Saints Row 2 has just come down and back on the streets with the Third Street Saints. This is for all those who were waiting for that open-world experience in which everything goes to pot (and most of the time, common sense) – strap in; it's the wild ride you've long awaited.
If you aren't familiar with the purple-clad capering of the Saints, imagine a city bursting at the seams, ripe for the taking, a sandbox of chaos where from nothing you become someone, until becoming the top dog, in a rapidly growing criminal empire. The first Saints Row carved a great niche for itself by taking the more exaggerated, fun-focused elements of the genre against some of the bolder "serious" open-world titles. And this, let me tell you, Saints Row 2 takes that lofty concept and brings it up to eleven.
An Open World Filled to the Brim with Mayhem
Right off the bat, this stillwater world feels more alive and chokefull with activities than ever. Outdoing even itself ever so often, Volition has developed an environment filled with everything begging to be explored, abused, and finally conquered. The amount of side activities, optional missions, hidden secrets, sheer wonder. One moment you are engaged in a high-speed chase, the next into some truly bizarre (and hilarious) mini-games. This is that dedication to pure, unadulterated fun that so well characterizes Stilwater as a place to enjoy being let loose in.
As addicting as ever, the core gameplay loop – taking over rival gangs and expanding your territory. Missions bring varied subjects that stretch the limits of absurdity in the best possible way. Be it firefighting on foot, making mayhem from a helicopter, or brainless zipping from the back of a scooter, every single action is exciting and really gives a sense of freedom.
Building Your Empire Your Way
One of the amazing updates is the huge amount of possible customizations for creating a character. You can literally design a totally different avatar that leads the Saints, and this has been extended to your gang, your cribs, as well as your vehicles. It adds a delightful element of ownership to your criminal enterprises.
The plot enjoys and exploits the gangland clich's but has had more than its fair share of genuine hilarity and memorable characters. It is droll without being overly such, which is a great part of its charm. You come to wreak havoc and have a lot of fun, and Saints Row 2 promises you that.
A Few Scuffs on a Polished Gem
Now no game is perfect, and Saints Row 2 is also not without some little grumbles. You may face some minor graphics glitches or have an odd incident with AI behavior; characters sometimes get stuck on some piece of scenery, or some mission objectives may require a second thought. But honestly, as a whole, those are small potatoes in such a big ambitious sprawling game. The sheer fun factor and the wealth of content on offer make these small blips easy to forgive. If nothing else, think of them as quirky charm in an otherwise stellar package.
There were a couple moments when the game stuttered for a second, probably due to the strain of all the glorious explosions and city-wide pandemonium I was causing. Just fleeter than the eye, but never on the overall pulse-quickening experience.
Verdict: An Unapologetic Blast of Fun
Saints Row 2 is a resounding success. It knows exactly what made the first great and enhances it nearly in every respect conceivable. It's a sandbox open world that sounds out above all the merry antics, offering a massive, lively world with a ton of content and a refreshingly irreverent attitude. If you're after just that cutting loose, building an empire, and laughing out loud while doing it, then look no further. The Saints storm back, better than before.
Rating: 9 of 10
Game Detail Issuances
- Platform Reviewed: Xbox 360 (Obtained through direct purchase)
- Time Spent: Roughly 25 hours (completed single-player campaign, thoroughly involved in side activities)
- Not Explored for This Review: Multiplayer.
Parents' Guidance
This game is rated Mature by the ESRB-sounds good because, indeed, it has significant blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language, and drug use. For adult audiences only. Mostly, this content is extreme-humorous in kind-it's not for children. Benevolent Parents' will exercise firm discretion.
Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Gamers
Wonderful in that all dialogue is then present in the form of subtitles. What it became challenging for gamers was during thrashing bout conditions, in which it was not always possible to accurately tell the direction of incoming enemy fire or incoming threats from visual cues alone. On-screen indicators of incoming damage are there, but they don't convey the same immediacy of awareness as the auditory cues. Though perhaps players take a bit more damage in heftier firefights, the game remains fully playable and enjoyable otherwise.