Saints Row has never been a perfect series, but the best instalments are truly iconic. So, the 2022 reboot had a lot to live up to, and it didn't really manage it. It isn't a bad game as it has excellent customization options, is fun to play, and has some good ideas. In fact, the game has a lot going for it.
Unfortunately, though, it fails to fully stick the landing, as it makes a few missteps along the way. As such, it can only be declared good instead of great. If it had made the following changes, maybe it would've reached the level of Saints Row 2 and Saints Row: The Third.
8 A More Impactful Story
Nobody expects Saints Row to rival The Last Of Us and Red Dead Redemption 2 as one of the best story games ever. After all, the narrative has never been the priority in the SR series. Even so, the reboot's tale is a bit too light on impact.
At least, the earlier games included a decent amount of drama, such as Carlos' death in SR2 and Johnny Gat's demise in SR3. The drama is almost non-existent in this game until the last few missions. As a result, the narrative isn't overly compelling.
7 Additional Uses For The Wingsuit
The wingsuit is one of the best additions the reboot makes to the series. It's just so satisfying to glide through the air using this thing – once you've figured out how to control it. Therefore, it's unfortunate how underutilized it is.
The contraption's main usage comes in the Wingsuit Saboteur side hustle. There are also Weather Stations on the map that allow you to shoot yourself in the air so you can do some gliding just for fun. Other than that, the wingsuit barely features in the game. It would've been nice if more gliding sections made it into the main story missions.
6 Better Established Rival Gangs
While the Saints are the series' main crew, they aren't the only criminal gang in the games. In the 2022 title, Marshall, the Idols, and the Los Panteros are all thorns in your side. Unfortunately, the game doesn't properly introduce or establish these groups.
You get to know them a little while playing through the game. But by the end, you still barely know who they are, what they're about, and you'd probably struggle to name their main members. In contrast, Saints Row 2 had full chapters dedicated to each crew, so you truly got to know them.
5 Fewer Enemy Reinforcements
If you get into a fight with a rival gang in Saints Row while in free roam, you should prepare for a long conflict. After all, enemies continually call in reinforcements. As such, what starts as a fight between you and two rival gang members ends up in an all-out war.
While you can stop the reinforcements by attacking the person calling for them, there's only a small chance to do so. Therefore, things typically end after a very prolonged fight where you use up many resources, and there's no reason for any of it. You don't gain anything from killing them all or really lose anything from dying. It mostly turns out to be a waste of time unless you absolutely love Saints Row's combat system.
4 More Creative Weapons
Saints Row 4 went about as bizarre as the series can go. Therefore, it's no surprise that the developers toned things down a little in this title. There's still a healthy dose of wackiness, but it's more grounded than the superhero and alien chaos from its predecessor. Overall, this is a welcome change, yet, the weapons suffer for it.
Saints Row has never had the most exciting gunplay in third-person shooter history. However, it compensated for that by including some truly creative and amazing weaponry, from the Dubstep Gun to the RC Possessor. The weapons in Saints Row 2022 are mundane by comparison.
3 More Interesting Loyalty Missions
Eli, Neenah, and Kev all have their own little questlines in the game, aka loyalty missions – as named by the achievement and trophy lists. They don't function in the same way as the ones from Mass Effect, as completing them doesn't alter the overall story. Instead, they're a way to spend some quality to with your closest buds.
It would also be a perfect opportunity for the game to delve deeper into those characters and let you get to know them more, but that doesn't happen. You discover some of their interests, such as Eli's love of LARP and Neenah's interest in art. Yet, by the end of all these missions, you feel as close to those characters as you always have. It feels like a missed opportunity to make the characters more memorable.
2 Extra Things To Do In Free Roam
When a developer includes an open world in their game, they're obligated to fill that world with fascinating things to do. Previous Saints Row titles followed that unofficial rule by adding all sorts of interesting activities in Stillwater and Steelport. Santo Ileso is pretty bare by comparison. There are plenty of interesting things to see in the vibrant city, but not much to do.
You have a few different side hustles that are enjoyable enough, alongside the shops and tattoo parlors. More activities get added when you begin to unlock Venture Quests, but it takes a long time to get them all. Having access to several of them earlier would've been appreciated.
1 Less Financial Grinding
Money is a vital resource in the reboot, as everything requires money. For instance, you use cash to get new clothes, add weapons to your arsenal, upgrade guns, upgrade vehicles, add perk slots, and buy criminal ventures. And you don't acquire enough money naturally to be able to spend on all those things. In fact, even when following some money-making tips, you will still need to grind.
Yes, some of the things you can spend money on are optional, but criminal ventures are an important part of the experience, and they're extremely expensive. The game should've provided you with higher rewards for completing missions and activities to compensate. Alternatively, they could've made things cheaper.
Source: Read Full Article