Everything is better with superpowers!
Everything is better with superpowers. At least that's Volition's motto when making games...and frankly, it's precisely what the Saints needed. As a huge fan of Saints Row 2, I was very disappointed when the third installment veered from its witty narrative-oriented roots towards banal juvenile campiness with degraded gameplay and stripped-down content. And after seeing the initial SR IV trailers, I feared the series had officially become a derivative cheap thrill for obnoxious prepubescent teens without any of the charm that made the earlier titles so appealing. But after spending a solid 20+ hours with Volition's latest entry in the Saints universe...I have to say I've never been happier to be wrong. Saints Row IV is a blast. While it's no longer the Guy Ritchie-esque gangster satire like the first two SR titles, it's become something even greater, something even more complete and engrossing...Saints Row IV has finally found its voice.
It seems that Deep Silver's acquisition of Volition was the best thing that happened to the developer. In a recent interview, Volition criticized THQ's approach to porn star exploitation in past entries, as it was never something the developer intended to emphasize so heavily. Maybe that's why the predecessor was such an awkward mess filled with embarrassing sexual innuendos...and maybe that's why the latest offering is just so much better.
Better humor, better performances, better action, better world design, better mission structure, everything is better. From the explosive intro to the first set of powers, SR IV makes a striking first impression. But unlike its predecessor, SR IV gets better with every mission. The Saints have come a long way since their street-thug days in Stilwater. You are now the president of the United States faced with an urgent political crisis...reclaiming your country and the rest of the world from alien invaders. After being kidnapped by the alien leader Zinyak, you're transported to a virtual version of Steelport where you're granted superpowers to fight against the Zin Empire...and this is where fun begins.
Unlike the crude gags in Saints Row The Third, SR IV delivers sharply written dialogue and hilarious performances. The humor still carries the same absurd Saints-Vibe, but it's cleverer with countless nods to beloved video game classics of the past. The Saints Row franchise has suffered an interminable identity crisis over the years, but the new comic book flavored direction has proven to be a crucial ingredient to Saints' newly renowned level of quality. Take a big chunk of Prototype, add a little bit of Infamous, a few pieces of GTA, a massive squirt of naughty...and you have a deliciously chaotic cocktail of awesome.
The game revolves around recruiting kidnapped Saints members who've been stuck in bizarre simulated worlds...and going up against Zinyak. The simple premise is suitable as the gameplay takes center stage. All previous fundamental gameplay elements still remain, but the introduction of superpowers lifts the series to new heights. Much like the upgradable abilities in past entries, collecting digital clusters around the city enhances your superpowers turning you into a total badass. Just collecting the shards alone is a blast as it constantly gives you something to do no matter where you are on the map. The superpowers range from super speed, super jump, and glide abilities to freezing, fire, and telekinesis. Even though you become absurdly powerful b