Saint’s Row

Posted Sep 8, 2006 by TBO.com

Updated Sep 17, 2007 at 02:52 PM

System: Microsoft Xbox 360

Publisher: THQ

Reviewer’s rating: B

ESRB rating: Mature

Game type: Action

Kind of like: “Grand Theft Auto”

Best feature: Three-way gunfights between you, a rival gang and the cops can be hilariously over-the-top.

Worst feature: Online multiplayer falls well short of the large-scale gang warfare we were hoping for.

The bottom line: “Saints Row” is a shameless rip-off of the “Grand Theft Auto” series. It’s so similar there should be a lawsuit in the works.

Derivative doesn’t always equal bad, though. “Halo” wasn’t exactly original, either, but that didn’t make it any less fun to play.

In “Saints Row,” you take the role of a shiftless street punk who’s recruited to join one of four gangs in the city of Stillwater. Incidentally, you can customize the appearance of your character, which is one of the few places where “Saints Row” differs from “GTA.” After that, it’s a familiar formula.

Roaming freely around a vast, sprawling metropolis? Check. Beating up rival gang members? Check. Stealing cars? Check.

A variety of missions are made available, and you can accept them whenever you’re ready and in pretty much whatever order you choose. They range from recruiting hookers to protecting drug dealers while they’re making their rounds. Our favorite bit involves crashing spectacularly into oncoming traffic to commit insurance fraud. Good times.

Obviously “Saints Row” isn’t intended for younger gamers. When your kid begs for it, do us all a favor and just say no.