Saints Row IV

Volition it seems has made a new standard in over the top…no really I don’t think you understand… they went over the top before. Now they had to raise the bar in standards as well, just so they could go over the top of that.

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In Saints Row IV Re-Elected, play as the President of the United States, leading the Saints to save the world after an alien invasion. This open-world game features 25 DLC packs, including superpowers, strange weapons, and two story expansions. Fight to free humanity in a bizarre Steelport simulation.

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Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 45,979 reviews

story3,535 positive mentions

stability1,229 negative mentions

story
12,089 mentions
29 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of "Saints Row IV" is characterized by its over-the-top, absurd humor and a plot that parodies various sci-fi tropes, particularly drawing inspiration from "The Matrix." While many players find the narrative entertaining and filled with pop culture references, it is often criticized for being shallow and repetitive, with a significant portion of missions feeling like busywork rather than meaningful content. Overall, the game offers a fun, chaotic experience, but those seeking a deep, coherent storyline may be disappointed.
- “The story is engaging and keeps you invested from start to finish, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.”
- “The story is a tongue-in-cheek satire that gleefully embraces pop culture references, video game tropes, and outrageous humor.”
- “The story is filled with ridiculous moments, absurd weapons, and over-the-top characters that will keep you entertained throughout the game.”
- “The story is a mishmash of misguided 'minigames' that derail the open world gameplay experience.”
- “The story is absolute nonsense, and there is not any completely original or inventive thing about this game compared to the last installment other than the superpowers you get way too early in the game.”
- “The story is poorly written and most dialogues are dull.”
humor
5,652 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Saints Row IV" is widely praised for its absurdity, clever writing, and self-referential jokes, often drawing comparisons to the over-the-top antics of the previous games in the series. Players appreciate the mix of juvenile and satirical humor, with many finding themselves laughing out loud at the outrageous scenarios and witty dialogue throughout the game. However, some critics note that the reliance on crude jokes and pop culture references can feel excessive or dated, potentially alienating those who prefer a more serious narrative. Overall, the game is seen as a hilarious and entertaining experience, especially for fans of the franchise.
- “The game has some amazing humor at times; some of the humor might be the kind I'd laugh at when I was a teenager, but some of it still makes me laugh.”
- “Expect the absurd, the hilarious, and the outrageously fun as you navigate this zany open world, where saving Earth means embracing every bit of its gloriously ridiculous charm.”
- “So, grab your superpowers and your sense of humor, because Saints Row IV: Re-Elected isn’t just about saving the world—it’s about doing it with style, swagger, and a whole lot of laughs.”
- “Would've been better if it wasn't for the unfunny and just straight-up annoying 'mature jokes'—barely anything actually about aliens.”
- “Regardless, Saints Row 4 kept beating the dead horse and thus the unfunny jokes had no end.”
- “This is a low-effort waste of time cash grab with some of the most vacuous and unfunny dialogue ever.”
gameplay
3,984 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Saints Row IV" is characterized by its over-the-top humor and chaotic action, featuring a mix of traditional shooting mechanics and new superpowers that significantly alter the gameplay experience. While many players find the superpowers fun and engaging, they also make traditional gameplay elements like driving feel obsolete, leading to a repetitive experience for some. Overall, the game offers a blend of enjoyable mechanics and absurd scenarios, though it suffers from technical issues and a lack of depth in mission design, resulting in mixed reviews regarding its long-term appeal.
- “The gameplay is a blast too.”
- “The open-world setting allows for endless opportunities for mayhem and chaos, and the superpowers add a whole new level of fun to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun the whole way through without getting repetitive.”
- “A third-party launcher is required, the latest updates frequently crash, and the overall gameplay is your typical, gimmicky Saints Row.”
- “This repetitiveness is exacerbated by a virtual world that lacks depth and variety, making the gameplay feel stale and uninspired after a few hours.”
- “The superpowers, while initially exciting, ultimately make traditional gameplay elements like driving obsolete.”
graphics
1,700 mentions
37 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Saints Row IV" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated compared to modern standards, often likening them to those of its predecessor, "Saints Row: The Third." While some appreciate the vibrant art style and colorful environments, others criticize the lack of significant graphical improvements and the presence of technical issues, such as bugs and performance drops. Overall, the visuals are considered adequate for the game's fun and chaotic gameplay, but they do not stand out in today's gaming landscape.
- “The graphics are stunning, with a vibrant and colorful world that truly feels alive.”
- “The graphics and sound design of Saints Row IV are impressive, with vibrant colors and detailed environments.”
