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Saints Row 2

Saints Row 2 isn’t Grand Theft Auto, but that's a good thing. With strong replayability and wacky mini-games, the game will remain relevant for months down the road.
Saints Row 2 Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
graphics, optimization
75% User Score Based on 12,791 reviews
Critic Score 76%Based on 6 reviews

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Saints Row 2 Game Cover

About

Saints Row 2 is a single player and multiplayer open world shooter game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Volition and was released on January 28, 2009. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Saints Row 2" is an open-world action-adventure game that offers true freedom in customization and gameplay. Players can create and customize their own character, as well as vehicles and cribs, and seek revenge on enemies in a transformed city of Stilwater. The game also includes a co-op campaign with seamless integration.

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Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
Saints Row 2 screenshot
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75%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,791 reviews
story1.2k positive mentions
graphics149 negative mentions
  • The game features an engaging narrative that blends humor with darker themes, providing depth in character development and emotional weight.
  • The gameplay is characterized by chaotic, over-the-top action and a vibrant open world, with extensive customization options that enhance replayability.
  • The soundtrack is diverse and nostalgic, featuring a mix of genres that significantly contributes to the game's charm and overall experience.
  • The PC port suffers from significant technical issues, including frequent crashes, poor optimization, and graphical glitches that detract from the gameplay experience.
  • The grinding aspect of the game can feel tedious, as players are often required to complete side activities to progress in the main storyline.
  • The graphics are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2008 release, and many players find the driving mechanics and overall gameplay experience to be clunky.
  • story
    4,022 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Saints Row 2" is widely praised for its engaging narrative that blends humor with darker themes, focusing on the protagonist's journey to reclaim their gang's territory from rival factions. Players appreciate the depth of character development and the emotional weight of certain plot points, despite some criticism regarding the necessity of completing side activities to progress in the main storyline. While the game is noted for its fun and chaotic gameplay, many reviews highlight the technical issues of the PC port, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The story is grounded and unexpectedly dark (especially since I played Saints Row: The Third previously).”
    • “The story is the best in the Saints Row series, the characters are very interesting, and I really enjoyed playing this game.”
    • “The story is a love poem for purple lovers: kill those pagans in love with other colors.”
    • “Unfortunately, the writing feels mediocre as the story offers no real depth and felt more like a teenage edgelord wet dream of being this ruthless and merciless gang leader who brutally kills anyone and everyone that stands in his way.”
    • “The main story isn’t the strongest part (missions like 'steal-kill-destroy' are pretty repetitive), but Saints Row 2 is a perfect example of how to weave side activities into the main gameplay without overloading or stretching the experience artificially.”
    • “What broke it for me is the annoying reputation system that would block you from doing any more main story line quests until you went out and did some random and often frustrating side quests, to build your rep back up to start another story line quest.”
  • gameplay
    956 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Saints Row 2 is characterized by its chaotic, over-the-top action and a blend of serious and humorous elements, offering a variety of missions and side activities that keep players engaged. While the core mechanics are reminiscent of early 2000s titles, with some dated graphics and clunky controls, the game remains enjoyable due to its extensive customization options and vibrant open world. However, many players report significant technical issues, particularly with the PC port, including frequent crashes and performance problems, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “At first playthrough, it feels like you’re playing a genuinely fun, over-the-top parody of GTA 3, but with proper physics, shooting mechanics, and more features.”
    • “The main story isn’t the strongest part (missions like 'steal-kill-destroy' are pretty repetitive), but Saints Row 2 is a perfect example of how to weave side activities into the main gameplay without overloading or stretching the experience artificially.”
    • “The story is great, the gameplay is fun, the activities are pure mayhem; everything about Saints Row 2 is what the Saints Row identity should have been for the rest of the series.”
    • “The gameplay itself is absolutely horrendous, though.”
    • “The driving mechanics are the worst driving mechanics I have seen in any game in my life.”
    • “Gameplay is slow at first as rep requires buildup but as the game begins to run on, rep can easily be brought up by completing missions or doing stunts in a vehicle.”
  • graphics
    819 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Saints Row 2 are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2008 release, with many users noting that they resemble early 2000s titles. While some appreciate the game's unique art style and character customization, others criticize the poor optimization and frequent graphical glitches, particularly on PC. Despite these shortcomings, many players find the gameplay and story engaging enough to overlook the visual limitations.

    • “Despite the dated graphics, the gameplay is still better than most of the garbage that gets released these days.”
    • “The graphics may be dated, but the gameplay, freedom, and personality make it timeless.”
    • “For its time, the graphics are amazing and the customization this game offers not only to your character but to your vehicles is amazing.”
    • “The graphics are terrible, even on the highest settings, the car mechanics are lazy and stupid, and when driving around a corner or just going straight, decently fast the frame rate goes extremely low for some reason even though my computer can run tons of other games that have better graphics on high, this is an utter disappointment.”
    • “The graphics have aged poorly, and the game can be buggy at times.”
    • “The graphics are a bit dated and there were a few cut scene bugs that would break the immersion.”
  • optimization
    735 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent crashes, stuttering, and poor performance even on high-end systems. Most reviews recommend using community mods like "Gentlemen of the Row" to alleviate these issues, as the vanilla version is considered nearly unplayable without such fixes. Overall, the game's optimization is seen as one of its most significant drawbacks, overshadowing its otherwise enjoyable gameplay and story.

