Saints Row IV is crazy! No, that is not hyperbole. Whatever silliness Saints Row: the Third had, and it had a lot, Saints Row IV goes to eleven with it! For you less Internet-savvy readers, that basically means it jumps the shark in many ways, nearly all of which are hilarious. There are so many references, call-backs, and in-game designs that harken to various other video games, movies, music, and even classic English literature. Yet it all works within the context of the tone of the game.
The game picks up where Saints Row: the Third left off. Now the Saints Row gang is officially in the White House, with the protagonist as the president. Things go south pretty quickly, though, as an alien invasion takes over, and our protagonist and his gang are captured and held prisoner in a virtual simulation of Steelport, their hometown. It is from there that they must break out and fight back against their alien oppressors.
What is remarkable about Saints Row IV is how seamlessly it integrates those various references, call-backs, and in-game designs mentioned above into its gameplay. Mass Effect-style ship design and crew interaction, to Matrix-style plug-ins into the virtual world, to even having the legendary voice actor Keith David himself as a homie, the game never exhausts in its often clever and downright hilarious references.
Turning Steelport into a virtual simulation also allows for the Saints Row franchise’s zaniest experiences to date. You can now gain superpowers over time that you can upgrade further through collecting data packets scattered throughout the world. When combined with the usual, and unusual, assortment of weaponry such as guns, rockets, dubstep guns (yep, that exists), tanks, jets, or even just your fists, there is some wicked fun to be had here. From picking up and throwing cars to super-speed chases to leaping tall buildings and Hulk-stomping your enemies, there is no shortage of ways to dish out damage. Freezing a ship in midair and watching it crash never gets old.
Holding together Saints Row IV is some of the sharpest and wittiest writing to ever come along in a video game. Hilarious, and at the same time able to take itself seriously when it needs to, the story is actually quite fun, and manages to make its characters fun, relatable, and emotionally engaging. The loyalty missions of the characters are personally my favorite part of Saints Row IV.
The one truly big problem with Saints Row IV, though, is that for a long time it feels more like “Saints Reference IV.” The game does not have much of an identity; it spends so much time referencing that it can feel like an episode of Family Guy. It can actually get pretty annoying and even boring trying to play a game that does not know what it wants to be. Is it trying to be a quirky, over the top Saints Row game like the last one, or is it more of a quirky, over the top super (anti) hero game with a lot of referencing? The game seems to be in conflict with itself over its identity for the longest time. In contrast, Saints Row: the Third managed to maintain a consistent identity throughout and frankly, its moments were much more memorable. Luckily, Saints Row IV does begin to shine toward the end and find its voice; I just wish it found it sooner.
Saints Row IV is crazy! It cannot be repeated enough, you will experience all kinds of insane and laugh-out-loud moments, and the game itself is genuinely fun, which is all that matters in the end. Regardless of its identity crisis, it is definitely a game worth playing, and worth your time.
(Available on PC, XBOX360, and PS3)
(Note: There is a Co-Op campaign mode where you and another player can seamlessly integrate into the other’s game and complete missions and just have general fun. I did not play this mode due to time constraints and a lack of a reliable second player, so that is not a factor in this review. I will say that if it is anything like how Saint’s Row: the Third handled it, it should be a blast.)