- “Visually, the game holds up well, especially for its time, with colorful environments and a vibrant art style that captures the chaos of the Saints Row universe.”
- “Underwhelming graphics and technical issues: for a game released in the modern gaming era, 'Saints Row IV' features graphics that many players consider outdated.”
- “Graphics look a bit outdated for a 2013 game. This came out around the same time as GTA V & Tomb Raider (2013), but some of the textures look like they were modeled way back in the early 2000s, especially the mech suit and power armor in the finale. You can see the heavy compression even on ultra settings.”
- “The graphics are a bit outdated now, but it is like an insane version of GTA.”
music
1,408 mentions
45 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in "Saints Row IV" is widely praised for its diverse and engaging soundtrack, featuring a mix of licensed tracks and original compositions that enhance the game's over-the-top atmosphere. Players appreciate the ability to listen to music outside of vehicles, although some feel the selection could be more extensive and varied compared to previous titles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, effectively complementing the game's humor and action.
- “The soundtrack is also top-notch, with a great mix of licensed music and original tracks.”
- “The game features a fantastic soundtrack, with everything from classical music to dubstep to power ballads.”
- “The soundtrack has some choice tunes, featuring a wide assortment of genres, and throwback classics.”
- “The game has decent sound design, though many of the songs on the radio are mediocre and a far cry from Rockstar's GTA.”
- “During missions, there are sometimes predefined background music, but most of the time there is no background music – you are supposed to switch on a radio station for that.”
- “The one thing the game lacked was custom music. In GTA IV, for instance, I could point the game to my music folder and have a custom music station to listen to, and Saints Row IV didn’t have that.”
stability
1,267 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The stability of Saints Row IV has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and game-breaking glitches, particularly in co-op mode. Many users have expressed frustration over the game's inability to run smoothly on modern systems, often requiring hard resets or extensive troubleshooting to continue playing. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite its issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's stability problems significantly detract from the overall experience, making it difficult to recommend without caution.
- “Never froze on my PC and runs great!”
- “So far it runs great on my gaming rig at 1440p ultra preset. I am getting 100+ fps and it runs smooth.”
- “I would rate this game 10/10; there are no glitches at all!”
- “I bought this for the nostalgia but the amount of bugs and crashes destroyed it for me, I don't recommend buying it unless you want to spend hours troubleshooting.”
- “The game is riddled with glitches, from audio and visual bugs to game-breaking crashes.”
- “It's unplayable due to how much it crashes and freezes.”
optimization
390 mentions
24 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, crashes, and glitches, particularly on modern hardware. Despite some users managing to achieve smoother gameplay through various tweaks, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, especially following recent updates that have exacerbated these problems. Overall, players express disappointment in the game's performance, often comparing it unfavorably to previous entries in the series.
- “It was fun, after a few settings it also runs smoothly on WQHD.”
- “Graphics are nice and performance is quite good (I ran it with my integrated GPU for a few days and still got 60 FPS in low quality, so it's a 10/10 optimization).”
- “The powers control really well, the game is well optimized, the missions are fun, and although it's still Steelport, it feels so much different when you can run and glide across it faster than any cars.”
- “I'm really disappointed with the performance of Saints Row: Re-Elected on my system.”
- “This downgrade brought instability and crashing that was never there, incompatibility with old saves, and many new bugs, including performance issues.”
- “From the constant random crashes to the very, very poor optimization, it's just not possible to enjoy it, and I've seen a lot of people complain about this.”
grinding
328 mentions
1 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as tedious, repetitive, and requiring an excessive time investment. While some side activities can be enjoyable, they often feel like chores that artificially inflate gameplay time, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, players suggest that the game would benefit from a reduction in grind-heavy content to enhance the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “The open world aspect is tedious, grindy and artificially bloats gameplay time.”
- “Side quests are tedious and extremely repetitive; the game became a chore just trying to do all main side quests and main quests with the end goal of being able to uninstall the game.”
- “That fun and thrill wears off pretty quickly if you intend on completing the majority of the content because it feels so grindy and repetitive after hours of doing it.”
replayability
256 mentions
35 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its endless fun, diverse activities, and customization options that enhance replay value, while others criticize its lack of mission replayability and linear story progression. Many find it entertaining for a limited time, but feel it lacks the depth and replayability of earlier titles in the series. Overall, while some players enjoy the chaotic gameplay and humor, others believe it doesn't offer enough content for long-term engagement.
