Saints Row 3?

[shadow_archmagi]

Is anyone else planning on getting this? I think that with the release only a few hours away, we'd better get a thread up and running. If there already is one, I'm blind and dumb.

I suggest we start by posting pictures of characters; I've already got a working draft of Pink Lincoln, Tranvestite Supervillain (http://imgur.com/5RK5r) going. I'm really disappointed in the character creator's lack of beards.

[Triscuitable]

Is anyone else planning on getting this? I think that with the release only a few hours away, we'd better get a thread up and running. If there already is one, I'm blind and dumb.

I suggest we start by posting pictures of characters; I've already got a working draft of Pink Lincoln, Tranvestite Supervillain (http://imgur.com/5RK5r) going.

I've been hoping to pick this up, but I don't think I've got the money. And even then, I want it to go to Skyrim, not this.

[shadow_archmagi]

I've been hoping to pick this up, but I don't think I've got the money. And even then, I want it to go to Skyrim, not this.

I cannot fathom the mind that chooses dragons over squid guns.

[The Glyphstone]

I always get Saint's Row and Boondock Saints confused, because I was thinking 'wait, isn't that a movie'?

[Trazoi]

I've been thinking of picking up Saint's Row 2, since I've seen it in bargain bins these days and heard a fairly positive buzz about it. I was vaguely aware of #3, but I've got the luxury of being behind enough to buy the cheaper prequel instead. :smallsmile:

[shadow_archmagi]

I've been thinking of picking up Saint's Row 2, since I've seen it in bargain bins these days and heard a fairly positive buzz about it. I was vaguely aware of #3, but I've got the luxury of being behind enough to buy the cheaper prequel instead. :smallsmile:

I will say this about Saints Row 2; I found that it was really only enjoyable when I played coop, and then only when I played with people who could really appreciate the silliness. I remember one friend who wore a black hotdog suit and sunglasses and used a sniper rifle to assassinate anyone else he saw wearing a hotdog suit, no matter what else we were doing at the time.

[Trazoi]

I will say this about Saints Row 2; I found that it was really only enjoyable when I played coop, and then only when I played with people who could really appreciate the silliness. I remember one friend who wore a black hotdog suit and sunglasses and used a sniper rifle to assassinate anyone else he saw wearing a hotdog suit, no matter what else we were doing at the time.
That's how I played Grand Theft Auto 3, where my character had an unexplained irrational grudge against guys in floral shirts. And then in Vice City you play as one Curse You Rockstar North!

[Cristo Meyers]

I've been thinking of picking up Saint's Row 2, since I've seen it in bargain bins these days and heard a fairly positive buzz about it. I was vaguely aware of #3, but I've got the luxury of being behind enough to buy the cheaper prequel instead. :smallsmile:

I picked 2 up off of Steam when I saw the Saint's Row 3 trailer a ways back and haven't regretted it for a second. Both my wife and I played the hell out of it for about two weeks straight. It's an awesome game, bar none. Only GTA: San Andreas did it better.

And there's just something strangely entertaining about watching your wife jump out of helicopters trying to get the "immune to falling damage" bonus. :smallamused:

Got 3 on pre-order, really looking forward to it, though recent buzz from Destructoid has cooled that just a little (no direct link due to picture including a giant purple floppy...bat). Even with the criticism, though, it's still stacking up.

[shadow_archmagi]

I picked 2 up off of Steam when I saw the Saint's Row 3 trailer a ways back and haven't regretted it for a second. Both my wife and I played the hell out of it for about two weeks straight. It's an awesome game, bar none. Only GTA: San Andreas did it better.

And there's just something strangely entertaining about watching your wife jump out of helicopters trying to get the "immune to falling damage" bonus. :smallamused:

Got 3 on pre-order, really looking forward to it, though recent buzz from Destructoid has cooled that just a little. Even with the criticism, though, it's still stacking up.

I think Saints Row 2 is the only game where I ever came really close to actually completing everything.

Ultimately though, one of the drug running missions turned out to be nigh impossible, so that still hasn't happened.

EDIT: ONE HOUR LEFT

ONE HOUR

[Cristo Meyers]

I think Saints Row 2 is the only game where I ever came really close to actually completing everything.

Ultimately though, one of the drug running missions turned out to be nigh impossible, so that still hasn't happened.

Yakuza or Brotherhood?

Yeah...LadyMeyers had trouble with those too, ended up having me take the wheel because I'm a better shot.


EDIT: ONE HOUR LEFT

ONE HOUR

You're actually getting a midnight release? Best Buy actually called us a few hours ago to tell us that they weren't doing a midnight release.

Wouldn't have gone anyway, we'll pick it up on the way home, but it was kinda odd that they felt the need to call us when we'd never heard anything about even a possible midnight release.

[warty goblin]

Got it pre-ordered, so tomorrow night it's time to get crazy. It's a bit ridiculous since I will have managed a grand total of one hour with Skyrim by then, but I've been hyped for this for at least as long as Bethesda's title. SR 2 is one of my all time favorites, and it looks like SR 3 is the same brand of completely over the top offensive yet quite well written hilarity, so I'm totally there.

Also mind control octopus rocket launchers - why has nobody thought of this before?

[shadow_archmagi]

You're actually getting a midnight release? Best Buy actually called us a few hours ago to tell us that they weren't doing a midnight release.


I bought it on Steam; it's all preloaded and everything, so theoretically I should be playing by 12:02, assuming all goes well. Of course, these things never work PERFECTLY, so for all I know it won't be actually unlocked until 8 am. I didn't spend anything extra to buy it on Steam, and I *did* get the special Genki pack, so I'm happy with my choice.

