Is Saints Row 3 Still Great?

Saints Row 3 took the Saints Row franchise is a strange new direction. A direction away from the gangsters and serious moments from Saints Row 1 and 2. But now 11 years later, is Saints Row 3 Still Great? (Saints Row 3 Review)
Throughout this Saints Row 3 review we'll examine one of the most controversial games in the series. Ultimately Saints Row 3 is a fun game that doesn't take itself too seriously with over the top moments and big set pieces. But was this complete gear shift really necessary when Saints Row 2 was so good? It's hard not to be dissapointed at the content we've lost in Saints Row 3, and as a huge fan of Saints Row 2 I question why these changes were made.
In this Saints Row 3 review, we'll go in depth on everything from tone, to narrative, to missions and more. And finally at the end of the review, we'll find out if Saints Row 3 is still great.
If you enjoyed this Saints Row 3 review, leave me a like, a comment and a sub to let me know!
Next up, Saints Row IV!
You can check out my previous Saints Row Reviews here:
Is Saints Row 2 Still Great? (Saints Row 2 Review)
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Is Saints Row Still Great? (Saints Row (2006) Review)
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GTA Trilogy The Definitive Edition - One Year Later
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Is GTA V Still Great?
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Is GTA IV Still Great?
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Is GTA San San Andreas Still Great?
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Is GTA 3 Still Great?:
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Other Reviews:
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Cyberpunk 2077 Review 2022 (Next-Gen Update)
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Intro 00:00
Tone 02:44
Narrative 12:03
Side Content 17:14
Main Missions 27:23
Combat 31:18
Sandbox 35:18
Open World 41:00
Is Saints Row 3 Still Great? 48:10
Hellooooo? 50:26
Articles and Videos Used to Research This Review
www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/3...
www.ign.com/games/saints-row-...
powerup-gaming.com/2020/06/16...
spong.com/feature/10110539/In...
www.psu.com/news/saints-row-t...
• E3 11: Saints Row: The...
• Designing Over the Top...
www.ign.com/articles/high-on-...
www.pcgamer.com/high-on-life-...
/ beautifully-stupid-the...
www.digitalspy.com/videogames...
#saintsrow3 #saintsrow3remastered #saintsrow

[@AliBazz]

Preciate ya! Just wanna letchu know as far as im concerned saints row is a duology and saints row 3 got cancelled in 09 I heavily disagree witchu on da combat of da game, you said its da best i say its da worst, scott phillips messed this game up by addin da unnecessary upgrade menus that you have to grind in da lifeless world to get money to upgrade, enemies is sooo bullet spongy and cause you talked bout how lackluster its world is it made me scratch ma head why you said da sandbox is good! 7:23 they did a poor job, just cause series does it well so ion think its a tone problem; its just that combat/ sandbox/ ai is poor, and characters is obnoxious (they yell atchu all da time even doe you supposed to be they boss) 16:48 ion think anyone gon find killin a character like that is fun 18:02 arent there 4 strongholds for each gang in sr 2? Which makes em 12? And one for ultor and one for saints, also in 1 i think its more than 8 18:44 they ripped off this mission in da 2011 disgrace da zombie mission, man im tellin you: da last good game volition made is red faction guerrilla; these aint da same employees 45:57 hmmn... same animation Also whats da music in da beginnin of da "tone" section?

[@AliBazz]

And please if you considerin reviewin any more products from volition that came out after da 2000 - 2009 decade; just do yourself a favor and forget it

[@TwinSticksReviews]

Ah yeah shit, I miscounted the number of Strongholds in SR1 and 2. It's actually much worse then

[@AliBazz]

@@TwinSticksReviews whats da music doe in da beginnin of da "tone" section

[@AliBazz]

Looks like i aint gon find out

[@TwinSticksReviews]

Yo, it was a royalty free track inspired by the Stranger Things intro. I'll find the name of it next time I'm on my PC as it's on my external hard drive

[@SurrenderedByGraceMinistry]

Saints Row 3 was a fun game and unique. Saints Row 2 is a classic and it was grounded. Although, I don't mind the wackiness of Saints Row 3. Part 4 was even more wacky but a fun game.

[@kevinizatt4358]

I feel like creatively 2 is better but technically 3 is. I still feel that overall 2 is the better game but the hate some fans give 3 as a means to prove fan credentials is bizarre.

