Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a violent, graphic game intended for mature adults and mature adults only. Characters are constantly killing each other, blowing things up, and cursing nonstop. The characters also engage in countless illegal activities like prostitution, drug dealing, assaults, and robberies. Players are rewarded for killing others by earning chains, clothing, and other items. Parents should be aware that there is also an online component via XBox Live.
Families can talk about why this game and the messages/actions it contains are inappropriate for kids. Since this game offers an open world to explore, families might talk about why this kind of environment is so appealing. They might also discuss the strategy of fighting the other gangs -- is it better to fight one at a time or to take them all on at once? Families can also talk about why they think so much effort goes into making violent, sexed-up games like this. Is it simply because escapism and raunchiness sells? Why or why not? Do you think it's desensitizing people to violence or does it have no effect? Does it make society more violent or does it have no effect?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Bobbi Dempsey
SAINTS ROW is a free-roaming, gun-blasting, filthy-mouthed adventure. At a first glance, it seems like yet another Grand Theft Auto clone, with nonstop violence, sexual assaults, and other street crime. Characters also engage in the usual criminal activities -- practically every illegal activity imaginable, in fact, including a "game" called Insurance Fraud. However, unlike so many games before it, Saints Row succeeds in almost every area, and is a blast to play. At the start of the game, you get to customize the look of your character, a man of few words who has joined the 3rd Street Saints, one of four local gangs who run the city of Stilwater.
The Saints are being pushed back and killed off by the three other rival gangs, the Westside Rollerz, the Vice Kings, and Los Carnales. Early on the game you are introduced to Julius, the leader of the Saints, who wants you to help him blow the other gangs off the map, quite literally. You accomplish this by taking on missions that have the purpose of weakening the other gangs' strengths. These range from hijacking a big rig to blowing up a recording studio.
At any point in the game when you're not on a mission, the entire city is yours to explore. Right from the start you can jump into any of the activities, which include escort services (prostitution), car collecting, demo derbies, and kidnapping. The difficulty in these activities can range from effortless to making you turn the game off in frustration. The rewards you receive upon mission completion such as a resistance to fire and bullets or the ability to recruit fellow gang members, all help your character become an elite urban soldier.
There is a plethora of weapons for wreaking havoc upon Stilwater, and they range from the standard pistol to the pimp cane that doubles as a shotgun. Each weapon has an area of specialty, and players are challenged to figure out when to use which one.
Once players get bored with the immersive single player, they can hop on Xbox Live to try out any of the four game modes. Each of the modes including Protect Tha Pimp, Blinged Out Ride, Team Gangsta Brawl, and Big Ass Chains, can be played every-man-for-himself, or with a squad of friends. While there is an online co-op, split screen is nowhere to be found, which comes as a shock.
Saints Row has strong appeal to players of this genre because it has both a story mode for traditional gamers, or free-roaming fun for players who like to pick up and play. Dying in mid-mission can be a tad frustrating, but the game shouldn't be a problem for typical gamers. The many side missions and collectibles will have you playing Saints Row for weeks, which is good because Saints Row makes being bad feel really good.
For similar games, check out Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Yakuza.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentLots of sexual content, partial nudity, and references to prostitution. |
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ViolenceGraphic violence and vicious assaults involving "real people." |
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LanguageLots of explicit language, practically nonstop swearing, including hate words. |
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Social BehaviorThe characters are definitely not good role models. |
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CommercialismN/A |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoLots of drug and alcohol use shown, along with drug dealing. |
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Educational ValueNone |
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