The fortunes of long-running video game series can rise and fall, with some franchises losing steam the longer they go on. Some get progressively better with each entry and manage to add new features and gameplay tweaks while still staying true to what makes the series great. In a few cases, franchises look back to the original entries to reignite fan interest, and that could be something Saints Row does alongside the launch of its latest iteration.
The newest Saints Row acted as a reboot for the franchise, focusing on new characters and a new fictional town as players work to build up their criminal empire and take over from rival gangs in a similar setup to previous games. However, the latest entry developed by Volition and published by Deep Silver didn't quite live up to the hype and has received mixed reviews from critics and players alike since its launch earlier this month. While some might see it as a step backward, a remaster of the original Saints Row could be the refresh the franchise needs.
The Case For A Remaster
There are many parallels between the Grand Theft Auto series and Saints Row, with the latter serving in many ways as a parody of the other popular crime-focused franchise. With its showcasing of gang culture combined with hammy humor and mischievous digs at similar games, Saints Row provided a new perspective on the genre that has been emulated in the years since. Some would argue that it was hardly original itself and borrowed many aspects from games like Grand Theft Auto, but Saints Row also improved on a few of them to create arguably a more cohesive, fun, and addictive gameplay experience.
Saints Row was positively received at the time of its release, but that doesn't mean it would necessarily hold up today. Its graphics – while praised in 2006 – look extremely dated in 2022, and a lot of its features feel clunky in comparison to more modern games. A remaster could recapture what the first game introduced, but make some much-needed improvements to the franchise formula and update it for a new audience. And since the first game is an Xbox exclusive and only launched for Xbox 360, a wide variety of gamers might never have had a chance to play it.
The State Of The Franchise
Saints Row and Saints Row 2 found their fanbase, and Saints Row: The Third continued the franchise's momentum. The third installment really upped the ante, adding more high-octane action and a larger dose of ridiculousness to the mix, which worked well with the franchise formula. Saints Row 4 was also considered a worthy addition to the series, but things started to unravel slightly as the games continued to escalate beyond the standard street warfare of the earlier entries. The standalone expansion Saints Row: Gat out of Hell received mixed reviews, and the Saints Row series started to lose steam after that with a large gap between entries.
Fans were excited when the reboot was announced, but its recent release has been marred by technical issues and bugs. Some players also felt that while the game has potential, the newest Saints Row doesn't quite manage to tie its elements together enough to create an enjoyable gaming experience. With patches and other improvements on the way, Saints Row may bring gamers back on side, but another way to remind players how great the series could be is to release a remaster of the very first title that started it all.
Saints Row is currently available for Xbox 360.