New Saints Row 2 Trailer Asks, "Would You Rather..."

[WaltJay]

Eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net/tv_video.php?playlist_id=11004) has the latest Saints Row 2 trailer that takes a shot at the sandbox Goliath GTA IV.

Link to the trailer (http://www.eurogamer.net/tv_video.php?playlist_id=11004)

Even as a GTA IV fan, I must admit the trailer is pretty clever. Can Saints Row 2 succeed by being as unrealistic as GTA is realistic?

[Grifter]

I'm sorry but the last thing I would call GTA is "realistic".

[atariv8]

I think that's the best videogame ad I've seen in awhile. Totally hits the marketing nail right on the head.

[bKangy]

Eh, seems like they're just trying to be even more crude and juvenile than GTA. And GTA is pushing how much I enjoy it, so...

[Mr.Green]

I think that's the best videogame ad I've seen in awhile. Totally hits the marketing nail right on the head.

Doesn't work for me. They did what most politicians so: try to discredit their competition to sell their shit.

[ElfShotTheFood]

"Would you rather watch TV within the videogame you're playing...on your TV?"

Got a chuckle out of that.

[Digital Outlaw]

Best ad eva....

[Ten19]

I'll certainly be giving SR2 a spin, but I dunno... from the trailer, the graphics seem a bit rough and low-fi. Maybe because I'm used to the style of GTA IV?

[drowsy]

How well did the first Saints Row sell? I know I loved it, but I wonder if it got any sort of an audience.

[menage]

Meh, one of these a year is enough. And it does look like a BMX XXX style juvenile style game. I'll pass. GTAIV actually was more mature for a reason.

[Lorekeep]

Saint's Row was the first GTA style game on the 360, and it was one of the first titles I played. It was awesome, certainly did a lot better things, like avatar customization, than GTA did. It also had a good story that ended on a huge cliffhanger. Now GTA4's story probably pulled off a little better, not sure. But they did hit it on the head that the Social Networking stuff in GTA4 was *BAD.* It was quaint to watch TV and do some of the other activities, but they do have the right idea about creating more fun activities for players to do in the game world.

Saint's Row was more gangster style anyway. I hope I can import my guy from Saint's Row #1. Multiplayer was pretty good too though I imagine they are going to make some fucking ridiculous achievements for Multiplayer again.

[bapenguin]

Holy crap that looks great.

[fitbabits]

Pretty clever stuff. I miss good marketing in gaming. It's all serious shit these days - inject some humor and/or hubris.

[violentp]

I'll tell ya, I've played every GTA and I've loved them all but inside, I'm all Row.

[gzsfrk]

And it does look like a BMX XXX style juvenile style game.

That was exactly what I came here to post after watching the video. It reminded me very much of the BMX XXX trailer that came out prior to the game's release and actually made that title look as though it might be palatable. Of course, the first Saint's Row was supposedly a pretty good game (never played it myself), so maybe they'll keep some good gameplay to go with the over the top crudity.

But I have to say--that underground fighting league gameplay did look pretty cool. Looked like a demolition derby, sans cars. :)

[atariv8]

It's a sandbox game and what do most people like to do in sandbox games...screw around. I won't be running for the sewage truck anytime soon but some of the other activities look pretty fun. There's only so many times you can run pedestrians over in GTA IV before it stops being funny. Well, no, I take that back. I don't see it as GTA competition, I see it as an alternative or companion piece. It's OK to like both, GTA won't mind.

[Crono]

Looks fun, but its ideas and (possibly) narrative might suffer from an overly obvious "trying too hard to be cool" factor. Personally, I thought the story in the original tried way too hard to be hardcore, it came off as extremely cliché. Also the graphics had a lot of stuttering.

Hopefully these 2 things will be fixed in this iteration.

Also, they were wise to release their game AFTER GTAIV. Are they really "challenging" GTAIV? Nope. Just look at the tactics in this ad; look at their release time. They know they are still behind GTAIV in terms of fan base, and with the way GTAIV, it would take a word-of-mouth miracle for Saints Row 2 to look as anything more than a clone to most people.

[Noiz]

I'm still playing through GTA, just taking my time over it rather than rushing to the ending and I'm enjoying it, but those friends are really pissing me off now. Every time I load it up thinking "I'll just get a mission or two done", some fucker calls me up and wants to go "bowlinck" or some shit, and if I turn them down it's apparently bad.

