If there is one thing that sandbox games with guns and cars can’t get away from, it’s a Grand Theft Auto comparison. Well, it seems like Volition took this to heart when making Saints Row and the aptly named sequel: Saints Row 2. Saints Row 2 is a GTA clone to the core, at least it resembles the older generation of GTA games since GTA IV went in a new direction.
So, what does that mean for a Saints Row 2 review? It means that I’m going to be comparing it in every way to GTA. Maybe it’s because that’s the easy road, or maybe I have some frustration to vent about GTA. Who knows? Either way, you can find it after the jump.
There is one main difference between Grand Theft Auto 4 and Saints Row 2. If you’ve been paying attention at all to either of these games, you’ll know that one focuses on realism, while the other is completely over the top. GTA IV seems to have an ego this time around, and it really hurts the gameplay. Saints Row 2, on the other hand, doesn’t take itself seriously at all. It drops you into the city, hands you a gun, then gives you a myriad of activities to play.
Now, when you think of activities in the GTA sense, you’re probably thinking about Taxi driver, vigilante, or what not. But oh no. In Saints Row 2, you get the most absurdly fun things to do that you will probably be laughing out loud when you read your objective. Some of the more strange activities include: Protecting a celebrity by throwing griefers off of roofs and into deadly objects, driving a 4-wheeler while on fire, trying to cause as much destruction as possible, recording an episode of FUZZ where you play as a police officer taking out jaywalkers and other minor disputes with extreme prejudice, and driving down the street spraying the contents of a septic tank over everything in sight to devalue the property.
Does it sound fun yet? We’ll wrap it up on Page 2.
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Is there any difference in the combat/gunplay?
That’s what turned me off of the first one.
Very professional “review” Annie. I will definitely get this game, but it’s gonna be on the list I’m making called “Games to Get When the Next Xbox Comes Out” it will feature lots of single player games because I’m not gonna pay for Live on an old system and I probably won’t get the next system for a couple of years (just in time for that one to die out).
@caffeinedisaster – Unfortunately for you, the gunplay and combat is almost identical to the first one. I don’t remember being able to take human shields or throw people in the first one, but that’s the only difference I’ve seen.
If you don’t like the combat, then you’ll definitely be turned off from the game.
I’m a huge fan of this game so I feel obligated to comment here. While I do think this a good review of the game certain things really stuck out to me.
I disagree with your opinion of the story. I think the story is more compelling than the first as you get more in-depth into the character development. I also love how it thrusts you into the story immediately and it makes sense whether or not you played the first. I found an instant connection to the gang and characters even though I never finished the first game.
Secondly was the point about bugs in the game. While I do agree that it’s buggy, as are most open world sandbox style games, it’s not all forgivable. Most don’t break the game or even effect it but one place stands out to me. Whenever you get a high wanted level or gang notoriety the frame rate drops significantly. That would be okay if you weren’t forced to do that in some missions.
This stands out most notably in the later missions, especially in the end when you’re battling Ultor Corp but even before then. The mission where you intercept The Brotherhood’s weapons shipment was completely ruined for me. The number of enemies on screen caused a severe drop in the frame rate and the only way to compensate was to stay on the inside of the ship and slowly pick off the baddies. To be honest that situation and other like it really pissed me off.
Overall though good review, or non-review. You hit the key points but seeing as I loved this game so much I felt the need to comment. It makes me feel important, let me have that.