This review contains spoilers
An example of a series taking an idea too far but... is it actually fun?
Saints row 4 is a direct sequel to saints row the 3rd and takes concepts from the 3rd games dlcs and takes it to a full-on game. Sr4 was originally supposed to be a big expansion for 3 and well... It feels like one too.
Gameplay: Saints Row 4 is an open world action adventure GTA style shooter game. This time around you are in a simulation of Steelport from SR3 and have superpowers, you also fight aliens too... yeah, idk who thought this was the direction to take Saints row. Yes, it’s absolutely no longer a GTA Clone (and honestly why even bother having the option to drive cars in this game since you have superpowers and can run faster than any car in the game.) Basically, you can run super-fast, jump super high, run up buildings and even glide/fly. You have different elemental superpowers you can use, and each mission revolves around saving others from different simulations while you return to yours to slowly take over the simulation. You can leave the simulation at will and some missions take place in the real world and involve you fighting aliens. Now a lot of longtime fans hate this game because it, at its core is not a Saints row game and I completely agree with those people... however, Saints row 4 is fun, badass, actually has missions that call back to previous Saints row games and so many pop culture references, I think I counted at least 40 different movies, video games and shows from pop culture along with pay tribute to the original saints rows and bring back a bunch of classic characters. There are some awesome cameos as well, like Kieth David who plays your vice president... oh yeah did I forget to mention you are president in this game?... yeah, it's a wild game but it's honestly a well-balanced and fun game to play. If you love any of the other Saints row games, I can see why you'd hate this one but also love it because it's very self-aware of what the franchise has become. The customization is still great, the weapons and vehicles are all great. The map unfortunately is still the almost exact same Steelport and I gotta say I hate Steelport. I do think this game should have absolutely taken place in a simulation of Stillwater at the very least but whatever, I guess. As fun as it is this game, like the others before it, also crashes a lot. All of the DLC is fun but stupid at the same time. They have this Santa DlC where you are in Christmas land fighting evil Santa's and ...delivering presents... then they have the enter the dominatrix DLC which is a wacky knock off of the matrix but also like a blue ray directors cut thing and kinda states the whole story is just a movie anyways (which if you liked the older games better might help you sleep at night thinking none of 3 and 4s events are real). I will say all the wacky guns and skins you get from the DLC and even in the base game are cool as hell and fun to use. There were secret weapons and vehicles hidden too but like I mentioned vehicles are kinda pointless for the most part.
Graphics, music and voice acting: So graphically this game looks exactly the same as SR3 to me and that's another unfortunate thing. The music in this game is just as fun as Saints row 3 and 2s and this time you can actually just listen to it whenever you want and don't have to be in a car. SR4 also has an absolutely banger cast of some returning characters and some new. It's a funny self-aware clinginess that I actually really enjoyed. The voices for your character are the same with the addition of the special voice being a self-aware Nolan North which is a lot of fun to use.
Story/ some spoilers: oh boy, reading this story without context you’d probably not think this is a Saints row game. So basically, Saints Row 4s story is about your character becoming president after stopping a nuke from hitting the USA and suddenly getting attacked by aliens. The aliens throw everyone in a simulation, and you basically have to escape, save your friends and stop the alien leader Zinyac. I won't spoil much more about the story in this game because I do think the creators actually gave a damn about it this time around. Saints Row 4 is fun, and the story is a great adventure. As I mentioned earlier, I have seen a theory out there that SR3 and 4 are just movies in their universe and I can Definitely vibe with this theory. If not, then Saints row 4 is basically the Resident evil 6 of this franchise. It sticks out like a sore thumb and feels out of place, but the gameplay works. As great as it is and as fun as it is it just isn't saints row but I cannot lie to you and tell you it’s a bad game or even that the story is bad. The story actually does pay a lot of respect to the older games with some nice fan service, so it's hard to criticize a game like this for doing something different that works. I feel like my biggest issue with this game aside from it crashing a lot is the damn map. Steelport isn't fun and man it's EXACTLY the same but with spaceships. Do I think this should have been a "non-canon dead rising 2 off the record" type of game? Yes, but it is great fun especially if you like old movies and play a lot of games, you'll love the references here but if you are a classic saints row guy you might hate this, if you love saints row 3 or games with superpowers then you'll love this game.
Overall, it's a fun but very different experience from the other games and it's definitely not for everyone but I have to give credit where it's due.
