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mercredi 31 août 2022

The level of detail that can be found on the new character models is truly impressive

Even though it doesn’t provide the gameplay overhaul that some gamers were no doubt anticipating, The Last of Us Part 1 is still the best way to enjoy one of the most intelligent and well designed games of recent memory. The updated visuals helps to breathe new life into the story, and the world it presents has never felt more immersive. And that’s before considering the plethora of accessibility features on hand, enabling swathes of gamers to play the game for the first time and see what all the fuss is about.

Pros

  • The Last of Us has never looked better
  • Improved lighting and attention to detail
  • Still an incredible story that’s worth revisiting
  • Tons of accessibility features

Cons

  • £70/$70 price tag is questionable
  • Very few of Part II’s gameplay upgrades have been utilised here

Availability

  • UKRRP: £69.99
  • USARRP: $69.99

Key Features

  • Rebuilt for PS5:The game makes use of the PS5’s hardware features
  • New accessibility features:Imported from The Last of Us Part 2

Introduction

Naughty Dog revisits its iconic post-apocalyptic survival shooter, this time rebuilt for the PS5 and stylised as The Last of Us Part 1.

When the credits rolled on 2020’s The Last of Us Part 2, I felt so engrossed in the world that Naughty Dog had created and its brutal tale of revenge that I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to it all. I booted up my copy of The Last of Us: Remastered but the technological leap between the two games was too much to ignore and my enthusiasm for replaying the series’ first entry quickly faded away.

Someone at Naughty Dog either hacked my brain or had the same feeling themselves because the The Last of Us Part 1 is the same great game that we all know and love, but redesigned with the Part 2 toolset.

With a £70/$70 price tag at launch, the game has already been criticised for not offering enough incentive for returning players, but is this really the case? Here are my thoughts.

The game's visual overhaul can be felt most greatly in its level design

Graphics and performance

  • Massive visual leap in world design
  • Updated character models make cutscenes more cinematic
  • You can switch between ‘Performance’ and ‘Fidelity’ modes

If you’ve seen a trailer for The Last of Us Part 1 or caught some of its marketing campaign, then you’ll already know that the game’s biggest upgrade over the original is in its graphics. Following the visual prowess of The Last of Us Part 2, the Part 1 remake is a drop dead gorgeous game to look at, and the newer style adds far more than a lick of paint to an almost decade old title.

For starters, the level of detail that can be found when walking through the game’s vision of a post-apocalyptic United States is truly something to behold. The Last of Us already did a fantastic job of creating a believable world in its level design, with abandoned homes containing traces of the families who lived there, and sprawling cityscapes that have now been reclaimed by nature. But this time around, it feels as if the developers have been able to fully deliver on those concepts in a way that technology simply couldn’t 10 years ago.

The various knick knacks that you might expect to find in a family home have been given more attention, and at various times I found myself distracted by dusty family photos that told a story of their own for a group of off-screen characters. There’s so much depth in the details of Part 1 that you easily spend several hours of your playthrough just admiring the efforts of the art department.

Because all of this is now running on the PS5’s heavy-duty hardware, lighting effects have also been given an uplift and they go a long way towards showing what Sony’s latest console is capable of. For example, I don’t recall ever being quite so enamoured with Bill’s hideout early into the game, but the way the light seeps through the church’s windows forced me to stop in my tracks and appreciate the scene.

Bill's hideout looks better than ever thanks to the game's lighting effects

Beyond the in-game visuals, Naughty Dog has also been keen to note the upgrades that have been made to the character models, which in turn can be most keenly felt during cutscenes. I’ll admit that when I saw the first few comparison trailers, I struggled to see the immediate difference – a problem that likely stems from just how well those cutscenes were originally animated on the PS3. But when you start playing the PS5 adaption, the scale of these improvements are made more apparent.

For example, Tess has been given a new, more age-appropriate look that better reflects her lived experiences. And when paired with the added detail of Joel’s middle-aged appearance, their conversations felt more believable, doing justice to the original motion capture and voice acting, and really driving home the emotion of each scene.

If you want to get even more out of the graphics, then the game offers you a choice from the outset, with the ability to play in either ‘performance’ or ‘fidelity’ mode. The former runs at a targeted 60fps while the latter prioritises the visual prowess of the game and is capped at 30fps. There’s definitely a noticeable difference to be found in these two modes, and you can change between them at any time so you don’t have to worry about being locked in.

