If you have played games like Grand Theft Auto or more recently either Prototype and inFAMOUS. Then I know may enjoy Saints Row 2.
Saints Row for the Xbox 360 is a remarkable sandbox type game that put us in the shoes of young gangster moving up in the ranks killing stuff and occasionally snatching some hoes. What made this game fun was the power to do whatever you wanted and progress through the story at your own will.
Yes I know that isn’t all that original considering Grand Theft Auto, but Saints Row took what Rock Star did and twisted it into something of total greatness. You didn’t have to unlock an area to be able to go there. It was there from the get go. The city of Stillwater was your epic playground and it’s filled to the brim with many things to do.
To think the game I’m about to talk about not only multiplied the amount of stuff you could do, but also made it’s predecessor look miniscule in comparison. That game is simply Saints Row 2.
Saints Row 2 not only looks and feels better; It’s much larger and customizable as well. Not only can you customize yourself, and your vehicles; now you can Customize your cribs, your gang, and what your homies use as vehicles. The amount of customization added to your character as changed as well. You can change your characters voice, personality,fighting style, and even facial expressions.
I feel bad for PC, and PS3 owners because they never got Saints Row, and may miss some story elements at the beginning of Saints Row 2. Though to be completely honest you are not missing much and it doesn’t affect the game play and story of the second game.
The soundtrack for Saints Row 2 is gigantic. There are many different genres to listen to ranging from Hip-Hop to Classical. No Country here though…Thank goodness :). The sound effects for the cars, guns, and even nature around you is extremely well done, and produces an even more enjoyable experience to a games filled to the brim with great moments and memorable characters.
The game play hasn’t changed much except for a few enhancements which I believe are well placed and welcomed; such as dual wielding pistols and SMG’s, and the Gears of War like zoom to aim more precisely. The difficulty curve for Saints Row 2 is pretty fair. As you progress through the various story and side missions; their difficulty increases. Though some mission’s difficulties are sporadic and you won’t know what you’re in for, but I found those missions seem to come around the end.
The multiplayer is done online only. You have the choice of whether you want just about anyone to come in and play with your or you can make it so that only your friends can join, or if your paranoid enough you can have it so that only people you have invited may join. The multiplayer is exactly the same as the single player game only now you can do all the missions with a friend. Unlike Fable 2 your friend is the person he/she made, not some random goon to help you.
On a side note. This game isn’t a clone nor a rip off of Grand Theft Auto. It is indeed an entity of its own. The vast amount of customization and the fact that as a game it doesn’t take itself seriously makes it original. Unlike Grand Theft Auto 4. I didn’t feel forced to do stuff. I didn’t find it’s jokes and poor Russian accents funny. I just thought they were just trying to hard to do what they did in the past.
So if you have played Grand Theft Auto, or haven’t played this type of game before I definitely recommend Saints Row 2. It’s the type of game where you can just screw around for hours and still have fun.
