snickothemule
January 12th, 2009, 10:15
Saints Row 2 (360,PC,PS3)
The Row
Gangbanging may be a questionable career choice, with the drive by’s, drug trafficking, harassment from the man and pimping en masse, and general illegal activities, being a gangster is no easy way to make a crust or for long life expectancy. Expanding on their previous adventure following the 3rd Street Saints of Stillwater, Volition software are taking us on another ride through the mean virtual streets once more and this time, our non speaking hero of the previous adventure is ready to take his city back by any means necessary except this time, the anti-hero has a voice and by the sounds of it, he is not too pleased with what has gone down.
Straight outta Compton
Waking up in prison from a coma inducing explosion which happened in the first Saints game we find that a young gangbanger has deliberately gotten himself stabbed in order to get close to the downed leader so that the two of them can make a planned prison breakout, so that the two of them can rebuild the destroyed Saints crew, get their fellow gangbangers off of death row and take down any gang in their path.
As with the previous instalment Saints Row 2 features a very detailed character creation tool which literally leaves the opportunity to create any sort of character that your mind can think of. With choices ranging from sex, race and skin colour, sliders give us the chance to mould our character to be virtually anything, for instance you can create an obese cross dresser with a British accent, and a waif like transvestite who looks Chinese, but has a black man’s voice or you can create Amy Winehouse. The possibilities are endless and often hilarious thanks to details modifiable percentages to just about every aspect of the human body.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_1.jpg
Frank was a wizz at monopoly
Hey chief, can I hold my gun on the side, it makes me look cool
It is easy to brand Saints Row 2 a Grand Theft Auto clone, but where GTA has seemingly kicked its silly side to the curb, Saints 2 shamelessly picks it up, dusts it off and says “you’re coming home with me”. Combat is simply run around in circles, avoiding cover, shoot everything in the face with 2 pistols, gloat about your accomplishment and then off to run over old people in your monster truck, all the while gaining respect amongst your derelict mates. And this is why Saints 2 is nothing short of fun. All forms of seriousness have been disregarded and only shameful activities are on offer.
Speaking of activities in order to follow the main story respect must be earned to fill a bar and then these respect points are used to activate the missions. These respect points can be made by killing people, driving recklessly, earning bonus points exactly the same way as you would in Burnout, or for sending a pedestrian 6 blocks through the air because you hit them full speed in a truck, but these are only minor accomplishments. Taking the activity side missions earn major respect points and on the surface some of them on offer are a great diversion from the main story missions, and with activities ranging from being a body guard, stealing cars for a chop shop or fight club, or insurance fraud where you willingly throw yourself into oncoming traffic and having to do these activities to allow the main story to progress comes across as a measure to force people to take these side quests, rather than letting the player take these missions by choice.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_2.jpg
"Yo, you don't mind if I put a quick "Dazza was 'ere" do ya?"
With missions containing barely anything more than run and gun or on rail shooting with focus on destruction of rival gangs and completing these missions from start to finish would end up being rather tedious, what makes you coming back for more is the hilarious and carefree nature of the main characters. The constant whining of Pierce, as Shaundi constantly pips him on filling the boss with information is a great for a small distraction, or how Gaz is too happy to throw all great plans out the window in favour of shooting up the place. It also isn’t afraid to show some of its emotional side here or there but taking these moments seriously as the character you created has got mutton chops and a lady voice is something that simply won’t happen, but kudos for trying Volition.
In the end there are some 55 missions on offer which is about 60% of the games content. It is good to note that this game features a drop in drop out co-op mode on offer as long as you have an online account. Having co-op in a sandbox style game is a great move, but it is a shame that this can’t be extended to offline co-op.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_3.jpg
"So I says to Wiggum "If I can eat that box of donuts in 30 seconds, I gets your hat right..."
Sippin’ on gin and juice, laid back
Further cementing the fact that this is a game focused on fun rather than being serious, visually the game reflects this, by abandoning browns and greys which seem to populate just about every A grade game as of late. In its replacement Volition have focused on showering as many bright and colourful lights upon the main player, cars are bright purple, and the clothing is deliciously camp in colour. This will not however change the fact that the environments themselves are rather bland in elevation and grit. Everything just comes across as too clean, or too boring. There just doesn’t seem to have much soul to the environment which was one of the major complaints of the first iteration of the Saints story. Character models too are a bit too simple and the game seems to have a hard time showing more than half a dozen characters on the screen at once before the frame rate deciding to chug and pop-up is a major player in this game, with some characters spawning right next to you which tends to pull you away from fully appreciating the whole experience.
From a noise making aspect this game does excel in certain areas. The voice acting is nothing short of solid, with the English accent coming out trumps simply because it stands out like an albino at the beach and just seems so out of place, yet somehow works tremendously. The supporting cast are also quite good at delivering some good work and Lt Worf of Star Trek fame makes an audio appearance as one of the gang’s leaders. The soundtrack available offers some great hits from many different genres, with talent such as Mastodon, and Trivium on the metal side, Destiny’s Child for hip hop, some actual quality rap tracks, and the greatest 80’s song known to mankind, The Final Countdown by Europe (hearing the main protagonist sing along after he's had too much to drink is a hilarious touch). While these tracks are great to listen to, what lets them down is the rather lacklustre DJ’s and laboured advertising which litters the radio, bringing down the whole immersive experience.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_4.jpg
Counterstrike tactics: elaborate
Pimpin’ ain’t easy
Saints Row 2 still is suffering from an identity crisis with rather lame radio DJ’s, bland environments and characters which are shallower than a toddlers wading pool (although this aspect has improved a fair bit from the first game). The frame rate chugs at times and the missions become rather bland and samey, but what this game simply triumphs at is being nothing more than a pure sandbox video game, intent with having fun spraying poo on passer’s by simply because it is hilarious to do. If this game were a real person it would be a beer drinking, women lauding nudie running frat boy intent with nothing more than having fun and that is simply what this game is: brilliant fun.
Gameplay – 87
Visuals – 85
Audio – 89
Overall – 90
Volition have got their ideals set in the right direction by keeping Saints Row 2 heavily set in old school gaming ideals which is simply to kick back, relax and do whatever you want. Great work, just needs a bit more here and there.
Game experienced on PS3 on Bravia screen over HDMI at 720p (max available setting) and 7.2 audio.
The Row
Gangbanging may be a questionable career choice, with the drive by’s, drug trafficking, harassment from the man and pimping en masse, and general illegal activities, being a gangster is no easy way to make a crust or for long life expectancy. Expanding on their previous adventure following the 3rd Street Saints of Stillwater, Volition software are taking us on another ride through the mean virtual streets once more and this time, our non speaking hero of the previous adventure is ready to take his city back by any means necessary except this time, the anti-hero has a voice and by the sounds of it, he is not too pleased with what has gone down.
Straight outta Compton
Waking up in prison from a coma inducing explosion which happened in the first Saints game we find that a young gangbanger has deliberately gotten himself stabbed in order to get close to the downed leader so that the two of them can make a planned prison breakout, so that the two of them can rebuild the destroyed Saints crew, get their fellow gangbangers off of death row and take down any gang in their path.
As with the previous instalment Saints Row 2 features a very detailed character creation tool which literally leaves the opportunity to create any sort of character that your mind can think of. With choices ranging from sex, race and skin colour, sliders give us the chance to mould our character to be virtually anything, for instance you can create an obese cross dresser with a British accent, and a waif like transvestite who looks Chinese, but has a black man’s voice or you can create Amy Winehouse. The possibilities are endless and often hilarious thanks to details modifiable percentages to just about every aspect of the human body.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_1.jpg
Frank was a wizz at monopoly
Hey chief, can I hold my gun on the side, it makes me look cool
It is easy to brand Saints Row 2 a Grand Theft Auto clone, but where GTA has seemingly kicked its silly side to the curb, Saints 2 shamelessly picks it up, dusts it off and says “you’re coming home with me”. Combat is simply run around in circles, avoiding cover, shoot everything in the face with 2 pistols, gloat about your accomplishment and then off to run over old people in your monster truck, all the while gaining respect amongst your derelict mates. And this is why Saints 2 is nothing short of fun. All forms of seriousness have been disregarded and only shameful activities are on offer.
