Have Fun with Fur Suits and Firepower

The fun times are rolling in the third installment of Saints Row by Volition Studios, with more up-grades, customization, and mayhem waiting for you than ever before. This Saints Row introduces you to a new city, with new gangs to conquer and new ways to wreak havoc. I had laughs and excitement with this new release. It's nothing but fun. But is just fun enough? Can you win hearts with fart jokes and being over the top? This time it looks like Volition has done very well with trying, taking a step back from the norm to deliver a linear narrative with a sweet mix of over the top antics and borderline tasteless jokes.

Saints Row the Third has long since moved away from being a copy of GTA. Where franchises like GTA went with a more serious and darker story with antics rivaling that of South Park or Family Guy, this game is a sucker punch of fun. That's where it also ends, leaving much to be desired in terms of story development, side missions, creativity, and replay value. Seeming to run solely on shock value, the story doesn't seem to have any impacting scenes that keep the player attached to the characters. More often than not I found myself barely following what's going outside the sex jokes and explosions.

In comparison to its two predecessors, the changes to the series have both been amazing and disappointing. As Volition tries to carve out its first big release, it seems to have stepped away a bit from some of aspects of Saints Row that made the franchise so popular in the first place. The story seems to be just a way to string the jokes together. The large sandbox feel seems somewhat choked, even with a larger and new city to play in. Even the side missions are forced on the player as they are mandatory in the lengthy tutorial.

Speaking of which, these side missions seem to be a bit generic as some seemed to be just different ways to kill as many people as possible, aside from the "escort," "snatch," and game show missions. These new missions seem much less exciting than Saints Row 2's much more creative missions. Even the length of the game seems a bit shallow. I was able to beat the main story line in less than a day. I found myself clocking in a total of 15 hours of game play, while its earlier incarnations both had 25+ hours of game play. With a lackluster finish clearly setting up for a continuation, a DLC or sequel is obviously in the works.

But, by no means is this a "bad" game, with additions and layering to game play in a genre that is consider often to be superficial. While boasting more weapons, vehicles, updated wardrobe and a brand new "Whored Mode," Saints Row the Third has much to offer as great game. I found myself laughing all the way through this game's story and crazy antics. Bringing in very interesting friends and foes, this new city of Stillwater brings a cast that keeps you smiling as you drag the Third Street Saints from the gutters back to the Penthouses, nothing able to stop your climb, whether it is syndicate agents, giant brutes, Mexican luchadores, zombies or even the American government armed with sci-fi-esque anti-gang lasers weapons and vehicles.

Saints Row the Third has the most expansive weapons list yet from improvised "toys" to attack drones, all with their own upgrades and usually accompanied by Government Issue counterpart. Also, sporting all new wardrobes as well I found myself spending a lot of time mixing and matching outfits from the 5 different clothing stores. These great additions are only icing on the cake that is the experience of making your character in game with the character creation where you can make anyone from model like Hollywood clubbers, Gruff hammer like strong arms, or even solid gold monster like ladies with zombie voices, that can even be changed in game at your everyday corner plastic surgery office.

Then there's the new perk and experience system,a system that finally utilizes the excess amounts of cash when you start to control Stillwater towards the end. Gaining experience (Respect) comes as easy as pulling triggers and completing missions. And as you continue to gain levels, more perks become unlocked that can be bought with your cash. These perks come in handy in pinches and otherwise as you buy extra ammo, homie car deliveries, higher defenses even jet and tank deliveries!

You may also customize your gang to suit your crazy taste. You can have an entire gang of club bangers, biker guys, your everyday hoodlums, or even ninjas if you so desire. Not to mention you can upgrade them as well to suit your crime filled needs. And with this outfit of yours, you and your conglomerate can run amok together with your lead lieutenants. Though the AI could use some tuning so that you can keep your notoriety down, other than that they are an asset to have. You have many Home bases in this game as well as full blown HQ's, which can be customized to fit your needs as well. Make them bigger, better, anything to fit your need as the leader of the Saints.

All in all, Saints Row is a power house of fun that takes make me back to the roots of video games, back to a time when a game's value didn't depend on its story or how amazing the graphics were, just on how much fun you were having. This game provides mindless fun that is easy to jump into and great to play. After all it what video games are supposed to do? My verdict is an 8.5 out of 10. Saints Row the Third is a game I'd recommend to many.