    • “Juiced patch fixes virtually all of the performance issues with the PC port; it also looks much nicer with the 2008 piss filter and vignette removal included.”
    • “It smooths out performance, eliminates frequent crashes and bugs, fixes audio and timing issues, adds many quality-of-life changes, and overall makes everything feel far more responsive on modern systems.”
    • “With a bit of tinkering, the performance and stability can be brought to a reasonable degree, but there's still crashes.”
    • “The frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and poor optimization made it a frustrating experience.”
    • “This game is unplayable - the PC port is so bad it's basically unplayable - it's badly optimized, constant drop of the framerate and the vehicle handling is really bad - avoid this PC port at any cost!”
    • “The optimization is so horrible that you can't play the game at higher than the lowest settings, and with the lowest settings it still has horrible fps.”
  • humor
    692 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Saints Row 2" is widely praised for its blend of absurdity and dark comedy, striking a balance between serious narrative moments and outrageous antics. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, memorable characters, and hilarious side missions, although some find the humor outdated or juvenile. Overall, the game is celebrated for its entertaining and chaotic approach, making it a standout in the open-world genre.

    • “It's got that perfect mix of over-the-top chaos, weird humor, and surprisingly heartfelt storytelling.”
    • “The humor is often juvenile, but its self-aware charm keeps it entertaining.”
    • “Saints Row 2 is a game that perfectly captures the spirit of open-world chaos, blending a compelling story with over-the-top action and humor.”
    • “And no, the terrible recent reboot doesn't somehow 'redeem' this - it's still clunky, janky, unfunny, and boring.”
    • “das not funny - Johnny Gat”
  • stability
    642 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the PC port of Saints Row 2 is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and performance issues that significantly detract from the gameplay experience. Many recommend using community mods, such as "Gentlemen of the Row," to mitigate these problems, but even with these fixes, the game remains unstable and prone to glitches. Overall, while the game itself is beloved, the PC version is often deemed unplayable without extensive troubleshooting and modifications.

    • “This game runs great on the Steam Deck!”
    • “Runs great on a 1080ti/i7-8700k!”
    • “The game runs great on PC.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess, you cannot progress after a certain point. Please fix.”
    • “The PC port is horrendously buggy and is prone to crashing no matter what in the game you do. But if you can find a mod to fix a lot of this game's issues, then it can be a pretty enjoyable experience!”
    • “This game is a buggy, crash-prone mess. It's one of the worst console ports I've encountered, and the DLC was never ported to PC.”
  • music
    424 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its diverse and nostalgic soundtrack that features a mix of genres, including hip-hop, rock, and 80s hits. While the licensed tracks enhance the overall experience and immersion, some users noted issues with audio quality, particularly in the PC port, where the music can sound compressed. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best aspects of the game, significantly contributing to its charm and replayability.

    • “The soundtrack is incredible; 'Misery Business,' 'Out of Touch,' and so many more amazing tracks have shaped my music taste, and I'm forever thankful for it.”
    • “From top-tier ’80s hits to classic old-school hip-hop, it’s one of the strongest licensed soundtracks ever put into a video game, and it elevates every mission and free-roam moment.”
    • “The soundtrack is diverse and full of energy, with radio stations playing everything from hip-hop to rock and pop.”
    • “Some of the voice acting felt bland, combined with the fact that there's barely any score soundtrack, which made the gameplay feel a bit boring.”
    • “However, if you're not in a car, there is no music playing, and it is very quiet for most of the game. Every mission is basically the same 4 or 5 missions with a new skin.”
    • “The music quality is trash and more compressed than a typical MP3.”
  • emotional
    88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a blend of chaotic humor and surprisingly heartfelt storytelling, particularly in "Saints Row 2," which is praised for its ability to evoke genuine feelings through character deaths and intense moments. While some players find the narrative lacking in depth, many appreciate the emotional weight of certain scenes and the balance between absurdity and serious themes, making it a memorable experience that resonates with players on a personal level. Overall, the game is recognized for its unique ability to intertwine humor with emotional depth, creating a lasting impact on its audience.

    • “Unlike later entries that leaned heavily into goofiness, Saints Row 2 strikes a perfect balance between absurd fun and surprisingly emotional storytelling.”
    • “What follows is a brutal, emotional rise back to power — and yeah, it’s hilarious and over-the-top, but it never forgets to be personal.”
    • “The emotional moments of the game pack way more of a punch than later installments.”
    • “The game itself has a boring storyline, mobile feel graphics, bad handling of vehicles, characters don't have any charisma, law enforcement is a joke, poor weapon damage, cut scenes are not proper, etc. I know you feel sad about this, but this is true; I experienced it from the game.”
    • “This game is nothing but a cheap ripoff of Grand Theft Auto, which is way better in any way you look at it. This game gets a 1/10 overall; it's a boring story and I’m never playing this boring game ever again.”
    • “Saints Row 2 is not the type of game I thought it would be. It has a really boring storyline, and to do missions you need to increase your respect, which is one of the most tedious things in this game. The developer should release a remastered version so that it would be more enjoyable.”
  • replayability
    87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability, enhanced by deep character customization, a variety of vehicles and weapons, and numerous side missions and activities. Players appreciate the freedom of exploration in its open-world setting, with many noting that mods like "Gentleman of the Row" significantly improve gameplay and add new content, further extending replay value. Overall, it remains a fun and engaging experience, encouraging multiple playthroughs and cooperative gameplay.

