Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2 is a 2008 action-adventure game developed by Volition and published by THQ. It is the sequel to 2006's Saints Row and the second installment in the Saints Row series. The game was released in October 2008 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, January 2009 for Microsoft Windows, and April 2016 for Linux. A mobile tie-in game was developed by G5 Entertainment and also released in October 2008. Saints Row 2 directly follows from the events of the first game, as the player's custom character awakens from a coma after five years[11] to find that their gang, the 3rd Street Saints, has been disbanded, and their former territories taken over by newly-formed criminal syndicates and a corrupt corporation. With the help of new and old allies, the player attempts to rebuild the Saints and take back Stilwater from their rivals.
Saints Row 2
Story missions are unlocked by trading in "Respect" points, currency earned by completing minigames and side-missions. Outside of the main story, players can freely roam Stilwater, which has been expanded with new locations and consists of two main islands. The game is played from a third-person perspective and its world is navigated on-foot or by vehicle. Players can fight enemies using a variety of firearms, and call in non-playable gang members to assist them. An online multiplayer mode allows two players to explore Stilwater together while completing missions and activities, or multiple players to engage in a variety of cooperative and competitive game modes.
Saints Row 2's developers opted for a more comedic tone to set the game apart from the Grand Theft Auto series, with which the original game was compared by most reviewers for their similar premise and gameplay elements. The game's promotional effort included various public showings, special editions and downloadable content including the Ultor Exposed and Corporate Warfare mission packages. Reviews were largely favorable, praising the action and straightforward gameplay, while only criticizing technical issues. The Windows port in particular was heavily criticized for technical issues not present in any of the other versions. The game had sold around 400,000 units by November 2008, and 3.4 million units by September 2010. A sequel, Saints Row: The Third, was released in November 2011.
Plot[edit]
Five years after the explosion on Richard Hughes' yacht, the player character (Charles Shaughnessy, Kenn Michael, Alex Mendoza, Katie Semine, G. K. Bowes, or Rebecca Sanabria), who was the sole survivor, awakens from a coma within the infirmary of Stilwater's maximum security prison after undergoing extensive plastic surgery. They escape to Stilwater with the help of Carlos Mendoza (Joe Camareno), the brother of a former 3rd Street Saints member.
Carlos explains that the Saints have since disbanded, with most members being arrested by Troy Bradshaw (Michael Rapaport), an undercover cop who had infiltrated the gang as a lieutenant and has since become chief of police, using his influence to protect the imprisoned Saints. In the gang's absence, three new gangs have taken over the city: the Brotherhood, a metalhead gang who conduct gun-running operations; the Ronin, a Japanese bosozoku gang who conduct gambling and porn operations; and the Sons of Samedi, a Haitian Vodou gang who run drugs operations. Also, the Saints' former base of operations, the Saint's Row district, has been redeveloped into a pristine commercial and residential area by the Ultor Corporation, who have further plans for Stilwater.
The player works to rebuild the Saints, rescuing their former lieutenant Johnny Gat (Daniel Dae Kim) from his trial. The pair then recruit new members, including Carlos and Gat's acquaintances, Pierce Washington (Arif S. Kinchen) and Shaundi (Eliza Dushku), as lieutenants, and set up a new headquarters in a hotel destroyed by an earthquake. Afterwards, the player steps up as the Saints' new leader, now going under the moniker of "The Boss", and declares war on the rival gangs, assigning their lieutenants to discover more about each.
Gat and Pierce focus on the Ronin, led by Shogo Akuji (Yuri Lowenthal) and his second-in-command, Jyunichi (Brian Tee) – on behalf of Shogo's father, Kazuo, who leads international operations. After the Saints rob their casino, the Ronin retaliate by infiltrating the home of Gat's girlfriend Aisha (Sy Smith), killing her and severely wounding Gat. Once Gat recovers, he and the Boss retaliate by killing Jyunichi (who was sold out by Shogo out of envy for Jyunichi's closer bond with Kazuo), burying Shogo alive after he ambushes them at Aisha's funeral, and ultimately killing Kazuo, ending the Ronin.
