Deep Silver looking for feedback on other issues

Saints Row: The Third recently released for the Switch and it's kind of a mess. Digital Foundry, experts at evaluating game performance, have declared it possibly the worst performing game they've experienced on the platform, not to mention one of the worst evaluations they've ever done. It may boast a higher resolution than the last?? generation versions, but this isn't ??even close to being an ideal way to experience the game.

Publisher Deep Silver hasn't let the criticisms fall on deaf ears, though. In an update over on its blog, the publisher outlined a list of fixes that will be coming to Saints Row in the coming weeks. The first post-launch patch, available later tonight, will directly address performance by lowering the rendering resolution of certain particle effects. There is? ?also a mention of "related performance," which could mean a drop from the 1080p output that docked mode uses.

Along with the patch notes, Deep Silver has set up a form where users can submit issues that crop up for different players. As outlined in the blog, this will relate to "input lag, default low sensitivity in controls, slider sensitivity in chara??cter creator, and texture and graphic bugs." You'll need to include your SD Card type, game region, and Switch system numbers.

While Saints Row: The Third shouldn't have released with this many problems, at least fixes are coming. Maybe one day in the near future, we'll finally be able to play a version on the go that doesn't run like?? a slideshow.

Update coming soon! [Deep Silver]

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When keepin it real goes wrong

Deep Silver has finally shown off some footage of Saints Row: The Third running on Switch and it looks like Saints Row on the Switch. I'm not really sure what else to say about it, beca??use it doesn't seem to sport any kind of visual upgrades over the PS3 or 360 versions. I had played it on both 360 and PC and this is leaning more towards the lower resolution console ver??sion than the PC one.

There are some bits where the framerate slows down, the textures look suitably last generation, and even the effects on the explosion distort? the screen a bit. It doesn't seem terrible, runn??ing smoother than I remember it on Microsoft's old console, but I can't help but feel like something else could have been done here. I guess I just expected a little too much out of this.

Still, we do know that the Switch version will have local wireless co-op, so it gets a lot of bro??wnie points for that. You'll always be able to play with your friend on the Switch version lon??g after the servers are shut down for the other ports. That's worth a lot more than upgraded visuals.

Saints Row: The Third Memorable Moments - When Good Heists?? Go Bad?? (Official) [Saints Row via YouTube]

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In other words, you'll need two consoles for local co-op

Deep Silver is here to remind us that Saints Row: The Third - The Full Package is coming to Nintend??o Switch on May 10, and w?hile I wasn't planning to double dip, local co-op has me pondering.

A new trailer has suggested the inclusion of "couch co-op," though the finer details leave me feeling a little deflated. It's true that "two players can play side to side via online or local multiplayer," but for the latter option, they'll each need their own Switch console. Don't go in expecting split-screen multiplayer. It's not a best-case scenario – some co-op support is better than none at all – but yeah, fair warning.

I'll always appreciate Saints Row: The Third for letting me wreak h?avoc as a large metallic man who, through increasingly bizarre? circumstances, has come to possess great influence over Steelport.

These games are dumb as hell in the best possible way, and while it's tough to settle on a favorite, The Third might come in first. I like the balance it strikes between over-the-top power-fantasy scenarios and more grounded moments. Saints Row IV, meanwhile, pushes the story to greater extremes. Despite ??adding fun superpower-like abilities, the fourth game never resonated with me the same wa??y.

Saints Row: The Third on Switch includes "all previously released content" on the game card with exceptions: two of the original add-ons, the Bloodsucker Pack and the Unlockable Pack, have been nixed. According to Deep Silver, it came down to "game balance and improvement based on? feedback."

The base game will command a not-unreasonable $40 price tag. The publisher is also planning a Deluxe Pack on Switch with bonuses like?? a full-size poster, thumb grips, alternate cover art, and a "Deluxe Game Case Sleeve featuring the original 'old skool' 2011 artwork for extra tasty nostalgia."

Have you had your fill of this series yet?