Now I've actually got all the perks and that "friends like you 90%" achievement I've started accepting and then calling back and cancelling, but still, the bombardment of calls is very irritating. And I still have to take Kiki out a lot if I want to keep that clear wanted level perk. :(

Still, good game, just wish they'd have laid off the socializing a little bit.

I don't see it as GTA competition, I see it as an alternative or companion piece. It's OK to like both, GTA won't mind.

Quoted for truth. I never played the first Saints Row but I heard good things about it. I'll probably pick this one up for more sandbox fun and not feel like I need to take sides one way or the other.

[mod_boy]

I loved Saint's Row. I thought they did a great job of addressing GTA 3's control problems as well as adding a lot of customization to the mix. The car mod and garage system was fantastic. It actually made it fun to collect and mod cars. And the garage system allowed you to have any of your modded cars at your beck and call.

I'm loving GTA4 but I'm looking forward to Saint's Row 2 regardless.

[Wolvie]

I'm still playing through GTA, just taking my time over it rather than rushing to the ending and I'm enjoying it, but those friends are really pissing me off now. Every time I load it up thinking "I'll just get a mission or two done", some fucker calls me up and wants to go "bowlinck" or some shit, and if I turn them down it's apparently bad.

Now I've actually got all the perks and that "friends like you 90%" achievement I've started accepting and then calling back and cancelling, but still, the bombardment of calls is very irritating. And I still have to take Kiki out a lot if I want to keep that clear wanted level perk. :(

Still, good game, just wish they'd have laid off the socializing a little bit.


Solution to your problem:

1. Answer call.

2. Say "yes" to whatever activity they want to do.

3. Call them back and select "cancel plans"

4. No loss of respect/like will occur.

5. Continue causing chaos.

Doesn't work for me. They did what most politicians so: try to discredit their competition to sell their shit.

Yeah, it's kinda weak that THQ is slinging mud like that. I'd rather have them just show me the new activities instead of talk shit like a punk ass teenager. I'll still check SR2 out, but I actually lost a lil interest in the game because of all the smack talk in the ad.

[dirtbag]

I like that they point out some of the cool and ridiculous things that have been removed for GTA IV. I miss BASE jumping and even the poorly-done flying from San Andreas, so it looks like SR2 will hit a sweet spot for me. The car surfing looks like a ton of fun, since I've tried to do that since GTA III, but the engine just doesn't work for it.

I agree that it's not so much competition as a companion. It looks like I'm going to have both on my shelf, so everybody wins.

I think it's funny that our forum is having a civilized discussion about these games, while the Eurogamer comments have devolved into sniping and the bashing of American humour.

[Flatpicker]

It's a clever ad.
Reminds me of the Genesis does what Nintendont ads.

[Wolvie]

Yeah, SR2 will be a nice complement to GTA IV. It's also good that the game will be out in the fall, by then I'll be ready for it.

It's a clever ad.
Reminds me of the Genesis does what Nintendont ads.

And thats exactly why the ad sucks IMO. Because those Genesis ads were lame as well.

I guess thats what happens when you own a NES and a Genesis.

[Mdot23]

I like how the first Saints Row was an admitted rip-off of GTA, yet this one is completely dissing the best game in the series they started out to imitate.

And no, I don't want so spray shit on people. Sorry.

[icronic]

Solution to your problem:

He said he was already doing that, it's just annoying to have to go through that bloody process so often. Not to mention they always manage to call when I'm getting shot at, which generally results in my death because I can't run while on the phone, and I can't hang up quick enough to get away before losing half my health.

All I can say is that that entire aspect of the game was disappointing.


[/QUOTE]Yeah, it's kinda weak that THQ is slinging mud like that. I'd rather have them just show me the new activities instead of talk shit like a punk ass teenager. I'll still check SR2 out, but I actually lost a lil interest in the game because of all the smack talk in the ad.[/QUOTE]

It's pretty indirect mudslinging if you ask me. It seems pretty satirical, and it's not really saying anything negative about GTA.

Anyway, I don't disagree with them, they practically took the thoughts out of my head, before GTA came out, I was hoping that they would put in some real effort to put SR down by bringing the level of the mini games to a whole new level. But they did the exact opposite and it was a huge letdown.

The mini-games were the best part of SR, just plain stupid fun. This trailer makes SR2 look that much better for me, despite the fact the graphics look like ass.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

I like how the first Saints Row was an admitted rip-off of GTA, yet this one is completely dissing the best game in the series they started out to imitate.

