The Saints Row series is known for a lot of things, but memorable characters aren’t high on that list. Aside from Johnny Gat or Shaundi, Stilwater was largely populated by ciphers and forgettable wannabes. Of course, while you’re spraying raw sewage on passers by in a septic truck or setting them alight in a go kart, you’re probably not too concerned about making new friends.
With Saints Row: The Third, Volition is going out of its way to deliver loads of action as well as a lineup of interesting friends, rivals, and other people. This week, Game Informer is highlighting just some of the folks you’ll be interacting with in Steelport.
“Phillipe Loren is the leader of the Syndicate, in particular the gang called the Morning Star,” says Steve Jaros, lead writer of Saints Row: The Third. “He’s kind of like a Bond villain. He’s statuesque and poised and elegant, and he’s a total gentleman. He’s not a fop—he’s not effeminate—and he’s not going to play to that European stereotype. He’s coldly logical and dangerous and very savvy.”
Phillipe is the main antagonist in the game, essentially kicking off the game’s story by kidnapping the player character, Johnny Gat, and Shaundi after a botched bank robbery. The game’s first mission takes place in Phillipe’s jet, as the player blasts his way out of the aircraft and down into Steelport.
It turns out that the player has made a powerful enemy in Phillipe, who’s far more powerful than the street level thugs that littered Stilwater. “He’s made a killing being an international arms dealer. He’s pretty much the leader of the criminal fraternity in Steelport. He calls all the shots, he directs everybody, he’s the guy that you just don’t want to f--- with.”
The Saints Row series is known for a lot of things, but memorable characters aren’t high on that list. Aside from Johnny Gat or Shaundi, Stilwater was largely populated by ciphers and forgettable wannabes. Of course, while you’re spraying raw sewage on passers by in a septic truck or setting them alight in a go kart, you’re probably not too concerned about making new friends.
With Saints Row: The Third, Volition is going out of its way to deliver loads of action as well as a lineup of interesting friends, rivals, and other people. This week, Game Informer is highlighting just some of the folks you’ll be interacting with in Steelport.
The wrestling-masked Luchadores are one of the more flamboyant criminal organizations in Steelport, so it’s only appropriate that the gang is led by someone equally peculiar. Killbane is a former professional wrestler who also founded the Luchadors with his tag-team partner, Angel. Killbane became jealous of his partner’s success, which led him to publicly unmask and shame his former friend. Eventually, Killbane was banished to Mexico after he killed an opponent in the ring. That exile didn’t last, and the grappler is back and running his group.
“He’s obsessed with his legacy and is a total fame ***,” says Steve Jaros, lead writer on Saints Row: The Third. “In some ways, he’s like a dark mirror to the player.”
Killbane’s given name is Eddie Pryor, but he doesn’t respond to that moniker. His mask is a constant presence, whether he’s on the streets, being interviewed on television, or attending a Syndicate board meeting. “He’s always embracing that luchadore spirit and never wants to let it go,” says Jaros, adding that while Killbane might look a little clownish he’s not someone to be taken lightly. “He’s very volatile. He can be charming and debonair one moment and then just snap off and break your neck.”
And what of Angel? He’s still dealing with the disgrace of being unmasked, but he’ll prove to be a helpful ally to the player as he navigates the unfamiliar streets of Steelport.
The Saints Row series is known for a lot of things, but memorable characters aren’t high on that list. Aside from Johnny Gat or Shaundi, Stilwater was largely populated by ciphers and forgettable wannabes. Of course, while you’re spraying raw sewage on passers by in a septic truck or setting them alight in a go kart, you’re probably not too concerned about making new friends.
With Saints Row: The Third, Volition is going out of its way to deliver loads of action as well as a lineup of interesting friends, rivals, and other people. This week, Game Informer is highlighting just some of the folks you’ll be interacting with in Steelport.
Even though Steelport is a city where groups of wrestling-masked gangsters stalk corners without anyone giving it a second thought, don’t assume all of the city’s crime involves ostentatious displays of costuming, rocket launchers, or remote-controlled drones. Sometimes, even the world of Saints Row calls for subtlety.