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Saints Flow, baby

Deep Silver has announced it will be porting Saints Row: The Third to Nintendo Switch as the "Full Package" edition on May 10, 2019. For those unaware, that was the version of the game which included all of the DLC and was essentially a "Game of the Year" re-release. There was no mention of exclusive features or additions, but this?? should retain the co-op support that the original had.

I have some incredibly mixed feelings on Saints Row: The Third. Upon release, I thought it was a huge step back from Saints Row 2 and one that felt lacking in content. The campaign attempted to hide its shortcomings under absurdist humor and the dramatic shift to a more cartoony art style didn't make sense to me. As time has gone on, I've grown to actually like the?? visuals of the game, but I still feel this is the we?akest entry in the series due to its sloppy campaign structure. It also completely wastes Hulk Hogan and Sasha Grey as characters.

Even with all that negativity, I can't deny the appeal of having a GTA-like game on Switch. Being able to take that to a friend's house and co-op through the city would be a blast. It would make for some great road trips, too. Maybe if this port does well, we can get the infinitely better Saints Row 2 and 4 on the system.

Deep Silver UK [Twitter]

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Crazy crime sequel is Switch-bound

Deep Silver is bringing the batshit-insane open-world crime title Saints Row: The Third to Nintendo Switch. The pu??blisher announced the news this morning at Gamescom in Cologne.

Saints Row: The Third, which originally launched on PS3, PC and Xbox 360 last generation, took the GTA-style sandbox series and cranked the knob to eleven, plastering the game in lurid colours, insane weaponry, ridiculous over-the-top action sequences and a nutty, gang-warfare storyline that involved Tron-like hackers, mad ??luchadores and jobbing wannabe actors.

Lit?tle more info was revealed for the left-field port, but we do know that its coming ??in 2019, with more info to follow in the near-future. Someone better call up Johnny Gat, we got business to take care of. And this time, it's handheld.

Saints Row: The Third is currently in production for Nintendo Switch. Never forget that Nintendo once didn't want Night Trap on their consoles and heavily censored Lethal Enforcers.

We're happy to announce that @SaintsRow: The Third is coming to #NintendoSwitch! More info to be revealed in due course #gamescom pic.twitter.com/rvGyqEmANi

— Deep Silver UK (@DeepSilverUK) August 21, 2018

The post Saints Row: The Th?ird is bringing its octopi guns, tigers in cars and ball-shots to Nint??endo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Sans Johnny Gat

[Update: Turns out I was actually wrong about Virtual-On not being on US BC. It was already made available a few months back, so it coming to Japanese Xbox One's is a sign that their own regional service is getting updates. That is sweet??! The original story is left below,?? misinformed ranting and all! -PG]

It may be my least favorite of the series, but Saints Row: The Third definitely had some fun moments. It was a bold departure in style that has come to define the series' place opposite Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto. Sadly, it cut a bunch of mainstay features from 2 and basically had a campaign that repeated mission b?eats far too often. Hulk Hogan and Sasha Grey were in it, though, so yay?

Anyway, if you have a fondness for the Saints' third outing, but only have an Xbox One, now you don't need to worry. The game is officially compatible?? on Microsoft's new console via the glorious backward compatibility service. While this is probably the highest profile game of the bunch, this isn't the only title coming today.

Along with the late THQ's dildo bat simulator, we're also getting Super C, Monopoly Deal, Slender: The Arrival and Undertow on the BC service. If you happen to be in Japan (or have a Japanese Live account), you can also get Virtual-On on your Xbox One, which makes me so excited and mad at the ?same time. Why can'?t we have the port of that arcade classic?!

With Virtual-On being a Japanese only release, this makes me wonder how many Japanese gamers actually use the backward compatibility service (or own an Xbox One). Is there a huge list of exclusive games for the Japanese market that we'll never see? Why isn't the US release of Virtual-On being added? So many questions...

Major Nelson [Twitter]

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The latest episode of Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'? premiered at PAX last week before being uploaded to GameTrailers. I hel??d off posting it until now out of anger and resentment from not being able to attend the show. It definitely wasn't because it completely slipped my mind since I am an unprofessional hack who can never meet deadlines in a timely manner.

