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Need to steal a car? You may have inadvertently started the Hostage diversion. On the other hand, the unmarked diversions never get old. It’s easy to get bored with Crowd Control or Drug Trafficking when you’re fighting the same enemies, in the same locations, relying more on luck than skill. Likewise, higher levels of Fight Club and FUZZ prove more tedious than challenging. Septic Avenger is a great spectacle, but spraying doesn’t have the same satisfying oomph as blowing up cars and breaking necks. While the activities are fun, they can get repetitive. But you’re going to fix all that because you’re not just a playa anymore, you’re the Boss and that means you’re a deranged psychopath with nothing to lose. A trio of new gangs have taken over your turf.
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In Saints Row 2, the 3 rd Street Saints were cruel, but they were never crude.
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Stilwater comes alive thanks to an array of diverse environments, characters, and a whole basket of Easter eggs. The story is hammy, but never falls into self-parody. The characters are fun, but not overblown. Just as cheat codes and secrets were on their way out, Saints Row 2 gave us a last hurrah of esoteric treasure hunts and obtuse unlockables. Just as other open-world crime games were turning gritty and realistic, Saints Row 2 had the gall to tell a B action story set in a unique city full of color and life. Saints Row 2 represents a different time, not just for Volition, but for games as a whole.
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