September 29, 2024 / 6 Minute Read

the color purple

As a longtime fan of the series, I recently decided to play the new Saints Row reboot. 

While I personally enjoyed the game, I felt that it was far from great, especially in comparison to previous entries in the series.

In fact, I believe the most recent Saints Row is just a diluted version of the greatest game in the franchise.

Throughout this article, we will discuss why Saints Row: The Third is the best game in the series. 

(P.S. I will refer to Saint Row: The Third as SR3 throughout the article.)

marvelous missions

The lifeblood of every video game, missions make the gaming world go round.

And SR3 has the best missions in the series by far.

The Saints Row franchise is infamous for its wacky, bombastic excursions, and this theme truly started in the third entry. Missions range from skydiving out of a plane you just blew up to fighting literal zombies. 

I’d like to share three of my favorite missions to prove just how ridiculous this game truly is.

When Good Heists Go Bad

SR3 has arguably the greatest series of introductory missions in gaming history.

The game starts off with a massive bank heist. After fighting through countless armed guards and retrieving the safe, things turn sour for the Saints. A quick getaway is spoiled by an enemy helicopter, and eventually the gang is captured.

This leads into the second part of the mission, where you end up on a plane with the man who owns the bank you just tried to rob. The Saints end up escaping from their shackles and slaughtering a host of guards before bailing out of the plane. 

This initiates one of the most memorable sequences in the game, as the player free-falls through the night sky, avoiding debris and eliminating guards in mid-air before grabbing their companion and parachuting to safety.  

Talk about starting off with a bang!

Return to Steelport

This mission starts off with the Saints mourning the death of one of their most prominent members. However, they are given no time to grieve as they are attacked in traffic by a rival gang.

This initiates a recruitment mission in which the Saints acquire three new gang members who become some of the most memorable characters in the franchise. 

This mission features several iconic moments, the most noteworthy being a fire fight that occurs while speeding through the streets in human carriages.

During this mission you expand your gang and you do it with style. You are introduced to larger-than-life characters who play pivotal roles in the following games.

If there’s one mission that captures the full essence of SR3, it’s this one. 

Trouble With Clones

SR3 is also known for its amazing DLC content, the best of which is the Trouble With Clones storyline. 

As the name implies, this three-mission series sees the Saints trying to track down a manic clone. Each mission features an ominous environment and background monologues that make you feel like you’re in an interactive horror movie rather than a video game. 

This storyline also introduces some of the most creative content in the game, including a terrifying weapon that shoots bees at people and an energy drink that gives your character superpowers. 

This is the franchise at its craziest, and I loved every bit of it. 

amazing animations

Next, let’s talk about the visuals.

SR3 introduced the signature cartoonish animation style that has since become a staple of the series. As the franchise drifted further from reality, the graphics followed suit. 

I can’t articulate precisely why I love the art style so much, but I believe it’s a mix of nostalgia and uniqueness.

What makes the graphics even better is the fact that they are accompanied by one of the most comprehensive character customization systems I’ve ever seen.

The player has complete control over virtually every aspect of their avatar, including appearance options such as metallic skin tones and alien irises. Players also have the ability to change the color of any clothing item they buy.

These features open the door for endlessly unique and personal character designs.

Accompanying the goofy graphics are a series of vicious hand-to-hand combat animations absent from any other game I’ve seen or played. 

Players can activate a series of knockout animations, ranging from a reverse suplex to literally surfing on the backs of enemies and pedestrians.

These animations can also be activated when stealing a vehicle, creating a ludicrous scene where the player jumps through the windshield of a car before knocking the driver out and speeding off. 

The game also features several “beatdown” animations. While unarmed near an enemy, the player can activate a cinematic, quick-time attack that’s both brutal and awesome at the same time. 

In short, SR3 boasts a unique art style and a plethora of silly animations that separate it from its competitors.

corporate culture

Another feature that separates Saints Row: The Third from other entries in the series and games within the genre is the sheer omnipotence and influence the Saints wield throughout the game.

Grand Theft Auto type games usually rehash the “zero to hero” plotline, but SR3 is the continuation of a singular story. 

The game is the result of all the hard work done in the first two entries, and as the saying goes, “When you work hard, you play hard.”

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the world of SR3 truly feels like the devil’s playground. In this game, the Saints go from small-time street gang to global icons with seemingly unlimited resources. 

They star in movies and appear on billboards. 

They have their own clothing brand and sports drink. 

They have multiple strongholds, penthouse suites, and a fleet of vehicles and foot soldiers.

The game does a great job of making the Saints feel powerful, which is likely why the developers chose Power by Kanye West as the game’s theme song.

It feels good to be on top, and in this game, the Saint’s reign supreme.

what fun looks like 

When I think of the Saints Row franchise, only one word comes to mind…

FUN!

And I had the most fun playing Saints Row: The Third.

Earlier games in the series, while great in their own right, are products of older and less refined gaming mechanics.

Later games in the series simply feel like adulterated versions of the third entry. (Although I must admit I did enjoy the superpowers from Saints Row 4)

Saints Row: The Third is the only game in the franchise that truly has its own identity. 

Not only did it outshine its predecessors, but it also set the standard for future entries. 

It is for this reason, along with those listed above, that I believe Saints Row: The Third is the best game in the series.

Bye Chance.