The Saints Row franchise has always pushed the boundaries of decency in both its narrative and gameplay. Opting for quirky, sexy characters that revel in obscene weapons and gratuitous violence, the Saints’ rise to fame has been with tongues very firmly in cheek.
Having cleaned up and taken control of their poor neighbourhood streets, the Saints have gone from humble beginnings to celebrity domination via endorsing energy drinks, starring in their own chat shows and raging urban hell on any jealous, scheming rival gangs or hoodlums threatening to take over their city. Five years after the events in Saints Row 3, the leader of the Saints, now the world’s most famous gang, has become America’s new Hustler-In-Chief AKA The President.
Along the deep purple shag pile carpeted rooms of the White Crib, I swaggered though plush corridors signing off decrees to “fuck cancer”, greeting strippers, making booze party arrangements and headbutting annoying congressmen along the way. Greeting familiar Saint Row characters including Shaundi, Pierce, and Kinzie plus Keith David (this time playing himself playing the Vice President) who now form the cabinet, life in the free world is one big party until Supreme Overlord of the Zin Empire, Zinyak decides to invade Earth.
Sliding a tailor-suited butt over desks, ducking to avoid exploding debris, I ran towards the Oval Office where a massive arsenal lay in wait as red beams penetrated the walls, beaming up feeble humans to the alien mothership. Despite raining a hail of bullets into the almond-shaped eyes of my extra-terrestrial enemies before striding a giant weapon on the front lawn and blasting away spaceships invaders style, the President and Zin came face to face. The hot street attitude of the President was no match for the cool arrogance of the British accented overlord and the scene faded to black.
It’s a thrilling opening to what was one of the funniest and sharpest games of E3. Jumping into a later stage of the game, it became clear that developer Volition have this time thrown every crazy, ludicrous, previously inconceivable idea into the row and are enjoying sitting back, watching the over-the-top carnage unfold in a neon flash. Rather than have occasional pockets of hilarious activity brightening up an otherwise laborious chain of gang shooting missions as seen in SR3 (my favourite moment still being a chauffeur to a tiger who will take chunks out of you if you don’t drive dangerously enough), here the humour, the blistering pace and extreme zany battles are relentless, feel spontaneous and are woven into the entire fabric of the game.
With pimped superhero like powers, I could clear a building in a single bound and pull of special moves to pound enemies into the ground upon landing or run at super fast speeds, carving up cars as I zoomed around town (needless to say there is no point in driving anywhere). I could freeze, engulf in flame or telekinetically throw people around or pull off a funky breakdancing spin move to recover from attacks. The weapons were truly fantastical and are sure to be the stars of the show. Yes, it’s more shooty alien time but when you have a Black Hole gun sucking everything into its core or my absolute favourite, the Dubstep gun, that grinds foes into a dirty wub-wub dancing frenzy, sapping them of life as they dazzle with some awesome moves, it brings a hugely rewarding and satisfying element of joy to what could have become a tired genre.
Pitting the gang against a world wide threat and replacing the rival gangs model for the ultimate quest to save Earth is smart. Adding extra bling to the plot is as always, downright genius. Long live the Saints!
Saints Row IV is due out August 23rd for X360, PS3 and PC.