Saints Row 2 an excellent open world game. For those that aren't familiar with Saints Row it is a open world game, in the way of the GTA's. However Saints Row 2 is not like GTA as well. It's more of a lower budget version of the GTA's. The story mode starts of in a prison, you break out and have to reclaim the power of a gang that betrayed you 5 years ago. This is the Saints Row gang which is the same gang you led in the first Saints Row. Shortly after you headed of to prison the gang fell apart from other gangs and corporations. You must complete missions to gain the power that your gang use to have and restore their respect bye any means necessary. There are all sorts of ways to gain respect by killing gangsters and cops, or maby take a hostage to spice things up! Gain respect by favors or even a killer combo could earn you a lott of respect. Ther are also activities that are aviable across the map. These activities range from racing, hitman lists, or even spraying poop on buildings.


 You have way different "abilities" that you can use that I'll explain later. The parts that differs Saints Row2 from other open world games the most is the fast action right from the beginning of the game, and it also uses more Gang interactions. You interact with your gangsters in story or fooling around. You also have bigger battles against more enemies, fighting a fortress of up to 40 or more enemies. This is not a open world game that you only kill 10 or so people for a mission. There are gang battles and gangs will chase you down when your wanted. Instant action starts at the very beginning of the game. Your not doing stupid "quests" like go meet someone for a 100$ dept.

Saints Row 2 was not built to be a graphics game. The graphics can compare to some of the laterGTA's. I haven't experienced any severe lagging in the game so that's a good thing. Your not running and moving in1 foot sections. Driving graphics aren't to bad either when your going fast the screen adds some effects that kinda of look like your looking out the window of a car doing 100 or more. When you crash or hit something your vehicle starts to fall apart. The scenery is pretty good as well you look like your in a city with many different buildings, not the same 50 buildings scattered throughout the city. The sound is also good in this game, good Character voice expressions, this is not something Saints Row2 lacks in. The sounds of your guns, and a crap load of enemy guns sounds pretty good for how much attention they gave this game. Sounds in the cars are good as well your passengers will even talk to you.

The story game play is where everything in this game is at. You have the options of going and buying some clothes, tattoos, guns, beer, blunts and joints and many other things. Or maby you want to go to a club or a bar and start a bar fight the options are limitless. The missions are fun and exciting with Lot's of action.  Your not waisting time doing boring missions that require you to follow someone, or take them to a annoying far away place. Who can complain about going to a club shooting someone kill the police when they come and have a big stand off!

The guns you can use are a Chainsaw! Anihhilator which is a rocket launcher, SKR-9, a Minigun, Satchel charge, Flamethrower, ASHammer automatic shotgun can do wonders, and a stun gun. But, you can't just rolin the gunstore at the very begening of the game and buy every one, you have to work your way up.

You can jack any vehicle on the roads that you can find. Which ranges from all sorts of vehicles. You can use multiple types of vehicles as well, copters, cars, sports cars, trucks, sport trucks, bikes,  even a water boat

Different Gangs

3d Saints Row this is the gang that you are in. You have to build this gang up from scratch.
The Ronin gang is a Asian gang that has a thing for bikes.
Sons of Samedi is a "Caribbean" gang that likes the drug market.
Ultor Corporation is a wealthy gang that originated from a clothing corporation.
The Brotherhood is a gang that likes tattoos and HATES the police.

Main characters
The Saints    Johnn Gat, Shaundi, Caros Mendoza, Pierce
The Brotherhood    Maero, Matt, Jessica, Donnie
The Ronin    Shogo Akuji, Kazuo Akuji, Jyunichi
The Sons of Samedi    The General, Mr. Sunshine, Veteran Child, Mark Gabby
Ultor Corporation    Dane Vogel,Tera Patrick, Dexter Jackson, Eric Gryphon

One of the interesting things about Saints Row2 is how the enemy gangs relate to you. You can have your gang members follow you around. But, you must gain enough respect to control more gang members at first yo will only be able to control several. You have a meter bar for how much a gang wants you dead. When the meter is low they will occasionally send a car with one or to gangsters after you. If your meter bar is all the way full they are always sending multiple cars full of gangsters. There are also copers out there too. They also have a meter bar depending on how mad they are at you. They send cop cars, swat teams, and a mean helicopter that will destroy you faster then you can blink. You also have cribs and stronghold that you customize as you get richer. You can upgrade these "bases" with all sorts of crazy things. Want a better couch or a TV then get one, once your rich enough you can even get stripper poles and other amusing products to lighten up your crib. At cribs and strongholds you can also customize your gang. Choose which cars your gang rolls with or what they look like on the streets gangsters, pimps n hoes, rich guys and some others. There is also the gang symbol to choose from, even options to choose how your gang interacts when talking.

What lacks the most in Saints Row2 is the on line play. There are just several options on line. You can pick from several locations, where you can't really change much settings. I would have to say the game play sucks. I haven't spent more than 30 minutes on line, compared to 20 some hours on the story mode. Me and my friends all agreed that this is not worth playing, but one mans favorite game is another mans most hated game. I did'nt like the online play at all I suggest not even trying out this feature on the game, at least if your into the more intense on line play like the Call Of Duty's.

One of my favorite "abilities" in Saints Row is the fact that you can take a hostage, a fun way to cause some trouble with a gang when you have a enemy gang member, this can get the police or enemy gangs to cease fire on smaller wanted levels.You can also taunt anyone that you see. Flip someone off, or laugh in there face there's more expressions than that as well. Enemy gang members along with your gang members, will take people hostage.

Overall if your into open world games similar to the GTA's you'll love Saints Row2. If you are not into gore, drugs and violence I would not recommend this game. For those that are graphic game gamers I would also not recommend this game. If your into "cheesy" free open world of sex, drugs, and rock n roll and mayhem than you chould at least try this game out. Or if you have little kids running around that you don't want to see violence this would probably not be the best idea.

Other games you might enjoy!

Red Faction Guerilla

Pure

Prototype

Velvette Assassin

Fable

Battlestations Midway 

Stronghold Crusader

World at War

Halo Wars

Skate 2

Empire Total War

Soul Calibur 4


Recommended: Yes