8/10
Saints row 4 is a direct sequel to saints row the 3rd and takes concepts from the 3rd games dlcs and takes it to a full-on game. Sr4 was originally supposed to be a big expansion for 3 and well... It feels like one too.
Gameplay: Saints Row 4 is an open world action adventure GTA style shooter game. This time around you are in a simulation of Steelport from SR3 and have superpowers, you also fight aliens too... yeah, idk who thought this was the direction to take Saints row. Yes, it’s absolutely no longer a GTA Clone (and honestly why even bother having the option to drive cars in this game since you have superpowers and can run faster than any car in the game.) Basically, you can run super-fast, jump super high, run up buildings and even glide/fly. You have different elemental superpowers you can use, and each mission revolves around saving others from different simulations while you return to yours to slowly take over the simulation. You can leave the simulation at will and some missions take place in the real world and involve you fighting aliens. Now a lot of longtime fans hate this game because it, at its core is not a Saints row game and I completely agree with those people... however, Saints row 4 is fun, badass, actually has missions that call back to previous Saints row games and so many pop culture references, I think I counted at least 40 different movies, video games and shows from pop culture along with pay tribute to the original saints rows and bring back a bunch of classic characters. There are some awesome cameos as well, like Kieth David who plays your vice president... oh yeah did I forget to mention you are president in this game?... yeah, it's a wild game but it's honestly a well-balanced and fun game to play. If you love any of the other Saints row games, I can see why you'd hate this one but also love it because it's very self-aware of what the franchise has become. The customization is still great, the weapons and vehicles are all great. The map unfortunately is still the almost exact same Steelport and I gotta say I hate Steelport. I do think this game should have absolutely taken place in a simulation of Stillwater at the very least but whatever, I guess. As fun as it is this game, like the others before it, also crashes a lot. All of the DLC is fun but stupid at the same time. They have this Santa DlC where you are in Christmas land fighting evil Santa's and ...delivering presents... then they have the enter the dominatrix DLC which is a wacky knock off of the matrix but also like a blue ray directors cut thing and kinda states the whole story is just a movie anyways (which if you liked the older games better might help you sleep at night thinking none of 3 and 4s events are real). I will say all the wacky guns and skins you get from the DLC and even in the base game are cool as hell and fun to use. There were secret weapons and vehicles hidden too but like I mentioned vehicles are kinda pointless for the most part.
Graphics, music and voice acting: So graphically this game looks exactly the same as SR3 to me and that's another unfortunate thing. The music in this game is just as fun as Saints row 3 and 2s and this time you can actually just listen to it whenever you want and don't have to be in a car. SR4 also has an absolutely banger cast of some returning characters and some new. It's a funny self-aware clinginess that I actually really enjoyed. The voices for your character are the same with the addition of the special voice being a self-aware Nolan North which is a lot of fun to use.
Story/ some spoilers: oh boy, reading this story without context you’d probably not think this is a Saints row game. So basically, Saints Row 4s story is about your character becoming president after stopping a nuke from hitting the USA and suddenly getting attacked by aliens. The aliens throw everyone in a simulation, and you basically have to escape, save your friends and stop the alien leader Zinyac. I won't spoil much more about the story in this game because I do think the creators actually gave a damn about it this time around. Saints Row 4 is fun, and the story is a great adventure. As I mentioned earlier, I have seen a theory out there that SR3 and 4 are just movies in their universe and I can Definitely vibe with this theory. If not, then Saints row 4 is basically the Resident evil 6 of this franchise. It sticks out like a sore thumb and feels out of place, but the gameplay works. As great as it is and as fun as it is it just isn't saints row but I cannot lie to you and tell you it’s a bad game or even that the story is bad. The story actually does pay a lot of respect to the older games with some nice fan service, so it's hard to criticize a game like this for doing something different that works. I feel like my biggest issue with this game aside from it crashing a lot is the damn map. Steelport isn't fun and man it's EXACTLY the same but with spaceships. Do I think this should have been a "non-canon dead rising 2 off the record" type of game? Yes, but it is great fun especially if you like old movies and play a lot of games, you'll love the references here but if you are a classic saints row guy you might hate this, if you love saints row 3 or games with superpowers then you'll love this game.
Overall, it's a fun but very different experience from the other games and it's definitely not for everyone but I have to give credit where it's due.
8/10