[Starwulf]

I always get Saint's Row and Boondock Saints confused, because I was thinking 'wait, isn't that a movie'?

Doing better then me Boss man, for the longest time, whenever someone mentioned "Boondock saints", I automatically thought of the Adult Swim show that used to air, titled "The Boondocks". Now I have a three-way going, with Saint's Row and Boondock Saint's, and then Boondock Saints and The Boondocks. Hopefully nothing else comes out in popular media with a name similar to anyone of those three.

[Moonshadow]

Well, I'm getting my copy from the UK, so I probably won't get it until next week, but I'm excited for this. I played SR2 to death, and this looks like it will be a blast.

I mean, they give you a truck that you can shoot people out off. ALL OF MY LESS THAN 3.

[factotum]

I shall probably get it, but after I've finished LA Noire and bought and finished Skyrim...one has to get one's priorities straight. :smallwink:

Seriously, I didn't think SR2 was as good as GTA:San Andreas. For a start, all the cars handled really weird--found it hard to control them. Biggest problem I had was that the character I was playing was just so relentlessly unlikable, though! The protagonist in GTA:SA did some horrible things, but you generally got the feeling he was being forced into them by circumstances; the one in SR2 gleefully enjoyed them, and that put me off. Still finished the game, mind you, but didn't have any inclination to play it again, unlike SA (which I've played and completed three times now).

[Cristo Meyers]

I bought it on Steam; it's all preloaded and everything, so theoretically I should be playing by 12:02, assuming all goes well. Of course, these things never work PERFECTLY, so for all I know it won't be actually unlocked until 8 am. I didn't spend anything extra to buy it on Steam, and I *did* get the special Genki pack, so I'm happy with my choice.

Ah, duh, Steam...freakin' Dynasty Warriors has turned my brain to jam.

That and I tend not to use Steam if I don't have to.


Seriously, I didn't think SR2 was as good as GTA:San Andreas. For a start, all the cars handled really weird--found it hard to control them. Biggest problem I had was that the character I was playing was just so relentlessly unlikable, though! The protagonist in GTA:SA did some horrible things, but you generally got the feeling he was being forced into them by circumstances; the one in SR2 gleefully enjoyed them, and that put me off. Still finished the game, mind you, but didn't have any inclination to play it again, unlike SA (which I've played and completed three times now).

I definitely agree that San Andreas is the better game. It smooths the rough spots that Saint's Row 2 has (though it adds a few off it's own...*coughdatingcough*)

The fact that the Boss is completely psychopathic didn't bother me as much as it did other people, though I can definitely understand the criticism.

For me one of the biggest flaws was that all of the upgrades, special weapons, infinite ammos, and such were linked to the Activities and there was little to no barrier to starting an Activity and finishing it before even doing the first mission. The game is kind of a breeze once you have a high-powered assault rifle with grenade launcher and infinite ammo.

[warty goblin]

The fact that the Boss is completely psychopathic didn't bother me as much as it did other people, though I can definitely understand the criticism.

To me what makes Saint's Row II work is how completely in stride everybody takes you being a crazed, mass murdering sociopath. You might be better at it than everybody else, but at the end of the day it's pretty much business as usual - just check out the newspaper headlines after every mission. If nothing else, remember this is the city where it's legal for private citizens to own attack helicopters.


For me one of the biggest flaws was that all of the upgrades, special weapons, infinite ammos, and such were linked to the Activities and there was little to no barrier to starting an Activity and finishing it before even doing the first mission. The game is kind of a breeze once you have a high-powered assault rifle with grenade launcher and infinite ammo.
Honestly that's when the game started to get fun for me, because then I could concentrate on mainlining the story missions, which really are fantastically well written for the most part.

[Cristo Meyers]

To me what makes Saint's Row II work is how completely in stride everybody takes you being a crazed, mass murdering sociopath. You might be better at it than everybody else, but at the end of the day it's pretty much business as usual - just check out the newspaper headlines after every mission. If nothing else, remember this is the city where it's legal for private citizens to own attack helicopters.

Oh definitely. Hell, many of the characters are just as bad (like, say, Gat after dealing with Shojo Akuji...). That the game makes the Boss into a sociopath is probably the major difference between SR2 and other sandbox games. In other games you're generally not a total lunatic: heck you could say CJ is a downright OK guy a good bit of the time, but you can sure act like one by taking a flamethrower to a park full of old people. SR2 doesn't even bother to pretend that you're not a psychopath.



Honestly that's when the game started to get fun for me, because then I could concentrate on mainlining the story missions, which really are fantastically well written for the most part.

For me it was just too easy. You're right in that the story missions are surprisingly well done, but I missed the challenge element to them.

[factotum]

heck you could say CJ is a downright OK guy a good bit of the time, but you can sure act like one by taking a flamethrower to a park full of old people. SR2 doesn't even bother to pretend that you're not a psychopath.


The difference being, taking the flamethrower to the park of old people is a choice you, the player, made, and it's not one I ever did in SA--in fact, I made it a point to try and avoid running pedestrians over whenever possible, although I didn't shed any tears if one of the brain-dead buffoons decided to somersault off the pavement right into the path of my car!

The plotline of SR2 forces you to be this total psycho, though, and that's just not me. This is also why I never finished Scarface: The World is Yours or GTA: Vice City.

