Saints Row Review - Captivating Chaos - Game Informer

Saints Row is a joyous return to form that delivers plenty of humor and some rough edges.

[Christopher]

It's a game that looks like it was made for last gen hardware that plays a ton like past Saints Row games with absolutely no improvements since SR3. I'd also consider it more difficult as a completionist as leveling up weapons and cars require some very specific and ofttimes difficult activities.

I can't say if I'd ever give it more than a 7/10 ever even though I'm early on in it, but it is more enjoyable than Watch_Dogs Legion in comparison at least.

[brewin]

Enjoying it quite a bit, much more than WD Legion for sure, but Im also a huge fan of the 1st 2 SR games where it wasn't quite so over the top. It does have a very solid, clean look in the 1440p performance mode. I also like the added weightiness of the control for both on foot and in car gameplay. Its like a happy medium between SR3 and GTA 5. I also like the added Just Cause style wingsuit shenanigans. This kinda feels like they took SR 2, added some Watch Dogs 2 and a side of Just Cause. Im all for it. Easy 9 for me so far.

[ClayRules2012]

I’m to hear you’re enjoying the game! I too am enjoying it a lot, and certainly more than WD Legion!

I never was a fan of the other SR games (I did replay the remastered SR The Third) and still couldn’t get into it, regardless of some improvements made.

I personally like the characters and story on offer here, and the weightiness you mentioned does feel good. The finishers feel really solid (or should I say skills) lol.

But yeah, a very fun time had.

[Mobis-New-Nest]

So it's not going to sweep the Video Game Awards 2022 with Game of the Year huh?

[senorfartcushion]

Less than last gen. The third has better running animations and feedback.

[senorfartcushion]

Who brought in Watch_Dogs Legion? Genuinely asking.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

I did. I enjoyed the Zombie mode that’s about it…

[sourOG]

“Plenty of humor”

Only if you like mystery science theater 3000. If you like laughing at unfunny dorks written by activist 20-something’s then I can recommend. The first hour or so is pretty great if you are dead inside. I can’t wait to jump back in tonight.

[brewin]

Wait till you get the stabby stab finisher lol So over the top violent I belly laughed and pissed the wife off 🤣 Shes just like, "really, that kinda violence is funny to you?" Yes, yes it is. Stabby stab 🤣

[sourOG]

It’s funny because it has ultra violence like that but the rest of the game seems like it’s aimed at kids lol. Like here’s what the Mickey Mouse club would be like if they started a gang. That’s saints row in a nutshell lol. Cracking somebody’s skull after a climate change PSA.

I also doubt game informer laughed once. I’m pretty sure they just clapped repeatedly and shouted “go off, queen”. That’s humor these days.

[Christopher]

Dunno, I don't mind it. It's not laugh-out-loud material (that material is really hard to find tbh), but it also isn't heavy-handed. I mean, they mention paying off school debt a total of 1 time, but look online and it seems like they are constantly mentioning it as if it's repeated over and over. It's a weird mixture of "you're a mercenary who kills things well" but then adds "employee handbook" and "pout like you're a late 20-something cast member on a sitcom who is acting like they just got fired." It's... weird but at least entertaining?

I also like MST3K, though, so perhaps my type of humor isn't like others?

[crazyCoconuts]

Is it preachy/ political, or does it stay kinda balanced?

[Christopher]

@crazyCoconuts: So far it jokes about things you'd find on Reddit all the time, so not about heavy political stuff but definitely makes quips about capitalism and work reform-esque things (primarily because up until you create The Saints you are trying to keep a job and pay rent). But, they are very minor. Definitely doesn't come off as preachy so far. I mean, the biggest "attitude" from Boss so far is that they are a wreckless, shoot guns first, ask questions later type of person. Feels very much like Playa of SR3 to me, just younger and making references that are more modern.

For example, and not anything noteworthy in the overall story, The Idols is one of the gangs, and Shirtless Guy (aka Kev) is a part of them at the start, but their whole point is supposed to be to rob the establishment and not the small guy. You go in after they steal from a small guy you know, tell them they robbed a small guy, and they say they just rob, a fight ensues. That's it. That's the entirety of that political commentary.

Most of it is dumb shit you'd see old Saints Row people do, which usually just involves violence or intimidation of some sort.

Though, again, I am only in the early stages of the game.

[sourOG]

The whole “can we steal the hybrids, your carbon footprint ALWAYS matters” made me laugh out loud and scream NERD! Lmao.

It’s heavy handed imo. It’s so bad it’s funny but they aren’t trying to do that. Jokes to these dorks is saying “shitballs” and “F***” over and over. You got it, it’s weird. It’s entertaining for the wrong reasons but we MST3k fans are prepared to deal lol. A regular person would turn this off in the first 30.

[headshotfrosty]

Bargin bin grab in 3 months. Or GP

[jjb1981]

Gamestopinformer wants you to buy it so you can return it for a $12 credit and then resell it for $54.99.

[XbladeTeddy]

Not paying 50 quid for it that's for sure.

[Traecy]

I'm enjoying the game so far.

[ClayRules2012]

Really glad to hear this! I am as well. Had a good many laughs, as has my family.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Watch an actual video review, like the one released by Skill Up.

You'll see everything you need to know as to why this game is immensely far away from being an 8.5

[brewin]

Cuz yes only trust reviewers, why do we even need any other opinions other than the professional reviewers. They are the gatekeepers, if they dont like it nobody else is allowed to.

I still find it fun as hell to stabby stab people in front of cops then quickly jump through somebodys car window to jack them and run down pedestrians while trying to escape the cops, then running said cops off the road with the car sideswipe smash. Totally woke, makes me want to grab a venti latte and dye my hair pink while taking my sex change pills 😐

[Sgt_Slaughter]

You missed the entire point.

The video gives an immensely detailed breakdown of the good, and the overwhelmingly bad. The person who runs Skill Up finished the entire game, completed it, so I'd trust that review much more than a big publication.

All in all, the new Saints Row is a paint-by-numbers, last gen feeling, hunk of junk with a bad coat of paint on it. Glitches galore, repetitive objective, bland and empty environment/population, and game breaking issues that just tell me to go play Saints Row 2 or The Third if I want an actually good Saints Row game. I got that from the channel I mentioned and the general consensus. Even the Skill Up reviewer mentioned multiple people who also review games contacted him to double check and see if he also had game breaking bugs and glitches. That's bad.

All I did was recommend a better review based on how thorough it is and how it doesn't hold back. Not sure why you felt the need to go off in multiple comments rambling on like you did.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Huh, so I guess Game Informer is unreliable…. “Captivating” would not be a word id use to describe the trailers so far.

[sourOG]

When I saw how surprised the game informer reviewer was about privatized schooling working in two point campus I knew it was full of shitlibs lmao. There are some serious dorks over there. The characters from saints row work there lmao. Sipping mimosas lmao. “Wow privatized schooling might work” - public school champion from game informer

[brewin]

Lol, cuz why even play when we can base opinions on trailers. Holy shit, did you see that trailer for such and such movie?? Im going to base all my opinions on trailers cuz I am woke and just hate on everything. I find it so hard to form my own opinion and only trust what my fave reviewer says... and trailers 💩 wtf is wrong with people these days. Eben when you see a good review you have to shit on everything. Wow. Everything sicks these days. Nothing is good. Why even play video games when we van totally watch the trailer and the twitch stream

[Elda]

My first SR game & I'm enjoying it.