Otherwise known as why I haven't been playing TF2 or Zombie Panic lately.
I'm at 35% completion despite having only completed about 10 of the main story missions. I've been focusing on the extra curricular stuff like Fight Club, Races, Demolition Derby, Escort, Assassination, etc. Completing the side stuff not only gives you cash and respect in game (both needed resources), but you also earn achievements and gain additional bonuses such as new contacts, better accuracy, new weapons, new vehicles, quicker countdowns, etc.
Anyway, for those who don't know Saints Row had the same game play as Grand Theft Auto only the story focused on a street gang called the Third Street Saints. Part 2 picks up years after part 1 in which your character wakes up from a coma caused by the finale of part 1. The Third Street Saints are off the radar in the town's gang scene due to the storyline from part 1, but that's all about to change now that you're back.
Saints Row 2 claims to have a story that doesn't require you play part 1, and technically that's true, but you won't have a clue who anyone is if you haven't played it. Quite a few characters return from the previous version and the developers give you zero background info on them, so they apparently assume everyone remembers every minor character from a video game released a few years ago. Hell, I don't even remember the ending that put my character in the coma, how am I supposed to remember some second tier character from a rival gang?
That's not to say the story, what I've seen of it, is horrible here. In fact, there are quite a few really interesting characters within the story thus far. I just wish the game would've given me some sort of rundown on what happened in part 1 since part 2's storyline is so heavily influenced by it.
This is one of the reasons the GTA strategy of starting each new game with a new protagonist and storyline is smart. Knowing the series history is not needed even remotely.
The sound and graphics are not Grand Theft Auto 4 levels which were unexpectedly fantastic (although it must be stated that they weren't Crysis good. I mean, it was a console game...), but they're decent. I was especially impressed with the smoke effects. Flying above the nuclear power plant is one of the most impressive displays of smoke (steam in that case) I've ever seen in a game.
As for the controls, this is pretty much a GTA clone with the exception of the VASTLY DIFFERENT driving controls. With GTA4 people complained about the sliding during turns. The GTA4 folks really tried to give driving a lot of realism in terms of physics. The SR2 people went the other direction. There is no realism when turning corners and sliding out of control. Here you can literally turn and stop on a dime. If I'm full speed in a Lambourgini (called something else in game) and want to turn, I simply tap the hand brake and I'm now driving in that direction without a massive slide or any sort of loss of control. I can even stay in my lane.
Oddly, they went the other way with bigger vehicles. Get in a fire truck and get it up to speed then wait 10 minutes for the beast to stop once you hit the brakes.
So far, this has been a lot of fun, but it's missing the "life" that GTA4 had. The streets are damn near vacant compared to GTA4. I walked through a 4 story parking garage that was actually connected to a second one and saw two cars parked in the entire double complex. Another example is a major hospital that had two cars parked in the lot. Unlike GTA4, this game just doesn't have that "living city" feel. I've never even come close to just wanting to stop and watch the world "exist" around me like I did in GTA4.
SR2 is a lot of fun and probably the second best GTA style game on the market, behind GTA4, of course. In fact, SR2 actually does a lot of the little things better than GTA4, it just doesn't do the big things better.
As for right now, I'd give SR2 an 8 out of 10.
Saints Row 2
I have eliminated 2 of the 3 street gangs, finished all activities, finished half of the diversions, own 42 of 45 neighborhoods, found 27 of 32 secret areas, collected 30-something of the 50 CDs, ditto for the 50 tags, and have collected most of the single player achievements. My overall progress is at 88%.
Thus, at this point, here's a little update:
The first thing I have to point out is a negative and a pretty big one. This game is buggy. Throughout my playtime the game would freeze up on me requiring a reboot of my system. This happened especially frequently while playing the Marine and Hotel area Crowd Control activity. It happened enough that I picked up the habit of saving every 30 minutes or so.
Another big bug seemed to only occur when I had a wanted level. This bug hit a lot during mayhem missions. the bug would remove graphics from the game. So you'd see cars drive by without wheels, doors, a driver, or all of the above. guns would be held in the air by invisible people. Etc.
I will note that these are NOT game killers. They can be overcome via lots of saving and then a quick reboot.
Back to the game, the storyline so far has been good, but could have been better. There are moments that are so well written and voice acted that they really draw you into the story. However, that's counter by an equal amount of "who cares". Instead of just three gangs who never seem to communicate or even fight each other, there should have been some interaction between them, particularly when the Saints (the player's gang) starts to become powerful. Perhaps a uniting of forces against the Saints?
Now there is another "enemy", but it's not a gang and it's not the cops. They do have some interaction with the Saints and two of the other gangs, but it's not the common thread I'm talking about.
As for diversions and activities (terms the game uses), there are tons. A lot more than I even realized. To see them all you need to access your pause menu and scroll through the menus to see your status for the list of things to do.
Some are fun, some are tedious, but there are many which adds gameplay.
My only complaint about such diversions, both here and in GTA, is that I wish they could find a way to integrate them into the storyline.
