Saints Row IV (PS3)

Status:

No Manual

Playtested

Saints Row IV (PS3) Review

Released: 2013
Developer: Volition
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC

Saints Row IV takes the insanity of the Saints Row series to unprecedented levels. After the events of Saints Row: The Third, the Third Street Saints have become a world-dominating superpower, with their leader (the players character) elected as the President of the United States. But things take a wild turn when an alien invasion occurs, and the player is thrust into a virtual world, facing off against a powerful alien overlord. This game mixes over-the-top humor, superhero-style powers, and chaotic gameplay to create an experience thats both hilarious and thrilling.

What Works

Over-the-Top Action and Humor

• Saints Row IV leans heavily into its absurdity, with the player character gaining superpowers like super speed, telekinesis, and jumping across skyscrapers.
• The dialogue, characters, and missions are often hysterical, full of references to pop culture and self-aware humor.
• The game revels in its ridiculousness, whether its driving cars with guns, battling aliens with a fistful of power-ups, or diving into hilarious side activities.

Superpowers Make Gameplay Feel Fresh

• The superpower mechanic completely changes the gameplay, offering unlimited freedom in how you approach missions.
• Running at super speed and leaping high into the air makes traveling around the map a blast.
• The telekinesis ability adds a unique layer of strategy and fun, as you can pick up enemies or objects and throw them across the map.

Rich Open-World Design

• The open-world city (which is a simulation inside the alien-controlled simulation) offers plenty of things to do.
• There are numerous side activities, ranging from hacking into systems to destroying alien-controlled territories.
• Customization options for the player character and vehicles are vast, allowing for a wide range of silly outfits and transformations.

Fun and Ridiculous Missions

• The main story missions are action-packed and varied, ranging from classic shootouts to janky racing segments and even virtual mini-games.
• A mission where you blast through a virtual reality simulation with a rock n roll soundtrack feels like a love letter to video games.

Co-op Multiplayer

• The co-op multiplayer mode allows friends to join in on the insanity, offering an excellent way to experience the game together. You can both wreak havoc in the same world, taking on missions, or just causing chaos.

What Doesnt Work

Repetitive Missions and Gameplay

• While the game is fun in short bursts, some missions and activities can feel repetitive after a while.
• The enemy AI is often predictable, leading to fights that feel a little too easy, especially when you have superpowers at your disposal.