Saints Row 2

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 12,025 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Saints Row 2 Game Cover
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.
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"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.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,025 reviews
story1,166 positive mentions
graphics145 negative mentions
  • story3,795 mentions

    The story of "Saints Row 2" is widely praised for its engaging narrative that blends humor with serious themes, focusing on the protagonist's quest to reclaim their gang's territory from rival factions in the fictional city of Stilwater. Players appreciate the depth of character development and the emotional stakes involved, particularly in the interactions with various gangs, which add layers to the overall plot. However, many reviews highlight the game's poor PC port, which leads to frequent crashes and bugs that can disrupt the storytelling experience, making it frustrating for players trying to progress through the missions.

    • “Saints Row 2 perfectly straddled the line between open world chaos and a gripping story.”
    • “The story is surprisingly deep and engaging, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption.”
    • “The story in Saints Row 2 is both engaging and outrageous, striking a perfect balance between dramatic moments and absurd humor.”
    • “The story of getting back at those who wronged you from the first one was one revenge story that was good, but where the peak of the series was is the same as the start of the downfall.”
    • “Without any of the fixes, the game would crash without warning at any point, and around where the story picks up, it simply didn't allow me to continue the story quests, as it crashed before the game considered the quest done.”
    • “The story isn't that good; it is serviceable but not that deep or interesting.”
  • gameplay882 mentions

    The gameplay of Saints Row 2 is characterized by its chaotic, arcade-style action reminiscent of earlier GTA titles, offering a mix of fun missions, diverse side activities, and extensive character customization. However, many players report significant technical issues, including frequent crashes, poor driving mechanics, and a lack of polish in controls, particularly in the PC port. Despite these drawbacks, the engaging story and humorous elements keep players entertained, making it a memorable experience for fans of open-world games.

    • “The gameplay is stellar, second only to its sense of humor.”
    • “Gameplay: Saints Row 2 offers a highly customizable and immersive open-world experience.”
    • “The gameplay is crazy fun; the things you can do in this game, the way you can mess with NPCs, and watch crazy fights between the factions with all kinds of weapons makes it feel like a WWE game!”
    • “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.”
  • graphics769 mentions

    The graphics of Saints Row 2 are widely criticized for being outdated and poorly optimized, with many players experiencing frequent crashes and significant performance issues regardless of their hardware. While some appreciate the game's distinct art style and vibrant visuals, most agree that the graphics do not hold up to modern standards, often likening them to those of earlier console generations. Despite these shortcomings, many players find the gameplay and story engaging enough to overlook the graphical flaws, especially when using mods to enhance the experience.

    • “Despite being an older game, the graphics have held up surprisingly well, and I do like some things from Saints Row 2 that didn't make it into the sequels.”
    • “The graphics are decent considering it's an old game, and the gameplay is still fun.”
    • “For a game released in 2008, the graphics are still acceptable, and the vibrant art style adds charm to the overall experience.”
    • “The graphics have aged worse than most of your mothers.”
    • “The game’s visuals, which were already dated, didn’t translate well to modern hardware, leading to a lot of issues that detracted from the experience.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization696 mentions

    The optimization of Saints Row 2 on PC has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, significant frame rate drops, and overall poor performance, even on high-end systems. Many players recommend using the "Gentlemen of the Row" mod to alleviate some of these issues, but even with mods, the game remains unstable and unoptimized. Overall, the consensus is that the PC port is one of the worst in gaming history, making it difficult to recommend without significant caveats.

    • “Despite being infuriatingly bad port from consoles with crashes, bugs, performance all over the place, the game is still a lot of fun.”
    • “With a bit of tinkering, the performance and stability can be brought to a reasonable degree, but there's still crashes.”
    • “The gentlemen of the row mod surely helps to optimize the game and make it playable on PC for anyone with performance issues.”
    • “The PC port, in particular, has been known for its technical issues, including poor optimization, crashes, and framerate drops.”
    • “The frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and poor optimization made it a frustrating experience.”
    • “This game is unplayable in a lot of parts, game-breaking bugs, awful performance, a lot of crashes, bad controls and no controller support, lacks the DLC that are only available on consoles.”
  • humor658 mentions

    The humor in "Saints Row 2" is widely praised for its perfect blend of absurdity and heartfelt moments, striking a balance between chaotic action and comedic side activities. Players appreciate the game's self-aware, often crude humor, which is complemented by well-written dialogue and memorable character interactions. Despite some criticisms regarding its juvenile aspects, the humor remains a standout feature, making the game a beloved classic in the open-world genre.

    • “It perfectly blends chaotic action, deep customization, and a story that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.”
    • “One of the best open world games I've ever played, plenty of fun side activities, excellent main story missions, hilarious writing and character moments.”
    • “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”
  • stability604 mentions

    The PC port of Saints Row 2 is widely criticized for its instability, featuring frequent crashes, numerous glitches, and poor optimization that significantly detracts from the gameplay experience. While some players have managed to mitigate these issues using mods like "Gentlemen of the Row," many still find the game unplayable without such fixes. Overall, the consensus is that the PC version is a buggy mess, making it advisable to seek out console alternatives for a more stable experience.

