GTA’s crazy sibling is getting a fresh start

What was to come after an alien invasion and a trip to hell? A problem that Saints Row also faced and therefore decided to reboot. Developer Deep Silver Volition goes back to the roots of the series and starts all over again.

After four main games and a standalone expansion, it’s time for one Fresh start at Saints Row. The open world series in the style of GTA wants you to start all over again in the southwest of the USA. Traditionally, you slip into the role of the leader of a criminal empire, which is more in the start-up phase at the beginning of the game. At a press event, Volition presented the new Saints Row.

The Saints start all over again

In the past, the Saints ruled Steelport, a city inspired by New York City, but with the reboot, the setting fundamentally changes. The new place where the Saints want to gain a foothold is called Santo Ileso and is that American Southwest modeled on.

As the boss, you found the new Saints in Santo Ileso and want from the again small street gang to the criminal empire rising up. As in the previous parts of Saints Row, you gradually take control of the individual districts and fight the rival gangs while you expand your business. Of course you also have to deal with the law enforcement officers.

Santo Ileso – Between the Wild West and golf courses

The Open World of Santo Ileso is divided into nine districts. The “El Dorado” district, for example, is a neighborhood with a casino and many other disreputable nightlife entertainment. In Monte Vista, on the other hand, there are secure residential complexes for the city’s rich, which means blue pools, green golf courses and high fences.

In the financial district there is of course a lot for criminals to do, even if it is only to use the tall skyscrapers for the wingsuit. But there are also open steppes with high mountains and real Wild West charm. The areas are varied.

The new saints

Of course you are the boss of the Saints. With the Character editor you choose your own look for your gangster, here the series remains true and your look is allowed extremely wacky will. You found the Saints together with three friends.

The first to stand by your side is Eliwho would like to apply his master’s degree in business management in his own company. He doesn’t seem to mind that it’s about illegal business. Neenah is the group’s driver and mechanic. But she has more talents than just driving escape vehicles, Neenah loves art and even attended a school for art history and anthropology. Kevin is the daredevil of the Saints, he is also a DJ.

Hostile gangs

At the start of the game, Santo Ileso is between three gangs divided up. Los Panteros are a classic street gang that also originated in Santo Ileso. They rely on muscle strength and heavy weapons. Different Marshall Defense Industries: The armaments company owns high-tech weapons and, above all, a lot of money. The third course is called The Idols, a group of anarchists with idiosyncratic clothing styles and a large number of members.

“How to Gangster” – The gameplay of Saints Row

As history progresses, you keep expanding the territory of the Saints. You can then in different criminal businesses invest. Are you building a fast food chain selling drugs in a newly conquered area, or would you prefer to set up an arms dealer? But maybe protection racket is more your style or the classic car slider ring? You shape the alignment of your empire.

Since the other gangs will not voluntarily make room, there is a support for you large arsenal of customizable weapons. In addition to the classic firearms, there will also be one or the other exotic weapon. The developers have not yet revealed whether the dubstep cannon will return.

As always, Saints Row has one so that you can get from A to B quickly large fleet at the beginning. From go-karts to monster trucks to fighter jets, everything is included. Of course, you can also spontaneously “borrow” any car you come across.

As in every open world, there are also various side activities waiting for you, including well-known classics such as “Insurance fraud”. By the way, you don’t have to build your empire on your own, because Saints Row can completely in co-op play with two players.

Release & platforms

Saints Row is due on February 25, 2022 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PC (Epic Games Store).

Personal opinion of Daniel Hartmann: A full reboot is the best thing that could have been done with Saints Row. With the fourth part and the spin-off, the developers have strayed so far from their roots that I am looking forward to returning to the feeling of the up-and-coming street gang. Had they picked up where they left off with Gat Out of Hell – it would have been too much. The series has never taken itself that seriously, so the wacky humor is what defines the Saints Row series, as is the possibility of simply turning off completely in the open world. However, I am currently still missing a few new features in terms of gameplay, it should be a bit more than a Saints Row 3 in the Wild West setting. But I’m cautiously curious.

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