Common Sense Media Review
By Paul Semel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ridiculous, ribald action game full of mature content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Saints Row IV Re-Elected
What's It About?
SAINTS ROW IV RE-ELECTED is a remastered version of the open-world action game with slightly better graphics and all of its downloadable content previously released for the title. You play the leader of a street gang who's been elected president of the United States, which is why you get blamed when aliens land on Earth and enslave humanity. But when you realize that you've been placed in a computer program à la the Matrix movies, you start to rebel against your alien overlords by becoming a trigger-happy superhero. Since it includes all of the downloadable content as well, this included tons of new weapons, costumes, and missions, like breaking out of virtual prisons and saving Christmas from being ended.
Is It Any Good?
Similar to Grand Theft Auto if it didn't take itself so seriously, these games are ludicrous, over-the-top, open-world action games. That not only means that in Saints Row IV: Re-elected you can go wherever you like, but there's probably something fun to do when you get there, be it a race, a gunfight, a challenge to your reflexes, or a collectible to, well, collect. But the addition of superpowers makes these games twice as fun, since you can now run like the Flash, jump like the Hulk, and blow away your enemies like Deadpool. What's also fantastic is that there's loads of additional content for players to dive into here, thanks to the inclusion of 25 downloadable game packs. Saints Row has always been known to have wild, over the top outfits, but now, you can wear pirate outfits, fight your way through a virtual prison, and find yourself in other crazy situations.
Though the game is fun, it's also got some issues. Being superpowered, for instance, sometimes makes individual fights way too easy. You also end up doing the same things over and over, which makes it best played in small doses. Another thing that players should be aware of, especially if they're playing the Nintendo Switch version, is that the Joy-cons aren't as accurate as you would need them to be during hectic firefights. The best suggestion is to only play this game with the Pro controller, because otherwise you'll feel like you're constantly fighting to maneuver your character. If you can overlook these problems though, and you're looking for a mature, snarky adventure, Saints Row IV: Re-elected should get your vote.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in games. Is the violence in Saints Row Iv: Re-elected affected by the fact that you're fighting aliens instead of humans? If so, why do you feel this way? Should you feel differently? Does it make a difference that some of the creatures are people, too?
How far would you go to save a friend? What about your family? What about the whole human race?
Which superpower would you like to have, and what would you use it to do?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox 360 , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Deep Silver
- Release date : March 27, 2020
- Genre : Third-Person Shooter
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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