Saints Row 2 "very differentiated"

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 June, 2008

On a different path to GTA, says THQ.

Saints Row 2 will be very distinct from Grand Theft Auto IV when it launches in October on PC, PS3 and 360, says THQ chief executive Brian Farrell.

"We have a very differentiated product in this open-world genre," Farrell said at an investor meeting in Chicago yesterday, in comments recorded by Next-gen.biz.

Farrell said the game would be more "tongue-in-cheek" with "silly, over-the-top gameplay" compared to its big rival, GTA IV. Developer Volition has previously spoken about the game's tremendous levels of customisation, which will feed into how much respect you accrue from your colleagues and rivals in Stillwater's battle for the streets.

When we first looked at it in March, producer Greg Donovan prefigured Farrell's comments: "I think for us it's almost about a hyper-realistic quality, over-the-top, all about memorable moments, very compelling gameplay, and frankly we wouldn't be releasing this year if we didn't think we could be competitive," he said.

"I think co-op is a huge distinguishing factor," he added. GTA IV did ultimately include some co-op elements in online multiplayer, but Saints Row 2 aims to have drop-in/drop-out functionality.

"We're always concerned about GTA as a competitor," Farrell said yesterday. "It's a great product, the leader in the genre. But we were actually very pleased when we saw GTA IV. It's a great game, but they went in this great creative direction - more character- and story-driven."

It's not hard to believe that THQ thinks about GTA a lot, mind you, given that it never seems to stop talking about it. We even had a trailer recently parodying Rockstar's game. As long as people are talking about the two products in the same breath, presumably that's job done - despite an aggressive backlash against the trailer in certain quarters.

We'll be able to see for ourselves how distinct Saints Row 2 is on 17th October in Europe, and one way that it will definitely be distinct from GTA IV is by coming out on PC at the same time as the PS3 and 360 releases.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • the_dudefather #1 4 years ago

    it will be amusing if SR2 gets a PC release before GTA4 (assuming it is coming for PC eventually)

  • bonker #2 4 years ago

    Finally, someone takes co-op seriously ...

  • Vice.Destroyer #3 4 years ago

    Sold.

  • DB2k #4 4 years ago

    sounds like they want to make crackdown

  • dk_rare #5 4 years ago

    I think that they want to make SR2 more like San Andreas, rather than the GTA IV. Which is good, I wasn't a fan of GTA IV. I enjoyed flying the planes, finding out that I could ride quad bikes, all that shit. GTA IV robbed me of what I liked best about the progressing GTA series.

  • muscleblade #6 4 years ago

    "sounds like they want to make crackdown "

    I hope its more like Crackdown than GTAIV to be honest.

    Coop is great. Even mediocre games like AoT gets very entertaining in coop.

  • mazzl #7 4 years ago

    crackdown and over the top all the way :) !!!

  • the_dudefather #8 4 years ago

    @kelly's_h
    so Saints row is TOTALLY AWESOME AND ALPHA BRO

    also on co-op, any game is fun with co-op, even perfect dark zero is quite good with 2 people

  • Benno #9 4 years ago

    This game is different from GTA IV because it will be FUN.

  • paulf #10 4 years ago

    good luck to them - only way they could go really, i can't believe I'm saying this but I'm actually looking forward to it

  • skillian #11 4 years ago

    Very pleased about this coming to PC, as I've haven't played a sandbox game for ages.

    I was initially very sad about GTA IV's delay, but after all the hype had died down I get the impression it's not really the unmissable game it was initially made out to be. I haven't played it though, so please don't hurt me for saying that.

  • darc #12 4 years ago

    Most ambiguous use of the word "hyper-realistic" ever. Not that there's a lot of competition.

  • RobertFoster #13 4 years ago

    Crackdown type co-op in a more story focused game would be cool. Two sided assaults on more structured missions would be better than the (still fun & great) Crackdown-esque "Let's go beat the shit out of this boss together!"

  • wobbly_Bob #14 4 years ago

    ""tongue-in-cheek" with "silly, over-the-top gameplay" compared to its big rival, GTA IV"

    This is what I want! GTA4 was very disappointing for me. Rock Star seems to have forgotten what made GTA fun in the first place. I have to say I liked Saints Row 1 far and away better than GTA4 in terms of game play fun, which is where it matters. I also loved the customization aspect of SR and will really be looking forward to an expanded system in the second game. Maybe for Saints Row 3 they can move away from the whole gang bangers stuff, but for now I'm a happy gun totin' bunny!

  • tinners #15 4 years ago

    *FUN* been there done that in all the GTA's since GTA 3, well from the very first one i spose. GTA 4 took a more realistic approach, there is still fun to be had but realism is never a bad thing unless your the kid that never grows up. Maybe im just getting old :/

    Cant help but feel there trying to make out this is more fun than crackdown and the new mercenaries game etc when its just going to be as generic as anything else involving gangs of thugs. Personally im bored of capping so many homeboys and Nico is one of the best characters ever created, (or at least as modern vid game characters go) GTA is atmospheric and has a soul.

    Saints Row will be fun for a certain amount of time before it shows itself up for being extremely shallow. i hope im proven wrong but lets be honest the first saints row didnt blow me away... GTA did!
    Edited by 1 at 19/06/08 @ 17:50

  • Kujata #16 4 years ago

    I'm not sure i understand what is going on in this thread... everyone appears to be being positive about Saints Row 2. Where is all the unnecessary bile and hate people?

    I am really looking forward to this. As much as i enjoyed GTAIV it did take the GTA series into more realistic territory, and as the man points out seemed to focus more on character and story than previous GTAs. The idea of a more OTT, fun version of that with added co-op is enough to put a big silly grin right across my face.

    Officially in my 'Most Wanted'.

  • Marshall2008 #17 4 years ago

    Different path........
    Yeah, its going to be shit just like SR1

    lol

    Theres some hate for ya
    Edited by 1 at 19/06/08 @ 21:02

  • DAN.E.B #18 4 years ago

    i liked the first one it was a hell of alot less frustrating than GTA1V

  • el_pollo_diablo #19 4 years ago

    Quite looking forward to this game actually.

    The Nukem 3D to Rockstar's Doom, if you will.
    Edited by 1 at 20/06/08 @ 01:26

  • kestral #20 4 years ago

    I like GTAIV and play it regularly and not looking to buy another one for a few years :p

  • muscleblade #21 4 years ago

    "Crackdown type co-op in a more story focused game would be cool. Two sided assaults on more structured missions would be better than the (still fun & great) Crackdown-esque "Let's go beat the shit out of this boss together!"

    I think thats exactly what their going for in SR2.

  • bonker #22 4 years ago

    Co-op is, or should be, the new multiplayer ...