For my my playthrough, I stayed with ‘performance’ mode almost exclusively. After all, one of the best upgrades of 2014’s The Last of Us Remastered was the ability to play in the enhanced frame rate, lending itself brilliantly to the chaotic nature of the game’s shootouts.

The Last of Us Part 1 running in fidelity mode

I also noticed an impressive bit of tinkering with the game’s audio quality, as sounds feel more layered than ever and dialogue comes through more clearly and defined than before. There’s even support for 3D Audio, which makes a gunfight with the game’s infected enemies even more adrenaline inducing.

It should be mentioned that I encountered barely any visual or audio hiccups during my time with the game which is a rare thing to see these days. This is about as polished a AAA game could be at launch.

Story and gameplay

  • The story is still the game’s crown jewel
  • Very little in the way of gameplay changes
  • Accessibility features make a huge difference

It’s almost impossible to have a conversation about The Last of Us without circling back to the game’s story. The game made waves upon release for its bleak depiction of what humanity would do to survive if civilisation fell apart.

Very few games have come close to the storytelling heights of The Last of Us, and in a post-pandemic world, the many references to quarantines, testing and face coverings suddenly don’t seem quite so abstract. But I think it’s fair to assume, given that Part 1 constitutes the second re-release of the title, that many gamers will be wondering if it’s worth playing through again. I would argue emphatically that it is.

The first Bloater boss battle in The Last of Us Part 1

As previously mentioned, the updated character models give the game’s narrative aspects more depth as the characters themselves are better realised. Then again, I’m speaking as someone who hasn’t revisited the game in roughly eight years, so it’s been an exciting experience to remember why I enjoyed it so much in the first place. If you’ve played it more recently then this is where things get a bit tricky.

Unfortunately, from a gameplay perspective, Part 1 is almost identical to its source material. I had hoped that with so much talk about the game borrowing from Part 2’s graphical upgrades that we might also see some of the gameplay tweaks that were introduced there, such as the ability to go prone in combat, and new enemy types like attack dogs that were trained to sniff you out, forcing you to stay on the move.

Having these elements within Part 1 would have given existing players more of a reason to dive back in beyond the visual overhaul. Still, this isn’t to say that it’s completely devoid of new content – there’s now a ‘permadeath’ mode for players who can’t get enough punishment, and a speed-run mode to time how quickly you can make it to the end.

Haptic feedback via the DualSense controller also adds a new layer of immersion, heightening moments of intensity such as grappling an enemy from the shadows. The adaptive triggers also change how you use certain weapons. For the bow, you remove the weapon from your backpack with L2 and then use R2 to slowly pull back the arrow, feeling the pushback in the trigger as you do so.

The Last of Us Part 1 features accessibility modes to help differently abled gamers

There’s even a handful of new unlockables that can be swiped after you’ve completed the game, including costumes and concept art, but I found myself spending quite a bit of time in the game’s new model viewer. Just like with Part 2, you can now view a collection of character models as if they’re small figurines, pouring over the sometimes unreal amounts of detail in their facial features.

One huge selling point for many gamers out there is the the game’s new accessibility features. Part 2 paved the way in opening up new ways for differently abled gamers to enjoy the core experience, and those same features have now been implemented in Part 1.

With everything from colourblind modes to audio description during cutscenes, navigation assistance and narration of on-screen text, Naughty Dog has gone above and beyond in making The Last of Us Part 1 as accessible as possible, making this is a huge boon for anyone who was forced to miss out on the game the first time around because of any barriers to entry. I only hope that more developers follow suit.

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Should you buy it?

You want to experience the best version of The Last of Us: With a complete visual overhaul that makes the game’s world and story feel more tangible than ever, there can’t be any doubt that this is the best way to experience Naughty Dog’s iconic title.

You’ve recently replayed The Last of Us: If the memory of the game is still fresh in your mind then there isn’t an overwhelming amount of new content to draw you back in on day one.

Final Thoughts

With a £70/$70 price tag and not a whole lot of new content to speak of when it comes to the gameplay, The Last of Us Part 1 may be a tough sell for some gamers, but because of its massive leap forward in visual fidelity and making the world more engrossing than ever, it is still the best way to play one of the best games ever made – and that can’t be overlooked.

I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time with Part 1, and the inclusion of barrier-breaking accessibility features means that a whole sect of gamers will now get to experience Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic story for the first time. Even if you don’t nab the game at launch, it’s one that all PS5 owners should add to their library down the line.

