Maybe you've seen this and maybe you haven't. In either case this is different because it has my opinion attatched....Check the vid out and read on...



So Volition and THQ decided that they would continue with the playfullness of inter-game trash talking with the newest trailer for the upcoming "Saints Row 2". Both Rockstar and Volition have prodded and poked fun at one another, and I have to say, I fucking love it! Nowadays it is rare to see one developer really take the piss out of another when they are both going for the same gamers money, and have similar genre games.

Now, I know, Saints Row is the new kid on the block, and maybe they are going a bit too far with some stuff...I mean, I love the bowling (I have more than 5 or 6 hours of it logged in so far), and while I find the Cabaret club amusing, the comedy club "Split Sides" is one of my favorite things in the game, and I haven't seen Gervais or Katt repeat their acts thus far. I also really have enjoyed "The Mens Room", "Republican Space Rangers" and a few other shows that are on the airwaves being televised in Liberty City.

But I would have enjoyed more 'active participation' side missions too. When I was able to steal cars for cash and deliver them to Stevie, I was hot on that...Steal Exotics for Brucie? Done it. Jacob wants a drop off? Consider them dropped. Most Wanted lists? Vigilantes? (I'm actually still finishing those off....)

It seems like the guys at Volition are really taking off from where they landed with the first installment of SR. While I think the story in the original SR was more akin to the GTA 3 tale, the side missions were very solid. Who honestly didn't love the insurance fraud missions? Anyone? Anyone? Demolition Derby? Again, anyone? The game, for it being knocked as a GTA -Clone (what sandbox game isn't though?) it was definitely more its own game, that happened to be an open world like GTA titles as opposed to being a clone of GTA.

As much as I am loving GTA 4, and have poured tons of time into (66 1/2 hours, 55.56% complete) it, I'm really looking forward to Saints Row 2. Aside from the genius marketing thus far (Uncle Gary, I love you!) and the base it is building off of it has the bark of an AAA-grade title...Can it live up to that? Will it have AAA bite? I guess we will see in October...As long as Volition doesn't have to push its release date back by 6 months....

Just a thought though...Does it bother anyone that the city you're in is the same Stillwater that we knew and took over in the first Saints Row? I would figure they would make it bigger, better, more beautiful, with more locations of interest...As well as old favorites...But could that be a fatal mistake? I hope not. SR2 is supposed to take place after the original games timeline...Though no timeframe has been mentioned yet....I hope we see some vastly improved, same but different Stillwater.

In any case, I love the ribbing, and hope to find something insane in Liberty City when the DLC comes to a 360 near you in August!