    • “Lock it to 30fps, runs great maxed out.”
    • “The game runs great on my Steam Deck; I don't know how, but I'm not complaining.”
    • “Runs great on a 1080 Ti/i7-8700k!”
    • “It's a broken, crashing buggy mess.”
    • “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, crappy, unfinished mess, and it is glorious, if you really wanna have fun with it, I'd highly recommend playing the console versions, they're solid, they have access to the DLC, and they allow you to enjoy a *near* flawless masterpiece of game without constant bugs and crashes.”
  • music380 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its diverse and nostalgic soundtrack, featuring a mix of genres including hip-hop, rock, and 80s hits, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the inclusion of lesser-known tracks and the ability to create custom playlists, although some have noted issues with audio quality, particularly in the PC port. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and atmosphere.

    • “The sound design complements the game’s atmosphere perfectly, with a diverse soundtrack that ranges from hip-hop to rock, and everything in between.”
    • “The music selection of the game features many popular 90s and early 2000s songs, that really just set the entire vibe for the game, and really increase the overall enjoyment to be had tenfold.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, the story is entertaining, and the nostalgia is something fierce since I used to watch my brother play this game growing up.”
    • “The music quality is pathetic; it sounds worse than music from the N64.”
    • “The radio is intolerable unless you either have a soft spot for listening to music through a Nokia phone speaker or you download mods that replace the sound files with the ones from the Xbox 360 version.”
    • “The music is a little thin on the ground for the various radio stations, but it’s good enough and graphically it is showing its age, but by far the most crippling aspect of playing this game on the PC is the horribly bad optimization, having been ported to the PC.”
  • emotional84 mentions

    Saints Row 2 is praised for its unique blend of chaotic humor and surprisingly emotional moments, striking a balance between lighthearted fun and serious storytelling. Players often highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings, particularly during key character deaths and intense story arcs, making it stand out from its sequels. While it revels in absurdity, the emotional depth and character attachment resonate strongly, leaving a lasting impact on players.

    • “Saints Row 2 is right in the sweet spot between crazy stupid fun and immersive and emotional.”
    • “The emotional moments of the game pack way more of a punch than later installments.”
    • “Saints Row 2 has a great humor as well, but also comes with its share of deep and emotional moments.”
    • “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; this game really sucks. 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 aspects of this game. The developer should release a remastered version so that it would be more enjoyable.”
    • “What can I say? This game did surprise me. I thought it was going to be a boring shoot 'em up type game with a dull story, but I was wrong. This game is pretty amazing. I love that you can create your own character, everything from the way they look to the way they talk and walk.”
  • replayability82 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with extensive character customization, a variety of vehicles and weapons, and numerous side missions that encourage players to return for new experiences. Many users highlight the game's sandbox nature and the ability to replay missions and cutscenes, further enhancing its longevity. Additionally, community mods like "Gentlemen of the Row" significantly improve gameplay and add new content, making the game even more enjoyable over time.

    • “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 (sound if you decide to go with a different gender) and the epilogue is just 1 secret mission and you can buy all the stores that can be bought as well as all the cribs but I was too lazy to do those things and only did the secret mission.”
    • “But besides that, it's also too much of a replayable game, that makes me feel sick ...”
  • grinding48 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some activities can be enjoyable and varied, many feel that the requirement to complete numerous side quests to progress in the main story becomes tedious over time. The necessity to grind for respect points often detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration as players navigate repetitive tasks. Despite the fun elements, the grinding can feel excessive, making it a significant point of contention in the game's design.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “The only problem I have with the game itself is that it forces you to do a side activity after every story mission to access the next; they are fun at first, but after having to do 30, it gets a bit tedious.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of humor, dark storytelling, and immersive sound design, creating a gritty yet vibrant world reminiscent of the 90s and early 2000s. Players appreciate the realistic character portrayals and the lively open-world environment filled with diverse activities and secrets, which contribute to an engaging experience. While some comparisons to other titles like GTA highlight differences in immersion, the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere is exceptional and distinct within the genre.

    • “The sound design complements the game’s atmosphere perfectly, with a diverse soundtrack that ranges from hip-hop to rock, and everything in between.”
    • “The story is without a doubt the best and craziest in the series, and I really fell in love with the atmosphere of the city.”
    • “Saints Row 2 perfectly mixes humor and genuine drama in itself, and it has that specific chilly, gloomy, and original atmosphere I haven't seen in any other game yet.”
    • “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.”
    • “Mediocre atmosphere.”
    • “Though Saints Row 2 profits from its easy and humorous atmosphere, those can’t make up for its technical weaknesses.”
  • character development15 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and engagement, with players feeling invested in the characters' journeys and transformations. The ability to customize characters adds a personal touch, enhancing the overall experience. While some reviews note that the game may not win awards for its plot, the combination of a compelling storyline and solid character arcs contributes to a memorable gaming experience.

    • “Incredible storyline and character development; it makes you want to get involved.”
    • “The Saints Row series doesn't take itself very seriously, but I felt like the character development was solid, and I felt invested in the characters.”
    • “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.”
    • “Even the story is really interesting from start to end with the story which they give character development so well if you haven't played the first one.”
    • “This game improves on it in every way, from the game design to the story and character development.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is not heavily criticized, as players appreciate the humorous radio ads and the decent music selection. However, there are concerns about the lack of detailed customization options compared to what was advertised, and the PC port's bugs can detract from the experience unless mitigated by mods. Overall, while the game offers entertaining content, its monetization strategy and customization features may not fully meet player expectations.

    • “☐ 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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Saints Row 2

Play time

19hMedian play time
70hAverage play time
20hMain story
51hCompletionist
8-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 57 analyzed playthroughs

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