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How we test

We play every game we review through to the end, outside of certain exceptions where getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is close to impossible to do. When we don’t fully finish a game before reviewing it we will always alert the reader.

Tested on PS5

FAQs

Does The Last of Us Part 1 have multiplayer?

No, the original multiplayer component of The Last of Us has been removed.

Is Left Behind included with The Last of Us Part 1?

The Left Behind DLC is included with the game and can be played immediately.

Is The Last of Us Part 1 available on PS4?

No, The Last of Us Part 1 is only available to play on PS5.

The post The Last of Us Part 1 appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

mercredi 24 août 2022

Splatoon 3 feels like a fresh coat of paint for the series, with a new story mode as well as additional weapons, stages and enemies. With the main multiplayer modes largely unchanged compared to Splatoon 2, series veterans may feel agggrieved that there aren’t any substantial upgrades or new game modes. But Splatoon 3 still offers spades of fun and will no doubt be one of the leading multiplayer options on the Nintendo Switch.

Key Features

  • Platforms:Nintendo Switch
  • Release date:9 September 2022
  • Genre:Multiplayer third-person shooter

Introduction

Nintendo loves to give a creative twist to established video game genres, whether it’s adding banana skins to a racer or flammable footballs in a sports games. 

Splatoon is arguably Nintendo’s most creative original franchise in recent years, taking on the multiplayer shooter genre, but trading lethal bullets for globs of paint. Competing over territory with a paintball gun is a clever and unique non-violent twist to an over-saturated genre made up of the likes of Call of Duty, Battlefield and Halo

Splatoon 3 is the next entry in the blossoming franchise, and will include a trio of modes including a story campaign, Turf War multiplayer battles and Salmon Run co-op horde battles. That will sound very familiar to those who’ve already played the first two versions of Splatoon, and truth be told, there doesn’t seem to be a huge number of differences compared to the preceding two instalments. 

But with a couple of new moves and weapons, as well as a slew of maps, Nintendo hopes there will be enough here to keep returning players entertained. 

Nintendo offered me pre-release access to Splatoon 3 to check out the new additions and improvements. Here are my thoughts. 

Story mode

  • Bite-sized levels make up the story mode
  • Act as tutorials for new weapons and mechanics
  • Features fun platforming and puzzle segments

Just like previous entries, Splatoon 3 features a single-player campaign, made up of bite-sized levels acting as entertaining tutorials for advanced moves and weapons. 

I was only able to try out three levels during the preview, but one involved learning how to use the new bow-like Tri-Stringer. You’re able to charge up each shot, sending a powerful horizontal wave of paint at your enemies. Fire the bow while in mid-air, and you’ll instead fire a vertical stream of paint which can be handy for dealing optimal damage to enemies.

The new Tri-Stringer bow in Splatoon 3

Each level has a gentle difficulty curve, so you’ll just be striking down standard foes at the beginning. But towards the end, enemies will use shields to protect themselves, requiring more skill with the Tri-Stringer to succeed. Completing the mission gave me a great understanding of how to use the new weapon, as well as the confidence to use it the next multiplayer session against more challenging opponents.

Importantly, Nintendo has made sure these levels don’t feel too much like a conventional, tedious tutorial. Rather than focusing solely on one mechanic, it’s also added in some fun platforming and puzzle challenges. In just three levels I was grinding on rails, scaling up vertical platforms and defeating waves of enemies. 

The single-player campaign story will be called “Return of the Mammalians” and so will likely see furry critters facing off against the inklings for the first time. I unfortunately didn’t get to see any glimpses of the story during my preview session, so you’ll have to wait for our final review to find out more. 

Turf War Multiplayer

  • Turf War remains unchanged beside new spawning mechanic
  • Shooting gallery encourages experimentation between matches
  • Four additional PvP modes will be on rotation

The main focus of Splatoon 3 is undoubtedly on Turf War, which feels very similar to the experience on Splatoon 2. The 4v4 multiplayer matches still have the same objective of covering the map with as much paint as possible, while also being able to defeat rival players to slow down their progress. 

A view of a map on Turf War matches

One minor tweak for Splatoon 3 includes the use of spawner drones, which launches you up in the air so you can choose where to land. This affords you a little more variety in starting positions, rather than just spawning on a platform where you’ll be vulnerable to lurking enemies. 

Nintendo has also added in new techniques such as the Squid Surge and Squid Roll, to improve the experience of swimming in the ink. It feels great to speed across the battlefield, and then pop out of the floor to surprise an opponent.