[Callos_DeTerran]

To me what makes Saint's Row II work is how completely in stride everybody takes you being a crazed, mass murdering sociopath. You might be better at it than everybody else, but at the end of the day it's pretty much business as usual - just check out the newspaper headlines after every mission. If nothing else, remember this is the city where it's legal for private citizens to own attack helicopters.

Good lord yes! Part of the charm for me is how everyone is so blase about how...terrible Stillwater is. Johny Gat was on trial for 300+ counts of murder and wasn't just sent straight to the chair, they tried to give him a trial! Lets not even go into stealing Ultor's hardware...



Honestly that's when the game started to get fun for me, because then I could concentrate on mainlining the story missions, which really are fantastically well written for the most part.

I like a mix of the two. The activities are fun but, against all odds, the story is one of the very best points for me so I try to do a nice mix of the two (and for me, the only logical progression to taking out the gangs is Samedi (despite how awesome a voodoo gang is), Ronin, and Brotherhood).

As for Saints Row the Third, since I've been compelled to take an involuntary break from it, I gotta say I'm VERY impressed with it so far. It's definitely not pulling any punches, but I gotta say...

I'm not going to believe that Johny Gat is dead until I see the body being put into the ground and the ground lay undisturbed for at LEAST four days.

The same goes for the leader of the Morningstar, who's name I can't spell for the life of me. He just seemed too...on-top of things to get taken out that fast. That, his cloning experiments on Oleg, and the disappearance of Gat leaves a very troubling taste in my mouth because considering how genre savy Philipe(?) seems, it could mean some serious trouble for the Boss...Honestly, this is the first time in both SR2 and the Third (though I'm not too far in it yet) that I've felt the Boss may have bitten off more then he/she can chew between the Syndicate, Killbane (WHY CAN'T YOU RECRUIT HIM INTO THE SAINTS!? He's just as sociopathic as the Boss!), and STAG.

[shadow_archmagi]

The plotline of SR2 forces you to be this total psycho, though, and that's just not me. This is also why I never finished Scarface: The World is Yours or GTA: Vice City.

You know, I'm not even sure that's true. I mean, the plotline with Akuji makes it seem like he escalates it way faster way sooner (robbing a casino vs murdering a wife) so you're pretty much in the right for wiping out his gang and killing him. I mean, Akuji not only murdered Gat's wife, but then attacked during the funeral. If there's any time for revenge rage, that's it.

Likewise, the Voodoo people are just so messed up I didn't feel bad about gunning them down.

I felt like a real jerk for doing what I did to Maero, though, but hey, Pink Lincoln is a super villain for a reason. Besides, Worf is used to taking hits for the team.

[Callos_DeTerran]

You know, I'm not even sure that's true. I mean, the plotline with Akuji makes it seem like he escalates it way faster way sooner (robbing a casino vs murdering a wife) so you're pretty much in the right for wiping out his gang and killing him. I mean, Akuji not only murdered Gat's wife, but then attacked during the funeral. If there's any time for revenge rage, that's it.

See, I'd see that, but Akuji didn't decide to kill Gat's wife, Jounichi did and attacked the funeral because his father flat out told him that he'd have rather had Akuji die then Jounichi which...for a son trying to do his father proud is a real kick in the nads. After Akuji is dead, I didn't really have a problem with the Ronin and I only killed about killing akuji cause Gat wanted to kill him.

[warty goblin]

Good lord yes! Part of the charm for me is how everyone is so blase about how...terrible Stillwater is. Johny Gat was on trial for 300+ counts of murder and wasn't just sent straight to the chair, they tried to give him a trial! Lets not even go into stealing Ultor's hardware...

This isn't to mention the time I was paid to dress up a police officer and break up a polygamist family brawl using a chainsaw while being filmed for television. All because somebody was unhappy with the ratings they were getting...




I like a mix of the two. The activities are fun but, against all odds, the story is one of the very best points for me so I try to do a nice mix of the two (and for me, the only logical progression to taking out the gangs is Samedi (despite how awesome a voodoo gang is), Ronin, and Brotherhood).
What I liked was having enough firepower and Respect to run story missions back to back when I felt like it, since there were definitely parts where I wanted to see what happened next. This is exceedingly unusual for me in a game, but SR II did a really good job with its characters, and the way each storyline escalated out of control into complete and utter chaos.

Also, installing SR 3 right now. Now it, Skyrim and Heroes VI can wage unrelenting war on my free time for the foreseeable future.

[Cristo Meyers]

Also, installing SR 3 right now. Now it, Skyrim and Heroes VI can wage unrelenting war on my free time for the foreseeable future.

Heh, Catherine, Red Dead Redemption, Arkham Asylum, and SR3 for me...but since LadyMeyers also wants a crack at the Row I'll probably have my time budgeted for me

I am liking what I'm seeing so far: graphics are excellent, even on Medium settings and I was laughing not even ten minutes in (and I'm not even the one playing yet).

Kinda wish I'd known that it required Steam, I'd have pre-ordered it through them and saved a bit of money.

[shadow_archmagi]

So, after two hours of play:

Graphics are shiny. Shinier than SR2, and they run beautifully on my computer, which is admittedly a giant magical monolith that I'm very proud of.

Voice acting is good too. I like everyone I've met so far. The controls handle pretty smoothly once you readjust. I really like the new animations for running punches and grabs.

One snag I've run into is that sometimes the action button winds up fulfilling multiple roles, and so you press E to revive a friend but the game decides you were really pressing E to get into a car.

