Saints Row, the first in our hearts.
You really need to play Saints Row the Third. /game of the year argument.
Ok, for reals. Like a lot of people I had no idea what I would be getting into when I ordered this game. Sure, I knew it was about a gang and it was open world but aside from that I was really had zero idea what this game was. If you had told me while I was on the amazon page that this game had everything from gangstas in space to zombies to tron inspired battles inside a computer.. well, I would have thought you were high or just stupid.
My guess is that if you are reading this, you know now that this game is bananas. But I mean that in the best way possible. The guys at Volition read the book on how to make a great game a few times. Then they took that book, took a poop on it and threw it out. Seriously! So many points in this game feels like they just went for the laziest way out of a situation and made it awesome. Example.. theres a plane.. we gotta get on that plane.. what do you do? Jump from one plane to another, grab a hold of a hatch on the top while going at terminal velocity. Then, you blow that plane up and jump out. While falling, shooting enemies and tanks that are coming down at you. And that's really just the beginning. I wont go into details because so many missions in this game you have to see for yourself. As you can imagine the characters are just as insane and full of whimsy (I guess? ha) that you would imagine. again, I dont want to mention too much. Some of them I feel are done really well and some are just throw away (zimos could have been better sorry!) But I don't find any of them repulsive. They just never had time to develop into anything more. The mission variety is very high and for 3/4s of the missions you're doing something new and different. Which lets face it, in an open world game is something to appreciate.
The upgrade system is quite robust and will help you gain additional money and respect (this games version of experience) combat abilities, damage reductions.. by the end of the game it just gets silly. One very gettable upgrade is that bullets don't do damage. Which come on.. its like you're cheating! But it still remains fun and engaging even when you're virtually invincible (it IS pretty great jumping off a skyscraper, crashing into the ground, and jumping into a car through the windshield like nothin happened.) The game is not hard, and you always feel like a total badass through most of it.. there are points that I will get to a bit later that might make rethink the combat system. The game has a great atmosphere. The Saints claim they own Steelport. They do. And the game has no problem making you feel like a true kingpin. Driving any car, plane, helicopter, or boat you can reach. Seeing Saints fans on the streets, ads that go up the length of a sky scraper.. you feel like the boss in a terrible city.
Its not all roses and cases of fanny however. If I have to pick one thing that the game could do better its make your character stronger at the start. Thats not to say that the start of the game is bad.. its that they throw you into a room of guys with guns all shooting at you. Now the do this throughout the game and you get used to it.. you also get more powerful as the game goes on. The game moves at such a fast pace that its really damning when I have to stop and hide behind a pillar or a sign to regain health. As you make your way though the game, it does get better with both damage reduction and heath regeneration.. but it does take away from the feel of the game at first. The other thing that makes me want to pull out my hair is the friendly AI. The enemy AI isn't great, but aside from standing there shooting at you, there's not much else going on. Through most of the game your duders will follow you and shoot bad guys when they see them. Most of the time they are not a problem. However on side missions they seem to be very detrimental to the flow of the game play. In perticular the two side mission types in which you have to escort AI around (trafficking and snatch.) In trafficking you have to escort an AI friend around while they sell saints gear or drugs. It usually ends with them standing in the middle of the street shooting cops (every time, I shit you not) and me reviving them every few seconds. The next is snatch where you have to go around either picking up informants or hoes from other gangs. While I didn't have too much trouble with these most of the time, the last one which is hard, ends with the hoes just standing in front of the bad dudes guns while I'm waiting in my car. Then by the time they get in someone is throwing me out of the vehicle. Its just frustrating and doesn't legitimately add difficulty to the game. During other missions I have not had the AI cost me the mission.. which is why I let it pass a bit more on the side missions.
Wrapping up, I think Saints Row 3 is a fantastic game, it has all kinds of shit that will make you laugh, roll your eyes, and make you want a helicopter. I mean.. no offense fiddy.. but they are pretty cool. If you're looking for a loopy open world game look no further! I had a lot of fun while playing and I think the makers had a lot of fun putting caution to the wind and putting everything in (especially that toilet!)