Matt Miller is the Syndicate’s go-to guy for those instances. As leader of the Deckers, Miller (no relation) is in charge of the city’s cybercrime. As with a lot of folks bolstered by the anonymity of the Internet, Miller is all swagger when he’s at his keyboard. Take him out of his element, and it’s another story. “The thing that’s interesting about him is that when he’s by himself he thinks that he’s god,” says Steve Jaros, the game’s lead writer. “He’s super cocky and kind of obnoxious and is very self-assured in what he does. However, when he’s around Killbane or Phillipe, he’s like a 15-year-old kid sitting at the big kid table.”
Even if he does clam up during those meetings, Phillipe and the rest of the Syndicate appreciate his contributions. It’s always good to have someone smart in your corner, particularly when it’s so potentially lucrative.
The Saints Row series is known for a lot of things, but memorable characters aren’t high on that list. Aside from Johnny Gat or Shaundi, Stilwater was largely populated by ciphers and forgettable wannabes. Of course, while you’re spraying raw sewage on passers by in a septic truck or setting them alight in a go kart, you’re probably not too concerned about making new friends.
With Saints Row: The Third, Volition is going out of its way to deliver loads of action as well as a lineup of interesting friends, rivals, and other people. This week, Game Informer is highlighting just some of the folks you’ll be interacting with in Steelport.
As Steelport’s oldest pimp, Zimos is a fixture in the criminal ecosystem. At first, the Syndicate tolerates the eccentric character, and he even forges a friendship with Phillipe Loren’s protégés, Viola and Kiki DeWynter. The relationship goes south for as-yet-unknown reasons, and Zimos finds himself locked away in the basement of one of the Syndicate’s human trafficking hubs.
After being rescued by the player, the temporarily gimp-suited Zimos becomes an important ally. His ties to the criminal underworld are critical in the player’s early days in Steelport, and he’s a great guide to the city. “In general, he’s kind of like the lovable granddad of the Saints,” says lead writer Steve Jaros. “He’s too old to care, he has a lot of swagger. Pretty much he’s seen it all, he’s done it all, and he’s too cool to be scared or offended.”
In addition to the role of de facto tour guide, Zimos provides plenty of comic relief. He has had a tracheotomy, though that hasn’t stopped him from smoking through the subsequent hole in his throat. He speaks using an electronic voice box, which has been autotuned. In other words, everything he says sounds like it was plucked from a T-Pain song. Stay classy, Saints Row.
All week long, we’ve been taking a look at some of the individuals who have shaped the criminal world of Saints Row: The Third. Today, we’re examining an organization that directly affects each and every one of those characters: the Morning Star gang.
Gangs have been a focus of the Saints Row franchise since the series was conceived. As the 3rd Street Saints rose to power in Stilwater, they’ve had to work around and eventually supplant organizations like Los Carnales, the Vice Kings, and the Sons of Samedi. We’ve spent time delving into the individuals that players will be interacting with in Saints Row: The Third, but don’t think that the game is turning into a character study. While Volition is putting more of an emphasis on populating the town of Steelport with more memorable people, its gangs are just as powerful as any that the Saints have encountered on their rise to power.
Morning Star is the oldest surviving gang in Steelport, and as such it commands considerable respect among criminals. It’s led by Belgian arms smuggler Phillipe Loren, and the organization maintains legal and illegal operations worldwide. For instance, Morning Star operates a high-end gun boutique in town, which sells weapons to people who have the cash. Simultaneously, the gang outfits illegal organizations, governments, and militaries with weapons as well.
“Where the others are more local and isolated, Morning Star is the more international organization and it has far-reaching tentacles,” says lead writer Steve Jaros. Those international ties are how Morning Star hooked up with Steelport’s Luchador gang. After selling weapons to that gang’s Mexico operations, Loren realized that a partnership could be lucrative for both parties. Eventually, the tech-focused Decker gang was brought into the fold, creating the Syndicate.
