Saints Row proves it can be better then GTA (Saints Row 2 (PS3))

Member Name: johnpaullucky7

Product:	Saints Row 2 (PS3)
Date:	03/05/09 (317 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good storyline, Great variety of music, Customization is good, Saints Row 2 is addictive

Disadvantages: Graphics aren't the best but who cares,

Saints Row first started on the XBOX 360 in 2006 and in 2008 came Saints Row 2 on PS3 and XBOX 360 and in 2009 it made it's release on PC. Saints Row is a sandbox game in the 3rd person view.

Saints Row 2 is back in Stillwater and the game takes place 5 years after the first game which your character known as The Boss was in a coma. In the prison you meet Carlos who helps you get out of prison to bring back The 3rd Street Saints. Johnny Gat, Aisha Troy Bradshaw who is the cop and Julius (who was the leader of the Saints in Saints Row 1) who only makes a brief appearance are the only ones from original game to make a come back which Gat is still badder then ever. 2 others join the Saints Pierce and Shaundi there is some funny stuff between these two such as Shaundi always stealing Pierce ideas which adds comedy to the game which is what I like.

The gangs in my opinion are a lot more interesting then Saints Row 1 which I didn't really enjoy the 1st but these gangs add more of an impact to the game.

The Brotherhood this gang appears to be one of the main gangs in the game so there is Maero he's big tattoos all over him. Then there is Jessica who seems to be dating Maero to be honest they look weird together but I like the way Jessica goes out of the game it was nasty but quite funny to see Maero's reaction. Donnie is also back from the 1st game but he's not really a main character in the game and only makes a few short come back before leaving the game. Michael Dorn does a great job on the voice acting for Maero his voice really suits the character.

The Ronin is a gang that I thought they were the best these guys are an Asian themed gang sort of like the Yakuza only one thing I hate about them the samurai sword fights which does get annoying. However these are entertaining they are heartless but I did feel sorry for Shogo Akuji then again you shouldn't mess with Johnny Gat once you have seen what happens you will get what I mean.

The Sons of Samedi are also quite interesting the Saints interfere with them getting drugs which is what they do supply drugs. The General is the leader voice by Greg Eagles the guy who goes Grim on the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Then Mr. Sunshine he is loyal to The General and I have to admit he is entertaining.

Ultor the evil company which Dane Vogel is the main man which he wants to change Stillwater and make it a better place by cleaning up the streets and trying to make it a better place. The Saints don't trust him and like before the Saints are out to own Stillwater.

Saints Row really stands out as you can customize your character by making your character white, black, Hispanic or Asian. The game also features 3 voices for male including the all popular British accent. The character customization is done great plenty of hair styles it's easy to change your characters face.

Saints Row offers a variety amount of clothes which can be bought from stores around Stillwater. If you have downloaded the downloadable content you can get an Alien suit, Astronaut which you get a few others as well.

The multiplayer is fun mostly the Gangsta Brawl match as it's a free for all match and you can stand a chance at getting some kills. Team Gangsta Brawl can be hard depending on who is with you and who your against if your with someone you know then you should fine. Stronghold has you doing various missions with your team racing, insurance fraud, etc. My problems with Stronghold is you never stand a chance your racing you have one side racing then some idiot will aim for other with a rocket launcher which really does my head in as your trying your best to help the team and some stupid person goes and does that but that's the what the games about at the end of the day. Saints Row 2 online is great since the patch Volition released it doesn't take long to enter a match anymore as a timer has been finally put there as long as 4 people are ready to enter a match you should get into a match no problem. Though I actually find if you do live in the UK your best times finding a game is on a night when the Americans come on. Playing Saints Row 2 I have actually made quite a few good friends over the Playstation Network more on this game then I have with any other.

CO-OP lets you play with 2 players the mode is just like single player which you can play it with your friends or any random player. This mode is great but if the host pauses the game then it will pause for you which is what I hate. If you find the player annoying doing that all the time then you can kick them from the game.

In Saints Row 2 you can customize your car add some nitro or hydraulics you can also change the wheel trims, change the colour of the windows so the customizing to your car is actually done good. Thought the game you will be buying cribs and you can also customize such as putting in a Piano, Stripper Poles, Big Screen LCD TV's, Pool table (but you can't play Pool), you can also change your gangs styles.

In the crib Saints Row 2 also offers a mini game calling Zombie Uprising which your in Shanty town in the game you will have to try and survive about 6 waves of zombies. This can be difficult you have a limited amount of weapons you have to careful as zombies will try and throw pipe bombs at you and also the annoying zombies who run to you covered in fire. The mini games makes it a nice addition it's actually found at the TV in your crib.

The game features activities and certain ones require to do different things such as racing, Fuzz which you pretend to be a cop for a reality TV show which is my actually one of my favorites, Insurance Fraud you play in traffic jump in front of cars and try and fraud your way to making money,
Demolition derby, Chop Shop where you have to find certain cars, Mayhem this active is just causing as much damage as possible, Escort I don't need to tell you about that one, Hitman, Fight Club in this activity you fight the other fighters to the death you must survive a series of rounds. Saints Row does offer plenty of activities you must go through these to get onto more missions at time because you will need to build up respect.

The controls in the game are easy to get used to and simple which is something I like it just didn't take long to get used to plus they weren't awkward. The graphics are not the best but still it doesn't make the game bad as the gameplay makes up for it to be honest graphics aren't everything. Something that anyone will notice is that if you see a nice car and you want it once it has gotten away its gone and sometimes cars disappear for no reason.

The soundtrack is awesome the 80's radio station The Mix 107.77 nearly every song on that station I thought was great as I already knew the songs. GenX 89.0/ Ultor FM I like this station as well it does have some great music on it. The best thing about Saints Row 2 is you go to a music store buy the music then you can put what ever you want into it meaning you can listen to what you want something that Grand Theft Auto has never did. I mean Saints Row 2 has great music such as Duran Duran - The Reflex, Europe - The Final Countdown, Men at Work - Down Under, and when doing drive bys its good having a bit of classical music on in my opinion.

Playing this game had me addicted to it the story as it was gripping and entertaining a lot better then the first Saints Row. When finishing the game I was disappointed as I wanted more I loved the game and the truth is I am looking forward for Saints Row 3 I am excited about it.

Saints Row also offers Downloadable Content which it's first pack was Ultor Exposed this featured the Saints teaming up with Tera Patrick to take down Ultor once and for all. In the pack it features about 5 or 4 new cars including one from Red Faction Guerilla, it also featured 4 new maps for multiplayer. The download content also featured 3 missions which for £6.49 on the UK Playstation Store I thought it was asking for a bit to much considering no one hardly plays on the new maps. Saints Row will offer another 2 DLC packs possibly later in the year.

Overall Saints Row 2 proves to be one of the best sandbox games on the market and the truth is in my opinion Saints Row 2 is better then Grand Theft Auto. Saints Row 2 wins as it's crazy and it's fun while Grand Theft Auto in my opinion was weak due to it's realism and Liberty City been a boring city not forgetting your annoying brother phoning you all the time.

Summary: Saint's Row 2 is a must buy