Saints Row: The Third Review [XBox 360]
The Saints' third outing is lewd, sexist, prurient, unnecessarily violent and utterly flippant in its approach to wanton destruction. But then this is of course, the point.
rating: 4
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The Saints' third outing is lewd, sexist, prurient, unnecessarily violent and utterly flippant in its approach to wanton destruction. This is of course, the point. When trying to pin down Saints Row: The Third to examine it's finer nuances of plot, atmosphere or characterisation, things can me made very difficult. This is due purely to the fact that there isn't any. This is certainly not a game that aspires to narrative greatness, two dimensional characters come and go with as much passing note as a fart in gale. Nor is this a game that reinvents the open world wheel, offering players a fairly standard mix of driving, shooting and side mission diversion. But then Volition, the makers of the Saints Row franchise, aren't trying to give Rockstar a run for their money. I spoke in my previewabout the Saints' intent to reclaim the open world as a setting for the hysterical cartoon murderfest of the PS2 era, (see Grand Theft Auto 3). Whereas Rockstar are too busy these days concerning themselves with earnest games that tell sweeping stories of crime, identity and morality; not so here. Here there are gimp suits and weaponised farts.
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Credit where it's due: the game focuses it's destruction fantasy sharply, allowing a huge amount of player customisation from character models, weapons, vehicles and even the gang you roll with. The trouble is the game puts it's eggs all in one basket, it relies on you finding every childish joke utterly hilarious to the point that there really isn't any narrative pull whatsoever if you don't. Moreover enjoying every over the top mission can be a chore because although those found at the start and end of the game are great, a large number in the middle are utterly inane. In short, if you don't take Saints Row: The Third by the hand with enthusiasm from the first moments, chances are you'll be very unimpressed and bored before the last. Unfortunately the same too is true of the game's side activities. The first time you drive a car with a tiger in the passenger seat, trying to race up to speed without crashing so as to appease your feline friend, things definitely are what a character might call 'balls to the wall awesome'. After the second or third time however, the thrill wears thin and you'll probably find yourself only indulging in each side activity once or twice as a result.
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If you care about the Saints and have been following their progress then don't let any of this deter you. You've probably already made your mind up about this third outing and clearly the franchise has already reached you in concerns to humour and mechanics, (though be warned the versus multiplayer component from Saints Row 2 has been scrapped and 'Whored Mode', a repetitive survival mode gimmick, is hardly a worthy replacement). For those on the fence however the choice really comes down to how much you enjoy an open world playground. If you're turned on by driving over the speed limit, taking over the hood and dick jokes you'll be right at home here. If not, Saints Row: The Third won't be the game to change your mind. Saints Row is released on Friday 18th November on XBox 360, PS3 and PC.