Saints Row IV Do Super Powers Excite

 Saints Row in reverse...

Saints Row: The Third threw me for a loop. When you consider the zaniness of the second game it would naturally be expected for the third entry in the series to kick things up a notch. But, honestly, I think Saints Row 3 actually lost a bit of the zany charm of the second game, in favor of an out-right nuttier take with less substance. Saints Row 2 sees you breaking out of prison to become the leader of the --then in shambles--third street saints. The story had more substance in Saints Row 2, it was interesting relative to its successor, Saints Row 3. There was death and drama in both games--but, for example,

* SPOILER ALERT FOR SAINTS ROW 2*:Johnny Gat's girlfriend Aiysha dies at the hands of the Ronin gang in Saints Row 2.


This moment is handled with proper accord and, as such, it drives home the dramatic side of the plot. Thus, there was time given in the second game to moments that could help balance the over-the-top, raucousness of the game. Saints Row 3, on the other hand, is a flash over substance--with repetition I hope to hammer home my point--, don't give 'em time to question a thing, kind of game. That's fine, too. But, for me, I found its narrative and gameplay, lacking. I get that there were a bunch of side-distractions; you could buy up land, you could embellish your cars, you could have a bit of fun with road rage, there was that professor Genki game show as well. But, all-in-all, I couldn't tell you I enjoyed them very much. They felt tacked in there, even the oft fun, oft-putting insurance fraud mini game felt cheaper and hollow. I can say that I finished the game and that I enjoyed the experience for the most part. Though, it was the hope of a new customization option that kept me playing Saints Row 3 and not necessarily what mission I could flex the new options in.Also, it may just be me, but man are those animations in Saints Row 3 a bit clunky looking, nah, might just be me. I mean they seem to be moving through an environment of air and little resistance, but, hey, I guess if the same movements looked good in the second title, then why not reuse them, right?

On and on we go...

But, let me say., with proper restraint, I was fairly anticipating the Third game. It seemed to fully be embracing something unfamiliar to the third-person, open-world game.Then when I popped it in and played for a good bit, in December of 2011, it just didn't resonate with me. It felt like the game was yanking me from one plot point to another, from one quick shallow messy distraction to another. Nothing felt anchored down, or worth the time, save for the "freemium" drip-feed of respect and cash, needed for upgrades. Seriously, I felt more like I was in the game playing for the chance to keep playing for the chance to upgrade. When the upgrades themselves began to feel like shallow versions of themselves: like say, pay this much respect to unlock the .o1 percent more effective flame resistance tier, my interest started to wane. Yeah, I just unlocked the ability to obtain my VTOL from anywhere I want....Now the actual combat was solid, but that just means it works. This doesn't mean, however, that it tried to be anything other than a repetitious, bullet sponge, tear down match. Every fight, for the most part, boiled down to pull-out SMG--upgraded--and resolve to move about the street aimlessly avoiding the dead-on fire of the opposition, with dodge roll where possible-- and unload. A decent cover system would have added something, you know, for all the people who complain about GTA's combat system, I'm surprised we so easily over look Saints Rows offering. Yeah, there were tanks and sound wave weapons, but they too felt like a tired, routine affair, in practice.

 Saints Row IV or bust.

What does this ambling rant have to do with Saints Row 4? I can say that I believe that the gameplay of Saints Row 4 will be better, but I have no expectations of the plot. The new super-powered-president-saint combo for the player to wield feels quite appropriate. With the ability to leap over small buildings in a single bound-- though,sadly, not fly--, the power to freeze things, or use telekinesis the game looks to completely disassociate itself from the previous offerings, primarily the second game.  It has aliens, and the entire city is a simulation ,this time. Yeah, I'd say with this new embracing of complete, off the wall, ludicrous flavor, this Saints Row will allow me to also dissociate it from the wistful recollections of Saints Row 2. Building on the solid, half-full--without the DLC, Saints Row 3, Saints Row 4 looks to be fully immersed in its own guile and niche. I think the fun factor of the game will be multiplied. The ability to step in and have the game feel like a super-hero simulator, with no strings attached, sounds really interesting, making Saints Row IV a game to watch.

Checkout This 90minute Gameplay clip from Rev3Games Youtube channel (Note:Skip ahead to 4:54):

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more.