Saints Row review

Released as an Xbox 360 only game in August 2006, Saints Row brings back memories of the Third Street Saints humble beginnings as a vigilante gang rivaling three competing gangs throughout Stilwater.

Gameplay is a lot like Grand Theft Auto which include use of firearms and melee weapons. Activities across Stilwater can be complete for more rewards such as special cars, homies, clothing, abilities, and weapons. Vehicle & weapon selections are great and controls feel lighter than Grand Theft Auto. What Saints Row has that Grand Theft Auto doesn't is character customization in which you can fully customize everything in appearence of your character. It can only be done with male gender however. You can also easily store and customize vehicles, which is something you couldn't do in Grand Theft Auto. Activities range from insurance fraud, mayhem, snatch, drug dealing, etc. Some activities can get repetitive with most having 8 levels each in three different gang controlled territories. However, activities range in between average levels depending on how they play. The player starts out with a small low income Loft in Mission Beach, Saints Row but you can gain three more cribs after completing the story of the crib that belonged to the rival gang leader. Examples would include Lopez Mansion after destroying Los Carnales, King's Penthouse after destroying the Vice Kings, and Price's Mansion after destroying the Westside Rollerz.

Story revolves around your custome created protagonist walking down the streets of Stilwater when he is caught in a gun battle with three major gangs(Westside Rollerz, Vice Kings, and Los Carnales) but is saved by Julius Little, leader of the newly formed Third Street Saints. Little and Troy recruit The Protagonist to clear out Saints Row from rival gangs. Members of the Third Street Saints would include Leader Julius Little, Dex Jackson, Johnny Gat, Troy, Protagonist, and Lin. The Third Street Saints would fight three rival gangs being Los Carnales, Vice Kings, and Westside Rollerz. After the first Saints missions plus Los Carnales stronghold in Saints Row territory, you can conquer these gangs in any order of your choice, as these gangs have their own stories. These stories are actually great. Nearly every mission has you conquering a neighborhood previously held by the rival gang and all strongholds result in neighborhood conquest.

Graphics, Theme, and Sounds fit magically with the game as you feel immersed in a sort of comic book like hip hop world in a Great Lakes city in Michigan. Saints Row made itself a great series! Physics of this game feel lightweight and so much that you feel you have more control over movement.

Saints Row Gameplay is rated 8.9, Graphics is rated 9, and lasting appeal is 8.5. Overall rating for this Xbox 360 exclusive game is an 8.8/10.