Debating on taking a trip to the Row? Get the down-low on the latest title attempting to dethrone GTA right here.
Graphics: There's no denying that the graphics in Saint's Row are very crisp. The character models look fantastic, especially the main character. Car models are much more realistic than we have become accustomed to in games like this, and the explosion effects are a sight to behold. The fire effects are probably some of the best we have seen out of the 360 thus far. Gun models are solid, and customizing your character never gets old thanks to the many options the game gives you to make your character look exactly as you want him to.
Sound: The sound in this game is pretty good. The firearms are a shining point I would say, as the guns sound very realistic and don't deliver the standard "pop pop" sound you'd expect. The voiceovers are solid, with some very good performances. Some of the script is a little on the cheesy side, but somehow they work it right into the game. Engine sounds leave some to be desired, but are by no means bad. Alot of really neat little clips here and there from NPC's are just funny.
Controls: They quickly become second nature. At first, I was very confused upon looking at the inventory menu. Volition decided to integrate the inventory menu into the heads-up display. At any time, simply hold down the B button and the menu will appear. Use the left thumbstick to make your selection, and wa-la...done. I was very impressed with the ease of use. Designating the right bumper button for sprinting makes the control feel very comfortable and easy to master. Driving is a bit trickier, but after a few minutes of getting used to maneuvering the camera, you'll be flying around corners and drifting with the handbrake. Not too shabby to say the least.
Gameplay: This game is fun. And that, to me, is what alot of developers have lost sight of. They don't focus on controversy, they don't shove everything in your face...they just make a fun, free-roaming game that you can sit down and play that actually has a good story. Again, you play the new kid on the block working your way up the food chain. Missions in this game are based on respect. That is to say, in order to progress from mission to mission, you will have to play mini-games to fill up your respect meter. This game is one of the very few that I can actually say, I liked the mini-games alot. Although some of the things in this game don't make physical sense (When you play the Escort missions, the media vans are faster than your limo by far and appear out of thin air the second you pick up the client), it's still alot of fun. The missions seem to have just the right amount of difficulty as well. I really appreciated the way that, when you fail a mission, unlike GTA, Saint's asks you if you would like to retry the mission. This saves you the time of driving all the way back out to the icon on the map. Very helpful. And whoever decided to include a health bar that replenishes when you aren't getting hit, ala Halo 2, was a genious. It really helps to balance the difficulty when you can duck out of a fierce fight and hide long enough to get your health back. There's customization options galore in this game, from the character to your cars. And that's what I like. Options. Give me tons, and that's exactly what Saint's Row has. A custom character wearing custom clothes in a custom truck/car driving around a wide open city. Can you name something that even compares to the fun to be had with that? Dead Rising doesn't count...but seriously, it's a blast to play and the story always makes you wonder what's next, something GTA never ever did for me. All in all, if you have a 360, you really shouldn't miss out on Saint's Row. The only issues I had with the game were some downright awful breakups in the environment graphics in places. Sometimes I'd be driving and the whole road would disappear. A tad more time in beta and this game would be a ten. As it stands though, it's still a very solid title and one that no 360 owner should pass up the chance to experience. As a rental, I can easily recommend this one, although if you get hooked on it, you will want to purchase it, so that's up to your discretion. As a purchase, this is one of those rare games that I really feel like I got my $60 worth. Volition has raised the bar with Saint's Row. Maybe now Rockstar will actually show some originality in their GTA line and make a game that isn't just a copy of GTA 3 with new polish and no story. Until they do, however, Saint's Row is definitly the new Don of this genre.