Apparently there's an upgrades system now; you can spend money to buy things like extra sprinting or reduced bullet damage. I'm unsure whether this will REPLACE getting bonuses from sidequests or just supplement them; I'm going to be sad if there isn't a shiny new powerup at the end of every escort mission.

[factotum]

I felt like a real jerk for doing what I did to Maero, though, but hey, Pink Lincoln is a super villain for a reason. Besides, Worf is used to taking hits for the team.

It was mainly the Maero plotline that did it for me, and since I did that one first, it left a bad taste in my mouth that pretty much lasted for the rest of the game. I don't even remember how the other plotlines panned out, but that one is still very clear in my memory.

Anyway, this is all water under the bridge...when I eventually get time to get SR3 I'll judge it on its own merits!

[shadow_archmagi]

It was mainly the Maero plotline that did it for me, and since I did that one first, it left a bad taste in my mouth that pretty much lasted for the rest of the game. I don't even remember how the other plotlines panned out, but that one is still very clear in my memory.

Anyway, this is all water under the bridge...when I eventually get time to get SR3 I'll judge it on its own merits!

I actually did the Maero plotline much, much later because I really hated the mission where you escort whatsisname to blow things up, and he's such a whiny wimp.

Anyway, *so far* SR3, judged on its own merits, has been crazy and wonderfu.

[BRC]

I actually did the Maero plotline much, much later because I really hated the mission where you escort whatsisname to blow things up, and he's such a whiny wimp.

Anyway, *so far* SR3, judged on its own merits, has been crazy and wonderfu.

90% of the Maero Plotline was you just doing horrible things in order to provoke him because he DARED offer you a 20% cut on a deal he was going to do by himself in the first place (Cutting you in at all was basically just a gesture of friendship). The other gangs plotlines tended to consist of actually doing things that made sense for fighting against that gang (Stealing their money, destroying their businesses), but with Maero it was basically you doing unnecessarily cruel things.

On the subject of Saints Row III, I'm loving it for the most part.

The Good: The way I always described Saints Row II was "You are the Joker in a world without Batman". In Saints Row III your enemies are basically other supervillians, and it works. The gameplay is just as solid as in two, and the way they handle upgrades is a step up from the first game.


However, Saints Row III seems to lack something. Steelport just dosn't seem as big as Stilwater, and while this makes it easier to get around, I kind of miss the feeling I had driving around Stilwater. In addition, I kind of miss the character customization. I had lots of fun messing around with outfits in Saints Row II. In III the selection is far more limited, it's hardly what you would call "Small", but compared to the mind-boggling system in Two it seems like a step back.

Mind you, I know why they did it, all those layers of clothing must have been a nightmare to program and test, especially since often many of the layers would be completely covered. Still, once again, I kind of miss it.

The thing it seems to lack in the most compared to II is the activities. This may just be because I'm fairly early in the game, and they are unlocking activities gradually (Rather than starting with every activity unlocked) but it seems like there just isn't as much to do and that's a serious problem for a sandbox game.

Mind you, considering all the moral issues that come up in a game which encourages (Or at the very least, does not penalize) casual mass-murder, it's nice to see that they went out of their way to include a way to remind players what is right and wrong, in the form of Professor Genki and his Super Ethical Reality Climax, which is both loads of fun, AND a good reminder not to shoot pandas.

That said, it's nice to see them loosing the "Thug Life" aesthetic that hung onto the second game like a malignant tumor. They still call hideouts "Cribs" , allies "Homies", and territories "Hoods", but I'm willing to accept that those terms are artifacts from the first game, and they can't drop them any more than final fantasy can drop terms like "Gil" or "Pheonix Down", which is to say they could easily drop them, but they probably wont.

I have yet to state my biggest issue with the game. This almost caused me to give up in disgust, and I hope to see a fix, or at the very least an apology from the development team. It involves a specific mission fairly early on, so I'm going to put it under a spoiler.

On the mission where you attack the Morningstar penthouse. Why oh why can't you shoot out the skylight in midair, then parachute through the hole like batman. I retried that mission four times before I was convinced that I could not shoot out the skylight in midair and parachute through the hole like Batman. Why would you even include a skylight if you won't let me shoot a hole in it and parachute through it like Batman (Or, even better, landing on it with enough force to break it without taking any damage yourself)

In the end I had to settle for landing on the roof, shooting out the skylight, and dropping in like batman, but it just didn't feel right. Especially once I realized that, had it been possible, I would have gone through the skylight perfectly in time with the music.
I know you were supposed to land in the pool, but come on, SKYLIGHT.

[shadow_archmagi]

In III the selection is far more limited, it's hardly what you would call "Small", but compared to the mind-boggling system in Two it seems like a step back.

I'm under the impression that that's the selection AT CHARACTER CREATION, and you can buy way more things from the different stores around the game; remember how SR2 had a mall that included a costume shop and a fetish wear shop, so that there were like 90 pieces of clothing that could only be found in a single area that most people ignored entirely?

[warty goblin]

I'm under the impression that that's the selection AT CHARACTER CREATION, and you can buy way more things from the different stores around the game; remember how SR2 had a mall that included a costume shop and a fetish wear shop, so that there were like 90 pieces of clothing that could only be found in a single area that most people ignored entirely?

I think the point is that SR III doesn't do layered clothing like SR II did. It's not something I'm going to lose sleep over, but layering allowed for some fantastic customization in SR II.

[BRC]

I'm under the impression that that's the selection AT CHARACTER CREATION, and you can buy way more things from the different stores around the game; remember how SR2 had a mall that included a costume shop and a fetish wear shop, so that there were like 90 pieces of clothing that could only be found in a single area that most people ignored entirely?