I also appreciated the new Shooting Range, which encouraged me to practise my aim and try out different weapons in-between matches – I’m sure this will be extremely handy when you’re waiting for your teammates to finish their toilet break. 

The new Shooting Gallaery in Splatoon 3

Nintendo has confirmed that all of the basic weapons from Splatoon 2 will be returning, while the bow-like Stringers and sword-like Splatanas will be introduced too. Additional weapons will be made available in post-game updates, just in case you think the generous selection needs to be expanded even further. 

There will also be plenty of stages on offer, with Splatoon 3 offering a total of 12. Nintendo has once again promised even more stages via post-game updates too. 

A Turf War match in Splatoon 3

I wasn’t able to try out any of the other PvP online matches during my preview session, but game modes such as Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker and Clam Blitz will all be available to play, albeit on rotation. It’s a shame that these game modes won’t all be playable at any time, but there still looks to be a great variety. 

Salmon Run Next Wave

  • New Salmon Run features even more enemy types
  • Just as challenging as before
  • Will be playable at any time

The third and final game mode I was able to play during the preview event was Salmon Run Next Wave – the sequel to the co-op venture that pits you against waves and waves of enemies. 

Nintendo hasn’t altered the rules or main mechanics for this mode, once again challenging your team to defeat difficult boss enemies in order to collect and retrieve golden eggs. However, there will be an even larger roster of enemies, each with their own special moves that require different tactics to overcome. 

Salmon Run Next Wave in Splatoon 3

I found this co-op mode to be brutally punishing, with teamwork required to ensure you harvest enough eggs before time runs out. I found myself splattered to death a number of times, with the huge boss enemies able to squash you like a bug. 

You’re also given a random weapon for each round, forcing you to have an all-rounded skill set rather than excelling with one primary paintball gun. Younger children or Splatoon newbies may be intimidated by the challenge, but it’s a great experience for seasoned players who want to work together with friends. 

The biggest improvement to Salmon Run is that you’re able to play at any time, rather than being restricted to a set schedule. Finding a day where all of your friends can play together is hard enough already, so it’s great to see Nintendo finally offering more flexibility on this front.

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First Thoughts

Splatoon 3 feels like a welcome fresh coat of paint on its predecessor, with a new story mode, weapons, stages and slight tweaks to multiplayer helping to improve the overall experience. But from what I’ve played so far, improvements seem to be minor, with no new game modes or signifcant mechanics that you may expect from a threequel. 

The majority of the new multiplayer additions could arguably have been introduced within an update to Splatoon 2 rather than a completely new game. As a result, a lot is riding on the single-player campaign as to whether Splatoon 3 represents good value for those who already own Splatoon 2. 

That said, I still really enjoyed my short time with Splatoon 3. The Turf War battles are just as fun as ever, while Salmon Run looks to be even more challenging and will benefit from being an ever-present fixture in the multiplayer roster. While it’s too early to give a final verdict, Splatoon 3 has the potential to be one of the very best multiplayer games on the Nintendo Switch yet. 

FAQs

What date is Splatoon 3 coming out?

Splatoon 3 is coming out on 9 September 2022.

Can you be an Octoling in Splatoon 3?

Yes, Octolings will be playable from the start in Splatoon 3.

The post Splatoon 3 appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

lundi 22 août 2022

Saints Row (2022) represents a reboot for the series, dialling back on the iconic satirical and wacky tone – but, arguably, this feels like a backwards step. While the over-the-top action remains entertaining, the unimaginative missions are bland and the story fails to deliver laughs or an engaging plot.

Pros

  • Mindless chaotic action
  • Great selection of weapons and vehicles
  • Lots of customisation options

Cons

  • Boring story with cringeworthy jokes
  • Bland missions
  • Open-world city feels lifeless
  • Rife with technical issues

Availability

  • UKRRP: £59.99
  • USARRP: $59.99

Key Features

  • Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Google Stadia
  • Release date:23rd August 2022
  • Genre:Action adventure

Introduction

The Saints Row series has never taken itself seriously, opting for a more laid-back and comical approach to organised crime, opposed to the grittier takes from other studios. 

The Saints Row (2022) reboot attempts to take a similar approach to its predecessors, with chaotic action so absurd that it’s borderline parody. During the campaign, you’ll experience train heists, prison breakouts and more explosions than all the Michael Bay films combined. 