[@TVenom123]

Tbh Sr3 was the start of the series split. It really wasn't SR anymore, it didn't really build off of 2 too much, its a bit bland after you've played it thru at least once and its not the type of game you would keep coming back to and play all the way thru over the years. But ima always say it was fun and i have some real good memories with it and i like a lot of the ideas they had (even tho most didn't go anywhere too interesting, like the whole Phillipe shit, properties and any real type of development for the new Saints lieutenants) but its just no real fun on repeat playthroughs since its overly jokey the whole time and after like 2-3 playthroughs, u seen and heard everything and it gets annoying cuz they never let you breathe with the jokes and be serious. The Sr vibe isn't even there completely. If anyone wants to add on or rebuttal, im down to have a chill conversation but i been typing too damn long so it's somebody else turn to talk lol

[@dmdudes2]

idk i play sr3 like once a year

[@TVenom123]

@@dmdudes2 yeah i mean i try to play all the games at least once a year but with 3, i always find myself sick of it by the time of Johnny's funeral and end up goin to a different game. It just isn't as captivating as other games in the genre. Like the time i spend just fuckin around in SR1 and 2 (causing mayhem, exploring, customizing and shit like that) not even really doing anything can last up to a good few hours and I'll still be having fun but with 3, i can get bored in like half an hour. There just isn't much more to this game besides sex jokes and blowing stuff up. And honestly, my attention span is not that short for that to be satisfying. There's just a lot more fun to be had in other games than could be had in 3. Not to say it isn't fun, there's something there, it just isn't enough to keep me there, ya feel me? I mean after blowing shit up in a VTOL or Tank for 30 mins, what else is there to do?

[@mick20075]

The only thing saints row 3 has the same as real saints row is gangs 😂😂 it's a fking joke of saints row game

[@void-master9077]

Huh, that’s why things are subjective I guess, I adore saints 1-3 the 4th isn’t bad as a throw away type of game, but I play saints row 3 to completion if I get the chance, especially with friends.

[@mick20075]

@@void-master9077 if its subjective then every game is good and every game is bad which is a joke Truth is saints row 1 and 2 is the only proper saints row games and it's blatantly obvious 😂😂😂

[@Rafael_33]

Saints Row 3 was the first game of the series that I played. As as someone who used to play GTA:SA with cheats, I loved it. I couldn't have nowhere near as half of the fun in GTA:V as I did in Saints Row 3. At that time the comparisons between the two franchises were inevitable and the absurdness of Saints Row 3 won the battle for me!

[@aaronlaughter6471]

Glad to see a video on SR3 not completly shitting on it. SR3 was my second favorite in the series after 2.

[@Super_1230]

I’ve fallen into the rabbit hole of your videos. I love your approach to your reviews and have even watched some multiple times. I hope to eventually see you review Sleeping Dogs. Keep up the great work.

[@TwinSticksReviews]

Ahh that's great to hear thank you. Sleeping Dogs is planned at some stage

[@ItzProdigy12Gaming]

My first saints row game

[@ori.g4mi]

I never get tired of CJ's "HELLOOOOOOOOO?"

[@TwinSticksReviews]

Haha me neither. I'm definitely not trying to squeeze it into every future video...

[@ori.g4mi]

@@TwinSticksReviews I wouldn't be opposed to that haha

[@VOID-yj2vs]

I WISH THEY MAKE LIKE A PIMP DLC WHERE THEY BRING BACK THE PIMP CANE SHOTGUN I LOVED THAT WEAPON IN SR2 it would be sick

[@DemonKingFinnBalor1916]

Push Zimos off a tall rooftop, then jump after him and just plunge down right next to him, prepare for the laugh of a lifetime 🤣

[@issyahboii28]

I'd honestly give SR3 at least one point over SR2 just for having a solid PC port 😭 not to mention OG SR being stuck on the Xbox.

[@AliBazz]

Sounds like someone bein lazy ova hee!

[@flame_101]

You can use Xenia to play SR1 on PC

[@ParkerMcgraw]

I agree about balance. Also with SR2, i have fun doing the wacky stuff, but they aren't the parts of the game I remember most. The kickass story is.

[@Greenfrom3]

You are talented. I understand these are lots of work. You will blow up though if you keep this up.

[@nekipeh7373]

I love it because it is that crazy and wacky. SR2 is serious, while SR4 goes way crazy. This is "golden middle" imo. Great video!

[@Tumbo2012life]

Did you play SR2

[@austinlarrimore6542]

SR2 is the golden middle

[@mick20075]

Wrong Saints row 3 is too far not saints row 4 Saints row 3 was the downfall and its blatantly obvious

[@mattyn94]

So pleased I found this channel. I've never even played a SR game but these videos are so well made

[@TwinSticksReviews]

I'd definitely recommend SR2, a seriously underrated game

[@morkofficial1]

I'm happy sr3 exists. There is no game like it.