Speaking of things being done on time, here is a video about Saints Row: The Third. "But did??n't that game come out last year?" That a very good question?? which I will not answer. Anyway, the episode involves dildo bats, tumors, and bearded ladies, so it ought to hit all the right notes for you.

Also, dig out your ears for a cameo by AJ LoCascio, the voice actor for Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Game.

HAWP: Saints Row the Third [GameTrailers]

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Finally catching up with most of the holiday 2011 titles that I cared about, Saints Row: The Third comes into my life to brighten my day.  It isn't as colorful as S??aints Row 2...or as crazy...or as funn??y...or as expansive...or as good.........but trust me, it's a must play!

Also, you're tearing me apart, Lisa!

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Praise be to the Discount Gods! If you've wanted to check out Saints Row: The Third and have been waiting for a price drop, now is your ?chance: it's currently going for $16.99 on Steam. 

The Season Pass is also discounted at $6.79, which comes ?with three DLC packs. If buying Strategy Guides on Steam is your thing, it's discounted heavily as well (wut?). The sale itself ends June 4th at 10AM Pacific.

This is probably a perfect time to get started on the game, as Enter the Dominatrix is set to drop later this year.

Saint's Row: The Third [Steam]

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For some reason, THQ is still pumping out Saints Row: The Third downloadable content. This time, the DLC will add Penthouse Pets Nikki Benz, Justine Joli, Ryan Keely, and Heather Vandeven. The Pets will join your gang and can be summoned to fight a?longside you in battl?es.

So yeah, new DLC. Nevermind the fact that Saints Row: The Third is pointless to play once you've beaten all the story stuff. Or the fact that you can just recreate the Pets through the character creation feature. But hey, if you have $3 to burn on poi?ntless stuff then you can get the new content starting today for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and on PC/Steam.

At this point, though, I think you should just wait for the Game of the Year edition that's bound to happen. Or save your money for Saints Row: The Third - Enter The Dominatrix.

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It turns out THQ really wasn't trying to fool you when it announced Enter The Dominatrix on April 1st, 2012 -- sh*t just got real! Coming this fall, the standalone expansion Saints Row: The Third - Enter the Dominatrix will be hitting the shelves for the PS3, 360, and PC platforms. Just like inFamous: Festival of Blood, the game can be played separately from the original title: you don't need vanilla Saints Row: The Third.

The premise (like most of the original game) is pretty off-the-wall, tasking you with taking down "alien warlord Zinyak and his malevolent race" -- with “freaking super powers.” The expansion will take place directly after the events of The Third, so ?you'll have plenty of time to get around to fini??shing the game if you haven't already.

Sadly, if you're a season pass owner who's expect?ing a free game, you're out of luck: you'll have to buy the disc for $30 like the rest of us. Expect more details to arise this Summer. For now, you can stare at the header, imagine you're flying, and shout "pew pew".

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The next downloadable content pack for Saints Row: The Third may very well be the first one I end up grabbing. "Gangstas in Space" is coming to all platforms this? Tuesday for $6.99 (or free, if you happen to have a Season Pass).

The add-on features new missions that revolve around the Saints' movie and stars a new character, Jenny Jaros as Princess Kwilanna. Volition's blog post isn't particularly forthcoming with details, but if you've played through The Third already, you should have an idea of what ?to expect from this.

The post Saints Row: The Third gets ‘Gangstas in Space’ next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Egoraptor just pooped out a new animation based on Saints Row: The Third. It's a lot shorter than his more recent vids, clocking in at a mere 11 seconds. However, you'll probably agr?ee that he successfully managed to condense the key highlights of the game in such a small span of time.

Saints Row 3 Has A Lot of Outfits [YouTube]

The post This is exactly how you’re supposed to play Saints Row 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

THQ has revealed that it plans to drop out of the licensed kid game market entirely, refocusing its efforts on so-called "core" games such as Saints Row: The Third. This news came at an investor meeting, where it was also announced that Volition's open world game had sold 3.8 million ??copies.

