Up until the release of GTA 3 the series had looked quite different. An overhead view, clunky mechanics, and a distinctive but unimpressive look had been a staple of the series to that point. Beginning life as a PS2 game called ‘Bling Bling’, Volition’s original idea for Saints Row was a ‘Gang Simulator’. Many missions and side-quests were way over the top too. None more so than Professor Genki’s Super Ethical Reality Climax, which puts the player in a death-maze of traps and enemies. It was then down to them to wipe everyone out and escape, all for the entertainment of the masses watching on.

Los Panteros American Muscle Bundle - featuring the Los Panteros 'El Lanzador' Heavy Weapon skin and Custom 'Fury' Motorcycle. The Penetrator” made its debut in Saints Row The Third, and made quite a stir in doing so (please don’t google it.) It became a symbol of how wild the developers went with this instalment, but there were definitely stranger things included in there.

That clearly wasn’t crazy enough though. During the president’s first press conference aliens invade and kidnap The Saints, putting them in a simulation of Steelport. The departure from the franchise’s earlier style drew criticism. The game’s developers aimed for a fresh start by introducing a new city, characters, and storylines, but long-time fans felt that it strayed too far from the elements that made the series popular in the first place. As a result, the reception was polarising, with some players enjoying the new direction while others lamented the loss of the franchise’s signature charm and humour. While some prefer the next entry into the series, Saints Row 2 is, in my opinion, the most well-rounded game in the franchise. Going All Out Unlike the last two editions that we covered, this one is actually only available as a physical copy on all platforms but PC. It’s almost like an edition that fits between the standard and gold editions. It contains the following bonuses: The formula of the first three games makes a return. Take down rival gangs, take part in some side missions, or explore the sprawling landscape of Santo Ileso.

As the future Boss, with Neenah, Kevin, and Eli by your side, you’ll form The Saints – and take on Los Panteros, The Idols, and Marshall as you build your empire across the streets of Santo Ileso and battle for control of the city. Ultimately Saints Row is the story of a start-up company, it’s just that the business The Saints are in happens to be crime. It seemed that this would be the sour note the Saints Row franchise bowed out on, until… The Rebirth of Saints Row The three gangs this time around are Los Panteros, The Idols, and Marhall, the latter kitted out with military-grade hardware. This entry hits with silliness within minutes of play, with the lead character delivering what is likely the longest string of f-bombs in all of entertainment. This moment cements the game’s silly (and low brow) vibe, which hits more than it misses, and shows the protagonist can be a bit of a wild card. The player designs this character, determining their sex, voice, facial features, and even the size of their genitalia. This lead is nicely penned and blends seamlessly with a fantastic supporting cast that gives the game a legitimate team dynamic, both in the story and mission flow. Eli is the brains of the operation, and his love of LARPing rubs off on you. Neenah’s obsession with cars and art is contagious and represented in play. And then there’s Kev, who is always shirtless, loves tacos, and is one of the fathers to a fantastic cat (that actually plays a significant role in the plot). Based on Reno, Nevada, large parts of the map are wide-open deserts, with densely-populated towns dotted around to explore at will.

The newest entry in the franchise is set in Santo Ileso – a huge fictional city loosely based on Las Vegas that is boasting "the biggest and best Saints Row playground ever created", and promises a larger-than-life sandbox for players to explore with vehicles like cars, bikes, planes, helicopters and even a wingsuit. These are very, very minor technical complaints though, and do not detract from the overall quality and enjoyability of the game. The Notorious Edition is a special collection of exclusive physical items; this is the ultimate creation for serious Saints Row fans and collectors!