[@flavionms]

Honestly, unlocking a toilet after you've beaten the game is the most reasonable option. I mean, you've already beaten the game, it would hardly make anything that's supposed to be serious lose its impact.

[@TheGamerCritic]

Always a pleasure seeing these vids my guy!!!! 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@TwinSticksReviews]

Thank you mate! Thanks for checking out the vid!

[@arrownoir]

My favorite game in the franchise. I wasted so many hours playing this.

[@life4trinity]

One matures when they come to the conclusion that 2 and 3 are both solid games.

[@deslardesslok]

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🎆🎇🎉 12:04p.m. 7/4/2023

[@catsinbed7634]

I'm probably in a good position sort of, having no nostalgic attachment to the Saints Row games before 3. It was the first one i played and god did i love it. One of the very few games i waned to 100%. It's funny because the repetitive explosions and action, the one-noteness that you criticize in gameplay and tone managed to carry the whole game for me. And hey, even the toilet character and auto-tune guy i find funny and i usually hate low-brow or low-effort comedy and cringe at things easily (admittedly at some of Saints Row 3 as well). But the fact that it presents itself as a completely absurd carnage-fest really does alleviate it from all responsibilities. The game knows it's stupid and i find that it worked out quite nicely in that way. Totally see how one can feel different about all these things though, especially with the added context of the previous games in the series.

[@magistergabriel]

Your intro was spot on! Especially when you asked why the theme shift was even necessary. I still think it was a bad move and the last Saints Row only solidifies my thoughts on the issue.

[@user-rk2xi7iw9k]

Amazing review as always they are an absolute joy to watch, my favorite part is where you talked about the developers trusting the players to find the side content, i strongly agree with your sentiment!

[@Viskavind]

I love games that manage the balance between silly and serious and Saints Row 2 was the pinacle for that in this series. SR 3 and 4 were still fun games, but 2 felt so much bigger in everything. i've never played Saints Row 1 or the reboot so I can't say anything about them.

[@karazu121]

A total downgrade from saints row 2, SR2 does everything better. saints row aint saints row without johnny gat

[@Izy5981]

Imma just say, the driving mechanics are better in the post saint row 2

[@ori.g4mi]

@@Izy5981 I'd say SR2 is the better game but the driving is at its best in The Third

[@Godfather9814]

Sr3 should’ve been the end, it was like the highest point the saints could’ve been as millionaire execs and criminal bosses! The only part of the game that I just didn’t like was the zombies forever being there. After getting rid of the chemicals should’ve cleared up that piece of the city

[@-whiskey-4134]

I had fun with SR3, but it wasn’t Saints Row. To me, it’s best played pretending it’s not part of the series imo lol Tbh, I just spent a lot of time on zombie island causing chaos.

[@TheAngelAquila]

"Still" great? My brother, the game never changed since release. The question you're looking for is "Was Saints Row 3 Ever Good?"

[@deslardesslok]

3 MONTHS LATE SQUAD WHERE YOU AT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[@Funky_Astroman]

Great video man. Really made some great points and addressed the core gameplay and fun aspects of the game as opposed to other videos I’ve seen on SR3. I’ve been going hard on this game lately never got to play it when it originally came out but I love this remaster. Some people may not like the art style but this game looks magnificent in my opinion. The lighting, the cars, the atmosphere, nothing like it. Almost like a Queinton Tarantino video game or something from that world haha. The entire experience just feels like a video game should, may be different direction then the other games but this game is still a masterpiece 🤘

[@ControllerAkimbo]

great review!! cant wait for SRIV

[@chrisdelgado4621]

If I had to describe this game in one way, it would be “the Batman Forever of the series: A shallow, cynical shell of a product that abandons everything that made its predecessors great for the sake of mass appeal.”

[@deslardesslok]

12:04p.m. 7/4/2023

[@arthurkurbedzis]

I worked on platinum for it this week on PS3, and the game has its charm - that is a fact-yet yeah, they kind of focus more on grind mechanics and not so smart gameplay exists. I am glad that everything got way better in IV.

[@You_Fat_NastyHo]

The world npcs felt dead and lifeless thats why i haven't returned to it

[@kimurapython121]

I started with saints row the third>4>2>1 and honestly, it was fun but i was also just disappointed in the crazy fall off in story writin

[@snakeeyes2551]

I never gotten a chance to play Saints Row 1, because I don’t have a X-Box. Could you give me some insight on it?