THQ will be a more streamlined organization focused only on our strongest franchises,” said CEO Brian Farrell. "The success of Saints Row: The Third is an example of what our revised strategy and focus can achieve. We have now shipped 3.8 million units globally and are currently expecting to ship between five and si??x million units lifeti??me on this title.

THQ has also said that revenue from SR3 DLC is the highest of any of its other digital offerings. As pa??rt of its new market focus, THQ will be further looking at digital content. 

This is a very interest??ing development, when you consider how everybody was desperately grasping for the "family" market a while ago. One would think the licensed kiddy games would prove THQ's biggest cash cow, but apparently not. Still, I think THQ has amassed some of the best "core" games in the industry, so I like this news quite a bit.

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The first DLC for Saints Row: The Third has been released and this trailer was released with the express purpose of encouraging you to purchase the a??ddition. GenkiBowl VII brings all new missions centered around the mad world of Professor ??Genki and his Genki Girls. You can grab it for $6.99 on Steam and PSN or 560 MS Points over on Xbox Live Marketplace. 

Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax was far and away my favorite activity in Saints Row: The Third and I've gone back to it repeatedly after?? finishing the game just because I had so much fun maximizing my scores. Can't wait to strap it on again!

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I had completely forgotten that Volition planned to mash Team Fortress 2 up with Saints Row: The Third. Even if I had remembered, this still would've been a terrific surprise. Jus??t look at the Heavy's hilariously creepy face! I can't stop laughing over here.

Joining the free CheapyD homie add-on and Genkibowl VII are nine character masks for each of the TF2 classes. All of this content will be pushed out tomorrow, though the latter is naturally restricted to The Third's Steam version.

Volition is quick to suggest streaking while wearing o??ne of these masks. I'm ?not one to disobey orders.

The post The best?: Team Fortress 2 masks in Sai??nts Row: The Third appeared first on Destructoid.

Saints Row: The Third players will be able to have Cheap Ass Gamer's CheapyD fighting alongside you starting on January 17! The CheapyD Pack will be a free download ?and features many lovely phrases from the man himself such as ??"No one fucks with CheapyD!"

Note that you have to download the Genkibowl VII Viewer Pack (which is free too) or purchase the Genkibowl VII DLC pack (560 MSP) to get CheapyD on the Xbox 360 side of things. PS3 and PC owners can simply download the CheapyD update. It sh??ould also be mentioned that you can't get CheapyD until after you've unlocked the "Shaundi's Ex-boyfriend's apartment" mission, which is basically right after the second mission i??n the game.

Big congrats to CheapyD on getting in the game. I'?m so going to force your charact??er to get murdered over and over again!

The post CheapyD is c??oming to S?aints Row: The Third for free appeared first on Destructoid.

Saints Row: The Third is getting some new downloadable content! And it's not just sh*tty exploitative costume and weapon packs for once. The "GenkiBowl VII" pack is the first mission pack for Saints Row? that will introduce four new games: Sexy Kitten Yarngasm, Sad Panda Skyblazing, Apocalypse Genki and Super Ethical PR Opportunity.

Can I just point ou??t that it was someone's job to come up with all those names? Because that's pretty awesome.

The new content will also feature new outfits, vehicles and traps. Plus, announcers Zach and B?obby will be returning to give the play-by-plays once again. All this will available on January 17 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

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The bonus content for the PS3 version of Saint's Row: The Third has been revealed by THQ today. Get the game and redeem your online pass in 90 days and get a digital copy of Saints Row 2 for free! Sometimes "additional content" is crap costume DLC. This time it's ?a ?free game, and a good one at that.

Your free Saints Row 2 will be available early next week. If you've already redeemed your code, keep your eye out for the content. For the rest of you, this offer expires at?? midnight on February 13, 2012, so get on it! 

The post PS3 Saints Row: The Third bonus content: Saint’s Row 2! appeared first on Destructoid.

At E3, THQ promised an exclusive gameplay mode (featuring the dildo bat) in Saints Row: The Third for PS3 users. It seems, however,? that such a promise was not kept, with no extra PS3 features appearing ?whatsoever. 

