Online mode!
The enemy A.I. are superb and prove to be a decent challenge. The other gang members and the police are relentless in their pursuit, in fact one chase with the ‘old bill’ that we were involved in, after admittedly we had stolen a police car, continued for 10 minutes as we weaved in and out of traffic and mowed down numerous pedestrians. It’s far easier to get to a safe house, but much more fun to try and shake them off your tail.
Whilst driving around the streets there are plenty of radio stations and talk shows to listen to, with some even providing ‘real-time’ news reports based on gang activity and you’ll also have the opportunity to drop by a garage and modify your car. Interestingly, unlike GTA, you’ll be able to smash your car to pieces and it will still be sat in the garage the next day, brand spanking new.
Click for larger imageGraphically, Saint’s Row doesn’t compare to the glorious visuals of the GTA games, but character animations and cut-scenes offer a great level of detail. Many of the shops and indoor environments feel rather empty and vehicles lack the polish of most next-gen driving titles. The gameplay does make up for the average graphics, but it’s disappointing to know that they could have been far better.
There are plenty of things to do in Saint’s Row and the lifespan of the game will undoubtedly be increased due to the online multiplayer mode.
Click for larger imageSaint’s Row will feature an online mode with up to 12 players battling it out over turf. There will be a single player death match where it’s every man for himself, or a team death match consisting of two teams of 6. There will also be a number of quirky online modes including: Protect the Pimp, which involves defending a pimp whilst the other team tries to take him out. Big Ass Chains, which involves picking up jewellery whenever you kill an opponent and pawning it at the nearest jewellery shop for points. The first team to reach a set amount of points wins.
Last but not least will be: Blinged out Ride involves protecting your car from other gangsters, whilst attempting to destroy other pimped-out cars.
Offering hours of open-world gameplay, dozens of missions, objectives and a superb looking online mode, Saint’s Row is shaping up to be a absolute blast.