That's what I thought too, but, having looked around, the selection at character creation (Or, at the very least, in the Initiation Station, I used a default outfit at character creation, but I assume the selection is the same), is just the selection from the four in-game stores. Also, the lack of layered clothing.

[GungHo]

When I first played SR2, I didn't like it. I'd just came off a GTA IV binge, and went right into SR2 and it looked ridiculous in comparison. Animations were wooden, the colors were cartoonish, and the physics were primative.

A year later, I tried SR2 again and stuck with it for more than just a couple of missions and I loved it.

I bought SR3, but I may give it a couple of months to play it... going to let the DLC and general patches hit before I try digging into it. Besides, I'm trying to finish off a 100% completion of New Vegas before I disappear into Skyrim, so it's not like I don't have anything to do.

[Juhn]

Tried to remake my SR2 character, ended up with something I can only describe as "Cary Elwes as James Bond".

I'm not sure if this is good or bad.

[late for dinner]

Saints Row 2 was one of the most fun co-op games I have ever played. I will definately be getting the 3rd one when I get the money. It's better, dare I say, than GTA...only cause it makes me laugh more...and I can make my guy/girl/heshe...

[iyaerP]

I will say that I played and loved SR2 almost without reservation. The open world was fun beyond anything else that has ever been done, the story as it was was pretty awesome (although I will agree that the Boss's justification for war with The Brotherhood/Maero/Micheal Dorn was pretty weak), there was just one sticking point for me, and that was that the driving and shooting controls as well as the UI suffered from some of the worst consolitis I have ever seen in a PC game. I loved the game to death anyway, but it was almost a deal-breaker for me despite that.

So with that in mind, I have 2 questions that will decide weather or not I buy Saints Row 3. 1:Does the consolitis exist like it did in SR2? 2: Is the awesometacular British voice-option back?

Becauase one of my favorite things about Saints Row 2 was that all of the fighting, the drive bys, the APC-joyrides, and the casual slaughter was done by an avatar that basically looked identical to me. And he was making all his japes, jokes, insults and verbal abuse in a hilarious British accent. (What subtype of british accent I couldn't tell you, not being British myself.)

[irenicObserver]

I've been meaning to ask someone this ever since I saw a trailer. What. Is up. With that guy with the giant cat's head? He makes me think of the Cheshire Cat.

[warty goblin]

I will say that I played and loved SR2 almost without reservation. The open world was fun beyond anything else that has ever been done, the story as it was was pretty awesome (although I will agree that the Boss's justification for war with The Brotherhood/Maero/Micheal Dorn was pretty weak), there was just one sticking point for me, and that was that the driving and shooting controls as well as the UI suffered from some of the worst consolitis I have ever seen in a PC game. I loved the game to death anyway, but it was almost a deal-breaker for me despite that.


Play it with a controller, it's about 200% more fun that way. Don't get me wrong, you can pry my 12 function high resolution laser mouse from my cold, dead hands when it comes to gaming, but some things are simply better with a controller. SR II is one of them.



I've been meaning to ask someone this ever since I saw a trailer. What. Is up. With that guy with the giant cat's head? He makes me think of the Cheshire Cat.
Professor Genki's Super Ethical Hyper Reality Climax cannot, I think, actually be described. It does allow you to shoot mind control mollusks at people though, which really is all one needs to know.

[Callos_DeTerran]

I've been meaning to ask someone this ever since I saw a trailer. What. Is up. With that guy with the giant cat's head? He makes me think of the Cheshire Cat.

That's Professor Genki, the creator of the immensely popular game show Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax show, the fabulous Mollusk Launcher (which allows you to shoot sapient mind control octopuses at people and then explode them), and the Genki Manapault. He also, apparently, is a big factor in the first up-coming Mission-based DLC Genki Bowl VII.

SERC is basically a murderous parody of Japanese reality shows where you have to shoot your way through a trap-filled maze full of people dressed in mascot/furry costumes armed to the teeth, trying to get enough money to unlock the exit but not enough (or at least I don't try for this...) to unleash the hunters. The commentary while you do it is hilarious as well...

Basically, if Saints Row the Third is a game where you play the Joker in a world without Batman, Professor Genki would be another super-villain who's somehow totally legit despite hosting and airing a game show based on murder. Keep in mind, even the Boss will get arrested if the police are lucky enough to catch him/her while Genki remains free. That's right, he's somehow more successful then you. He's what Jigsaw and Riddler (from Arkham City anyway) wished they could be and he's become my personal hero.

Also, apparently there's real cheap DLC that introduces a new gun/hat combo...the shark'o-matic. Which pelts the enemy with chum that supposedly lures Steelport's Sewer Shark up to the surface to attack them. Which it does. Is it just me or does Saints Row the Third actively promote fish-based super-villainy?

Also, a British accent voice does exist, though it's a bit gruffer then the one from 2.

[iyaerP]

Play it with a controller, it's about 200% more fun that way. Don't get me wrong, you can pry my 12 function high resolution laser mouse from my cold, dead hands when it comes to gaming, but some things are simply better with a controller. SR II is one of them.


See, I refuse to buy a console controller for my PC for the same reason that I don't buy games that are poorly made, full of bugs, or outright bad. My money is my only voice in the video gaming industry, and I refuse to do even the tiniest bit to promote console gaming because it undermines and destroys PC gaming.

Which, unfortunately, sounds like what is the case with the PC version of SR3. God Damn it.