THQ has refused to comment as reports crop up detailing the complete lack of difference between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. While this might be great news for 360 owners, anybody who bought the PS3 version on the grounds that they'd be getting more gamep??lay can feel quite rightly duped. 

This is the second time a publisher has tried to discreetly renege on a PS3-exclusive promise this year. In October, it was discovered that EA had not bundled Battlefield 1943 in with Battlefield 3, and attempted to make up for it by allowing PS3 users to purchase upcoming DLC a week earlier than on other platforms.&nb??sp;

I am certain the?re are supposed to be laws against?? this kind of false advertising. Surely you can't just promise something to paying customers, then silently refuse to give it to them once the transaction is made, right?

Saints Row: The Third exclusive PlayStation 3 conten??t amounts to ... nothing, actually [Joystiq]

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The Japanese version of Saints Row: The Third is going to be slightly censored after authorities expressed concern over the "Penetrator" melee weapon. For those not up on their innuendo, the penetrator is the giant purple dildo that flops aro??und with its own set of physics. 

In Japan, it won't flop around, nor will it be as veiny as once it was. The gigantic yogurt-slinger will still feature in the game, but its physics have been removed and it'll be a??s smooth as a baby's shaft. Ironically, this will cause the peni??s to be quite erect, something which is usually more subject to censorship.

It's amazing what Japan will allow and what it will censor. Not that we can?? judge -- we too live in a country where brutal murder is considered more wholesome entertainment than images of genitals -- things almost all of us will interact with in real life on a far more regular basis.  

Censorship, you so crazy!

Saints Row Penetrator Altered In Japan [Game Informer]

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Saints Row 2 is one of my favorite games of this generation. Taking the silly violence of "Grand Theft Auto III trilogy" and ramping it up to near-farcical degrees, Volition crea??ted a game that was like nothing else out there, despite resembling every other sandbox game on the surface.

One of its most compelling aspects was the playable role of an irredeemable villain whose sociopathic treatment of others made for a truly vile character. A real scumbag, yet one that we couldn't help rooting for due to the sheer magnificence of his or her bloodthirsty antics. It was a game about being evil, and not in the pussyfooted way that other games present playable villainy. It was pure, ??malevolent, all-encompassing turpitude, and it was spitefully ?good fun. 

Saints Row: The Third aims to top the outrageous behavior of the last game, and it certainly manages that in several ways. In a few others, ??however, it seems to have taken a drast?ic step back.

Saints Row: The Third (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [reviewed], PC)
Developer: Volition, Inc.
Publisher: THQ
Released: November 15, 2011
MSRP: $59.99

Saints Row: The Third is a game about extremes. It starts with a bank robbery gone wrong, its opening mission concluding with a one-man war against an entire SWAT team while swinging from a hijacked bank vault winched several hundred feet in the air. Soon after, players meet the sinister Syndicate crime ring and fight their way through a crashing airplane before blasting away criminals in the free-falling wreckage. All this happens before the player nabs a parachute an??d lands in the new city of Steelport. This slice of glorious stupidity is but an opening gambit to a game with one objective -- to constantly outdo itself.&??nbsp;

From giant dildo baseball bats to choking fart grenades, Volition has dedicated itself to creating a game that shamelessly treads a line between videogame and cartoon. Sometimes bordering on sci-fi as much as it does on gang-culture parody, Saints Row: The Third is a farce that never allows itself to be serious and boasts an attitude that must be applauded. The game can be genuinely hilarious at times, if only due to the increasingly absurd situations that The Saints find themselves in -- situations delivered with such confidence (and amazingly well-placed backing music) that players will find themselves accepting the most ridiculous nonsense as perfectly reasonable.&n??bsp;

Speaking of ridiculous, the character creation has mutated into a thing of pure madness. Players ??can craft all sorts of physical freaks, with oversized body parts, strange colored skin, and a variety of inane hairstyles. As usual, crossdressing and transgenderism is happily allowed, and creations can even be shared online via Saints Row's new online community hub. Uploaded characters can be downloaded? and utilized by any user, adding an intriguing social element to the experience.