Loren runs Morning Star—and the Syndicate—with the help of the DeWynter sisters. Viola and Kiki are art dealers with refined tastes and a penchant for human trafficking. They’re so close that they’re often referred to as a single entity. “They’re the number two in the Syndicate, so when Phillipe is busy they’re the ones who assume control and make sure that things run on time,” says Jaros. “If they weren’t around, everything would descend into chaos.”
The game starts with the player upsetting Steelport’s balance of power, which will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects. Even though Morning Star might be a powerful entity, the Saints have proven themselves worthy of a good challenge. And after dominating Stilwater, that may be exactly what they need.
![[risita]](/images/smilies/nuevos/sonrisa_ani1.gif "risita")
En la fotillo Nº15 la tía le está pegándo un pollazo o es mi pervertida ménte?
![[carcajad]](/images/smilies/nuevos/risa_ani2.gif "carcajada")
Tinchazo escribió:Muy locas las imágenes, tiene pínta la verdád!En la fotillo Nº15 la tía le está pegándo un pollazo o es mi pervertida ménte?
nenusito escribió:
es el peor trailer que he visto en mi vida
![[plas]](/images/smilies/aplauso.gif "Aplausos")
![[jaja]](/images/smilies/nuevos2/otrasonrisa.gif "otra sonrisa")
![[sonrisa]](/images/smilies/nuevos/risa_ani1.gif "sonrisa")
![[babas]](/images/smilies/babas.gif "Babeando")
Paindex escribió:Yo espero que el modo para 2 jugadores siga tan divertido como en el 2. Es que a veces es que lloras de la risa de situaciones tan imposibles xDD
Un modo multijugador a 4 en modo historia seria pedir mucho...?
![[qmparto]](/images/smilies/net_quemeparto.gif "Que me parto!")
![[mamaaaaa]](/images/smilies/nuevos/triste_ani4.gif "llorica")
This Saints Row the Third eyes-only demo session displayed some of the strongest and weakest elements of videogames. Those unfamiliar with how sophisticated videogames can be would feel all their suspicions about our pastime were justified upon witnessing Saints Row’s casual, over-the-top violence, free-flowing profanities and crude imagery – traits that the initiated know are not just expected from the franchise, but are an integral part of its identity. To be fair to those not in the know, Saints Row could be justifiably described as puerile, derivative, distasteful and with no significant purpose.
However, it’s exactly these qualities that had the assembled press laughing at the lunacy of it all and that make Saints Row good, old fashioned, escapist entertainment. Volition and THQ look to be on-track to fulfil their aim to deliver a dollop of pure fantasy in which the player is very much the king of the castle and holds the keys to a giant concrete playground ready to be filled with murder, mayhem, madness and no small amount of tomfoolery.
“Our goal with Saints Row the Third is pretty simple,” states Saints Row writer, Drew Holmes. “It’s to make it the most ridiculous, outlandish, over the top, ridiculous-again experience that you’ve ever played.”
More power to them, we say.
Once Upon A Time
It’s reasonable to assume that Volition isn’t looking to win a BAFTA for Saints Row’s narrative.
This is the story of how the eponymous Saints have gone global thanks to their antics in the first two games. Everyone now knows who the Saints are; they have their own range of merchandise, including energy drinks, bobble heads and a movie on the way (if she weren’t such a secure and confident individual a certain Ms Croft might feel someone was poking fun at her).
As such, the Saints no longer commit their crimes for money, but for sport as they try to take over Stilwater, one block at a time.
The section we’re shown depicts the Saints holding up a bank, wearing huge, floppy headed Johhny Gat bobble head masks. Unfortunately for the Saints it transpires that this is a mob bank owned by the shady Syndicate and, consequently, everyone inside the bank is armed to the teeth.
Saints Row: The Third’s new CGI trailer.
Several waves of enemy goons later and the team are preparing the bank vault for extraction by way of a military-grade chopper that extricates it through the brickwork of the building with your character astride it, but that ends with the chopper crashing and you surrounded by armed guards. It’s an exaggerated, busy, high-action 15 minute sequence filled with comedic touches, in-jokes and a high body count, thanks to the heavy weaponry on offer.