[shadow_archmagi]

That's Professor Genki, the creator of the immensely popular game show Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax

According to the promo-videos they released, Professor Genki is actually the fusion of a genius scientist and his best friend who happened to be a cat. The transformation gave him incredible mental powers and he became the spiritual and intellectual leader of the country.



Which, unfortunately, sounds like what is the case with the PC version of SR3. God Damn it.

SR2 is the one people say is better with controller.

SR3 has been beautiful so far. I've been really enjoying my keyboard experience, and I can say that the cars handle waaaaaaaaay better now.

[iyaerP]

I've played Saints Row 2. It was almost unplayable because the consolitis of the cars and guns was so bad. And despite that, I loved it to death and put 200+ hours into it.




Moving right along, here is a question.

Is the physics/destrction engine from Red Faction Guerilla put to use in SR3? Because if it is, I might have a joygasm once I can afford to buy it.

[factotum]

My money is my only voice in the video gaming industry, and I refuse to do even the tiniest bit to promote console gaming because it undermines and destroys PC gaming.


Thing is, back in the day it was PC games that used to need all sorts of weird controllers--joysticks and racing wheels were PC gaming innovations. I consider a PC version of an XBox controller to be a continuation of the same trend, and driving games are genuinely a lot better controlled with the thing, IMHO*. Besides, if there's anything that's "undermining and destroying" PC gaming, I'd blame World of Warcraft--those 10+ million subscribers aren't going to have time to play anything else!

* Part of the problem here is the mouse--because you only have one free hand when using one you have to cram all the movement controls into the tiny WSAD space, and that doesn't work well when driving. Again, IMHO.

[shadow_archmagi]

Is the physics/destrction engine from Red Faction Guerilla put to use in SR3? Because if it is, I might have a joygasm once I can afford to buy it.

Nope. Sorry. RFG existed off of a gimmick and will never be replicated in another game.

[iyaerP]

Nope. Sorry. RFG existed off of a gimmick and will never be replicated in another game.

But.... just think!


The ability to reduce stillwater to a smoldering ruin in the shape of your gang sign!

Doing Toxic Avenger missions?

Getting a monster truck and having your own destruction derby that includes not just cars and people, but houses too!


Someday, my dream will be a reality, and that game engine will get put to good use, either in a fantasy game, or some kind of G-mod for the engine. Someday.

[factotum]

It has to be said that a Saints Row style of game is probably about the only other situation where I can see the RFG style of all the buildings being made of flour glue and biscuits working. In most games having everything falling apart so easily would be a definite disadvantage. Heck, it didn't even work that well in RFG--the game was supposed to be a cover shooter, but when anything you hid behind would crumble in seconds upon being hit by an angry gnat, there wasn't much point in doing so!

[shadow_archmagi]

But.... just think!

Yeah, I know, it'd be nice. But it isn't going to happen.

[Cristo Meyers]

Also, a British accent voice does exist, though it's a bit gruffer then the one from 2.

Pretty sure it's a different guy.

Fun fact: the actor that did the British voice from 2? He inherited the title of Baron in 2007...


SR3 has been beautiful so far. I've been really enjoying my keyboard experience, and I can say that the cars handle waaaaaaaaay better now.

I'm still having to get used to the space bar being a "drift" button as opposed to the E-brake. The E-brake was pretty much my preferred method of stopping and what I'm the most used to. That's really my only big complaint so far (well, that and not yet receiving the email we were supposed to get for our pre-order bonuses...I want my octopus gun, dammit!)

I can officially say that I'm going to personally murder every single Decker in Steelport...in brutal fashion...with a nail-bat. Freaking machine-pistol wielding, zip-dashing schoolgirls...:smallmad:

[warty goblin]

See, I refuse to buy a console controller for my PC for the same reason that I don't buy games that are poorly made, full of bugs, or outright bad. My money is my only voice in the video gaming industry, and I refuse to do even the tiniest bit to promote console gaming because it undermines and destroys PC gaming.

Which, unfortunately, sounds like what is the case with the PC version of SR3. God Damn it.

Dude, we're talking about what button-riddled devices we use to indicate which virtual police officers we want to pretend shoot to our Turing complete machines. It's a matter of preference, not an ideological stance.

[BRC]

I'm still having to get used to the space bar being a "drift" button as opposed to the E-brake. The E-brake was pretty much my preferred method of stopping and what I'm the most used to. That's really my only big complaint so far (well, that and not yet receiving the email we were supposed to get for our pre-order bonuses...I want my octopus gun, dammit!)

I got my Octopus gun with no email involved. It just showed up in my arsenal at one point (And it is awesome.)

Also, a word of advice for everybody. SR3 had what I call "Open World Unawareness", It dosn't become a proper Saints Row game (With three gangs, lots of activities, ect) until after you finish Act 1. You're allowed to drive all over the city, but basically everything is confined to the central island until you get past Act 1. I went in with a SR2 mindset (Where there was something to do every other block), and it felt like they had left out two thirds of the content.

[Pie Guy]

Can you still get the squid gun, or is that not available now?

[Callos_DeTerran]

Also, a word of advice for everybody. SR3 had what I call "Open World Unawareness", It dosn't become a proper Saints Row game (With three gangs, lots of activities, ect) until after you finish Act 1. You're allowed to drive all over the city, but basically everything is confined to the central island until you get past Act 1. I went in with a SR2 mindset (Where there was something to do every other block), and it felt like they had left out two thirds of the content.

