Saints Row is a Rip-off, but a damn good one

Find the whole review @ http://gnadegames.blogspot.com

Saints Row is a shameless Grand Theft Auto clone…luckily it’s shamelessly good too. While originality points should be taken away from Volition (Red Faction 1+2, Descent Freespace), they have definitely proven themselves as superior developers. The Red Factions were both very good and introduced the ability to completely change the environment and blow holes in nearly anything. Someone please copy this! As it is a must for nearly any FPS game. Anyway getting back to Saints Row…in many respects it is better than GTA and my brother and I constantly found ourselves saying, “Wow that’s way better than GTA…Sweet!” so if you like GTA this is for you. If you hated GTA’s controls and thought it was overrated (That’s me) then this game is for you. If you are a diehard GTA fan…then you may find Saints Row’s copycatting too much to stomach. Saints Row has better graphics, controls, about the same story, better lasting appeal and multiplayer modes, and only suffers from a much worse sound and radio selection. This game is big and I’m not going to be able to get into every aspect, but nearly everything that worked in GTA is in this game and everything that didn’t has been fixed or dropped.

Gameplay: 9/10
Pros: GTA take notice and for Grand Theft 4 please introduce a free aiming system like the one in Saints Row. How frustrating was the lock-on firing system in GTA? How many times did you beat a mission by luck or die because of awful controls? Too many, luckily Saints Row gives you full control of where to shoot with a free aim system on the right stick. It makes all the urban mayhem that much more fun. You also have to mention Saints Row’s excellent story progression where you have to earn respect in order to take on missions. How do you earn respect? Drug Trafficking, Insurance Fraud, Hostages, Stealing and Pawning merchandise, Being a hitman, Demolition Derbies, Escort missions, Snatching up Hoes, etc. (I’m sure I’m missing a few). Some of these modes are incredibly fun and as you progress up the story missions, the respect levels get harder as well.
Cons: Gameplay is a shameless copy of GTA and lacks some of the features that Rockstar developed over their 3 games: No Motorcycles, No Parachuting, Flying, etc. The story is also more focused on Gangs and City life so the city of Stillwater is not nearly as diverse as the world of San Andreas, which is a shame since the rural countryside and different cities really made Andreas shine.

Graphics: 8.5/10
Pros: The graphics really shame GTA and show that Rockstar will have no excuses for detail when the next-gen GTA is released- graffiti adorns the building which are a far cry from generic boxes and skyscrapers. There’s also no load time when you enter a building or store…just kick the door in and go! The carjacking animations are very fluid (and can be brutal- cap to the head anyone?). Oh and I forgot to mention that when you boot up the game and start up, you’ll design your criminal in a fully customizable create-a-character mode…really awesome idea and a very extensive feature.
Cons: Though the draw distance puts GTA to shame, there still is some fade-in with buildings. The game lacks the graphical prowess of many Xbox 360 games…though more detailed than GTA, it is less detailed than most of the other games I’ve played for the 360.

...read the rest of the review @ http://gnadegames.blogspot.com

Saints Row is a Pretty Good GTA imitation

If imitation is the finest form of flattery, the boys at Rockstar must be the brightest shade of red they have ever been. Grand Theft Auto is nothing short of a mass phenomenon that you literally cannot walk down the street without finding a person that hasn’t heard about it. Whether or not you agree with the game’s popularity, no one can deny that Rockstar has the biggest cash cow ever created. Saints Row is the first; of I am sure many, copycats for the next-gen consoles. Developer Volition, mostly known for their work on the Red Faction series for PS2, has taken the basic premise of GTA and brought it into the HD era. The question on everyone’s mind though, is can it stand up to the juggernaut that Rockstar has created.

To be perfectly honest I have never been the biggest fan of GTA, in fact after the third incarnation, which was the first PS2 title for the uninformed, I really felt the series was more interested in adding new content as opposed to correcting the problems with the original formula. This is where Saints Row takes a huge leap forward in the genre. The biggest and definitely best addition is the new FPS style targeting system. You can now maneuver your in-game avatar around the world without worrying about lock-on targeting malfunctions. While it may not sound like much to long-time fans of the GTA series, you will certainly take notice of how much easier it is to execute simple tasks such as drive bys. It is amazing how one small mechanic can completely change the dynamics of a game.

