G A M E S
OUT AUG 2022
FIRST LOOK SAINTS ROW PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, PC When a new instalment for a series shows up without a colon or number, you know it’s a sign of a reboot. So almost a decade after Saints Row IV, Volition has decided to shake off the ‘GTA clone’ associations of its open-world gangster simulator with a new and slightly more grown-up identity. Gone, then, are the 3rd Street Saints – as are fighting with oversized sex toys, plus the stratospherically over-the-top superpower tricks of the last entry. Saints Row is a fresh start set in a new location, Santo Ileso, 20
as you play The Boss – who has decided to make their mark on this city by building their own criminal empire. But while the cinematic reveal appears to have cemented the four main characters, including one permanently shirtless chap who pictures himself as a TV chef, full player customisation for The Boss is still present. That includes race and gender, and you’ll even be able to drop into online co-op with other Bosses. As you try to take over each of the nine districts of Santo Ileso, you’ll be able to finance your
gang’s activities by setting up fronts for illegal businesses, and you’ll need all the ammunition you can get to take down the city’s three main criminal rivals. It also sounds like the driving will be getting a big overhaul, with some inspiration taken from Baby Driver. Despite reservations from the old fanbase, Saints Row feels like a much-needed refresh for the series. When it launches next August, it may just fill the GTA 6 hole that Rockstar doesn’t seem to be rushing to fill any time soon.