And no, I don't want so spray shit on people. Sorry.

QFT. Sorry, to me that's stating, "Wow, we can't compete in one direction, so we'll go the complete opposite, say it was intentional from the start, and then dis the game we tried so hard to copy."

The visuals look awful to me.

[Generation ABXY]

Yeah, trailer kind of turned me off. But, that low-brow humor rather turned me off of the first Saints Row.

That's not to say I won't play it, though - if THQ sends it again, I won't turn it down. :p

[Morpheus]

I agree with most of you. Didn't like the trailer. Seems they have to pick on GTA just to sell their own game. I thought the graphics were bad and the gamepley looked like Total Overdose which I thought was OK, but not more than that.

[CES]

I absolutely love how people are making SR2/GTAIV to be a "one or the other" situation. GTAIV is where you go for "serious" sandbox gaming, SR2 is where you go to throw yourself in front of a car to get insurance money. Both fun, both should be day 1 purchases for anyone who likes sandbox games.

2008: Year of the sandbox.

[Sandman]

I love all the GTA games but I'm in the Row 4 life.

[snubber]

Solution to your problem:
1. Answer call.
2. Say "yes" to whatever activity they want to do.
3. Call them back and select "cancel plans"
4. No loss of respect/like will occur.
5. Continue causing chaos.


You mean like he says he does in the very same post?


...I've started accepting and then calling back and cancelling, but still, the bombardment of calls is very irritating.

[atariv8]

I see the trailer and think THQ had it's tongue firmly in cheek. It's the small guy poking fun at the big guy. It seems that they're saying don't take yourself too seriously, it's a videogame, have fun.

[WaltJay]

I'm sorry but the last thing I would call GTA is "realistic".

Well, realistic as compared to its peers, even though in the big scheme of things, neither GTA IV or Saints Row are truly life simulators. ;)

I think SR needs to distinguish itself from GTA IV, because there is no way they can replicate it. They can copy the game mechanics, but they won't be able to put together a story as compelling as GTA IV, or make a game that looks as nice. I think they are better off doing their own thing , which is actually like GTA's old thing with extra options on top (like customization).

And I'm ok with that approach. I played SR1 a lot, and I look forward to the sequel. I think it is different enough (especially now) from GTA that the two can co-exist and be successful. Granted, SR1 "only" sold 1 million, and GTA IV will probably end up 10x that amount, but I don't think THQ would cry over a million copy selling game. :D

[LongStepMantis]

I see the trailer and think THQ had it's tongue firmly in cheek. It's the small guy poking fun at the big guy. It seems that they're saying don't take yourself too seriously, it's a videogame, have fun.

There's no room for that kind of level-headed talk when it comes to videogames.

It's virtually kill or be virtually killed. ;)

[sprankton]

So is the game going to turn into mini games only? I am glad they are moving away from GTA and not trying to be exactly like it, but don't do stuff because you can make a stink...

[oldjadedgamer]

I'm going for my 100% in GTA4 and currently around 91% so far and I'll be getting Saints Row 2 on day one. They are just different games. GTA4 is like NBA2K and Saints Row is like NBA Jam.

[menage]

Solution to your problem:

1. Answer call.

2. Say "yes" to whatever activity they want to do.

3. Call them back and select "cancel plans"

4. No loss of respect/like will occur.

5. Continue causing chaos.
.

Can't you just switch off the phone and be done with it? Or doesn't it work like that?

[Mr.Green]

I'm going for my 100% in GTA4 and currently around 91% so far and I'll be getting Saints Row 2 on day one. They are just different games. GTA4 is like NBA2K and Saints Row is like NBA Jam.

I despise analogies, but this one kinda works.

[dirtbag]

I like how the first Saints Row was an admitted rip-off of GTA, yet this one is completely dissing the best game in the series they started out to imitate.

The dissing seems to be done mostly in fun, and the narrator basically acknowledges that we're playing GTA now, but remember SR2 when you're done. If they want to give us a chance to do some more wacky shit in a sandbox game, I'll give them a shot.

And no, I don't want so spray shit on people. Sorry.

You say that now, but when you're behind the wheel of a truck full of feces, and some idiot gets in your way, you know you're gonna feel the itch. ;)

[asimonk]

You say that now, but when you're behind the wheel of a truck full of feces, and some idiot gets in your way, you know you're gonna feel the itch. ;)

He's going to take the high road when he plays his criminal sandbox games.

