SAINTS ROW THE THIRD REMASTERED / DEVELOPER: VOLITION, SPERASOFT / PUBLISHER: DEEP SILVER / PLATFORM: PC, PS4, XBOX ONE / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Originally released in 2011, Saints Row The Third takes place a few years after the events of Saints Row 2. The 3rd Street Saints have claimed victory over all the other gangs in Stilwater, and their criminal organisation has become something of an all-conquering media empire. But their accomplishments in Stilwater were just the beginning – now based in the city of Steelport, run by the violent and unwelcoming Syndicate, the Saints are back to square one and it’s your job to take over the city once again…
Saints Row could never be accused of taking itself too seriously, but SR3 takes things to a whole other level. It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that SR3‘s over the top insanity was a stiff middle finger to Grand Theft Auto IV, which had been released in 2008 when development on SR3 was just starting. GTA4‘s gritty realism was a source of disappointment for many long-term fans of the series, and SR3 went to great lengths to bring the fun back to the open world genre. Lewd but light-hearted, think of SR3 like GTA4‘s bawdy little brother, or maybe a super-violent X-rated Carry On film. You know what you’re in for within the opening couple of missions when you’re asked to get your car fixed at a shop called Rim Jobs, and then, not too long after that, there’s a particularly unconventional pony and trap race following a visit to a BDSM club, which results in a pimped-up gimp who talks through an auto-tuned voice box joining your party…
The new remaster is very much based on cosmetics. There are new lighting effects, remodelled characters, cars and weapons, increased population density and all sorts of fancy re-texturing and things of that nature. The gameplay itself still plays exactly the same as it did back in 2011, which is no bad thing – everything that made it so much fun back then is still very much present and correct – although it’s fair to say that it does feel slightly dated when compared to the crazy amount of features and gameplay mechanics found in modern games. But SR3 isn’t a modern game and, as such, shouldn’t really be treated as one. The main thing is that it’s still tremendously enjoyable to play, and it’s more than capable of providing dozens of hours’ worth of entertainment.
Steelport was a great place to visit in 2011, and this remains true in 2020. The fresh coat of paint has really brought out the best in the environments, to the point where you’re likely to find yourself ignoring the main storyline and just cruising around aimlessly for a while. There are plenty of fully-licensed radio stations and tons of scenery to check out, and you’re more than likely to experience plenty of those moments where the right song comes on at the right time and everything just feels… perfect.
This is certainly an excellent option for anyone looking to return to the Saints Row series, as well as for those who might not have experienced this particular brand of craziness before.