Carlos researches the Brotherhood, led by Maero (Michael Dorn). After the Boss rejects Maero's deal to join forces and split their profits (80% to the Brotherhood and 20% to the Saints), a series of rebound retaliations result in the deaths of Carlos (who is dragged by a speeding truck and forcibly mercy killed by the Boss) and Maero's girlfriend Jessica (Jaime Pressly) (who the Boss locks in her car to be inadvertently crushed by Maero with his monster truck). After assaulting the Brotherhood's base and forcing Maero to flee, the Boss kills him during a demolition derby to end the Brotherhood.
Shaundi investigates the Sons of Samedi, led by "The General" (Greg Eagles) and his right-hand, Mr. Sunshine (Phil LaMarr). After the Saints disrupt the Samedi's operations and steal most of their customers, Samedi lieutenant and one of Shaundi's exes, DJ Veteran Child (Neil Patrick Harris), is forced by the gang to kidnap Shaundi. After The Boss kills Veteran Child to rescue Shaundi, they continue their war on the Samedi by destroying their drug factories and killing Mr. Sunshine. Since The General runs his gang from an armored limo that's constantly on the move, The Boss and Shaundi hack the city's police street camera system to track it. Afterwards, they set up an ambush as the limo drives past the city mall and manage to take out The General, ending the Sons of Samedi.
After defeating the rival gangs, the Saints find themselves targeted by Ultor's power-hungry CEO, Dane Vogel (Jay Mohr), who was playing the gangs against each other to lower real estate throughout Stilwater and allow Ultor to purchase it and redevelop. After fending off several attacks by Ultor's private security forces, the Saints retaliate by destroying one of the company's labs and killing its board of directors. Taking advantage of this to assume full control of Ultor, Vogel decides to personally deal with the Saints, but is ambushed by the Boss at a press conference. The Boss fights their way to Vogel's office and kills him, allowing the Saints to return ruling over Stilwater undisputed.
At any point during the game, the Boss can listen to wiretap conversations at the police station, which reveal that after being arrested and asked to disband the Saints by Troy, former Saints leader Julius Little (Keith David) planted the bomb on Hughes' yacht to kill the Boss, knowing they would refuse, then retired. The Boss calls former Saints lieutenant Dex Jackson, who left the gang to work for Ultor, to discuss their findings, only to be met by Julius instead at the Saints' old church. After the pair fend off an attack by Ultor's security forces, the Boss kills Julius in revenge.
Marketing[edit]
Prior to its release, Saints Row 2 was heavily marketed and promoted through Internet and television trailers. Volition also ran several fan contests with series-related paraphernalia as prizes. The game's original release date was delayed for marketing considerations.[72] The game's first trailer, in March 2008, was presented as a tourism promotion about the Ultor Corporation's role in rebuilding Stilwater.[73] A full marketing campaign featuring American film actor Gary Busey began the next month.[74][75] The Street Lessons with Uncle Gary video series demonstrated particular aspects of gameplay.[76][77][78][79][80][81][82] Subsequent trailers over the next several months also highlighted gameplay elements,[83][84][85][86] but one made light of Grand Theft Auto IV's lack of replay value,[87] and another demonstrated the cooperative mode using characters modeled on the candidates from the 2008 United States presidential election.[88] A redesigned official website and community network was launched in July 2008,[89] and American pornographic actress Tera Patrick was featured in her own marketing campaign for the game.[26][90]
Promotional contests throughout mid-2008 included "Pimp Your Crib"[91] and "Summer of Bling".[92][93] Another competition from THQ and WorthPlaying gave the winner a trip to a San Francisco Saints Row 2 multiplayer event and published their thoughts online.[94][95] British fashion label Joystick Junkies ran a T-shirt design competition in September 2008, and the top entry was featured in the game's first downloadable content pack.[96][97] Another round of "Summer of Bling" awarded the shirts as prizes.[98][99] The "Trick Your Pack" tool launched in September let the player create their own game box art.[100][101] There were also other promotions and give-aways.[102][103] At conventions, Saints Row 2 appeared at the 2008 E3, THQ Gamer's Day, Comic Con,[104] PAX, GameStop Expo,[105] and Leipzig Games Conventions. The game also promoted itself in the Myspace Music Tour[106] and November 2008, an Australian fundraiser for men's health.[107] In November, THQ signed a deal with Massive Incorporated to include in-game advertisements on their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 products.[108] In-game and online, players can also find movie posters throughout the city that promote upcoming releases.[109]