[Silversmith]

As good as GTA IV is, they really made feel like shit for playing it. lol, I think that is really smart advertising, made me want to play it even more. I had totally written off the game until now. I think oldjadedgamer nailed the impression. SR2 is nothing but fart jokes to make us laugh.

[Fonz]

Pretty clever stuff. I miss good marketing in gaming. It's all serious shit these days - inject some humor and/or hubris.

Pretty sure its advertising and not marketing. Sure does bug me when people Mix Marketing/Advertising/PR as just "marketing".

[sleepbox]

Cannot wait for SR2.

[Mdot23]

You say that now, but when you're behind the wheel of a truck full of feces, and some idiot gets in your way, you know you're gonna feel the itch. ;)

Hahaha, only if there's co-op and you're driving!

[Greeble]

The graphics look like crap, but they do seem to have some fun ideas in there. (others seem stupid). Although the whole, its like GTA but "MOAR XXXTREME" vibe is a pretty big turn off.

[Ravenlock]

Spray sewage on people? Really? We're recycling Postal jokes now?

"Saints Row 2: Lowering the Bar!"

I am in no way in favor of censoring games, and people should be allowed to make what they want, assuming it's rated appropriately (Running With Scissors included, as much as I dislike their games). But when you can make any game you want, and you choose to appeal to the "throwing poop is hilarious!" demographic, it's becomes harder and harder to argue with the image of the juvenile gamer the industry is saddled with.

[CES]

Spray sewage on people? Really? We're recycling Postal jokes now?

"Saints Row 2: Lowering the Bar!"

I am in no way in favor of censoring games, and people should be allowed to make what they want, assuming it's rated appropriately (Running With Scissors included, as much as I dislike their games). But when you can make any game you want, and you choose to appeal to the "throwing poop is hilarious!" demographic, it's becomes harder and harder to argue with the image of the juvenile gamer the industry is saddled with.

That'd work if the majority of the industry was aimed at that demographic and it hasnt been aimed at them since the PS1/N64 days.

Nothing wrong with "juvenile" games from time to time, it's nice to see something that was built to provide fun being light hearted. Regardless of good taste, Postal 2 was damn fun.

[Ravenlock]

I agree that most of the industry no longer targets that demo (and I'm glad for it), but a game like Saints Row 2 is hardly low profile, you know? I just don't like seeing the anti-game crowd get easy fodder.

And I think we have definitions of "light hearted". That's cool - I have no problem with difference of opinion - but I didn't find Postal 2 fun in any way at all, and my definition of "light hearted" is more along the lines of Mario Galaxy.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with mature, dark content or violence when it's behind a good game. Games like Mafia, the Thief series, Max Payne, Planescape Torment - those are in my favorites list. But peeing on people and knocking their decapitated heads around with a shovel? No thanks.

[Ravenlock]

Different definitions of "light hearted", I obviously meant to say. I miss the edit button.

[atariv8]

Thank God GTA IV is there for nice civilized debauchery. When the hookers scream "Grab my titties" I can almost hear the iambic pentameter which is followed by the crescendo of a shotgun blast to her back when I want my money back plus interest. If only the Postal games didn't bring our pastime into the gutter. :rolleyes:

EDIT: I guess my bigger point is that Postal, GTA, Saints Row, etc are just extensions of our army man or matchbox car collection when we were kids. How many Star Wars figures or GI Joes got run over, smashed, burnt or whatever. GTA and Saint's Row are the biggest collection of Matchbox cars or Hot Wheels ever, except instead of egg cartons, Pringle cans and chalk, you're driving through a believable virtual city. Killing my action figures as a kid didn't make me a psycho serial killer, or even curb a sick appetite, it was a way to act on my imagination. And let's be real, who here in this forum really ever grew up. Of course with kids I get to play with the real deal so I still don't through any egg cartons or pringle cans away.

[Ravenlock]

Thank God GTA IV is there for nice civilized debauchery. When the hookers scream "Grab my titties" I can almost hear the iambic pentameter which is followed by the crescendo of a shotgun blast to her back when I want my money back plus interest. If only the Postal games didn't bring our pastime into the gutter. :rolleyes:

Where did I praise GTA? While those games I at least find sometimes entertaining for the great acting in them (James Woods in San Andreas was awesome), I wasn't holding them up as some pinnacle of culture. Hell, my whole point was how ironic I found it that Saints Row 2's entire advertising scheme appears to be based around setting the bar lower than GTA and being proud of it.