Thus, at this point, here's a little update:
The first thing I have to point out is a negative and a pretty big one. This game is buggy. Throughout my playtime the game would freeze up on me requiring a reboot of my system. This happened especially frequently while playing the Marine and Hotel area Crowd Control activity. It happened enough that I picked up the habit of saving every 30 minutes or so.
Another big bug seemed to only occur when I had a wanted level. This bug hit a lot during mayhem missions. the bug would remove graphics from the game. So you'd see cars drive by without wheels, doors, a driver, or all of the above. guns would be held in the air by invisible people. Etc.
I will note that these are NOT game killers. They can be overcome via lots of saving and then a quick reboot.
Back to the game, the storyline so far has been good, but could have been better. There are moments that are so well written and voice acted that they really draw you into the story. However, that's counter by an equal amount of "who cares". Instead of just three gangs who never seem to communicate or even fight each other, there should have been some interaction between them, particularly when the Saints (the player's gang) starts to become powerful. Perhaps a uniting of forces against the Saints?
Now there is another "enemy", but it's not a gang and it's not the cops. They do have some interaction with the Saints and two of the other gangs, but it's not the common thread I'm talking about.
As for diversions and activities (terms the game uses), there are tons. A lot more than I even realized. To see them all you need to access your pause menu and scroll through the menus to see your status for the list of things to do.
Some are fun, some are tedious, but there are many which adds gameplay.
My only complaint about such diversions, both here and in GTA, is that I wish they could find a way to integrate them into the storyline.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Finished the game at 100%.
Good game and I'll stick with the 8 out of 10.
If you like the GTA style of gameplay, there's no reason to skip this one.
On a sidenote, I hooked my X-Box 360 back up to my home network over the weekend, and it immediately loaded two patches for Saint's Row 2. So that might have fixed a few of the bugs I discussed in the previous posts.
Also, I smiled a bit knowing console users now had to deal with the same shit PC users do.
Good game and I'll stick with the 8 out of 10.
If you like the GTA style of gameplay, there's no reason to skip this one.
On a sidenote, I hooked my X-Box 360 back up to my home network over the weekend, and it immediately loaded two patches for Saint's Row 2. So that might have fixed a few of the bugs I discussed in the previous posts.
Also, I smiled a bit knowing console users now had to deal with the same shit PC users do.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
I bought the original SR way back when I got my 360 (or shortly after). I was never a big fan of GTA for some reason, but I kind of liked SR. Especially the cut scenes. Very well done. And some of the comments and radio stuff had me pausing the game to get my laughing under control.
At any rate, I got maybe 15% completion on the game back then, and for some reason I got distracted or something and stopped playing. Your review of SR2 made me dust off the original, and I'm having a blast with it. Have cleared out the Vice Kings missions and started on the Los Carnales missions ("It's not 'the Los Carnales'... never mind"). Will probably try to finish it off between now and December and then grab #2.
At any rate, I got maybe 15% completion on the game back then, and for some reason I got distracted or something and stopped playing. Your review of SR2 made me dust off the original, and I'm having a blast with it. Have cleared out the Vice Kings missions and started on the Los Carnales missions ("It's not 'the Los Carnales'... never mind"). Will probably try to finish it off between now and December and then grab #2.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
The radio in GTA, particularly 4, is far superior to the radio in SR or SR2.
I would drive around GTA just to listen to the radio.
I would drive around GTA just to listen to the radio.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Freckle Bitches was da bomb.
And one of the comments that killed me was during the escort/avoid the press runs when the working girl (in the back with her John) says, "You got your whole fist in there, huh?."
Edited By Vince on 1227071255
And one of the comments that killed me was during the escort/avoid the press runs when the working girl (in the back with her John) says, "You got your whole fist in there, huh?."
Edited By Vince on 1227071255
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
The talk radio station was my favorite in all the gta's. Gardening with Maurice(andy dick) might be my favorite. Lazlo was good too.Leisher wrote:The radio in GTA, particularly 4, is far superior to the radio in SR or SR2.
I would drive around GTA just to listen to the radio.
As far as music Vice City gets my vote.
There were some great moments on K-DST I remember from San Andreas. I believe the DJ was Axl Rose.
"K-DST. If the cops can't stop you, you must be on the dust."
"K-DST. We've had songs about doing drugs and abusing women for the past thirty years."
"K-DST. If the cops can't stop you, you must be on the dust."
"K-DST. We've had songs about doing drugs and abusing women for the past thirty years."
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
The talk radio station was my favorite in all the gta's. Gardening with Maurice(andy dick) might be my favorite. Lazlo was good too.
As far as music Vice City gets my vote.
I agree with the talk radio. I'd seek it out in each GTA once I got used to playing and could concentrate on it.
I also agree with Vice City. Anytime I hear those songs I immediately think of the game.
For SR2, I pretty much stuck to the 80s channel, but the radio, IMHO, was the weakest part of the game. It just didn't seem like they made an effort there.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Saints Row 2
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell