Saints Row 2 review

The incredible 2008 sequal to the 2006 Saints Row was for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows platforms. Prologue of the sequal is the Third Street Saints under Protagonist take over Stilwater. From one fateful September 2006 yacht bombing on Alderman Hughes yacht by Julius Little to the then future year of 2011, the leader(Protagonist) is in a coma at the prison hospital. Character customization also includes female traits as well. In the Stilwater Prison infirmary, a young inmate named Carlos Mendoza meets the Saints leader and together they escape from prison. The Saints leader finds out the Third Street Saints has been dissolved by the Ronin, Sons of Samedi, and Brotherhood who now rule Stilwater. The Protagonist goes to Tee N Aye for a drink and finds out Johnny Gat is being held at the Courthouse for sentencing. The Protagonist and Gat escape and start to re-organize the Third Street Saints. The Protagonist recruits not only Carlos Mendoza but newcomers Pierce and Shaundi as well. Dex and Julius are gone, other preivous homies either retired, died, or were jailed, and Troy became chief of police after previous Police Chief Monroe's death. With all that hard work in a short time, The Third Street Saints rise from the ashes and are ready to quash the three rival gangs to extinction.

Gameplay involves much of the previous Saints Row with some new activities. This time, activities are six levels long and have two of each variant, each having their rewards with the exception of Demolition Derby which has only one variant. Stilwater has been improved from ghetto styles to futuristic themes thanks to Ultor Corporation. Stilwater has also been expanded 45% in just 5 years. Mission structure is the same as the previous Saints Row with three different stories for each gang. Routines are the same and what was awesome about this game's gameplay was it expanded and made better in everyway from Saints Row. Car and character customizations have been expanded and convienence has been expanded. Not only that but gang customization is here such as theme of gang members and cars with ability to customize cribs, though it's not as expansive as car and Protagonist customizations. You have the ability to purchase more cribs and clothing options become more expanded as well. Saints Row 2 feels better than Grand Theft Auto IV. Weapons have become more expanded as well. Saints Row 2 truly has more superior gameplay than Saints Row in everyway. Diversions, collections, and more to explore in this wonder of a game!

Graphics and sounds are decent and the feel is consistent. Stilwater looks amazing and designs feel great! However, I feel that character designs look smaller than Saints Row. Though it does look more cartoonish and water color like, environments and display feel real enough to give you pleasure. You feel more in control in Saints Row 2 than you did in Saints Row. Admiring the characters in this game and you can really feel the impact of drama the cutscenes have to offer. The story mode and much is awesomer and more Badass than it's predecessor.

Ratings include Gameplay rating of 9.7, Graphics rating of 8.7, Story of 9, and Lasting Appeal of 9.7. Overall combined rating of 9.3/10.