The basic principle of Saints Row is just what you would expect from this sort of sandbox game. If you have never played GTA before, and if so where have you been, the premise revolves around open-ended gameplay mechanics that allow the player to basically choose their own path. Your character can walk, run, drive, and swim anywhere they want all while tackling the missions and side quests at their leisure. Feel like causing a riot? Just whip out your trusty firearm and wreak havoc among the pedestrians. While the basic layout of the game is very familiar Volition has made some great improvements that really take the genre a step further.

The biggest improvement is obviously the aiming system. Tossing aside the atrocious lock-on method used in GTA Volition has decided to adopt the scheme found in most of today’s first-person shooters. This makes missions such as taking out other gang members and simple tasks such as drive-bys much more enjoyable as well as keeping you from getting frustrated for blowing a mission because of shoddy controls. Volition has also revamped the melee controls allowing your character to punch with either fist via the left and right triggers as well as kicking on command by tapping the left bumper. This actually makes hand to hand combat a fun past time with pedestrians and it means when your bullets are depleted you are not left holding the bag.

To compliment the new fighting and shooting controls are a revamped inventory system that makes switching between weapons and items a breeze. Anyone who played Freedom Fighters will instantly recognize the item wheel. Basically you hold down a button and use the analog stick to rotate and pick whatever item or weapon you desire and let go, simple as that.

Overall the game is pretty fun and I would recommend buying it for anyone who was contemplating on doing so.

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fun and addicting

Gameplay 9/10

This game is fun. When I say fun, you'll be sitting up for hours playing it and you'll never get bored. The physics are great and a big step up from other games in this genre, the softbodies is toned very well, and running people over never gets boring. The aiming and shooting is next to flawless, and the shoot outs are intense and no longer one sided. Don't get me wrong, you can still tower above the FBI and massacre them completely, the enemy just seems to have many new tactics, and the car doors the police hide behind are actually solid and provide actual protection. No more shooting through those doors. :P
Your guy however, still looks like a tool when he walks, but I guess that's just a minor complaint. The driving leaves a bit to be desired, but this game has many more good points than flaws, and the stale driving controls and somewhat awkward vehicle system is a flaw easily overcomeable. There is a lot to do in this game. There are many side quests and small little missions you can accomplish that give you a real sense of freedom. This game has so many puns and funny little quips you'll find yourself in utter awe or in immense hysterics from time to time. The character creation is not all that in depth, but it's still a big leap up from any other game in this genre, and you should be perfectly happy with what you can create. The navigation system in this game is also good, and you can set waypoints to wherever you need, and you'll get a nice informative line telling you that you're going the wrong way when you are in fact, going the wrong way. I downed this section to a nine also because there is no local console multiplayer. Why? Why I say? It sucks.

Graphics 8/10

I can't stress enough how much I really don't care about graphics. Graphics are just hype and they don't mean much to me. However I will look at this very strictly for this review. The game is beautiful, and is quite stunning utilizing the awesome core of the 360. The animations blend perfectly, and my only real complaint is the plants and shrubbery. The fact that you have 2D bushes and trees littering the world is a big letdown, but something that can be quickly forgotten about seeing reality seemingly warped from the intense heat as you fire a few well placed rounds into a car, seeing it ignite and explode into a colorful array of flame and smoke.

Story 8/10

The story is great, and is pretty fast paced. Some may say it's particularly ripped off, but that doesn't really matter, it provides immersive quick gameplay. My only complaint is that this game is too short, and there isn't very many main story missions to accomplish for a next-gen game that could have had more in it. However, there is a lot to do in the world of Saint's Row, and playing the game itself you will spend many an hour taking over hoods and going on a blind rage with your 12 gauge.