Gameplay-wise, very little has changed outside of the variety of new and preposterous weaponry. As always, players embark on a range of missions in an open world, taking out gangsters, stealing things, and orchestrating mighty explosions. The mission structure has been streamlined, however, with stages now activated via a? cellphone rather than manually opened on the map. Furthermore, players no longer need to replay "Activity" side-missions in order to open up the campaign. Story quests will be available as older ones are completed, with Activities now existing solely as a means to earn more cash and respect. 

The "respect" meter that used to act as a barrier to story missions has transformed into a full-fledged experience system. As players rank up their respect, they will gain the opportunity to buy new upgrades for their character, gang, and vehicles. Such upgrade??s include increased health, more NPC allies, and more hourly income earned from purchased properties. It's nice to see the respect system get a more engrossing overhaul, one that no longer annoys players by forcing them to indulge in mini-games. 

However, the streamlining of the gameplay exposes one of The Third's biggest weakness: there's really not a lot there -- far less than the game tries to make one believe. With missions now easily accessible by phone and Activities no longer mandatory, the main campaign can be?? cleared in a matter of hours, and ??there's really not a lot else going on in Steelport to draw attention away from the story. While there are optional missions such as assassinations and vehicle thefts (also activated on the cellphone), they tend to grow rather repetitive and uninteresting. Same goes for the Activities, which are mostly taken from previous games and thus feel a little tame by the standards the game itself attempts to set.

In fairness, there are some delightful new distractions. Tiger escort is an obvious standout, as players need to drive carefully around town while a wild tiger sits in the passenger seat. Driving too recklessly causes the animal to become angry and attack, which is extra challenging thanks to the unwieldy feline's own clawing behavior. A new variant of Trailblazing is also tossed in, in which players ride Tron-inspired motorbikes across a virtual track, avoidin??g firewalls and collecting data dumps. These new Activities are fun, but not quite as inspired as previous ones, and quickly get old along with everything else. 

Furthermore -- and I hate to say this -- Saints Row: The Third really isn't as over-the-top and exciting as the last game was. Not at heart, anyway. While fart jars and fighter jets have forged a game that aesthetically appears crazier, the game's overall attitude, narrative and atmosphere is practically neutered compared to Saints Row's last outing. The Boss of the Saints is no longer a psychotic villain, having been softened up and turned into a lame antihero who fights against characters far more despicable than he is. The rival gangs lack much in the way of defining personality, and once you get over the initial brief shock of seeing a man holding a giant purple penis, one realizes just how shallow and insincere the outrageousness actually is. Without the attitude to back it up, The Third's attempts ?at ludicrousness? come off as cynical and forced, a far cry from the effortless inanity of the previous chapter.

One of the best elements of Saints Row was watching the rival gangs slowly disintegrate thanks to the player's vicious machinations, but that doesn't happen in The Third. In fact, rival gangs barely factor into the game. Characters set up to be major villains are removed from the equation almost as quickly as they arrive, interesting factions such as the cyberpunk Deckers are dealt with in a handful of missions before quietly slinking off, and the urban warfare aspect is soon replaced by a borderline generic plot in which the Saints fight a boring military stereotype known as STAG. While players can perform wrestling moves on NPCs and summon air strikes, the environment in which all this madness takes place is mundane and bereft of the hyperactive atmosphere that The Third frantically attempts to manufacture. 

The fun is damaged further by a range of increasingly irritating new enemies. Oversized Brute opponents constantly harass players with unstoppable charges and frequently intrude into otherwise intense combat situations, as do their flamethrower-wielding counterparts. Then there are the zombies that appear later in the game and constantly cause boring quick-time events to spawn over and over again -- when they're not simply swarming the player and impeding any sort of movement. These new enemies all look impressive, but? they never positively reinforce the gameplay; they serve only to get in the way.

It doesn't help that the game is incredibly disjointed, with a narrative that seems rushed and missions that barely have any rhyme or reason. One particular sequence in which the player is supposedly sold at a sex auction doesn't feature the sex auction at all. The mission starts with a character telling us what is going to happen, then immediately cuts to the player character naked and drowsy on some sort of drug. There's no explanation as to how the situation got this way. Apparently the mere concept was supposed to be entertaining enough. 

