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Cieran's Take - Dissapointing, but Enjoyable
Saints Row: The Third is an odd game. What I will say, to start off with, is that it’s not as good as Saints Row 2. This is just my opinion, and your mileage may vary, but I found myself enjoying SR2 much more than SR3, both for the former’s longer storyline as well as a more interesting world.
Don’t take this to mean that SR3 is bad, however, by no means is it. It’s every bit as crazy as you’ve seen in the trailers, and surprisingly they manage to pull this off without it seeming hackneyed or clichéd - each mission, however bizarre it may be, seems to blend in well with the narrative, and, while they last, they’re a lot of fun. But this really brings us to one of the problems. SR3 is short. And not just in terms of the plot, there are fewer diversions, and while the removal of the “Respect” system used in SR2 was very welcome, its replacement seems almost broken. The levelling system used essentially allows you to become an invincible, unstoppable killing machine should you choose to pay for it, and it really makes the game a little dull. With orbital weaponry, laser-guns and flying hover-bikes, you can’t help but feel there was very little done in the way of balancing the game.
The final act of the game is perhaps a departure from the existing Grand-Theft-Auto-inspired sandbox, and tends towards the realms of open-world games such as inFAMOUS or Prototype - the entire world against the player character. It’s nice to see the title taking cues from games other than GTA, but did we really need zombies? Really? If it seems like I’m focusing too much on the bad, feel free to ignore it - it’s still great fun, especially with a friend, but I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed after Saints Row 2 - it feels almost like a step backwards.
Nathan's Take - Tales from the View of a Saints Boss
From a young age, I had never fitted in. While I was the tallest and strongest boy in school, I saw much ridicule for my silver complexion, bright blue hair, and feminine Russian accent. But as the boss of the Saints, I have found people who respect me for my unusual physical disposition and psychotic tendencies.
And a good thing too, because my attempts to conquer Steelport have opened my eyes to how progressive, yet how aggressive this city can be. On one hand, I could've been any build, any gender, and have worn whatever I pleased (I've been sporting this excellent trench coat/high heeled boots look lately), but no one doubts the capabilities of me or my crew.
On the other hand... almost everyone in this city is just as morally bankrupt and bloodthirsty as I am. Vans will cut me off if I'm driving, try to run me over if I'm on foot, and other gangs will chase me on sight! Speaking of other gangs - while they exist seemingly to be crushed underneath my boot-heel (not that I should complain, violence is my raison d'etre) - one gang, the Deckers, stands out as being the most interesting of the bunch.
Unfortunately, hanging out in Steelport quickly got a little tiresome for me. Yeah, I was riding a wave of aerial shoot-outs, tank rampages, and appearances on lethal Japanese game shows, but between those highlights I was mostly just filling people with bullets. Which would thrill a whole lot of other gang bosses, don't get me wrong, it's just that I'm more of a mêlée combat sorta guy, and the aforesaid dildo-bat only distracted, rather than solved my hungering for a different style of combat.
And I know it's sounds silly but.. driving cars here feels so much more satisfying and less slippery than in other cities I've visited. The streets in Liberty City were absolutely awful to drive in. That said, it helps that most of the cars are incredibly resilient. It's like the manufacturers knew I would be shunting into other drivers, grinding against barriers and speeding through alleyways - I can hit most things and send 'em flying. While I may not have taken to the gun-totting ethos around here, I may well spend much longer cruising around at my leisure.
Saints Row: The Third is available for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.
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