And yet, I can’t help but feel that developer Volition has lost sight of what made the Saints Row series so appealing in the first place: the comedy. Yes, there are plenty of jokes here, but they mostly fall flat, lacking the satirical wit of its predecessors. 

Without the rib-tickling satirical comedy upon which its predecessors built its reputation, Saints Row (2022) ends up feeling like a mediocre imitation of the open-world games at which the series has previously poked fun. Here are my thoughts.

Story

  • Characters are annoying and lack depth
  • Boring and erratic storytelling
  • Jokes fail to land

Volition has opted for a clean slate for the latest entry of Saints Row, positioning it as a reboot rather than a continuation of previous entries. That means you won’t be seeing any familiar faces or locations. 

Instead, Saints Row (2022) revolves around a group of four young adults, who have resorted to organised crime in order to pay rent. The main protagonist, called “The Boss”, is a chatterbox mercenary who acts and sounds like a knock-off Ryan Reynolds impersonator. 

The Boss isn’t exactly a fleshed-out character, with the only two observable personality traits being his crass love for murder and his strong bond with his friends. And while the lack of any character development or growth is forgivable for a game of this nature, his inability to make me laugh is a crime that can’t be tolerated. 

The new Saints Row (2022) game press picture

His three friends suffer similar issues. Kevin is a moronic DJ who walks around shirtless, while Eli is a stereotypical hipster nerd who plans out all the gang’s schemes. Neither contribute much to the story, while they lack the emotional depth and likability for me to become attached. Neenah is my favourite of the trio; she’s a realistic character who can actually hold a normal conversation, offering a grounded respite from the mindless action – but even she failed to make a lasting impression.  

The four main characters feel out of place in a Saints Row game, as they don’t act like any criminals you’ll find in similar games, especially due to their young age. Instead, they seem like a 60-year-old’s ill-informed interpretation on millennial culture, and it’s more cringe than comical. 

The main story focuses on the four friends forming the very first Saints gang, as they seek to challenge three other factions for territory in the city of Santo Ileso. This involves a lot of street fights, as well as acquiring criminal ventures to increase your revenue. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a plot beyond this, with the absence of high stakes providing little need for urgency. 

Car chase in Saints Row (2022)

It seems like developer Volition realised that this is the story’s final third, since it’s added a new antagonist with questionable motives. With little build up to this point, it feels as though a completely new story has been whacked onto the end for a jarring and abrupt conclusion. 

I never expected a Saints Row game to have a blockbuster-quality story, but I was hoping it would at least make me laugh. There are a few amusing moments, such as the LARP (Live action role-playing game) missions where enemies will dramatically pretend to die when attacked. But I can’t remember ever laughing out loud during my time playing Saints Row (2022). 

It’s also a pity that Saints Row has lost its satirical wit. The previous entry, Saints Row 4, parodied the likes of Mass Effect and The Matrix to great effect, but I didn’t notice any gags of this kind in the latest entry. 

Gameplay

  • Great variety of weapons and vehicles
  • Missions are bland and repetitive
  • Open-world city feels lifeless

Saints Row (2022) is a third-person shooter with an abundance of weapons, ranging from pistols to rocket launchers. In addition, vehicles take only a few rounds of bullets to explode like a firework, resulting in over-the-top explosive combat that’s as entertaining as it is spectacular. 

The best missions in Saints Row allow you to cause as much mayhem as possible, whether that involves stealing a tank to disrupt a convention or using a rocket launcher to take down a helicopter. These are undoubtedly the high points of the campaign. 

Sadly, there are more low points than high. The vast majority of objectives simply require you to take out small groups of enemies, which can become really repetitive. The three different factions at least have a slight variance in enemy types, with the neon-dressed Idols gang featuring foes who can deflect bullets, while the futuristic militant Marshall group have sci-fi laser rifles that can strike from afar. 

Shooting at another car

For some bizarre reason, you’ll fail a mission the moment one of the AI-controlled characters is killed during combat. This is particularly frustrating in a game where vehicles will frequently explode, knocking down anyone in their radius. You’ll get a small window of time where you can revive your allies, but it can be difficult to notice the small notification icon when there’s so much carnage on-screen. You’ll probably have a better time in the optional co-op mode, as your friends will likely be far more dependable than the frustrating AI.

Saints Row (2022) shares the same Criminal Ventures feature as previous entries, allowing you to acquire new businesses and then complete side missions to increase your revenue. However, the quality of these missions varies enormously. Hurling yourself in front of incoming traffic as part of an insurance scam is a good laugh, but towing fragile objects across the map is significantly less entertaining, feeling more like a chore than an enjoyable side activity. 