Though this does make sense from an in-game perspective, considering the Saints weren't looking to stay in Steelport until the events opening up Act II and were only trying to get revenge on Philipe.

[factotum]

Can you still get the squid gun, or is that not available now?

Pretty sure it was a pre-order bonus, and that particular ship sailed when the game was released. No idea if they plan to offer it as paid DLC at some point, though.

[thegurullamen]

Pretty sure it was a pre-order bonus, and that particular ship sailed when the game was released. No idea if they plan to offer it as paid DLC at some point, though.

I can imagine that they would--it wasn't a bonus tied to any store, so it's not like they're contractually obligated to prevent the release further down the road. Code's there, ready for distribution already, so why not do it--it'd essentially be free profit for them.

[LadyMeyers]

(well, that and not yet receiving the email we were supposed to get for our pre-order bonuses...I want my octopus gun, dammit!)

I can officially say that I'm going to personally murder every single Decker in Steelport...in brutal fashion...with a nail-bat. Freaking machine-pistol wielding, zip-dashing schoolgirls...:smallmad:

At least this time we were able to call Best Buy and get the code from them, even if it took an hour and a half on the phone with about six different CS reps... You're welcome, dear. :smalltongue:

and those Shock girls for the Deckers... One word: shotguns.

[Pie Guy]

At least this time we were able to call Best Buy and get the code from them, even if it took an hour and a half on the phone with about six different CS reps... You're welcome, dear. :smalltongue:

and those Shock girls for the Deckers... One word: shotguns.

For them, I just stun-lock them with exploding pistol bullets or run up to them and beat them with a baseball bat.

[shadow_archmagi]

Oh goodness. STAG. Was not expecting that.

[Venom3053000]

I've been hoping to pick this up, but I don't think I've got the money. And even then, I want it to go to Skyrim, not this.

I got both :smallbiggrin:

now i just need find some way to never sleep and I'll be good

[warty goblin]

Actually managed to spend some time with this today. I'm not sure I can actually describe this game with words, the madness is simply too great.

Also, after the first act the writing picks up quite a bit. For a bit I was worried it had slipped from SR II, but it's back up there again.

And Saint's Row 4 absolutely has to be Ganstas in Space. It's the only way they can do anything crazier than this.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Actually managed to spend some time with this today. I'm not sure I can actually describe this game with words, the madness is simply too great.

Also, after the first act the writing picks up quite a bit. For a bit I was worried it had slipped from SR II, but it's back up there again.

And Saint's Row 4 absolutely has to be Ganstas in Space. It's the only way they can do anything crazier than this.

Gangstas in Space is actually going to be a DLC released, after Genki Bowl VII. :smallbiggrin:

[Cristo Meyers]

and those Shock girls for the Deckers... One word: shotguns.

That's your solution for everything...:smallsigh:


Actually managed to spend some time with this today. I'm not sure I can actually describe this game with words, the madness is simply too great.

Also, after the first act the writing picks up quite a bit. For a bit I was worried it had slipped from SR II, but it's back up there again.

And Saint's Row 4 absolutely has to be Ganstas in Space. It's the only way they can do anything crazier than this.

For me it's a matter of the things I miss that 2 had: more weapons, the cutscenes before all of the activities, FUZZ, Septic Avenger, things like that.

I mean, riding around in a souped-up SmartCar fighting crime dressed as an anthropomorphic cat-man is great, but there's just the niggling feeling that I've given up some of the things about 2 I really liked for better graphics.

[GungHo]

Cutscenes are definitely missed, as is Septic Avenger. There are improvements, however. The biggest one is that the cars don't handle like air hockey pucks.

[BRC]

There's a trend I'm not sure I'm liking. I've been reluctant to actually do story missions, because I want to fully experience the game by running around, instead of barreling through the story missions. And yet, right now anyway, almost all my "Story Missions" are just "Do Activity X", with some vague in-story justification. Which sucks, first of all, because it seems lazy on their part, and because one of the best things about the Activities system is that you don't need to do them if you don't like them. I personally find the Insurance Fraud activity stupid, I just can't get the hang of it, and I don't like doing it. Normally, this would be fine, I just go play Prof Genki's S.E.R.C instead.
I guess the point is to make the player try out each activity, but they'll probably do that anyway just wandering around the open world.

It's like they built an open world game, and then decided that players were not going to have an open world mindset.

[Cristo Meyers]

Cutscenes are definitely missed, as is Septic Avenger. There are improvements, however. The biggest one is that the cars don't handle like air hockey pucks.

Yeah, there are a lot of improvements in general. It's kind of a two steps forward, one step back thing. Still a net improvement, but you can't help but miss some things.

Hearing some unsettling stuff that some of the items and such that will be "DLC" are actually on the disk and just need unlocking really isn't helping.


There's a trend I'm not sure I'm liking. I've been reluctant to actually do story missions, because I want to fully experience the game by running around, instead of barreling through the story missions. And yet, right now anyway, almost all my "Story Missions" are just "Do Activity X", with some vague in-story justification. Which sucks, first of all, because it seems lazy on their part, and because one of the best things about the Activities system is that you don't need to do them if you don't like them. I personally find the Insurance Fraud activity stupid, I just can't get the hang of it, and I don't like doing it. Normally, this would be fine, I just go play Prof Genki's S.E.R.C instead.
I guess the point is to make the player try out each activity, but they'll probably do that anyway just wandering around the open world.

It's like they built an open world game, and then decided that players were not going to have an open world mindset.