So desperate is The Third to get to its explosive setpieces that it forgot to pace itself, and that leads to a game that shoots its load before players are even warmed up. Mission objectives aren't too varied and get infuriating once the STAG stereotypes appear with their irritating laser jets and tanks. Even worse is the fact that the majority of missions require players to keep various NPCs alive while contending with some of the worst AI seen this generation. Having to escort a character that doesn't know how to walk around a fallen bit of debris is an incredibly common scenario, and one that gets no more pleas?urable with repeated occurrences. 

Competitive multiplayer has been axed in favor of focusing p??urely on co-op. Co-op has its own specific content although it's really just more of the same with players able?? to wreak dual havoc in Steelport on a drop-in/drop-out basis. There's also a standalone "Whored Mode" in which up to four players survive against waves of scantily clad women and other enemies. Each round has its own set of rules and restrictions, and while the mode is a decent distraction for a few minutes, it gets very old very quickly. 

Make no mistake: when it wants to be, Saints Row: The Third is incredible. Parachuting into a penthouse party and committing a mass slaughter while Kanye West's "Power" provides the backing track is one of the most empowering experiences I've had in a videogame. An inspiring wrestling boss battle -- complete with ten-count corner punches and affected pain selling -- is priceless. Unlocking new weapons and playing around with them is a great laugh until one gets tired of them. There's a lot of merit to The Third, and its potential to inspire giggles is huge. Still, it strikes me as a game that doesn't quite "get" what made Saints Row 2 so enjoyable, choosing to ramp up the extremity in the wrong areas and thus ignore those e??lements that truly needed attention. 

Even worse, I fear the brevity of the campaign is a direct result of content being withheld so that the publisher can sell it digitally after the fact. THQ has made no secret that a year of DLC is in the works, and with three mission packages already in the works, it's rather galling to think that the base product spits players out so swiftly. It just seems suspicious that?? the game is this depthless when compared to its previous installment, yet so much more DLC is at the ready. 

As a huge fan of the last game, I want to shout this sequel's merits from the rooftops, but while the experience is often amusing and littered with some remarkable moments, I cannot help but feel a little let down by the final product. It's still a good game at its core, but it's not a patch on its predecessor, as it seems to have forgotten about Saints Row 2's achievements in its blinkered pursuit of extremity. It took me over two weeks to beat Saints Row 2, and I still wanted to stay in Stilwater. I concluded Saints Row: The Third in ??less than two days and feel no compulsion to return to Steel?port anytime soon. 

So it is that a game that aimed to be the most outrageous chapter of the series has? ended up, if a??nything, as the least remarkable.

The post Review: Saints Row: The Third appeared first on Destructoid.

With plenty of downloadable content for Saints Row: The Third planned, it seems only natural that THQ and Volition would come out with a season pass. The Saints Row Seaso?n Pass ($19.99) gets you three mission packs an??d the Nyte Blayde pack.

By paying up front, you? save around 15 percent versus the cost of buying the aforementioned add-ons individually. This is not a bad system for those who feel confident the DLC itself will be meaningful. It could, however, get out of hand if companies use it irresponsibly and consumers don't put up much of a fight.

• Genkibowl VII (Scheduled to be available January 2012)
  The Wide World of Genki takes over Steelport for a sporting tradition totally and utterly unlike any other.

• Gangstas in Space (Scheduled to be available Winter 2012)
  The Saints go intergalactic in this science-fiction misadventure.

• The Trouble With Clones (Scheduled to be available Spring 2012)
  Copy-cat killing at its finest.

Nyte Blayde DLC Pack

• The Nyte Blayde Mobile
  Travel Steelport in style with Nyte Blayde’s blood-red, vampire-hunting sports car.

• Altar Boy Outfit
  Innocence may be lost, but at least you still have the outfit.

• Bloody Canoness Outfit
  Join the Order, slay your mortal enemies, show some leg.

• Bloody Canoness Bike
  Vampires can fly, but so will you in this two-wheeled turbo-charged motorcycle of salvation.

