This city is a desert metropolitan area, much like Reno, Nevada with chunks of inspiration from other Western cities. The overarching goal of Saints Row is to expand the Saints into every corner of the fictional city of Santo Ileso. Having four different wanted levels against you reminds me of the original, 2D Grand Theft Auto games where there were essentially four different threats in each of the game’s districts, though in Saints Row once you’re clear of enemies for a long enough time, your notoriety is wiped. Then there is also the local police force to contend with, who often fight your rivals but will just as quickly shoot you. While they generally leave you alone when you’re out and about roaming the city, if you crash into their vehicles or otherwise cause harm to one of their members, you’ll immediately be tagged with a Notoriety level, which ramps up to three levels of intensity and a corresponding response from the offended gang. There are three main rival gangs to worry about in Saints Row. Things don’t often get too real, because after all, we’re here to make a statement, not consider the philosophical implications of a private military company owning whole chunks of a town. There are a few touching moments between the player and this gang of dysfunctional members of society, inevitably followed up by shooting someone in the groin.

Each of them has their own motivations for why they do what they do, and as their best friend, you are obliged to help out. The gang’s founders have among them an orphan, a LARPer, a family-focused immigrant, and whatever history the player character has. There is some decent character development that takes place in Saints Row at least about as much as can be expected when dealing with a group of degenerate murderers.

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