I noticed that too, and I don't much care for it either. It's definitely driving home the feeling that 2 just had more meat on the bone. It's nice to see just how these activities are supposed to be hurting the other gangs, but shouldn't that be what the actual missions are for? Angel's final mission just after the Tiger Escort had me rolling, though. A F(REA)KING TIGER?!

It's really just annoying, overall. I like the game. It's great. But there's just so many little things that I keep noticing and hearing...:smallsigh:

[Callos_DeTerran]

I noticed that too, and I don't much care for it either. It's definitely driving home the feeling that 2 just had more meat on the bone. It's nice to see just how these activities are supposed to be hurting the other gangs, but shouldn't that be what the actual missions are for? Angel's final mission just after the Tiger Escort had me rolling, though. A F(REA)KING TIGER?!

It's really just annoying, overall. I like the game. It's great. But there's just so many little things that I keep noticing and hearing...:smallsigh:

Those missions go away fast. Most of them just open up that kind of activity for that part of the city, and it usually has it's own variation on the activity (Tiger Escort compared to normal Escort for example). After that, it's 'do them if you want to, here's the story-story missions' and boy do they make up for the wait. Plus, it makes sense from a plot perspective to do these things first, weakening the Syndicate's support structure, even if you only do the mission-activities and not the harder levels of them, before you can really go after them.

Beat the main story though, had a blast.

I am disappointed in one regard though, Killbane's boss battle in Murderbrawl...

The beginning is fun, defending Angel so he gets his shot at revenge, even if you know you'll be stepping into the ring soon enough, but when the Boss actually gets into the ring...I'm disappointed.

All of it's just 'pick up item, whack Killbane, do QTE sequence'. Now, don't get me wrong, the QTE sequences are fun and show off awesome wrestling stuff...but why do I have to whack Killbane with a stuffed shark/urinal/blow-up doll/etc. to get to that point when the Boss is perfectly capable of performing wrestling moves and hand-to-hand combat themself? And if you think you can, then just try it.

Killbane knocks your block off.

I think it was a missed chance to showcase the sprinting melee combos and other wrestlimania type stuff, especially since they included specific katana-fight mechanics in Saints Row 2 that only work in two missions.

I do agree there needs to be more story missions, but with the main story out of the way (or is it?), it DOES mean that Volition doesn't have to try and tie DLC into it if they don't want to. Look at Genkibowl. If that has anything to do with the Syndicate or STAG, I'll eat my shirt. Will it be awesome? Gods above I hope it is!

[warty goblin]

So having managed a bit more time with SRIII now, I definitely like it. A lot. The writing is a little patchier than SRII, which flowed really well, but it's getting better. The city is a bit less dynamic feeling maybe, but the basic walking/driving/shooting gameplay is vastly better.

[Borgh]

And they improved motorcycles! the first time I smashed into a errant traffic light I cried manly tears of joy at the fact that I wasn't immediately flung off. I always loved the motorcycles but now they are actually really viable transportation as you don't need hyperfocus to avoid crashing anymore.

[factotum]

And they improved motorcycles! the first time I smashed into a errant traffic light I cried manly tears of joy at the fact that I wasn't immediately flung off.

Wasn't being catapaulted from your ride like a gazelle stung by a bee part of the fun, though? :smallwink:

[warty goblin]

Wasn't being catapaulted from your ride like a gazelle stung by a bee part of the fun, though? :smallwink:

It was unless you were using one to complete a mission, like say that one right after Aisha's funeral. Not like that took me about ten tries or anything...

So it struck me what I miss the most from SRII, those long, multipart missions where you'd have to go somewhere, do something, and manage to get the hell out. Busting the drug-cooking housewife out of jail for instance, was fantastic and I haven't really seen anything like that yet.

[Cristo Meyers]

Wasn't being catapaulted from your ride like a gazelle stung by a bee part of the fun, though? :smallwink:

Prefer windshield cannoning myself, especially when I'm trying Insurance Fraud. Hit one of the support pillars just right and you can smash through the windshield, into the pillar, and get your head stuck inside the pillar. It looks hilarious and get about $10K right at the start.


So it struck me what I miss the most from SRII, those long, multipart missions where you'd have to go somewhere, do something, and manage to get the hell out. Busting the drug-cooking housewife out of jail for instance, was fantastic and I haven't really seen anything like that yet.

There're a couple I've seen, but not as many as 2 had. 3 seems unfortunately mission-light compared to 2...

I get to start from scratch now. Dangers of having two separate save files on the game when you can't bloody re-name the files...:smallsigh:

[Borgh]

Prefer windshield cannoning myself, especially when I'm trying Insurance Fraud. Hit one of the support pillars just right and you can smash through the windshield, into the pillar, and get your head stuck inside the pillar. It looks hilarious and get about $10K right at the start.


Get bike, pop wheelie, hop off, aim into trafic. Quite efective

[Lamar]

I am playing this game as a single player but the best thing is about this game it has excellent graphics and amazing 3d effect.

[Callos_DeTerran]

So it struck me what I miss the most from SRII, those long, multipart missions where you'd have to go somewhere, do something, and manage to get the hell out. Busting the drug-cooking housewife out of jail for instance, was fantastic and I haven't really seen anything like that yet.

Those are, for the most part, later game missions. We're talking end of Act II/ActIII. Still, I admit they aren't quite as long/multipart as they are in SR II which is one area where I think 3 falls through a little compared to it's predecessor.

I also miss eating/drinking/smoking to regain health, not because I need to (though it'd be helpful!) but because doing a mission high off my arse was one of my favorite thingsi n SR II once I finished the main story.