Sabre Wulf stealing away on Mobile Phone

Games tend to be very Americanised these days, so to come across as quintessential a Victorian explorer as Sabreman in the upcoming Sabre Wulf Mobile is as refreshing as a cup of tea in the afternoon. Kitted out with khaki shorts and pith helmet, Sabreman is on the trail of Sabre Wulf, a mythical creature that’s been stealing valuables from the local villagers. Sabreman must also retrieve a magic amulet, the Sabre Wulf’s prison until it was unleashed by powers unknown. All very mysterious, then!

The game itself is a sideways-scrolling 2D platformer but it’s far from ordinary, with Sabreman making use of the wildlife that he comes across to further his progress. These include the Blubba, a sleeping bear that doubles as a trampoline, enabling Sabreman to reach otherwise inaccessible areas, and Serpent, which the good adventurer can use as a platform. Sabreman can even take a few animals along with him, but space is tight – choosing the right combination will make completing the levels a great deal easier.

The game is close to being a direct conversion of the Game Boy Advance version that made its debut last summer, and features 15 levels and 8 types of enemy. “Many Sabre Wulf fans who’ve played it on the Game Boy Advance regard it as a classic. The mobile version combines the same excellent graphics and unique characters, with dramatic platform adventure game play”, reckons Richard Moureaud, a spokesperson for In-Fusio. Sabre Wulf will be available from the middle of July on Java-enabled handsets from the O2 and Orange networks.