Saints Row 2 pales in comparison to Grand Theft Auto IV, as numerous flaws keep it from touching Rockstar's masterpiece. That said, if you can brush aside the in-game screw-ups and underwhelming graphics, "tha Row" delivers plenty of enjoyable moments.
Your ghetto fabulous adventure begins with your character waking up in a prison hospital, the victim of a nasty yacht explosion. After tinkering with a hefty amount of character customization, you meet a fellow member of the Saints, your loyal gang. The two of you break out of prison, assaulting cops, ramming patrol cars and shooting helicopters to cover your escape. You then make your way into the city of Stilwater, reviving the Saints and planning to bring down three rival gangs: the Brotherhood, the Ronin and the Sons of Samedi.
We dig Saints Row 2 because you don't have to follow a straight and narrow path. If you feel like taking on a racing sub-mission, head on over and spin your wheels. There are also more outlandish missions available, including taking down police officers, performing bounty hunting duties and our personal favorite, running around naked and acting like a jackass. These stages don't have any shortage of action either. You'll bust heads, steal (and blow up) cars and slice gang members into sashimi with a machete.
Character customization is another highlight. Not only are wardrobe items available, but you can also change a character's attitude, facial expressions, compliments and taunts. It's a bit strange watching a red-haired woman with a goofy clown face perform crotch chops, but that's part of the fun.
You have the option of taking on Stilwater's citizens by yourself, but logging on through Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network with a friend lets you can dish out damage as a gang. Although events get chaotic (especially if you hit each other), it's more fun than we expected. Competitive multiplayer is also available for up to 12 "peeps," so you can jump in and defend your territory.
A word of caution – Saints Row 2 is strictly intended for adult audiences. Developer Volition doesn't hold back on the language, sexual content or violence. At one point, you play a sex mini-game that's almost right up there with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' infamous "Hot Coffee" fiasco.
Its graphics, however, disappoint us. Volition did a serviceable job building Stilwater from the ground up, littering it with seedy folks and a number of streets to explore. However, in-game glitches look horrible. You'll swing a samurai sword, only to watch as it visibly misses its target but kills the person anyway. At other times, we ran over civilians, but instead of flopping off the car, they got stuck halfway through the trunk and inadvertently came along for the ride. Floating objects also pop up every once in a while, especially after a nasty collision.
At least the in-game audio is adequate. Characters sound amusing and the radio DJs are hilarious, especially the grunge-loving dude that runs the local metal station. There are also bits and pieces of humorous dialogue, like when a lawyer asks if anyone is injured after shots go off in a courtroom. The song selection could be better (really, Hall and Oates?) but overall, it works.
Even though most of the in-game glitches are laughably bad, Saints Row 2 is still a hit. It's kind of like a plate of spaghetti without the benefit of silverware. Things are going to get messy and, for some, unconventional. Nevertheless, most of you will hunker down and eat it up.
Reader Comments (7)
i think this game beats GTA IV in some areas but in others gta wins. this game has lots more things to do just for fun and lots mor choices to be made. but on the other hand gta's graphics pummel those of sr2. like they said this one has more funny comments and a long character customization. where in gta ur niko bellic. and always look the same sure u can change your outfit but cant pick colors or anything. but what they didnt mention that i love is all the added easter eggs. like the floating enormous bunny found in the ocean, the sex cavern under the grave yard, and the loch ness monsters skeleton out on a rock in the ocean. also the more things u do and complete the more bonuses u get as a player. i say this is a great game and the first was great as well
this game is addicting
O yeah and the mini game he is talking about is called "ho-ingg diversion" and it is kind of up there with hot coffee bcuz of the thngs you "hear" so disturbedsg1 u probly never played this game
AHAHA ur rite on the funny dialog, but when your character shoots up the court room the lawyer says "anybody shot and need a lawyer?"
WWWWWWHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoever wrote this was smart. this is a very great game with awsome mini games,. and u can mfin surf on cars!!!!!!!!!!! What other game can do that???
I hope the person who wrote this ends up in a dark cell for a long time. Libel anyone? Clear the person never played the game and is a total liar. Mini-game right up there with hot coffee? Lmao either the person who wrote this is a damn retard or gets so little he considers pushing buttons in different directions to no visuals whatsoever too racy. DDR actually has women dancing while you press buttons in a specific order, so we must ban that game right?
I agree 100% with the glitches but isnt that why they make game updates?? Im sure THQ and Volition will go back and work out most of the worse kinks.. Just wanted to say updates are a beautiful thing nowaday