Saints Row 2, cant wait for this

[FTG Dra Radda]

A lot of gamers took one look at Saint’s Row when it was released back in 2006 and said, “GTA clone, next.” But many of those that played it had a slightly different reaction: “GTA clone, not bad.” Saint’s Row had the distinction of being the first open-world sandbox game for the next generation consoles, so far too many times it was described simply as that next-gen GTA clone. But is it fair to call it a GTA clone? Can I get through the rest of this preview describing the upcoming sequel from THQ and developer Volition without describing it as a GTA Clone again? GTA Clone?

OK, I’m done. Saint’s Row 2is headed to the Xbox 360 later this year, and Volition dropped by our offices recently to give us a look at what they have in store for the second installment of the gang-bangingest game to hit the Xbox 360. Taking place a few years after the events of Saint’s Row, Saint’s Row 2 has you returning to the city of Stillwater, which has been rebuilt after all the mayhem and destruction caused by you the first time around. The Saints are scattered and in shambles, and in the power vacuum left by them and the rival gangs you took out, a bunch of new ruffians have come in and set up shop. There are three new gangs to contend with, each with its own fighting style, car types and illegal trade they take part in.


Making a clean get a way.

Much like in the first one, you begin the game by creating your character. This time you can be a dude or a chick, and the detail of what you look like can be defined more finely through a system of sliders. Visually there is a lot more detail to the characters, thanks to some fancy pants normal mapping. You can make your banger old/young, fat/muscle, etc. You can also control how your character fights, and what kind of taunts they can throw out. These are hilarious mo-capped animations that include things like tea-bagging, flipping someone the bird, and other risqué activities not fit for a family website like this. You can even select your player’s voice, meaning you’ll actually do some talking this time.

Those who played the previous games know that to unlock missions you had to get your respect bar up by performing activities around the world. Things like racing, hijacking shipments, and committing insurance fraud all generated respect, with a bonus if you wore sweet threads in your gang’s colors. That system remains basically the same, but now you can generate points more easily by completing diversions. You can do these any time by pulling off cool or funny stuff. Take your car off of a big jump, shoot a guy in the nuts, drag someone behind your vehicle – all these bad behaviors and more will generate cash and respect for your character in real time while unlocking story missions.

The “crib” system has been changed significantly too. Instead of unlocking nicer cribs by completing story arcs, now you can upgrade the crib you have with cool furniture and sweet appliances. This sort of Sims like activity in the world of thugs improves your overall style level, and gives a bonus to fellow gang members who now hang around your crib waiting to help you on a mission. Your style level also gives a bonus to your respect, much like wearing the right clothes did in the first Saint’s Row. This though, bonuses are based on everything you own, not just what you’re wearing.

Combat has been tuned up significantly, allowing for more complex hand to hand combat. Each gang has its own specific style of martial arts that it follows, each with its own host of finishing moves. You can also grab people and hold them up as human shields, letting them take the bullets meant for you. Shooting is also vastly improved, with an over the shoulder aiming view that should make gunplay a lot more easy and a lot more fun. Of course there will be new weapons as well, including a new satchel charge you can stick to things, turning vehicles into guided missiles, for instance.


A real fixer-upper!

Volition is keeping a lid on the storyline for now, and what celebrity voices you might hear in the game. But they assured us the budget for celebrity voices and licensed music has gone way up since the last game. They did confirm some of the characters will be returning, including Johnny Gat, Troy and Aisha.

Everything about Saint’s Row 2promises more, more, more. You can command more vehicles now, including boats, helicopters and motorcycles. And the world of Stillwater will be much more detailed. It will take up approximately the same amount of map space as before, but add in to that 130+ interiors and you’ve got a lot more to explore. We’re looking forward to visiting the new and improved Stillwater (and maybe capping some punk asses) when Saint’s Row 2debuts later in 2008.

[Hoss360]

[SnakeEyes Friex]

I really liked Saints Row, and i really want to see/know what happens next so i will be getting saints 2!

i liked the mini games in SR1 some were easy, some were managable and some were just hard (seeing i don't have them all completed yet.....)

i liked the story(mode) too, the end is a bit strange, but i won't get into that...

[Hoss360]

i still need to finish the first one... i only have the bosses of 2 gangs left...

[Andy]

i liked the insurance mini game best

[Hoss360]

postponed 2 months...

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews...20080528?rpc=44

[SnakeEyes Friex]

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/905/905741/vids_1.html

[delbrownio]

I was gonna buy the first one but decided to wait and get it second hand. Then I bought Forza and never got round to it, lol. May buy the new one though, although I say that about a lot of games

[FTG Nico]

Saints row is a dead good game go buy the first one!!! lol

[Hoss360]

[FTG Dra Radda]

kool cant wait

[Hoss360]