My biggest complaint with the gameplay is that it lacks originality. I feel as if I’ve played every mission before in another game, with Saints Row doing little to improve upon a tried-and-tested formula. Everyone loves a good train heist and prison breakout, but such missions have been done to death, and there’s nothing new here to make the experience more memorable than previous games. 

Car in the desert

Also, the city of Santo Ileso feels lifeless, which is a shame for an open-world game of this scale. Outside of missions, the only interactive buildings are shops for clothes, weapons and vehicles. There’s no incentive to explore, and seemingly no random events that make the world feel alive. The city is loosely based on Las Vegas, but none of the main missions involved visiting a grandiose casino, hotel or circus show – a missed opportunity, if ever I saw one. 

One thing I did enjoy was the ability to customise your home base. By taking pictures of certain inanimate objects in the city, you’ll then be able to order them in to decorate the church you’ve claimed as your headquarters. Stealing or purchasing vehicles will also allow you to summon them in your base’s garage, providing a satisfying sense of progression as you expand your empire.  

Performance and Visuals

  • Doesn’t look like a current-gen game
  • Multiple game-breaking bugs
  • Ragdoll physics can get annoying

Like previous Saints Row games, this reboot features a cartoony art style, which is different to the more photo-realistic takes on the genre elsewhere. I think this is a good move, since it contributes towards Saints Row’s casual tone. 

However, I do think the character models look a little too basic for a new-gen game on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Volition clearly hasn’t pushed the limits of the new consoles, although that’s likely to ensure support for older platforms.

The performance issues are less forgivable, as I’ve experienced a number of glitches throughout the campaign. Enemies will sometimes spawn in an incorrect location, meaning I’ve had to venture out of the specified mission area in order to complete my objective. This wouldn’t have been so problematic if it wasn’t for the 15-second timer that will force a mission restart if you spend too much time outside the mission boundaries. 

A car in the street in Saints Row (2022)

I’ve also encountered instances where triggering a finishing move has frozen my character in place, forcing me to reset the PS5 in order to fix this issue. The enemy AI has its own issues as well; I’ve often seen rival gunmen trapped in the environment, or failing to notice me when standing beside them.

There are even simple oversights, such as having the triangle button (on PS5) mapped to so many different functions. Not only can it be used to enter a car, but also to execute an enemy – you can see how that can become troublesome during a street fight. 

The ragdoll physics can be very irritating, too, especially while driving. A small bump in the road can cause your car to go spinning up in the air. This is even worse when towing a heavy object – I once got a bank vault wedged into a bridge, which wasn’t ideal during the middle of a police chase. 

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Should you buy it?

You want mindless action If you’re not bothered about the story or comedy, and just want some mindless action to pass the time, then Saints Row is ideal. You’ll get to blow up helicopters, crush cars with mounter trucks and knock police cars into chasms.

You want the classic Saints Row humour The iconic satirical jokes of the Saints Row series have vanished, replaced by slapstick humour that’s seemingly attempting to imitate the likes of Deadpool. Personally, I didn’t find it funny, which was disappointing.

Final Thoughts

I can understand Volition wanting to reboot the Saints Row series given the original launched all the way back in 2006. But the latest entry feels like a backwards step for the developer, with this release misses out on the over-the-top satirical humour that made the series so beloved.

As a result, Saints Row now feels like a mediocre open-world action game, becoming just like all of the games at which the series used to poke fun. Mission objectives are bland and repetitive, while the story is boring and lacks cohesion. Worst of all, the slapstick jokes rarely land and are arguably more cringeworthy than they are funny.

You can still have fun if you simply want mindless chaotic action, but I’d argue you’d have a better time with the likes of CyberPunk 2077 or even Saints Row The Third Remastered.

Trusted Score
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How we test

We play every game we review through to the end, outside of certain exceptions where getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is close to impossible to do. When we don’t fully finish a game before reviewing it we will always alert the reader.

Played on PS5

Played over 20 hours

FAQs

Where does Saints Row 2022 take place?

The new Saints Row takes place in Santo Ileso, which is a fictional city loosely based on Las Vegas.

How much storage space does Saints Row 2022 take up?

The PS5 version takes up 54GB of space, while the PS4 version takes up 61GB. The PC version takes up even less at 50GB.

The post Saints Row (2022) appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

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