I don't really think that's an appropriate thing to be proud of. ;)

[Uniqueusername]

Looks graphically sub-par, but fun.

If the view range/pop in is better than GTA, I'll forgive the graphics. ;)

[Flatpicker]

I guess thats what happens when you own a NES and a Genesis.


I owned both and still thought they were clever ads.

[atariv8]

Where did I praise GTA?

My comment wasn't directed at you specifically but it just seems some people are holding GTA like it's high brow entertainment and Saint's Row is low culture. Both are pulp fiction. Saint's Row is just producing more pulp.

[Ravenlock]

Fair enough. Your comment about army men and matchbox car collections is a good one, btw - though again, I don't remember peeing on my army men and playing with their decapitated heads - but some kids acted out more than I did, I guess. ;-) Regardless, I get the sandbox "do what I want and see what happens" appeal.

The real reason I put Postal at the bottom of the heap, I think, is that it brought nothing else to the table. It was ONLY about shocking people and grossing them out with obscene violence. That's just an "art form" I don't really find any merit in, no matter what the medium (I'd probably put, say, Hostel 2 and Saw 17 in the same category). But that's a separate discussion, I guess.

[atariv8]

But that's a separate discussion, I guess.

We could probably check back on the Manhunt 2 threads for that one. :D

[hotdrop]

Despite everyones praises for GTA4 i actually thought it was a step back. I like all the ridiculous people in GTA SA and all the random crazy stunts you could pull - parachute was the most awesome feature for sure. I sort of felt that GTA 4 sort of lacked that crazy sandbox shit that the originals had and there really wasn't much to do after you beat the story.

[Sl1pstream]

It was awesome, certainly did a lot better things, like avatar customization, than GTA did.

Which is why GTA has the better story. The more you let a player customize his character in a story-based game, the less personal the story can get.

While the activities look like fun, I don't like their attempt at humor and the graphics don't really look that great compared to GTA. As the game started out as GTA clone, I think it's fair to compare the graphics. It's not as if the main gameplay will be that different.

[Ravenlock]

We could probably check back on the Manhunt 2 threads for that one. :D

Yup, I imagine we could. ;)

[vivafletcher]

Love the ad idea, but the graphics look pretty weak. Is SR2 a PS2 game?

That being said, the cagefighting looks fun. I can see myself picking it up if it ends up looking better than the trailer.

[01010]

Fair enough. Your comment about army men and matchbox car collections is a good one, btw - though again, I don't remember peeing on my army men and playing with their decapitated heads - but some kids acted out more than I did, I guess. ;-)

But the thing is with a lot of these sandbox games is that you don't have to do these things. Taking Postal as an example, at no point in that game do you HAVE to kill civilians as part of the game. They are simply about, if you choose to decapitate and pee that is purely your choice.

Personally I used to enjoy taking the catnip, knocking a head off with a shovel and playing tennis with myself over a fence with the severed head. I think it's important to realise in all this that with the sandbox type of game, whilst you have the option to be violent and nasty, it's very rarely enforced through the actual game structure which I think is important.

Also, I think if Saints Row stopped trying so hard to appeal to the 15 year old thugged out white boy gangster type of person I'd probably have a lot more time for it. Say what you like about GTA but it's certainly more mature in both it's actual story content and satire.

[LilAbner]

Clever.

The game won't sell 1/4 the amount of GTA IV.

[violentp]

Clever.

The game won't sell 1/4 the amount of GTA IV.

Don't be too surprised if it does.

[Disgustipated]

Looks great. It's like they took everything that GTA could/should have done and made it happen. Instead of going for the more serious style, they took the extreme stuff from the previous GTA's (jetpack, anyone?) and added in natural evolutions.

Robbing a liquor store as a cop just sounds fun. Why can't GTA have more stuff like that, other than in one-time missions?

[dirtbag]

Clever.

The game won't sell 1/4 the amount of GTA IV.

I'll bet the budget isn't 1/4 of GTA's, so they'd probably be thrilled with that. They know they can't 'out-GTA' Rockstar, so they're putting out a similar game with some other high-brow activities to indulge in.

[CptTripps]

Looks good to me, I enjoyed the first one. Won't stop me from enjoying GTA though.