Review: Saints Row – GTA on Steroids

Introduction

Saints Row is a well-known series, although not as popular in the Arab world. It has long been considered a competitor to GTA, known for its humorous, unrealistic, and over-the-top approach. The last installment was released in 2014, but in 2022, the developers decided to reboot the series with new characters and a fresh start to attract old fans and gain new ones. Did they succeed? Let’s find out.

Story

The story revolves around four characters—Kev, Eli, Nina, and your custom character—struggling to pay rent. Together, they form a gang to compete with other factions in the fictional city of Santo Ileso. Like other games in the series, the story mainly serves as a framework for crazy, explosive, and action-packed events. If you’re expecting a deep and strong narrative, this isn’t the game for you.

World, Missions, and Progression

The game takes place in Santo Ileso, a fictional desert city near the Mexican border. The map includes two rival gangs and an advanced security company. The map is relatively small compared to modern games, but the missions are diverse and fun, ranging from high-speed chases to blowing things up with a tank. Side missions include hunting wanted individuals or helping someone escape while fending off attackers. The standout feature is the “Criminal Ventures” system, where you can expand your gang’s influence by starting shady businesses, like a fake insurance company where you throw yourself in front of cars for compensation.

The progression system is straightforward. Leveling up increases your health and unlocks crazy abilities, like sticking a grenade on an enemy and throwing them. Customization options are extensive, allowing you to tweak your character, vehicles, weapons, and outfits—even walk around naked if you want!

Gameplay

Gameplay is simple and fun. You have access to unique weapons and can perform crazy finishers to defeat enemies and regain health. Special abilities unlock as you level up. Vehicle handling is quite arcade-like and very easy, which may be a matter of preference.

Graphics and Technical Performance

This is where the game falters. The graphics are mediocre, with low-resolution textures even on next-gen consoles. Character designs are simplistic, and technical issues like glitches and pop-ins are common. On Xbox Series X, stable performance requires running the game at 1080p, which lowers graphical quality. I also experienced several game-breaking bugs, forcing me to restart missions, including the final one. Hopefully, recent patches have improved these issues.

Summary

Saints Row is a lighthearted and enjoyable game, but its technical flaws significantly impact the overall experience.

Rating

6.5/10

Reviewed by Khaled Al-Ansari