Saints Row 2

Set five years after the first game, Saints Row 2 follows the protagonist who awakens from a coma in prison to find the city of Stilwater overrun by rival gangs and their friend Johnny Gat facing execution. Escaping with the help of Carlos, they reform the 3rd Street Saints, engaging in open-world chaos through extensive customization options, diverse activities, and missions to reclaim the city’s underworld while managing currencies like Respect and Style.

Saints Row 2: Review

Introduction

In the pantheon of open-world crime sagas, few titles embody the glorious, unapologetic absurdity of gaming like Saints Row 2. Released in 2008 amidst the towering shadow of Grand Theft Auto IV‘s gritty realism, Volition’s sequel dared to be its inverse—a raucous, neon-drenched carnival of chaos. While GTA IV offered a somber, cinematic reflection of urban decay, Saints Row 2 spat in its face with flamethrowers, chainsaws, and a protagonist who could be a fat transvestite in a garter belt. Its legacy lies not in artistic refinement, but in its unbridled commitment to “fun,” carving out a niche as the genre’s hedonistic, self-aware black sheep. This review argues that Saints Row 2 remains a masterpiece of controlled mayhem, a technical Frankenstein’s monster of a game whose flaws are eclipsed by its infectious energy and boundary-pushing design.

Development History & Context

Developed by Volition, Inc. under THQ, Saints Row 2 emerged from a precarious creative crucible. The original Saints Row (2006) was dismissed as a GTA clone, yet it cultivated a cult following. With GTA IV looming, Volition pivoted, doubling down on customization, co-op, and over-the-top mayhem. The team aimed to create a “more San Andreas than San Andreas,” emphasizing player freedom over narrative weight. Technically, the game was ambitious but strained: the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions suffered from pop-in, frame rate dips, and texture issues, while the 2009 PC port was so notoriously buggy that it required fan-made patches like “Gentlemen of the Row” to function. This wasn’t a AAA prestige project; it was a love letter to sandbox anarchy, built on a fraction of GTA IV‘s budget. In an industry obsessed with realism, Volition defiantly chose arcade absurdity—a gamble that paid off by offering what GTA IV conspicuously lacked: unadulterated, catholic fun.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The plot is a revenge-fueled resurrection fantasy. The protagonist, left comatose after a yacht explosion in the first game, awakens in a Stilwater prison overrun by rival gangs: the Ronin (honor-bound samurai clichés), Sons of Samedi (voodoo-inspired drug lords), Brotherhood (brawling brutes), and the corporate monolith Ultor. Their leader, Maero (voiced by Michael Dorn), is a physically imposing yet surprisingly nuanced villain, while Johnny Gat remains the series’ anarchic heart. The narrative thrives on whiplash tonality, shifting from brutal gang wars (e.g., executing a rival’s girlfriend via monster truck) to absurdist humor (e.g., Shaundi’s drug-fueled rants). Themes of loyalty and redemption clash with the Saints’ descent into cartoonish depravity. The game’s dialogue is a masterclass in offensive charm, with characters dropping f-bombs like confetti and female roles reduced to “b**ches” and “ho’s”—a deliberate provocation that underscores its anti-establishment ethos. It’s not art, but as a character study in moral nihilism, it’s pitch-perfect.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Saints Row 2 refines the sandbox formula into a symphony of systemic synergy. Two currencies—Respect (unlocks missions) and Style (boosts Respect gains)—create a compelling loop. Activities like “Crowd Control” (protecting a VIP from fans) or “FUZZ” (COPS parody) are gleefully deranged, while side missions like carjacking and insurance fraud feel rewarding, not tedious. Combat is a highlight: guns handle with satisfying weight, and physics-enabled ragdolls turn firefights into slapstick ballet. Driving is arcade-perfect, with planes and helicopters boasting controls that surpass even GTA IV. The character creator is a landmark, allowing players to sculpt everything from ear size to gender with voice options that range from “Gangster” to “Mexican.” Cribs serve as customizable hubs, doubling as safe houses and style-score boosters. Co-op is revolutionary, enabling seamless two-player story progression and competitive modes like “Gangsta Brawl.” Yet the game falters with janky AI, repetitive missions, and a lack of cover mechanics. These flaws are mitigated by sheer variety—you can spend 100 hours without repeating an activity.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Stilwater is a condensed playground, smaller than Liberty City but denser with distractions. Its districts—suburban Shivington, industrial Corvus, and glitzy downtown—bristle with personality. Art direction favors bold, comic-book aesthetics over realism, with vibrant colors contrasting against gritty textures. Unfortunately, the visuals are dated: character models lack detail, and draw distance issues make distant objects shimmer into existence. Sound design, however, is impeccable. The radio stations blend hip-hop, rock, and classical music (Mozart during a drive-by is sublime), while voice acting elevates even the most absurd lines. The cacophony of police sirens, explosions, and pedestrian screams creates a living, breathing city—albeit one that glitches its way into infamy. The juxtaposition of polished audio and janky visuals epitomizes the game’s identity: a beautifully packaged mess.

Reception & Legacy

Upon release, Saints Row 2 earned an 82% MobyGames score, hailed as a “GTA alternative” for players craving chaos over gravitas. Critics like IGN lauded its “crazy-insane tomfoolery,” while Game Revolution noted it delivered “explosions, revenge, sex, money, drugs and rock and roll.” Technical issues marred the experience—GameSpot called the PC port “lazy,” and the German version censored violence and removed activities like “FUZZ.” Yet its reputation has flourished. The game became a cult classic, praised for its co-op and customization. It directly influenced Saints Row: The Third (2011), which embraced its absurdity, and inspired open-world titles like Just Cause 2. Volition’s refusal to apologize for its crassness paved the way for a generation of “silly” sandboxes. As one Moby reviewer wrote: “It’s not a masterpiece, but when it comes down to ‘having a good time,’ it delivers. Big time.”

Conclusion

Saints Row 2 is a testament to the power of embracing imperfection. Its flaws are glaring—buggy ports, dated graphics, crass humor—but they are dwarfed by its triumphs: a world brimming with activities, a revolutionary co-op mode, and a customization system that remains unmatched. It is the anti-GTA IV, a game that asks players not to ponder moral dilemmas but to strap a rocket launcher to a golf cart and fly into a skyscraper. In an era of cinematic pretension, Saints Row 2 is a glorious, middle-fingered rebellion against the idea that games must be “serious.” It is not art, but as a vessel for unadulterated fun, it is peerless. Verdict: A flawed, unforgettable masterpiece of mayhem. Stilwater forever.