After the demise of THQ, and the acquisition of Volition by Deep Silver, it’s safe to assume that Saints Row 4 will become a reality sooner rather than later, but far from being excited, I just don’t see Saints Row 4 being the Saints Row we need.
Now I’m not saying Saints Row 3 was a bad game, it just was certainly not as memorable or fun as Saints Row 2 – it was a desensitized version of fun, like the developers were telling you which toys were the most enjoyable. Instead of keeping the whole “Serious story, funny people, and lots of things to discover” way, they went with “Goofy story, Cardboard characters, and here are all the fun things”.
I don’t hate Saints Row 3, it just was a huge let down for a fan of the series. I think if Volition can follow a few easy steps they can make a Saints Row 4 we’d all like. It’s mostly a matter of self-control at this point, they just need to hold back on few things(pop-culture reference and dildo bats). It’s like they found a way to make a parody of the parody game, it was far too self aware and felt more like a mockery to the originals than a sequel.
None the less, here is my proposed list of changes Saints Row 4 should make…
5. Tone Shift
Keeping a consistent tone is very important to making an amazing game, Saints Row 2 had that down. They made a game that had serious storyline that was over the top, but not goofy. When you lost a friend in Saints Row 2, it was like “Okay, full revenge time!”. While Saints Row 3 felt more like a shallow parody of Saints Row 1 and 2, with no sense of reality or consistency. They wanted you to feel bad for Johnny Gat dying, but then had a (terribly different) Shaundi making jokes as you dove through 2 different Aircraft Carriers (blowing them up as went through them).
It just didn’t feel consistent, it felt like they tried to be funny too often. The reason Saints Row 2 was so funny is that they only made some jokes in the cinematic that felt in place with the time and characters.
If SR4 could benefit from any game the most in this area, it would be SR2. It never pushes the wacky fun things in your face, it never felt like a parody of a real game. Obviously being funny was a key part of the game, but it never shoved that part into your face.
It reminds me of why it’s fun to watch bad movies that think they are good, instead of bad movies that know they are bad so they ham it up to parody level. That whole cynical “it’s funny because it’s bad” thing is tired horse that should be laid to rest.
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24 Comments
I definitely agree with everything pointed out. I’m big on customization, and prior to sr3′s release, I was excited for the customization options that were lacking in the second installment. And still I was disappointed. They need to take a look at today’s culture and style and also integrate it with previous generations.
And I think each character should be more personalized than just having three preset voices. You should be able to set a certain tone. Just my opinions.
I agree with the minimal relations to the roots of The Saints. SR3 was very bright with color and bloom. The Physx was also a much better improvement. However, GTA, Just Cause, and even Streets of:(not Sleeping dogs) had much larger maps, more interaction, and challenges and side missions galore. I do not think anyone or Deep Silver should invest in a 4th unless it is a radical makeover. Saints Row 3 should be well modified.
Bring back the streets! Bring back the blunts and 40s! Make it feel like saints row not a 5 graders mind
I agree with your suggestions and they would totally work with my idea for SR4, reboot the story and focus on the task of building and running your gang. Instead of the preset picks for your lieutenants like they did in SR2, I’d like to be able to choose from different types of people that would not only affect the type of gang you’re building but more importantly would greatly increase the replay value of the game. Your first play through you build a typical SR gang that deals in just about anything illegal but nothing big, then your next play through you build a biker type gang that runs the drug trade of the entire town, and then on your third play through you build a mafia type gang that not only has a hand in all things illegal but also legally owns buildings and parts of the town.
I absolutely agree on the clothes comment. I can’t stand the high waste pants for the female character models and the ugly-ass jacket/shirt combinations. Perverted dress-up put aside story wise I know exactly what I would like to see… I think the Killbain ending where you form a radical city-state would be awesome. Think about it, you now run a city-state, you are a KING, and now everyone in the Saints Row universe wants to kill you. Imagine the fun that you could have with that story.
One thing I personally hated was that I couldn’t replay missions. After being killed 2 sometimes 3 times in the earlier missions, I would like to go back as a ‘walking death machine!’
They’ll likely go for the ‘happy ending’ so you can have Shaundi and Viola in your gang. So in SR4 I’d like to find out what happened to Dex and Killbane!
I agree with a couple of your suggestions but i had a lot of fun killin brutes
If you didn’t like saints row, you probably should’ve stuck to grand theft auto. The lack of realism is what seperates the two games. In all honesty, the craziness is what sold saints row 3. It’s a game. So have fun! I don’t want to exit reality to play a real life sim.
