Saints Row
Added August 8th, 2006 by Serenity Now
A few days ago, Volition and THQ threw up a demo of their much-anticipated, sure-to-be controversial free-roam action title, Saints Row. In Saints Row, you assume the role of a young gang-banger out to climb the ranks. Getting right into the meat of the game, you will have to customize your character from four races before heading out to the streets – Caucasian, African American, Asian, or Hispanic – or, as this game labels them – cracker, nigga, chink, or spic. The demo begins with an uproar of thug violence caused by unwanted graffiti placed by a rival gang. When you are caught in the middle of the scuffle, a member of the 3rd Street Saints steps in and saves your back by eliminating your antagonist.
Direct from the get-go, you will have to prove yourself to the 3rd Street Saints by displaying your melee combat abilities. After you show them you’ve got what it takes, you’re immediately off on a mission to cap a few rivals, drop off a pal at a fast-food joint with a rather peculiar name, and more of the same sorts. After completing the offered missions, you will be set loose onto the streets of Stilwater where you will be free to kill at will even more gang members to pump up your respect meter.
Direct from the get-go, you will have to prove yourself to the 3rd Street Saints by displaying your melee combat abilities. After you show them you’ve got what it takes, you’re immediately off on a mission to cap a few rivals, drop off a pal at a fast-food joint with a rather peculiar name, and more of the same sorts. After completing the offered missions, you will be set loose onto the streets of Stilwater where you will be free to kill at will even more gang members to pump up your respect meter.
Saints Row has been compared to the Grand Theft Auto series and it’s honestly no wonder. It takes GTA 2’s/San Andreas’s respect system, its mission format and several other facets. It also borrows from the True Crime titles its in-car shooting mechanics. But simply because it samples from other popular franchises of similar genres doesn’t mean Saints Row is a clear-cut failure. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Saints Row can be described as a greatest hits collection in terms of gameplay. Not only do you have GTA’s flawless mission design and map layout, you also have unbelievably solid on-foot and in-car shooting mechanics. The developers have refined a great deal of characteristics. One of the key things I admired about Saints Row is how you can select a location on your map via the start menu and it’ll incorporate a GPS-like arrangement that allows you to simply follow the blinking dots on your diagram to reach the destined scene.
Another aspect that comes into play is Saints Row’s recruiting feature, which enables you to gather up fellow gang members to fight alongside you with a quick press up on the d-pad. This is a nice team-based touch that I could see adding some much needed depth to the formula.
Another aspect that comes into play is Saints Row’s recruiting feature, which enables you to gather up fellow gang members to fight alongside you with a quick press up on the d-pad. This is a nice team-based touch that I could see adding some much needed depth to the formula.
The combat present is a good-deal bad-deal type of situation. While the gunplay is absolutely phenomenal, the hand combat is pretty much your standard action game fare. To punch, either press the left or right trigger, and to kick press the left bumper. Blocking is done by holding down both triggers simultaneously. Weapon-combat is solely executed with the right trigger, with the A button reloading. The controls, for the most part, feel comfortable and well placed. For those of you wondering how the car handling is, I must say, it will take some getting used to at first. Once you become acquainted with the psychics you should be just fine. Control-wise, the A button is for gas and X for reverse/brake. This may be an unsolicited alteration for gamers more keen on using the triggers for maneuvering their vehicle.
Weapons are purchased at a store or picked up when you kill someone sporting an arsenal. Guns range from handguns to AK47s. Additionally, you can obtain knives, crowbars and baseball bats in the “household artillery” category.
As opposed to a wanted system represented with stars as with Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row carries a gang notoriety level mechanism. And instead of obtaining a new paintjob on your car to relieve your wanted status, you have to go to a drive-through confessional with a “forgive and forget” tagline. This is all fine and dandy, but the feeling of recycled rehash quickly comes to mind.
Weapons are purchased at a store or picked up when you kill someone sporting an arsenal. Guns range from handguns to AK47s. Additionally, you can obtain knives, crowbars and baseball bats in the “household artillery” category.
As opposed to a wanted system represented with stars as with Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row carries a gang notoriety level mechanism. And instead of obtaining a new paintjob on your car to relieve your wanted status, you have to go to a drive-through confessional with a “forgive and forget” tagline. This is all fine and dandy, but the feeling of recycled rehash quickly comes to mind.
Saints Row scores exceedingly high concerning its presentation. The water and explosion effects are some of the best I’ve seen so far on the Xbox 360. However, there are some notable downfalls, including somewhat grainy textures when inside of a building. The audio will either be a love or hate relationship. Radio stations mainly consist of urban hip-hop. Voice-acting, on the other hand, despite being offensive in every way imaginable, is first-rate.
The Outlook:
Saints Row is cliché-laden, racist and undoubtedly vile. You may be thinking to yourself this is how GTA made a name for itself. Candidly though, titles such as Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City and even San Andreas had much more class than this. Saints Row is set in a comedic format, but the overkill amount of ethnic slurs, cheap violence and stereotypical atmosphere is neither refreshing nor innovative. There are some well implemented facets here, don’t get me wrong. The gunplay is superb, the GPS facet is nicely done and the visuals and auditory value are satisfactory. Saints Row is primarily bogged down by its generic premise. Let’s hope the full version’s witty missions and multiplayer will be able to outshine all the clutter.
The Outlook:
Saints Row is cliché-laden, racist and undoubtedly vile. You may be thinking to yourself this is how GTA made a name for itself. Candidly though, titles such as Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City and even San Andreas had much more class than this. Saints Row is set in a comedic format, but the overkill amount of ethnic slurs, cheap violence and stereotypical atmosphere is neither refreshing nor innovative. There are some well implemented facets here, don’t get me wrong. The gunplay is superb, the GPS facet is nicely done and the visuals and auditory value are satisfactory. Saints Row is primarily bogged down by its generic premise. Let’s hope the full version’s witty missions and multiplayer will be able to outshine all the clutter.