“We don’t want Saints Row the Third to be the kind of game where you really have to work for that first pistol,” explains the game’s associate producer, James Torbit. “We’d like to start the player out with all the toys and then just give them more and more, instead of you having to work up to that level. We want the sandbox element of the city to be available straight away.”
To facilitate this feeling of diving straight into the action, the city has been scaled down in size, effectively further concentrating the instances of insanity.
“There were two reasons for [making the city smaller],” Torbit tells us.
“One is that we have a new engine, so the smaller city means we can have increased activity on the streets and make the game a lot prettier; the second thing is that we wanted there to be an activity or fun thing to do around every corner so that you don’t have to look for it, it’s just always there.”
Torbit’s confident that this smaller city will not shorten the game, telling us that the 30-40 hours that players might have spent with Saints Row 2 will be matched here. It’s not revealed how much of that will be taken up by the main narrative and how much will be spent on the extra activities, side missions, customisation options and just messing with people in the streets using the overhauled melee system.
An example of the latter includes beating random passersby over the head with a weapon that Holmes describes as the “Purple-headed floppy hammer of justice” – an oversized purple dildo.
Pimp My Everything
In fact, the colour of the dildo is one of the few elements of Saints Row the Third that cannot be customised. During the demo we see how this area has been expanded upon from the previous games with customisation options for outfits, gender and male/female physical attributes – yes, those attributes – joined by the tweaking of appearance and handling of many of the vehicles and even the structural size and amount of bling with which you can endow the buildings that you acquire in your takeover of the city.
“One of the great things about Saints Row is the notion of taking over a city,” he insists. “We’ve added some new ways of doing this, called ‘flash points’. So, you see a gang hanging out somewhere and if you can take these guys out you’ll gain control of that part of the city and also gain respect.”
Another way take over the city is through ‘activities’, which make a return from Saints Row 2. A brief flavour of the activities on offer include taking a tank for a spin and causing a set amount of damage on a rival gang’s turf, and over the top ways to commit insurance fraud.
Like everything else in the Saints Row universe these simply add to the cacophony of madness, ensuring that the dial marked ‘mental’ is set to 11 at all times. Online drop-in/drop-out co-op is promised too, which is unlikely to do anything to calm the tone of the game.
Where Grand Theft Auto has become increasingly defined by its characters, narrative and more serious tone, Saints Row is running as fast as it can in the opposite direction
With so much to do, see, play with and laugh at during the relatively short demo it’s easy to forget just how silly the whole thing is. Simply put, this game will not be for everyone and for better or worse will inevitably draw comparisons with Rockstar’s output when, really, the comparisons are pointless: where Grand Theft Auto has become increasingly defined by its characters, narrative and more serious tone, Saints Row is running as fast as it can in the opposite direction and seemingly not deigning to put a limit on how bat-shit mental you can choose to be when you step into its universe.
Of course, chucking myriad toys and fancy dress options at players does not a great game make, but it’s apparent that Volition are attempting to ensure that everything you do in Saints Row the Third is fun and so it sticks two fingers up at such highbrow notions of ‘games as art’ and simply invites you to come in a let it all hang loose. Like Family Guy, Itchy & Scratchy and Frankie Boyle, Saints Row is deliberately provocative, frivolously absurd and so over the top as to almost be inoffensive in its extravagance. That’s not to say it won’t touch a few nerves, but then Volition wouldn’t be doing its job properly if it didn’t.
“We try to be an equal opportunities offender,” Torbit succinctly sums up, tongue firmly in cheek. “We try to offend everyone as much as possible and not leave anyone out, because that would be rude.”
And so, in its own unique way, Saints Row the Third looks to be bringing the best and worst of videogames to the table. It’s not a game to show off the finesse or beauty of what games are capable of but, as the lights come up at the end of the demo, the wry amusement on many a face around the room suggests this slice of pure escapism could be one hell of a guilty pleasure.
Saints Row: The Third will be coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on 18 November in the UK.
![[+risas]](/images/smilies/nuevos/risa_ani3.gif "más risas")