The post THQ details the Saints Row Season Pass appeared first on Destructoid.

In news that should surprise very few people, THQ has found a way to make sure that an online pass is required for Saints Row: The Third, even with competitive multiplayer being scrapped. The online c?o-op for both c??ampaign and Whored Mode will be locked behind a virtual gate, with an included pass required for access. 

??People have spoken out recently to confirm that their review copies included the code. As did mine. 

You know the drill by now, and I'm sure many of you are waiting for this to stop being considered a news item. Don't worry, that time is fast appro?aching. I'm just trying to hold out for as long as possible, because once it becomes too normal to ?be considered noteworthy, that's when the publishers have scored a win.

The post Online pass required for Saints Row: The Third appeared first on Destructoid.

This isn't the first we've seen of Tim and Eric's interpretation of Saint Row: The Third''s fictional mascot Professor Genki and his "Japanese" game show. There have been bits and pieces of this thing around for a while, but now, on the eve of the game's release, we have a full +12 minute episode of Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax. 

Like most of Tim and Eric's full length stuff, some aspects of the show appear to be intended as? comedy, some as tragedy, and others are just gross. The show caused me to laugh out loud a few times, but also fell a general sense nausea couples with sadness over the state of today's dishonest advertising techniques, sadistic reality shows, and society's obsession with soulless celebrity icons. 

I hope the actual game comes equipped with the same brand of subversive parody. I guess we'll find out on the 15th???!

Tim and Eric Meets Saints Row the 3rd [IGN]

The post Saints Row: The Third game show goes full length appeared first on Destructoid.

Here's a new trailer for Saints Row: The Third and I think you know what to exp??ect by now. It's yet more utter stupidit?y and baudy nonsense, punctuated by ... wait ... wait is that Burt Reynolds? Yes it is!

Oh for crying out loud, what doesn't this game have?

Oh right ... decorum.

The post Saints Row: The Third brings pimps, gi?mps, Burt Reynolds appeared first on Destructoid.

THQ released a new trailer for Saints Row: The Third&?nbsp;today. I don't know if you could really call this one weird when placed against the other bizarre and wonderful videos produced to market the game. Two dudes, one of whom speaks like a zombie, trick out a subcompact car and then fire blindly out the windows while singing to Sublime on the radio.

You be the judge.

The post Rollin’ with a zombie in latest Saints Row: The Third vid appeared first on Destructoid.

Volition has recognized that the PC version of Saints Row 2 was generally considered outright garbage, and has promised that Saints Row: The Third won't saddle comp?u??ters with a shoddy port job. 

"As many of our PC fans are probably aware, the Saints Row 2 port on PC could've been a lot better," said the studio. "Saints Row: The Third on PC is not a port, and it's our ??goal here at Volition to prove that to our PC fans ... Highlights include AMD Eyefinity support, DX9, DX10, and DX11 support, Crossfire enabled, SLI enabled, advanced depth of field, reflections, and ambien??t occlusion quality, and, of course, God Rays."

T?he game is being developed in-house by Volition rather than handled by an exterior firm.?? Volition says it will "be at the same level of playability as the console versions."

It's sad that something like this has to be noteworthy news. When you spend upwards of ??a fifty bucks on a game, it should work correctly no matter what system it's on. It's definitely awesome that Vol?ition is putting in serious effort with the PC version, but it's crazy that we live in a world where such a thing is commendable.

Saints Row: The Third PC version 'not a port' [Shacknews]

The post Saints Row: The Third PC is ‘not a port’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Tim and Eric, the guys behind the aptly named Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, have teamed with THQ to make an episode of Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax from Saints Row: The Third a reality. The video above is a?? teaser of the full length episode that's set to hit November 4th.

What I got out of Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax was Professor Genki puts on insane games to the death against people in costumes and everyone tries to eat themselves. If they fail, the giant pink cat with over-sized green goggles shoots them into a bloody pulp. Did I miss anything? If not, this is all relevant to my interests.

The post Tim an??d Eric provide a trailer for Saints Row: The Third appeared first on Destructoid.