Game/Publisher/Developer
Saints Row IV, Deep Silver, Volition. Released 20 August, 2013.
The Trailer
My Reaction
The graphics were lit in 2013. Saints Row IV leaned all the way into the absurd and never once apologized for it.
Overview
Saints Row IV picks up with the Saints leader now President of the United States, only for an alien race called the Zin to invade and trap everyone in a simulation of Steelport. Trapped inside, the Saints gain superpowers like super sprint, super jump and telekinesis, turning the open world into a playground for chaos rather than just a city to drive around in.
What I Liked
- The superpowers completely change how the open world plays, making traversal as fun as any mission.
- The humor is relentless and self-aware, never taking any of its own absurdity too seriously.
- The visuals held up impressively well for 2013, especially once the simulation’s digital effects kick in.
What I Didn’t Like
- Leaning this hard into superpowers and satire comes at the cost of the grounded gang-war identity earlier entries had.
Verdict
Saints Row IV swaps grounded crime drama for full-blown absurdity and makes it work, delivering one of the most purely fun open-world games of its generation.
Rating
82/100