Exactly saints row 3 was a success. It was fun it was zany it took me back to the days of playing san andreas,something I missed from gta 4. Critics loved it, and it tore it away from the stigma of being a gta clone. with gta 5 being more comical if there is any toning down of saints row from the SR3 then it would likely revert back to clone status.Losing all the sucess and fans it gained fromSR3. If it does come closer to gta again gta will win because SR would always be seen as the clone. And you can’t beat rockstar.
the only reason it became a success is because people who loved sr and sr2 bought it along with a few of you retards who think elemntarty minded video game like sr3 is good. just in case you didnt know sr2 was a success with it selling 4 million games just as much as sr3 even without you noob newcomers to the series trying to say it needs to be like that crap. seriously go to another series
I love the upgrades becoming invincible was so awesome you still had to work for it. Cheats are fun if you dont like them dont use them you have a choice. I agree it should have been more street but SR3 was a great game Volition doesnt need to change anything.
The only thing I want in Saints Row 4 is for them to keep the toilet as a playable character. Never laughed so hard at a game, DDT’ing pedestrians and bouncing away.
I liked both, but yeah, about the plot I wish something more like saints row 2.
Also I hope the protagonist will be able to do more things (example when he goes in water he should be able to do more things rather than only swim) than he can do in the game (except for missions)
And I want drinks back! Maybe when he is drunk he should stagger or, sometimes even fall.
Noooo!!! Saints row 2 was just too dull !!!Its like playing a cheap copy of gta iv !!!NOT FUN !!!Saints row 3 on the other hand was so much better !!!Jumping out of planes falling through the air with a tank THAT WAS SWEET !!! Why do all games have to be “realistic” !!!Jeez !!We ‘ve already got enough of them so why add one more :/ !!!
We need more games like saints row 3 !!
Even though its not perfect…It still is a damn good and fun game !!!Period !
I disagree. If you want street life and gang warfare with a serious story and occasional jokes strewn here and there, go play San Andreas or GTA V. Saints Row 3 was just what the franchise needed to seperate itself from being “like GTA, but different”.
The only thing that was really severely lackluster in SR3 (compared to SR2) was the customization aspect; you are right about Planet Saints having bulk of the clothes and other stores not offering as much. Plus, choosing undergarments and shirts seperately was really cool.
No, SR4 should stay on the track that SR3 paved for it. The Third is probably the single most fun game that I ever had the pleasure to play – I laughed, I cheered, it’s fast, it’s fun, it’s wacky, it’s crazy, it’s BRILLIANT!
I fully agree, i liked the Saints Row 2, but Saints Row 3 was so much better, and more fun. I want them to keep the style and improve it. Sure i would like some more progression and choices in clothing and skill trees, but no going back down anymore.
go play gta v? really? its not even out you retard. the only gta game about gang warfare was san andreas none of the other are about it. you obviously didnt play saints row untill this sad joke of a game called sr3. and guess what? deep silver will not release something theyre embarassed of like thq preident was. sr4 will go back to being saints row not a middle school joke book of a game. seriously your a retard if you think it needs to stay in this direction
lol yall are crazy saints row 1-2 were nowhere near dull the purpose of the game was to be street related to be honest they minus well kill off your player in 4 if there going to make the same garbage.Dont get ,e wrong SR3 had some good things like hmm well customization oh wait sr2 was better at that. OK there is usage of money oh wait there was nothing really important to buy in sr3 because u couldn’t buy houses or cars. well their storyline oh nvm sr1 and 2 beat it by a long run i guess nothing is good about this game
Great article! YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES. WAIT FOR IT…….. YES! i cant agree with you more. i want jewlery stores back and being able to buy gold or platnum chains.i want to choose my layers of clothes. i want to be able to smoke blunts and drink 40s. i want saints row not this stupid elemtary joke of a game. the only improvement in sr3 was the graphics and driving which wernt that significant. make saints row effin saints row not this bs
Great article and I agree with everything you said.
Saints row 2>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Saints Row The Turd
Totally agree, Saints row 1 & 2>3
No no no no no. The 5 things they need to change are…
Deep character customization (like sr2)
Gang lieutenant boss battles/archs like that voodoo guy in sr2. the mini boss guys were fine, we were just missing traditional boss battles for the most part. normal armored people can get stale because lack of gameplay variety (he has armor and bigger guns? well shoot him more than normal and take cover…) yeah the mini bosses in the 3rd were more fun than that but imo they needed more. like steam punk final fantasy esque deckers that are sword experts that fight final fantasy esque too with magic and limit breaks. deckers with mechs maybe. melee luchadore specialists that try to grapple you,
wasnt 5 things but yeah.
mounting turrets, rocket launchers on almost any car
4player co-op
bigger city
more missions? 3rd didnt use activities as padding like 1 & 2 so maybe it had enough missions.
secrets/urban legends/secret bosses
better male character creation, player created males look old to me.