LogFAQs > #967486912

https://opencritic.com/game/11879/saints-row

Only a 65 through 82 reviews. The Embracer Group will not be pleased. Sounds like there might be a fun game under the hood, but it's hampered by too many technical issues at launch. Maybe one to keep an eye on after it's patched?

Gaming Nexus - 9.5/10
Volitions gamble to reset and reground Saints Row pays off generously. A visual delight, with plenty of gameplay mechanics to keep players goofing off for days, and the Santo Ileso setting is one of the best in video game history. Sure, the shooting gets redundant after a while, but with so much to see and do you can go hours in between gun battles. Saints Row manages retain what players loved while feeling fresh and new. Other reboots, take note this is how you do it.

GameByte - 8/10
Although hindered by technical issues and packed in an overly inflated map, building your criminal empire via driving and shooting your way through Santo Ileso is a molotov cocktail of fun made more so with the wealth or perks, skills, and customisation options at your disposal. Be that as it may, its the modern take of the Saints Row series signature writing and tone carried through an entertaining story and its lovable characters that shines brightest.

GameSpot - 6/10
Saints Row reins in the absurdity to a fairly significant degree but still manages to indulge in some of the chaotic action and silly hijinks the series is known for. Its story is simple and fairly predictable, yet spending time with its diverse and well-rounded characters makes it worth seeing through to the end. It's a shame the gameplay isn't quite as progressive, opting instead for out-of-date mechanics and level design. Combat is decent, and the story missions are enjoyable when at their most over-the-top, but there's too much bland filler in between. Rebooting the series made sense, yet in many ways, Saints Row is still stuck in the past and struggling to live up to its legacy.
Upvote

IGN - 6/10
For a game that gives us so much freedom to be exactly who we want to be via its superb customisation options, its odd that Saints Row itself struggles to forge its own identity when it comes to the types of wanton criminal activities it makes available to us. Theres definitely no shortage of shallow shoot em up thrills to be had here, but its a very familiar and uninspired brand of sandbox fun thats unlikely to wow anybody whos played a Saints Row game before, much less a GTA. There are a few spectacular story moments and the city of Santo Ileso serves as a sprawling new playground full of surprisingly antiquated and non-interactive amusements, but the distinct lack of new gameplay ideas and the frequency with which some of its least interesting ones are reused means this Saints Row feels more like a repetitive retread than a proper reboot. Its definitely a new gang of Saints, but theyre guilty of the same old sins.

Hardcore Gamer - 6/10
Technical issues notwithstanding, Saints Row is not without its shortcomings, but it succeeds more often than it doesnt. Even with the release date pushed back it still doesnt feel finalized. The tech issues can hopefully be ironed out in a patch or two, but the characters could have also benefitted from further development and being more fleshed out. Santa Ileso is a great open sandbox to explore, but it seems like a greater emphasis was placed on repetitive criminal venture activities and less on the more exciting story missions. Still, what Saints Row does well is it does very well with memorable missions after the Saints have started to establish themselves. The banter between characters is generally entertaining and a lot of the humor is derived from this series never taking itself too seriously. Theres a lot of potential with this reboot and new cast of characters, but it doesnt seem like it was fully realized in this title, making it a game thats fun for Saints Row fans, but isnt the spectacular reboot we were hoping for.

XGN - 4/10
The reboot of Saints Row is failing both as a reboot as well as a good game due to the game running poorly, a sandbox riddled with bugs and a boring story with just a few fun characters. Blowing stuff up is good and all, but Santo Ileso simply isn't a fun place to create chaos in. Driving the expensive cars is simply the best part, but steering clear of Saints Row at launch is by far the best way to go.