Saints Row 2

🎮 Overview

• Title: Saints Row 2

• Platform: PlayStation 3 (also on Xbox 360 & PC)

• Release Year: 2008

• Developer: Volition

• Publisher: THQ

• Genre: Open-World Action / Crime Sandbox

• Style: Over-the-top crime-action game, combining gang warfare, story-driven missions, and sandbox mayhem, often seen as a more chaotic, comedic alternative to Grand Theft Auto.

📖 Story

• Saints Row 2 is a direct sequel to Saints Row (2006).

• You play as the Boss, the customizable protagonist and leader of the 3rd Street Saints.

• After being left in a coma at the end of the first game, you awaken years later to find the Saints disbanded and the city of Stilwater changed.

• New gangs — The Brotherhood, The Ronin, and The Sons of Samedi — now control the streets.

• The game’s narrative revolves around rebuilding the Saints, reclaiming territory, and taking revenge on old enemies while dismantling these rival gangs.

• Story themes combine gangland revenge with satirical humor, outrageous set pieces, and player-driven chaos.

🕹 Gameplay

Open-World Sandbox

• City of Stilwater:

  • Expanded from the first game — larger, more diverse, with neighborhoods ranging from urban districts to suburbs, prisons, factories, and beaches.

  • Fully explorable with cars, boats, helicopters, and planes.

• Customization:

  • One of the game’s standout features.

  • Create your own protagonist with deep customization: gender, voice, build, clothing, tattoos, and even personality.

  • Customize cars, cribs (safehouses), and gang colors/styles.

• Respect System:

  • Missions are unlocked by earning “Respect” points.

  • Respect is gained through activities (side missions) and stylish gameplay like near-misses, stunts, or flamboyant kills.

Missions & Activities

• Main Story Missions:

  • Focused on taking down rival gangs, reclaiming the Saints’ power, and expanding your criminal empire.

  • Action ranges from street shootouts to vehicle chases and set-piece-heavy scenarios.

• Activities:

  • Huge variety of side content including:

    • Insurance Fraud – throw yourself into traffic for money.

    • Septic Avenger – spray sewage onto property and pedestrians.

    • Mayhem – cause as much destruction as possible.

    • Fight Club, Escort, Drug Trafficking, and more.

• Diversions:

  • Spontaneous fun such as robbing stores, hijacking cars, or simply causing chaos in Stilwater.

Combat & Weapons

• Wide arsenal: pistols, SMGs, assault rifles, shotguns, rocket launchers, chainsaws, baseball bats, and more.

• Dual-wielding firearms adds extra firepower.

• Combat is fast, over-the-top, and less grounded than GTA, encouraging wild action.

Co-op & Multiplayer

• Full Co-op Campaign:

  • Play the entire story with a friend online, making it one of the first open-world crime games to fully support co-op.

• Multiplayer Modes:

  • Competitive modes such as Strong Arm and Gangsta Brawl (deathmatch), though these were less popular than the co-op.

🎨 Presentation

• Graphics:

  • Built on an upgraded version of the original engine.

  • Large, varied environments and expressive character models.

  • While not as realistic as GTA IV (which released the same year), it leaned into a more colorful, exaggerated aesthetic.

• Sound:

  • Extensive licensed soundtrack spanning hip-hop, rock, metal, classical, and more.

  • Voice acting features Keith David (Julius), Daniel Dae Kim (Johnny Gat), Michael Dorn, and others.

  • Player character has multiple selectable voices, giving personality to your custom Boss.

• Tone:

  • A mix of gritty gangland drama and outrageous comedy.

  • While the plot includes betrayal, revenge, and violence, the humor and over-the-top antics balance the darkness.

📝 Reception

• Praise:

  • Huge amount of customization — a defining feature.

  • Fun, chaotic gameplay that encouraged player freedom.

  • Memorable characters like Johnny Gat and Pierce.

  • Full co-op support made it highly replayable.

  • Activities and side content added depth beyond the main missions.

• Criticism:

  • Graphics and polish weren’t as refined as competitors like GTA IV.

  • Some technical issues, including frame rate dips and pop-in.

  • Story, while engaging, could feel tonally inconsistent (dark themes vs. slapstick antics).

✅ In short:

Saints Row 2 for PlayStation 3 is an open-world crime sandbox where you rebuild the 3rd Street Saints and reclaim Stilwater from rival gangs. Combining deep customization, chaotic missions, outrageous side activities, and full co-op play, it offers a mix of gritty revenge storytelling and wild, over-the-top fun. While less polished graphically than GTA, it carved out its identity as a more humorous, player-driven alternative and became a cult favorite.