    • “The character customization is deep, allowing you to create a protagonist that truly reflects your style, while the variety of vehicles, weapons, and outfits add to the game's replayability.”
    • “I can't describe the amount of fun I had playing this game; it still stands as such an amazing sandbox title, with insane replayability and a gripping and fun story.”
    • “The activities are incredibly fun and the game has so much replayability.”
    • “This game has zero replay value.”
    • “I don't really think there's replay value to this as you would be doing the same thing even if you change your character, it will only look different.”
    • “But besides that, it's also too much replayable game, that makes me feel sick ...”
  • grinding
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress through main missions. While some side activities are enjoyable, the necessity to complete them for respect points can feel like filler content, leading to frustration as players are locked out of the main story. Overall, while grinding can be satisfying at times, it often detracts from the overall experience, making it a significant point of contention among players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Strong start, but then the most annoying game design choice presents itself: obligatory grinding to play the main missions.”
    • “Imagine having a game with a great story, but you're locked from playing it until you tediously grind up enough points or play the most frustrating side quests to do the next mission.”
    • “The respect system is used to make sure that the player can't just do all the missions at once, and it forces the player to explore the map and its various environments by killing enemy gang members, doing stunt jumps, etc. Sometimes this can get tedious, especially later in the game when you are on the brink of a climactic event and have to go grind for respect levels.”
  • atmosphere
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of humor, drama, and a gritty, immersive world that feels alive with diverse characters and engaging missions. Players appreciate the well-integrated sound design and soundtrack, which enhance the overall experience, creating a nostalgic yet fresh vibe reminiscent of the 90s and early 2000s. While some comparisons to other titles like GTA highlight differences in tone and realism, the game's charm and distinctive atmosphere make it a standout in the open-world genre.

    • “Between the story, the atmosphere, and the unforgettable music, watching the credits roll made it clear I had just replayed one of the greatest games ever made.”
    • “The sound design complements the game’s atmosphere perfectly, with a diverse soundtrack that ranges from hip-hop to rock, and everything in between.”
    • “Cruising through the city, listening to old-school gangsta tracks, and soaking in the game's incredible atmosphere makes every session feel special.”
    • “The devs hadn't decided to go the crazy explosive fun route yet, so the storyline is dark and gory, the boss has very few sympathetic moments, the atmosphere in general is crusted with dirt and grime and has a very 1970s Scorsese feel to it.”
    • “Though Saints Row 2 profits from its easy and humorous atmosphere, those can’t make up for its technical weaknesses.”
    • “Mediocre atmosphere.”
  • character development
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, character development in the game is praised for being engaging and well-executed, with players feeling invested in the characters and their growth throughout the story. Customization options enhance the experience, allowing players to shape their characters' identities, while the narrative includes both humorous and serious moments that contribute to character depth. However, some reviews note that it may not reach the same level of depth as other titles like GTA.

    • “Incredible storyline and character development, it makes you want to get involved.”
    • “More story is filled out as the Saints grow into a proper gang along with much more character development when it comes to Pierce, Shaundi, and Gat.”
    • “It's not going to win any awards for plot or character development for sure.”
    • “It doesn't have the heavy storyline or character development of a GTA game.”
    • “The SR series doesn't take itself very seriously, but I felt like the character development was solid and I felt invested in the characters.”
  • monetization
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is primarily focused on its humorous radio ads, which users find entertaining, although some report bugs that disrupt the experience. While the game offers customization options, players feel that these do not live up to the promotional claims. Additionally, the community has created mods like "Gentlemen of the Row" to enhance gameplay and address bugs, indicating a reliance on user-generated content to improve the overall experience.

    • “☐ microtransactions”
    • “The game advertises itself as having a raft of customization options - while there are customization options, these are nowhere near as detailed as the advertising would have you suggest.”
    • “Unfortunately (and unrealistically) there are no talk-radio shows in this game, though there are radio advertisements which are funny.”
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76%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews
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17h Median play time
64h Average play time
20h Main story
51h Completionist
7-39h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 63 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Saints Row 2 is a open world shooter game with comedy theme.

Saints Row 2 is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 3, Linux and others.

The main story can be completed in around 20 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 51 hours to finish. On average players spend around 64 hours playing Saints Row 2.

Saints Row 2 was released on January 28, 2009.

Saints Row 2 was developed by Volition.

Saints Row 2 has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Saints Row 2 is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Saints Row: The Third, Grand Theft Auto IV, Saints Row IV, Saints Row The Third Remastered, Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition and others.