Saint's Row

E3 2006 First Look Preview

It’s a game filled with the notoriety that comes with living a life of big-time gang member. In some regards the game treads the path of Grand Theft Auto, with a crime-based mission system that will have a young gang member moving across a city landscape, killing and running a wide variety of missions.

The game is Saint’s Row, a 360 title that allows players to create a character, begin within neighborhood and then try to extend the influence of the gang throughout the city.

Game features will include:

·         Pedestrians react to your actions and remember who you are. Fail to represent, and other gang members will lose respect for you. Bling up your latest car, wear expensive clothes and women will flock to you.

·         Freeform game play gives you increased choices: Purchase an item at a store, or rob the cashier at gunpoint and run away with the cash, unless you prefer to break in at nigh for a full-scale robbery.

·         Ragdoll physics allow for real-time reactions of the game characters and objects to impacts, be it combat or collisions.

·         Extensive car damage modeling means vehicles bend and crumple when they hit obstacles and an incredible level of detail in the breakdown of components when vehicles explode etc...

In addition to missions, players can undertake activities that run a wide gamut, from racing and chop shop to the less politically correct missions like Snatch. The game itself is not very linear and players can create havoc, then drop by the Forgive and Forget waypoint to absolve themselves of the bad notoriety. It is either that or visit a plastic surgeon.

Complete enough missions and you will unlock your crib, which can be used to story vehicles, cash, clothes, and extra weapons.

The game is strong graphically, with solid animation and some destructible environmental elements. The game will carry an M rating and may not be for those who either abhor violence or games that tread plotlines that incorporate ‘colorful’ themes. For those that enjoy gritting games, though, this may be a title worth checking out.
 

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