Speaking of activities in order to follow the main story respect must be earned to fill a bar and then these respect points are used to activate the missions. These respect points can be made by killing people, driving recklessly, earning bonus points exactly the same way as you would in Burnout, or for sending a pedestrian 6 blocks through the air because you hit them full speed in a truck, but these are only minor accomplishments. Taking the activity side missions earn major respect points and on the surface some of them on offer are a great diversion from the main story missions, and with activities ranging from being a body guard, stealing cars for a chop shop or fight club, or insurance fraud where you willingly throw yourself into oncoming traffic and having to do these activities to allow the main story to progress comes across as a measure to force people to take these side quests, rather than letting the player take these missions by choice.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_2.jpg
"Yo, you don't mind if I put a quick "Dazza was 'ere" do ya?"
With missions containing barely anything more than run and gun or on rail shooting with focus on destruction of rival gangs and completing these missions from start to finish would end up being rather tedious, what makes you coming back for more is the hilarious and carefree nature of the main characters. The constant whining of Pierce, as Shaundi constantly pips him on filling the boss with information is a great for a small distraction, or how Gaz is too happy to throw all great plans out the window in favour of shooting up the place. It also isn’t afraid to show some of its emotional side here or there but taking these moments seriously as the character you created has got mutton chops and a lady voice is something that simply won’t happen, but kudos for trying Volition.
In the end there are some 55 missions on offer which is about 60% of the games content. It is good to note that this game features a drop in drop out co-op mode on offer as long as you have an online account. Having co-op in a sandbox style game is a great move, but it is a shame that this can’t be extended to offline co-op.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_3.jpg
"So I says to Wiggum "If I can eat that box of donuts in 30 seconds, I gets your hat right..."
Sippin’ on gin and juice, laid back
Further cementing the fact that this is a game focused on fun rather than being serious, visually the game reflects this, by abandoning browns and greys which seem to populate just about every A grade game as of late. In its replacement Volition have focused on showering as many bright and colourful lights upon the main player, cars are bright purple, and the clothing is deliciously camp in colour. This will not however change the fact that the environments themselves are rather bland in elevation and grit. Everything just comes across as too clean, or too boring. There just doesn’t seem to have much soul to the environment which was one of the major complaints of the first iteration of the Saints story. Character models too are a bit too simple and the game seems to have a hard time showing more than half a dozen characters on the screen at once before the frame rate deciding to chug and pop-up is a major player in this game, with some characters spawning right next to you which tends to pull you away from fully appreciating the whole experience.
From a noise making aspect this game does excel in certain areas. The voice acting is nothing short of solid, with the English accent coming out trumps simply because it stands out like an albino at the beach and just seems so out of place, yet somehow works tremendously. The supporting cast are also quite good at delivering some good work and Lt Worf of Star Trek fame makes an audio appearance as one of the gang’s leaders. The soundtrack available offers some great hits from many different genres, with talent such as Mastodon, and Trivium on the metal side, Destiny’s Child for hip hop, some actual quality rap tracks, and the greatest 80’s song known to mankind, The Final Countdown by Europe (hearing the main protagonist sing along after he's had too much to drink is a hilarious touch). While these tracks are great to listen to, what lets them down is the rather lacklustre DJ’s and laboured advertising which litters the radio, bringing down the whole immersive experience.
http://www.generalemu.net/view/reviews/saints2/saints2_4.jpg
Counterstrike tactics: elaborate
Pimpin’ ain’t easy
Saints Row 2 still is suffering from an identity crisis with rather lame radio DJ’s, bland environments and characters which are shallower than a toddlers wading pool (although this aspect has improved a fair bit from the first game). The frame rate chugs at times and the missions become rather bland and samey, but what this game simply triumphs at is being nothing more than a pure sandbox video game, intent with having fun spraying poo on passer’s by simply because it is hilarious to do. If this game were a real person it would be a beer drinking, women lauding nudie running frat boy intent with nothing more than having fun and that is simply what this game is: brilliant fun.
Gameplay – 87
Visuals – 85
Audio – 89
Overall – 90
Volition have got their ideals set in the right direction by keeping Saints Row 2 heavily set in old school gaming ideals which is simply to kick back, relax and do whatever you want. Great work, just needs a bit more here and there.
Game experienced on PS3 on Bravia screen over HDMI at 720p (max available setting) and 7.2 audio.