From what I've heard, the game has gone through a big overhaul since it was last shown off. The name change was done to reflect the new feel for the game as Sabotage just didn't fit the title anymore. The trailer above shows off some of the gorgeous lighting and color system as well as some behind the scenes look at the game. It also shows Violette in a night gown.
THE “VELVET ASSASSIN” STRIKES DOWN SABOTAGE
REPLAY STUDIOS ANNOUNCES NEW NAME FOR THEIR WORLD WAR II STEALTH ACTION TITLE
Cockpit, Austin, TX – February 29, 2008 – Today developer Replay Studios, along with publisher Gamecock Media Group, have announced the official name change for ’Velvet Assassin’, their upcoming stealth-action title formerly known as ‘Sabotage’. The new title creates a perfect marriage between the story of real life hero Violette Szabo and the clandestine art of sabotage she championed. From the incredibly innovative art style, storyline, and combat gameplay, Velvet Assassin is poised to revolutionize the stealth-action genre later this year.
“Rather than a trite, overused, and generic working title like ‘Sabotage,’ ‘Velvet Assassin’ captures the heart of what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Sascha Jungnickel, Creative Director at Replay Studios. “From the start we’ve wanted a game with a strong female lead that stays true to the history of Violette Szabo while pulling players into a world of dark intrigue.”
Inspired by the true story of British Agent Violette Szabo, players will take on the role of Violette Summer. Behind enemy lines in Nazi occupied Europe, Violette risks her life fighting to fell the Third Reich with anything she can get her hands on, including enemy soldiers. With no support or official backing from the British Government, Violette puts everything on the line to defeat the German war machine – one mission at a time. Velvet Assassin combines lush, surreal visuals, a ground-breaking stealth combat system and one of the most unique perspectives ever brought to gaming. Velvet Assassin is planned to release in Fall 2008 on PC and next-generation consoles.
“Most of the time a name change happens because it’s not ‘catchy’ enough or because the marketing team didn’t like it,” said Tim Hesse, Executive Producer at Gamecock Media Group. “I have to say, the Replay crew have outdone themselves by making Violette into one of the best looking stealth-killers ever. This game has come so far since last year that Sabotage just didn’t do the game justice – ‘Velvet Assassin’ sums up every aspect that makes this game great.”
I really need them to include a concentration camp mission in here. Can they even imagine how powerful that would be? Can they IMAGINE?
You're instructed to infiltrate an SS compound about which there is little information, and assassinate it's commander, who has a strong presence on the political stage. You wind the minefields, cut the wire, and get inside. You find the commander, assassinate him, and on your way out, people start pouring out of concrete barracks. You're greeted by a thousand, two thousand, five thousand gaunt, desperate faces; why has nobody done this?
Anyway, color me intrigued.
The only thing interesting I saw out of this game is the real-time shadow hiding...stuff.
Such a shame that because of 07's E3, many of the press missed this great looking game. Definitely one to watch.
It's like another rip of another mgs/splinter cell but with a girl, which technically wasn't this all explored in games like Tomb Raider and Perfect Dark?
Fuck someone give me a game with originality, games are becoming the same way movies are, rehashed.
In Saboteur, one of the ideas is that the game is in black and white, and as you free parts of Paris from Nazi control, those areas turn to color.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saboteur_%282008_video_game%29
i can see why they would want to differentiate themselves from a similar game, but "velvet assassin" is cringeworthy IMO.
also "ground-breaking stealth combat system"? they're a little too late to the stealth combat party to be calling it ground-breaking.
Thankfully this isn't the same game. Saboteur has a male, Irish protagonist and seems to have so more action to it. I'm pretty sure the name change is because they didn't want the two getting mixed up.
Also, if she's an assassin, do you think she'll be using her "velvet" to get to her targets? knowwhatI'msayin' knowwhatI'msayin'?
Will there be a rape-in-prison minigame?
CTZ, do you think you'll still love the game with its more velvety feel?
Lighting is cool too. :O)
Sadie, I suggest you do a little more research on VA, because you can only tell so much from screens. It is doing something different.