[@BIGwillTHEGAME]

I played Saints Row 2 many times back in the day as it’s my favorite game of the series. However, I probably didn’t know about this 45:30

[@tyenash6263]

Am I the only one who was annoyed with the size of the pistols? I just wanted a fucking SR1 Vice9 or a NR9

[@lightsouls4905]

Short Answer: Yes

[@justajad2809]

I guess yes. And by the way. Amazing video as always.

[@xlegendarybossx4201]

Sr3 never gets old 👍

[@abdul2009]

❤❤❤❤Okay, just to make it clear and stated here. Saints Row the third is the best saints row game; it is also the actual game the developers wanted to make. AND I DONT NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY IT IS THE BEST. Would you like to know why? BECAUSE ALL THE REASONS ARE IN YOUR HEAD. AND BEHIND YOUR EXPRESSION. CRUCIALLY, BEHIND THE FACES OF THOSE WHO HATE ON IT, OR KEEP POURING THEIR HEART OUT OVER SAINTS ROW 2. THEY'RE JELOUS! Have you seen those fans? They look like sh*t, talk like they don't know any language, and dress no better. Of course they're not gonna like a game where the characters have interesting dialogue, the kind far more similar to the more successful films than saints row 2. And where the characters look great and aren't just driving around trying to act like dumb thugs as best as they can. There is creativity in the game. And they're too upset about how it reminds them of their lack of it to enjoy the game; then, driven by the jelousy, these weaklings try to put it down and put the games that aren't like saints row 3 up; so that others might not enjoy it too, and then they can feel better about themselves. For the rest of us: nothing, we're fine.

[@ThousandairesClub]

*the focus was to make the best open world action game of all time and they definitely accomplished that here and with Agents Of Mayhem.*

[@kkash824]

this when the series started going downhill. The last one i bought

[@swiwaii781]

1st saints row game i played

[@redeyeknight1660]

Saints 3 was pretty bad tbh, I didn't even bother finishing the remake even when it was free and I was playing co-op. 2 was way better

[@marcel1463]

Saints Row 3 is the definition of over the top and that's why i love it. Woman look like they should be and there is always action.

[@grayearly3116]

In saints row 2, you get paid for doing drive-bys on meatheads to beanie seagel. In sr3 you do side activities as main missions while a mexican wrestler gang atracks you in green Hummers. This gameplay is alright, but i just cant consider it saints row for real. Also they ruined Shaundi.

[@williamreece5763]

I have 3 remastered and at night it's dark af and it's making it to where I can't play it and this is my first time playing it, I ha e a series x and I tried tweaking the game brightness and AL it does is make the building lights brighter the dark areas are still so dark I can barley see my character.

[@Drac1990]

Saint row 3 on switch is the first 1 i played and i love it. The only down thing and you mension it aswel you go from combat to combat and sometimes i wanne slow down a bit like with gta with some taxi mission for example. Great video

[@r.thomaslee8417]

10:06 I thought it was just me. Yep, that was tacky.

[@Mattznick]

the mature story from 2 would be looked at now very positively if it came out today

[@postapocalypse0763]

The problem was the wacky had been put into the story. Before it was mostly in the Activities you played to get respect... whereas in SR 3 you can do the story and only have to touch on each one once. What was a brief respite from gang warfare became the only thing the game had to offer. SR3 has a (W)horde mode where you just shoot waves of enemies, and going by this review I assume it was one of the better parts of the game for you?

[@ScoobyDumpLive]

never was great honestly

[@SCA84]

This. It's extremely dumbed down from what we got in 2 and has tutorial missions as 70% of the story.

[@ScoobyDumpLive]

@@SCA84 a lot of the missions are just activities that you're forced to do and the city itself was disappointing. In comparison to the first two games in the series, sr3 falls short in several ways.

[@tomahawkstudios9688]

It was never great

[@austinlarrimore6542]

The saints row 3 sandbox and open world is truly awful, idk how he said it’s the best in the series

[@Bacxaber]

Never was.

[@TheLaLeeee]

Saints Row the Third... more like Saints Row the Turd

[@theoutsiderjess4869]

I hated 3 I know alot of people think 4 killed the series I genuinely thought it was the 3rd one because it's a game that doesn't know what it wants to be

[@WideOldDan]

SR3 was the lowest point in the series before the reboot

[@davidedippolito2700]

Jeez you talk about tone problems and you upload a 50 minutes review about a videogame? I'm never gonna watch the full video, it's boring as hell

[@CbaDropDead]

Then simply don't 🤷‍♀️

[@blixyy7072]

@@CbaDropDeadok meatrider🤷‍♂️

[@fatman1288]

is Saint row 2022 still a shit game?