For those that like to sin
To compare the Saints Row series to the G.T.A games would at this point be unfair considering how far removed from each other they are. Saints Row forgets about placing any restrictions on you and gives you an open world with an expansive list of ridiculous and outrageous toys to play with.
After a heist gone wrong the Saints find themselves in the city of Steelport. Steelport is a city controlled by The Syndicate, a group of three gangs: Morning Star, Eastern European arms manufacturers that like to dabble in genetic engineering, The Deckers, a group of money laundering cybercriminals, and the Luchadores, a Mexican wrestling gang in control of the gambling. Of course it’s up to you and the Saints to take over the city of Steelport in the most ruthlessly ridiculous fashion possible.
After the introduction you will get the chance to customize your character with an extensive amount of options like a sumo wrestler with a pornstache, or a big burly bloke in a cocktail dress, the choice is yours. Looking at your own ridiculous creations in the various cut-scenes is hilariously surreal. Should you get bored of your character you can go and customize yourself at one of the many shops for a relatively cheap cost to you in-game income. As expected the customization is even bigger and bolder than the previous games and it’s a fantastic thing to have so many options available that no two characters will look exactly alike.
As mentioned earlier Steelport is under the control of three gangs working together called the Syndicate. This also affects how the game is played compared to previous games where you would complete missions separately for each different gang following separate storylines until they came together at the end. There is now only one primary plot throughout the game and there is no need to earn respect to start the next mission, like in previous iterations of the series. Respect now earns you bonuses to weapons or abilities. The main missions of ‘Saints Row: The Third’ are a delightful highlight and include some of the most outrageous things seen in video games since Saints Row 2.
Activities are a huge part of The Saints Row games and fan favourites such as ‘Insurance Fraud’ and ‘Mayhem’ return here. New activities include ‘Guardian Angel’, where you protect members of your gang from high above in a helicopter with an array of weapons. ‘Tank Mayhem’, where you create as much mayhem as you can in a tank. ‘Professor Genki’s Super Ethical Reality Climax’, where you have to avoid traps and kill furry enemies to reach a certain amount of points before time runs out. Sadly the hilarious ‘Septic Avenger’ and ‘Crowd Control’ are missing but that’s no big deal.
There’s a huge array of weaponry to be unlocked and while you will start the game with standard weapons such as pistols, shotguns and SMGs, even these can be upgraded to a level of ridiculousness that fits the game well. Later weapons include the ability to call down air strikes and a device that allows you to control any vehicle within the game remotely.
The vehicles handle well and feel much better than the last game where everything felt very floaty. Here the cars feel like they’re actually on the road and whilst the handling is still designed to be easy and wont push anyone’s driving skills too far. At least you feel attached to the car and road somewhat. The extensive customization extends to the cars of course and you can waste hours modding your collection of cars to your taste.
The worst thing about the game is the feel of the city; it’s a little dull and feels like a fake world. There’s little variation within the city and certainly doesn’t feel like a living breathing city as other similar games have created so well. There are a few glitches such as activities not starting properly when activated and the usual pop in of trees and buildings. You will see characters sometimes getting stuck in trees and walls. A.I. is terrible and doesn’t provide much of a challenge considering the police and opposing gang members seem to be on a suicide mission to kill you, not even attempting to find cover.
All the activities and missions can be completed in co-op mode. This is a great game to play in co-op with all the crazy and ridiculous things there is to do. In co-op you may experience even more glitches though so be warned. Another annoying thing is you can only complete the missions together if you are up to the same point within the game and mission cannot be replayed within co-op.
There is also a “whored” mode which is obviously a saints row take on the horde mode seen in many other games now. It’s probably fun once but not my cup of tea and you will find plenty of other games with better horde modes.
Closing Comments
Saints Row: The Third is the best in the series with some fantastic missions that are as creative as they are ridiculous. The good outweighs the bad and for a truly open world experience this is the closest you can come to doing anything you want without breaking the law.
Alternatives
GTA IV
Does what it says on the tin.
Red Dead Redemption
Always wanted to play at Cowboys and Indians?
An excellent story awaits in this incredible game.
Just Cause 2
Better graphics and in some regards better gameplay,
although not half as funny.
