Saints Row 2
Review
This is everything that GTA IV isn't
by MarvellousG
reviewed on X360
Easy controls and a lot to do (cntd.)
The world itself is not too impressive, and doesn’t really feel as alive as in certain other games... A nice touch, however, is the ability to enter quite a few buildings, and subsequently rob them. If you’re ever short on cash, just try robbing a jewellery store, but beware of the consequences. And you actually will need to be worried about Stilwater’s (the city you need to reclaim) finest; the police AI is solid throughout, and you can expect to find them setting up barricades at intelligent positions to try and halt your escape. However, on foot, the enemy’s intelligence isn’t so hot. You will frequently see them firing continuously at random spots on walls, and you can sometimes sneak past them without being seen - three inches from their face. But again, this doesn’t seem like the kind of game in which you focus on the AI: it’s all about the craziness.
Customisation excels
Another feature that has GTA beaten is the customisation. From the opening frames when you sculpt your potentially hideous character, to later on when you’re adding strippers and TVs to your crib, the game is what you want it to be through and through, at least aesthetically. And any game that allows you to wear a hot dog suit should gain extra marks.
Definite co-op material
And the insanity reaches new heights of hilarity if you play with a friend; the online co-op is superb, making some of the less interesting activities fantastic romps through and over the city, often making you genuinely laugh out loud. I would say the game might only be worth it if you’re definitely going to play with a buddy over Xbox Live, as it’s not anywhere near as engaging when in single player.
But even if you’re on your own, there’s still a hell of a lot to do, with a decent sized main story, and plenty of collectibles and minigames to keep you entertained for a good while, a particular highlight being the Zombie Uprising arcade machine in your crib; grab a friend and start this, and be prepared for a great little slice of survival horror action, however much in the vein of Capcom’s Dead Rising it may be...
Fine graphics and superb songs
I have heard the game get a lot of stick for it’s graphics, which seems strange to me; they’re very clean and vibrant, and in HD they actually approach being very good looking. The world of Saint’s Row 2 is a much more colourful one than in GTAIV, and it makes it nicer to just explore.
One final point I feel needs a mention is the music; the songs on the in-game radio are superb, and some may be the most hilarious accompaniment to the action I’ve ever seen or heard in a game; any game where you’re a morbidly obese Asian flying around upside down in a jet listening to A-Ha’s Take on Me is definitely worth a look in my book.
Fun kind of insanity
And that is as concise a summary for Saint’s Row 2 as one could wish to end on: it’s completely ridiculous, funny (if not witty) and one of the best co-op games this year, albeit it doesn’t reach the artistic and narrative heights of Grand Theft Auto IV. But then, if you’ve got a co-op partner ready and waiting, you’d be insane not to pick it up, if only for the aforementioned kind of insanity.
8.0
fun score
No Pros and Cons at this time