- “Its blend of superpowers, outrageous missions, and clever writing make it a standout title that is both endlessly entertaining and highly replayable.”
- “From additional missions and costumes to new weapons and vehicles, the wealth of included content extends the lifespan and replayability of the game, ensuring that players can continue their chaotic adventures in Steelport.”
- “The game is hilarious in every way and 100% replayable.”
- “The game was okay, but just that - for me, it had little to no replay value, and even in co-op it wasn't extremely fun.”
- “My only complaint about the game is that the replayability is low.”
- “Trust me, once you're done with the story, there is no replayable content.”
emotional
150 mentions
88 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding genuine moments of nostalgia and heartfelt connections, particularly for long-time fans of the series. However, many reviews criticize the lack of meaningful character development and a coherent narrative, often overshadowed by humor and absurdity. While some moments can be touching, the overall sentiment leans towards a fun, chaotic experience rather than a deeply emotional journey.
- “That said, if you do know the series history and/or can follow it, the game's story is immensely more rewarding, and can even be genuinely touching at times.”
- “For fans of the Saints Row series, that have been following it since game 1, this game is also sort of interesting, because despite all the ridiculousness, there is a really heartfelt attempt by the writers to tie everything in the series together and to give closure to fans on some of the stuff from past games.”
- “But let me tell you this: I got unexpectedly emotional throughout the game, imagining how it would be if I had played the previous entries in the series.”
- “While the superpowers are definitely a neat mechanic in the game, it gets overshadowed by the rather boring story of alien enslavement.”
- “Its the 3rd one just with aliens and a boring story that makes no sense; it was meant to be DLC, what do you expect?”
- “Pretty boring story, repetitive gameplay, boring and pretty bad graphics, and disappointing multiplayer.”
atmosphere
104 mentions
38 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its vibrant, neon-lit environments and humorous undertones, while others find it dated and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight a shift from the fun, chaotic energy of previous installments to a darker, more serious tone, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as unique and immersive, but opinions vary widely on its effectiveness and appeal.
- “The atmosphere of the game is excellent.”
- “The neon-lit atmosphere and gorgeous cityscape is great.”
- “This game has such a nice atmosphere and comes so close to this feeling.”
- “I find the game atmosphere too dark most of the time, which made it hard to appreciate Steelport.”
- “There is no epic story and atmosphere (that Volition is capable of creating, as Freespace 2 has shown), there is no exciting gameplay, there is no living world, there is no humor, no style, no visuals, no engaging multiplayer, nothing at all.”
- “What's most annoying is that the crazy atmosphere of gang mayhem and over-the-top craziness is actually gone in SR4: the flying perk is ultimate freedom, but makes the game feel a bit pointless; nothing can feel surprising or amazing in comparison.”
character development
60 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some entries in the series praised for their depth and emotional engagement, while others are criticized for lacking meaningful growth and relying on humor and shock value. Notably, the latest installment is highlighted for offering the most character development in the series, featuring engaging missions and insights into both new and returning characters. Overall, while character design and customization are well-received, many players feel that a stronger focus on character development could enhance the overall narrative experience.
- “The weirdness is cranked so far that the knob is now broken, yet this Saints Row has the most character development I've ever seen in the series.”
- “One thing I was really surprised with was that everyone gets actual character development.”
- “The game sacrifices any meaningful character development or emotional depth for cheap laughs and shock value.”
- “A stronger emphasis on character development could enhance the emotional investment players have in the story.”
- “I was a little disappointed to not have a little more character development going on.”
monetization
30 mentions
7 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization strategies in several games, including Borderlands and Saints Row, have drawn criticism for being perceived as cash grabs, often featuring intrusive ads, broken mods, and rushed releases. Players express frustration over forced use of specific launchers and the lack of proper debugging, leading to a negative experience. While some titles offer no microtransactions, the overall sentiment suggests a trend towards low-effort monetization practices that prioritize profit over quality.
- “No microtransactions, no DRM Denuvo using up RAM, and no online internet connection required for singleplayer (as there is co-op).”
- “SR4's buyable DLCs vs GTA5's microtransactions.”
- “It's a damn shame I loved Saints Row 2 & 3, but this was put out without proper debugging for an easy cash grab!”
- “This is a low-effort waste of time cash grab with some of the most vacuous and unfunny dialogue ever.”
- “Get it for a sale and you'll have a good time with it, but as a huge fan of the Saints Row franchise, I felt like this one was rushed out, repetitive, and had all the hallmarks of a studio cash grab.”