For years, the Saints Row series has been compared countless times to Grand Theft Auto. While the works of Rockstar and Volition share a number of similarities, such as a focus on the criminal underworld and the ability to explore huge open worlds with endless activities, the themes and tone are completely different. Now, considering that the last installments of these two series hit the market almost 10 years ago, the industry has changed in this time, and as a consequence, so have these two properties. Although we still don’t know what lies ahead gta VI, recently I had the opportunity to see an extensive gameplay of the new Saint’s Rowand here I will tell you how is the new work of Volition.
In the Saints we trust
The new game in the series doesn’t have a gigantic number five in the title, because we’re looking at a reboot. This means that you can forget about the history that the previous installments in the series built, but the chaotic and irreverent style that characterizes the franchise will still be preserved. On this occasion, Saints Row introduces us to a group of Saints, four friends who engage in criminal activities to survive. Of the presentation that I had the opportunity to see, a large part focused on making clear the relationship between these characters. One of the first missions is a robbery where everyone participates and, in one way or another, helps the protagonist get ahead. After that, there are various quests that give you the chance to interact more personally with specific party members.
One of the sequences that I had the opportunity to see was an attempted kidnapping. One of the companions is taken prisoner by one of the factions in this world, and it is our task to find him, making it clear that our protagonist will do everything in his power for his friends. Another mission is focused on defeating another enemy group, who tormented an ally in the past. How much focus will the friends have? It seems like a pretty strong one, at least when it comes to the main campaign, and a couple of side tasks. How well, or poorly, this issue is handled at the end of the day remains to be seen.
On the other hand, Saint’s Row presents us with various factions of enemies. Our group, known as the Saints, decides to become the leaders of the criminal world of Santo Ileso, but their job is not easy, as they need to defeat various groups of enemies, each with a unique approach to fighting. For example, The Panthers have quite strong and aggressive units, with mini-bosses capable of carrying heavy weapons, something that you won’t find easily with other gangs. While it’s not yet known how this translates to the story and gameplay, it looks like our focus will be on controlling enemy zones, similar to what we saw with far cry 6.
fun to your liking
The big focus on the game during the presentation was customization. Everything, or almost everything, can be changed to your liking at any time. This is best exemplified with the aesthetic section. The main character can change gender, tone of voice, clothing, complexion and much more just by entering a menu. This can be done at any time, no matter if you are nearing the end of the game, or just walking the streets momentarily. You have great freedom. While you’ll only have access to a set of predetermined combinations at first, you’ll eventually get many, many outfits and wardrobe options. This does not stop here, since the base of operation of the Saints can also be modified with endless elements that you will collect by completing missions, or buying in specific stores.
Do you want more customization? Well, this point goes beyond simple visual elements, since you have various abilities, both passive and active, that you can grant to the protagonist, so that each mission goes according to your tastes. This is something that also applies to your three companions, as you can grant them certain abilities that will help them in combat. Along with this, we will have at our disposal more than 80 different vehicles, and each one can be modified, either in an aesthetic way, or to be effective in a confrontation. One of the novelties is to place a hook on the back, and use different objects as a destruction tool.
Speaking of cars, cars have undergone a series of changes so that they are no longer just a common means of transportation. A new system has been implemented that gives them greater mobility, and allows you to travel around the map in a more fun way. If you are not interested in this, you can always choose to wear a squirrel suit and fly while jumping on the heads of citizens to regain height. As if that were not enough, there are also other vehicles that will allow you to create extraordinary chaos, such as motorcycles and helicopters.
Similarly, melee combat has been modified. Not only will you have at your disposal a series of unique weapons, which have special abilities that are unlocked by completing specific challenges, but you can also use your fists and hit your enemies. To make this more fun, a system has been implemented that gives you access to combos, finishers, and more. Sure, this will also have a ton of customization options to suit your style of play.
A new game scenario
Once you’re tired of fighting, you can always choose to walk the streets of Santo Ileso, a town inspired by New Mexico, California and part of the US-Mexico border. Alongside the main quests, you’ll also have the opportunity to take on side quests, known as side hustles, which will allow you to expand your acquaintance on this map, create new relationships, make a profit, or just have fun in unique ways. If you’re wondering how natural and random this world is, Volition has introduced Opportunities, a series of events that occur from time to time, like a bank truck that you can rob. Similarly, thanks to the introduction of a huge number of emotes, you can interact with the locals in a variety of ways.
One of the important points of Saint’s Row, is to expand your criminal domain. It is not enough to just advance in the main story. Throughout Santo Ileso you can acquire 14 unique locations. These not only give you access to certain perks, like a weapon shop, but also lead to specific quests where you’ll meet new faces, and give you access to mini-quests, like dealing a certain amount of damage with an unlimited rocket launcher in a certain time. The best of all is that everything I have just told you, and everything it offers Saint’s Rowit can be enjoyed in cooperative mode at all times, something that will make the base experience more fun.
The best that awaits us?
Apparently, Saint’s Row It looks great. Although this series was compared to GTA at the time, this new installment has a number of similarities with Far Cry, specifically the last installment. The gameplay that I had the opportunity to see presents us with an extensive world that you can explore as you wish. That is the key to this reboot. Instead of presenting us with a structure tied to what we saw 10 years ago, this title has a focus on customization, not just of your character or weapons, but how you want to progress. Considering that Saint’s Row is positioned to be one of the strong cards for the second half of the year, with a release planned for August 23, 2022 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, I wouldn’t be surprised if this reboot does more than give a new air to the series.