The Saints Row reboot has seen one of the most tumultuous game releases over the past year, and it doesn't deserve all the hate that it's received. While the game's state upon release wasn't perfect, the backlash to the game feels out of proportion. As a result, Saints Row has gained a very negative reputation despite the game itself not being that bad.
The Saints Row reboot came after the main series had been dormant since the somewhat divisive Saints Row 4. After initial enthusiasm from fans who had been waiting for the series to return, early reviews reported a large amount of bugs and glitches in the game. That was seemingly the turning point that led to the game's reputation dropping like a stone. Even after a patch came out to solve many of the game's problematic glitches, it has yet to recover in the eyes of many, and Saints Row's middling reviews have largely halted the game's momentum.
Saints Row's original release being delayed turned out to only be the start of its problems.
Saints Row Deserves To Be Given A Chance
The game's story and characters have also been assailed by critics. ittedly, the story isn't the game's strong point, and of the reboot's cast, only the Boss, Neenah, and the Nahualli have fully realized arcs. However, the story and tone aren't as bad as some say it is. The reboot has lightened up significantly on the past games' vulgarity, and swapped out the old cast for a more laid-back group of Saints. While the new cast received criticism for not being as hardcore as the old Saints, they still have their charm. Eli and Kevin may not get a lot of development, but they're enjoyable characters to have around. Even though Saints Row's story has a weak start, it's worth going through to get to the real meat of the game.
Amidst all the drama, the most important aspect, the gameplay, seems to be overlooked. This is a shame, because the gameplay is by far the best part of the Saints Row reboot. It recaptures the madcap energy of the past games in the series, and Santo Ileso is a major step up from Steelport, arguably being on Stilwater's level as a sandbox. New activities like Pony Express and Riding Shotgun show off exactly what makes the game work, and it lives up to the rest of the series in that regard. Aside from a few remaining glitches, when it comes down to gameplay, the reboot really is the fun sandbox experience that fans of Saints Row's signature chaotic style would hope for.
Hopefully the Saints Row reboot will eventually get the credit it deserves, because it is currently one of the most over-hated games in recent memory. Its initial rocky reception has stuck to it, and as a result, it has struggled to gain momentum with fans. Despite its flaws, Saints Row is still worth playing, and hopefully fans will give it a chance.
Source: Kotaku
