you may have had of arcade-style action. This isn't that game. Sabre Team demands careful, calculative and strategic thinking, so your assault should be executed with a stealthy approach that protects your men from danger. For example, don't stand near an open window! The terrain isn't just something nice to look at; use it for cover as the enemy won't know you're there if they cannot see (or hear) you.
The battlefield is viewed isometrically using detailed environments, and our soldiers are controlled through the use of action points. This means your men are allowed a specific number of moves before the computer gets a turn. The user interface is excellent and has helpful animations to identify their purpose (just hover the mouse over them).
These are used to turn, walk, shoot and do other fun stuff like searching dead bodies. The compass not only controls the soldier's direction but also displays the number of action points required for each particular task. Plus alerts for what a soldier might be able to see (red) or hear (blue). And this is exactly how you should play - as if you were there.
The next screenshot explains the general task of the mission. Read it carefully and don't be daft...
Always read the backstory and gather as much detail as you can. It will help.
No manual to read?
Sabre Team provides incredible insight into the strategy and tactics like few others. Running in guns blazing will only get you and your teammates killed. Also, this is perfectly suited to the turn-based genre as it works so well. However, waiting 3/4 minutes for the computer to decide what it wants to do is brutal, and I hated it. Yep, that long!
This is a tip for those without the manual - press and hold the mouse button to speed up the process. Odd, but it works. However, I feel this quicker method should have been the default - as I'd have preferred to hold the mouse button during the moments I wanted to watch more closely. Perhaps it's just me, but it took me a while to get used to this.
Right then, let's see another screenshot taken with my phone on my real Atari ST...
Sometimes I hate emulator screenshots and prefer using my real ST. Sometimes it's a bit naff!
Graphics & Sounds
We begin with a title screen depicting a sinister SAS soldier emerging from the darkness, ready to assassinate terrorists. It's almost like a post-apocalyptic/Who Dares Wins, and is so incredibly impressive. I think
Phil Hackney did a superb job with all the in-game graphics - each environment features fine attention to detail for landscapes and scenery.
However, there is some rather dodgy artwork, which I'm sure you have noticed. Thankfully, the game is finely detailed with wonderful precision, and I adore how the environments take on a realistic scene without feeling cheap or tacky. For example, standing at a bad angle near an open window leaves you vulnerable to being picked off.
The sound effects are damn excellent, with samples used to complement the tension of tactical warfare. Their quality is great, and I'm excited to see they didn't wimp out by using samples for weaponry, cries, and other effects.
Hey, I need another screenshot from my Atari ST that shows how great I am at the game... He says...
Another shot from the ST, and here I am helping a poor civilian to safety.
The CryptO'pinion?
Ignoring my minor quibbles, never have I enjoyed a game that employs such a tremendous demand of tactics, stealth and strategy thinking. It's fantastic yet also instantly appealing with great depth. There is a learning curve to master, so don't expect a cakewalk. I'm sure your initial attempts will end with many incredibly laughable casualties as you uncover the joy of what this realistic game has to offer. It's cruel and takes no prisoners, but very, very addictive.
Sabre Team demands lots of thought, patience and skilful wit to be successful. So, put aside time for nothing less than an innovative and invigorating experience. The attention to detail is massive and helps make this a very realistic yet enjoyable strategy affair. Spending your time carefully and covertly eliminating nasty terrorists is extremely satisfying.
What we have is nothing short of a turn-based classic that will eat away the hours. Fantastic game!
Trusteft has a great video from unboxing to gameplay!
