Preview: A strange trip down Saints Row

June 14, 2011

Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be the biggest, baddest dude in town? To have dozens of henchmen to help you out at the snap of your fingers? Maybe even have your own line of just about every household item imaginable? Well, Saints Row the Third is your best bet at fulfilling that desire and more.


Since the end of Saints Row 2, the Third Street Saints have reached rock star status in Stilwater. Every store on every street sells Saints branded products, from weapons to clothes to energy drinks and everything in between. In fact, they are so successful, that they’ve drawn the attention of the Syndicate, an international gang triumvirate who want to make the Saints part of their group. Of course, their preference to stay independent touches off a gang war between the Syndicate and the Saints.

Volition is looking to top themselves in every way imaginable with Saints Row the Third. This is a game where you can dance a jig with a pedestrian one moment, and the next explode an innocent bystander using boxing gloves that have a nuclear kick to them. Take down civilians with wrestling moves or whack them in the crotch with a club as you run down the street. Sign autographs for your fans or simply walk down the street dressed like an astronaut.

As far as the actual game is concerned, you’ll have access to more weapons and ways of taking down your rival gangs than ever. Among the new vehicles is a ‘man-apult’ with a cat’s face on the front. Just suck up anyone you want as you drive down the sidewalks and launch them across the city. You’ll also gain access to a VTOL fighter plane that has a microwave laser. The final new weapon they showed off at E3 was the ability to call in airstrikes against your enemies.

All in all, it seems like Saints Row the Third is shaping up to be more of the same, just bigger and better. Look for it on November 15 this year on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.