Saints Row Review (X360)

Gameplay - Continued

Far more important than all of the “me too” aspects that we have come to expect from this type of game are all of the little things that Saints Row does to set itself apart. Shooting in Saints Row now controls just like a normal third-person-shooter. There are realistic physics in place so driving feels a lot more natural. The minimap in the corner of the screen highlights the best route to get to your destination. Garages at your hideouts now hold dozens of cars and you select which one you want from a menu rather than trying to cram six cars into a two-car garage like in GTA. When you fail a mission, you are given the option to restart it immediately. Best of all, you can save anywhere you want. There are tons and tons of little features like this that are so obvious that it is crazy to think that no one else has thought of them in the five years since GTAIII came out.

Multiplayer

In addition to the single player campaign, there is a fully featured Xbox Live multiplayer setup available as well. It features everything from free-for-all and team deathmatch, a mode where your team has to escort an unarmed pimp, and one of the funniest modes ever in “Big Ass Chains” mode. In BAC mode, each player has necklaces and the goal is to kill them and take them so you can drop them off at a designated location to receive points. It is frantic, and fun, and hilarious when you have a bunch of people running around yelling “Gimme those big ass chains!”. There is also a handful of co-op missions where you and a buddy have to take on a bunch of computer controlled gang members. Unfortunately, there isn’t any single system multiplayer so you have to use system link or play on Xbox Live.

Graphics and Sound

Graphically, Saints Row is a nice looking game. The city of Stillwater is very detailed and looks just right. This is due in large part to the nice texture work on the buildings and landscape that give it a realistic look. The car models are sort of cartoony looking and a bit too bright and shiny, but they look good. Lighting effects and special effects for things like explosions really tie everything together and make it all look good. Graphical glitches pop up pretty regularly as you are exploring Stillwater, though, such as textures popping in and out and cars appearing out of nowhere in front of you as you drive down the road.

The sound is also pretty good. The voice work is well done and sound effects for all of the vehicles and weapons are surprisingly good. One aspect I’m not a huge fan of is that, just like in GTA, you have a radio with a ton of different stations. The music isn’t nearly as good and the commercials and talk radio is seriously lacking. It just isn’t as good or as funny. I have to admit, though, that it is a nice touch that the radio continues to play even after you get out of a car and you can still hear the muffled sound from quite a ways away.

Bottom Line

Saints Row borrows pretty much everything from Grand Theft Auto, and it can be hard to overlook this “me too” effort at first, but once you get into the story and start appreciating the little tweaks and innovations that make Saints Row different and special, it is a very enjoyable game. The city of Stillwater is well designed and fun to explore, the story is interesting, the gameplay is polished and fun, and there is a ton of stuff to do that will keep you busy for ages. Add Xbox Live multiplayer on top of all that and you have a pretty amazing game. It should be noted that Saints Row earns its “M” rating with lots of violence, foul language, and sexual content, so it really isn’t for kids. For all of us grown up wannabe gangsters, however, Saints Row is a fun ride that is highly recommended.