It May Look Like A Grand Theft Auto Wannabe, but it definitly has its own thing going.
Gameplay-
Gameplay in Saints Row is like GTA4 and San Andreas mashed together to create a king of run and gun but at the same time you might need to watch your health when it gets hectic. The driving is also very fun and makes you feel good when you're goin down the freeway in a Venom, or driving through the Ghetto in a Beater. It's a very immersive experience.
Graphics-
The graphics aren't exactly top notch and the cutscenes aren't exactly great either, but it's good enough, kinda like San Andreas, where the game made up for the graphics.
Online- I personally haven't played online because i don't have the setup or money for Xbox Live. I have heard that online was ok, but not many people are playin now with Saints Row 2 out.
Character Customization-
The Character Customization is very in depth when it come to just about anything. In the beginning of the game the first thing you do is make your character's physical appearance the way you want. No getting stuck with a lame guy either, you can go to " Image as Designed" to change everything from weight to Race.
Character Customization on Clothing-
The Character Clothing Customization is a very neat and much better than the okay San Andreas one. On Saints Row you can have literally 3 layers of tops, 3 layers of chains, pendants and medallions on each chain. Watches, and bracelets, peirceings on ears, eyebrows, and more, hats, eyewear, pants, underwear, and all jewelry has multiple types of Material you can buy, platinum, gold, you name it. The clothes also have that control, you can make you hat backwards, any angle almost, your pants low or high, have you pants rolled up on your left, or right leg, or both. It's pretty much the best Character Customization i've ever seen in a game so far.
Vehicles- A vast majority of vehicles are at your whim to destroy and keep in a magic garage, that can hold as many vehicles you want and never go away unless you tell it to get rid of the car. The Vehicle Customization is just as in depth as the Character Customization is. Make it a whip or a beater, your choice.
Stilwater is open to you form the beginning, every shop, every place, everything.
That wraps up my review and i know it was longer but Saints Row has so much stuff crammed in it i could barely say this little. I hope you play Saints Row and enjoy it. Thanks and i hope you found my review useful.