Sound 10/10

The sound in this game is great. From the sound of your gun, to the sound of the pedestrians bad mouthing you, then quickly screaming in terror, then the sounds of them coughing up blood as you kick their faces in are music to my ears. The tracks in this game blend well, and you'll often find yourself listening to music you would never normally listen to, and enjoy killing to the sounds of classical easy listening immensly. As far as voice acting goes, it's really good. I'll be honest, I expected something horrible, but I was rewarded with a very good cast to do the voices...

Saints Row - A must buy until Grand Theft Auto is out!

Graphics - 4/5
They did a nice job using the power of the XBOX 360. I think that they player models and the effects were well done.

Gameplay - 4/5
The controls are nice, but it can use a bit of angle work.

Sound - 5/5
You will love the soundtrack

Replay Value - 4/5
Have fun playing this 30+ hour game, not to mention the fun just running around.

If you love GTA, you will love Saints Row. Saints Row is a fun, and remarkable, and great game – though it is a bit unoriginal in many spots. I must say that as a GTA, or Grand Theft Auto, clone, this game plays and is more fun than the other imposters out there. The game has great core missions, interesting side missions, and a new take at how a wide open game handles.

The graphics and the create-a-character is well though out and credits Violations ability to give a new spin to the main character. Though adding this create-a-character to this genre of games, this game feels that it lacks originality. The unsophisticated, ruthless humor is here that will make any gamer want to finish this game, or just go around punishing in game persons. Add that jaw dropping effect that comes with some of the things that are said, this makes for a great buy.

Overall, it is not better than the Grand Theft Auto Series, but it does have its moments and specific bits and pieces that make it stand out and better. It is a fun, deep, and has a full storyline that has many great layers that make you come back for more gaming, especially to get all of those achievements. I must say that as a game, this is fun to play and is a great, and I repeat, great holdover until Grand Theft Auto comes out for the XBOX 360. Make sure you pick this one up on ebay for a great price. This game is more than a rental – it is a buy.

If you like GTA, you'll love SAINT'S ROW !!

First things first... If you liked any GTA (Grand Theft Auto) game ever made, you'll love Saint's Row. Why? It's got it's own style, for sure, but it's essentially a next-gen GTA title. The first next-gen GTA-style game, that is. What makes it better than GTA titles? Far superior graphics, more gameplay features and elements, and multiplayer over Xbox Live or System Link !!

It is missing special vehicles found in the latest GTA titles, however. For example, you cannot drive a boat, helicopter, plane, or motorcycles. When there's 1,000's of unique vehicles, though, it doesn't matter. The developers wanted to put these other vehicles in the game but didn't have time.

Essentially, everything else that a GTA game offers is here and even more. Including many things, such as "insurance fraud" activities among many others, too! There's too much to list, to be honest.

I'm 45% through the single-player story mode, but it took me about 20 hours to get that far. Really, no kidding. The game keeps track of all kinds of stats, including gameplay time, so I know this is true.

The game isn't flawless, but neither are any of the GTA titles. Even GTA: San Andreas still had it's fair share of minor glitches. Saint's Row has it's fair share, too. It's inevitable when you make a sandbox title that you'll have these glitches, so it's to be expected anyway. The more annoying ones are having to drive across the city to replay some mission over and over because you keep dying... And the constant disappearance and reappearance of vehicles in your view. If a vehicle gets too far off your screen for too long, it simply won't be there anymore. There may be another vehicle instead, or simply nothing. This is annoying but not a deal-breaker.

The multiplayer seems a bit laggy and possibly needs a patch to fix some bugs. It's still not horrible, though, and there are so many multiplayer game modes it's great!! My favorite is probably the Co-Op missions you can play over Xbox Live.

Bottom line is this -- If you liked any GTA series title (especially any in the last few years), you'll definately love Saint's Row. As a matter of fact, if I played this game without knowing the title, I'd swear I was playing the yet-to-be-released GTA4. No kidding! It does have it's own flavor and style to things, though, which definitely make it more fun.

Even without multiplayer, I'd still rate this game at least a 4.5 out of 5, but with multiplayer, I cannot help but to definitely rate this a 5 out of 5. No game has taken up this many hours of my time in years.