Saints Row 2 - Multiplayer Preview

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So far, so obvious - and we suspect that there are other fairly traditional multiplayer modes in there too, although these aren't detailed for us. The "real gem", as one of the Volition team terms it, lies in Saints Row 2's other major multiplayer mode.

Called Strongarm, this is a team-based mode where you, as a member of the four-man Blue gangster team, are pitched against the forces of the nefarious Red gangster team. The objective is to win control of the city from your rivals, and the game takes place over one of a number of custom-designed maps which are loosely inspired by the city from the single-player game.

Each map is divided up into districts, and each district can be acquired by generating enough cash to take it over. In part, this is done through straightforward combat - but the best way to turn over lots of cash is by taking part in activities, which pop up randomly on the map as the match progresses.

These activities are either the same as, or variants on, the activities which proliferate in the single-player game. As each activity appears on the map, the eight players rush to the activity zone to take part - and could find themselves doing anything from a variety of racing, stunt-performing or combat tasks through to more ridiculous events like Insurance Fraud, where you attempt to pratfall as dramatically as possible in the target area in order to rack up cash.

They won't have tattoos like this, either. Look, we're grasping here - we haven't got any multiplayer shots yet. Sorry.

Of course, since everyone is taking part in activities at the same time, the temptation to try to interfere with your enemies is high - and that's where the game gets incredibly frantic at times, as you can imagine. For some players, this is going to be enormously good fun, although we can see those who prefer their combat a little more controlled being left somewhat cold by Strongarm's madcap antics.

Strongarm's other major feature is tagging - another feature lifted from the single-player game, where painting tags increases your gang's respect level, but imbued with a rather different significance in multiplayer. Here, claiming a tag spot affords your team with a buff effect, which turns the best tag spots into major objectives in themselves. Some buffs will have simple effects, like giving all your teammates Unlimited Sprint. Others are more complex, like Police Response, which turns the city's cops on your rivals.

You can activate team-wide buffs by painting your tags at pre-determined spots, which turns these graffiti-friendly walls into warzones.

According to Volition, there are so many different buffs in the game that no map will contain them all, and they rotate randomly around the various tag spots each time a game is started. That promises plenty of variety, at least - teams won't know which tag spots are really worthwhile until such time as they've actually captured them. For those sick of playing in online games where everyone knows the map so well that the game runs like clockwork, that element of chance could be a nice way to mix things up a little.

We remain convinced that co-op (and single-player, of course) is Saints Row 2's strongest suit - but from what we've seen of the multiplayer so far, it's a pretty solid effort and a good addition to the game. The open nature of the game probably won't work well in entirely public matches, but for those with a decent Xbox Live friend list, it'll certainly provide a few nights of frenetic entertainment. But for everyone's sake, let's not pretend we're from Compton.