Saint’s Row: The Third Game Review

The Arran Martin Review comes at you today with his Saint’s Row: The Third game review! Come on Arran, tell us what you think!

Developer(s)
Volition, Inc.

Publisher(s)
THQ
JP CyberFront (PC)
ARG MicroByte (PC)

Platform(s)
Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360

Release date(s)
November 15, 2011

Mode(s)
Single-player, multiplayer (third-person view)

There are few games that I am able to pick up, and simply not be able to put down until every mission, every secret, and every Easter egg is found. The last game that was able to captivate my attention so thoroughly would be Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which is quite frankly an unfair standard to base a game review on. It was to my utmost pleasant surprise however, that the second I began playing Saint’s Row: The Third, I was instantly enthralled with the sprawling craze and utter madness of Steelport City, and the power hungry Saints.

You follow the story of the infamous Saints. A gang who has recently moved to town, and wants to further make a name for themselves. In this world, gang members are treated like celebrities, as you will find ordinary citizens wanting to take your picture, and mobs of fans purchasing gear from the Saints clothing store. As you progress, your gang influence spreads into different areas of Steelport City, increasing your cash flow while completing missions. An evil (or rather more evil) organization known as the Syndicate has complete control of Steelport, which does not sit well with the Saints. While trying to dethrone the current gang lords of the city however, the police and a special gang unit known as STAG are constantly attempting to eradicate all violence in the city. Along with the main story, the player is given countless side missions, and a unique upgrade system that truly allows each individual player to customize to their hearts content. I played through the game as a seductive, lady of the evening, while my co-op player stayed with a more traditional, skeleton superhero robot.

Saint’s Row: The Third and Grand Theft Auto do have obvious similarities that are hard to ignore. The sandbox style game play, and the desire to steal every single sports car you see hoping it is the fastest one in the game has not left with this new THQ creation. The differences between the two franchises however could not be more apparent. While Grand Theft Auto takes a more serious and dramatic tone, Saint’s Row: The Third transports the players into a world of complete insanity. Whether it be racing against a rival gang in chariots pulled by gimps dressed in bondage gear, running around as a blowup doll shooting cyber-soldiers inside of a computer, or trying to calm down a Tiger while crashing through a crowd of Mexican wrestlers.

This magnificent game is a brilliant combination of action and a twisted comedy that only a true team of madmen could create. This is quite possibly one of the best open world games that I have ever had the pleasure of playing. If you have a friend willing to play, co-op is truly the best way to enjoy SR3. It only makes each unbelievable moment that much more hilarious when you are both laughing about it over your headset. I cannot remember a time when I have laughed so long and consistently throughout a video game. I highly recommend you pick this game up and support the amazing developers at THQ and Volition.

RATINGS:

Story: 8.5/10

Though the story can seem a little dry in places, the continuous variety each mission provides more than makes up for it.

Graphics: 8/10

Mild graphical glitches and occasional pop ups can sometimes lead to frustration, which is why I can’t give this category a perfect 10.

Audio: 8/10

The music is fantastic, however several voice actors seemed to play the part of many, many, many different people, ruining the variety of speech.

Gameplay: 10/10

It’s hard to put into words how the gameplay is in Saints Row The Third, I can however describe it in one word, FUN!!!

Re-playability: 9/10

Even when you finish the game 100%, there are still so many fun things to do, new things to try, costumes to wear, and mini games to play that you will find yourself coming back many a time.

OVERALL RATING: 8.7/10