Saints Row IV released in originally in 2013 and I loved it, I'm embraced the crazy after previously being skeptical. I thought The crazier the better, Saints Row became it's own game and distanced itself away from the 'GTA Clone' tag. Unfortunately the 2015 remake was an absolute mess.
Graphics and menus are identical to Saints Row the Third, literally no change, just additions. Re-Elected has practically no difference to IV except it's a thousand times more buggy. You're able to create your character with a tonne of features and clothes. The customization is great, only downside is that th hair and facial hair look painted on. You as the player are attempting to foil a terrorist attack, that ends up with you riding a missile headed for The White House as you disarm it. The end result? You land in the president's chair and become president yourself. As the new president you make some decisions and are soon attached by aliens. After the attackers get the better of you, you're thrown in to a simulated world and you must escape and free your allies from their simulations. Good thing I embraced the crazy right?
I'd advise anyone who plays this to experience it in coop. It's way more fun that way. While in the simulation, you're granted superpowers, you're able to jump ridiculously high, run like The Flash and glide through the air. Who'd have thought this used to be a modern day gangster game? The superpowers make it crazily fun, there's nothing better than sprinting through streets, jumping over building and gliding through the skies. You also unlock abilities throughout the story, freeze blast, telekinesis, air stomps and a few more less useful ones. However, when you leave the simulation you're powerless. It's such a downer not really having the powers. Cars are made obsolete, there's no need to ever enter one. Activities return and are implemented as side missions, it's a cheap way to flesh out a campaign I think. Insurance fraud is back, but it's far too easy due to the powers.
As well as the powers, the best thing about the game is the references to video games. Saints Row pays homage to many games and it's even better when you recognise one, there's so many you'll be constantly looking out for them. Some in particular include Space Invaders, Metal Gear Solid and the whole game plays as a spoof of Mass Effect 2 (one of the best video games I've played). When you're on the ship and out the simulation, it resembles Mass Effect a lot. You can explore the ship, all your crew mates have the own area and you can romance them too, (some romances are hilarious) you can't romance Keith David unfortunately, yes he's in the game as himself!
The characters are great, Terry Crews joins you crew as Benjamin King, who finally returns after the first game. Pierce and Shaundi are back, Shaundi isn't as cool as she was, but original Shaundi makes a return in a surreal mission that has you with both versions of her! Keith David features and Kinzie returns. For some bizarre reason, Matt Miller comes back, the former leader of a rival gang of yours, The Deckers and is now a homie. I never liked him and I still don't. As there are a couple new characters for you to meet. Now, if only Johnny Gat returned.... One of th standout characters was easily Zinyak, the leader of the aliens. He has am English accent, as most villains do, he's hilarious and also a worthy foe. The only downside was he could've been included more.
As I was saying earlier, the game pays homage to some historic video games, it even pays tribute to itself. Saints Row one and two are featured a lot, three not so much, seeing as it's very similar to it already. The default playable characters show up as enemies in a mission, it was a small but great touch. Lots of former characters appear in missions and can be later used as homes.
Despite looking identical to Saints Row the Third, there are new features, a far better story, superpowers, lots of new weapons and upgrades, clothing items and taunts, activities and characters. There's lots of content hear. One of the best weapons is the Dubstep gun, it's shoot music! It's even better with unlimited ammo. Some other great new weapons are the black hole gun and abduction gun. If your favourite taunt is the chicken one, you've definitely not watched Arrested Development. You can shop as soon as you enter stores saving time, the DLC is built straight into the game and ready to start. Unfortunately, some things I didn't like return, the gun combat just gets boring, mainly because the enemies spin and spin forever. You'll most likely use your superpowers instead.
Buggy. Glitches. Problems. There's so many, it ruined it for me. I loved Saints Row IV, but this "remaster" hasn't done the original any justice and only hindered my opinion on Saints Row as a whole. It seems they literally just ported it and thought "yep, it'll be fine, now sell it for money!". Achievements don't always unlock for the coop player, after a bunch of missions my character went bald, civilians driving invisible cars, tank randomly flying up in the air, cutscene glitches, problems inviting and joining friends. It was more of a chore to play than fun.
I loved Saints Row IV, embracing the change definitely helped, but this made me hate it. I wish I never bothered with the remaster, I forget how much I used to love this game. Every time I think of SR4 now, I think it sucks because of this. SR4 is a great game, and if you haven't played it before, play the original. They're exactly the same aesthetically and the original has a lot less bugs. If I reviewed the original SR4 back in 2013, I have no doubts it would have surpassed an 8, but this? Too much of a mess and an obvious cash grab.
6.5/10
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