Rewriting the Open World Formula
I'm going to start by saying I never played Saints Row 1 & 2. That said, I really don't give a shit. Whatever those games were, it doesn't matter now one bit. Saints Row: The Third flipped the script on open world sand box games, and can not be deemed anything but a game changer.
First off, the story is ludicrous. The 3rd Street Saints are celebrities that have been relocated to the city of Steelport. As you would expect the Saints are now competing with these rival gangs to control the city. While purely archaic, the game is much, much more. Ostentatious is the word best used to describe the game. It's completely absurd and manages to present itself in a way that makes the recycled formula shine. The mission in this game are zany and outlandish to say the least, but all this foolishness only adds to the charm.
On the gameplay side, Saints Row: The Third is entirely approachable. Whether you're simply shooting a pistol, or raining down a barrage of missiles on civilians, the game is a blast. Driving vehicles is smooth as well, and throw realism out the window for the sake of fun. The game would do itself a disservice to complicate any systems in place, and in the end, simplicity is a big reason why it works.
The game runs pretty crisply, and there is a noticeable draw distance, but that is only neutralized when you really take the time to appreciate all that the city does. Billboards of your homies PIerce and Shaundi litter the city, and you get a huge sense of the Saints presence. Add on radio stations that are just as funny as they are entertaining in song selection, nothing is left to the imagination.
It offers other modes to go along with the single player, in the co-op campaign and Whored Mode. Co-op Campaign is as it sounds where you and another can take on the city together and Whored mode affords the opportunity to complete various challenges and see Saints Row at its finest (or lowest, if you catch my drift.) The mode is purely cosmetic and offers no real substance, but it is certainly a fine addition to an already stellar production.
Saints Row: The Third came out of nowhere, and if you're old enough to play it and appreciate the lowest common denominator, it can't be missed. The worst part now is the guys at Volition, have a new pedigree associated with its utterance. Following this class act will not be easy,
