Saints Row

 Xbox 360
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Aug 29, 2006
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 74 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 63 out of 74
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 74
  3. Negative: 1 out of 74
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  1. My Gamer
    72
    While I really enjoyed the look and feel of the graphics and controls, there is still a nagging feeling that the game is just too much of a clone.
  2. 1UP
    70
    Sure, "GTA"'s story and sense of humor were pretty infantile most of the time, but it was still damn funny and did a bang-up job of satirizing American pop culture and consumerism. In Saints Row, however, it all feels obligatory. Like it was something they just had to do, and the result is pretty lifeless.
  3. Eurogamer
    70
    Sure, it's probably the most morally bankrupt game we've ever come across, but if you delight in extreme violence, language that would make Tarantino blush and a more forgiving take on the GTA theme then you've come to the right game.
  5. Total Video Games
    70
    A game of little steps as opposed to giant strides; it's a game that ultimately fails to push open-world, free-roaming games onto the next-generation, but is, nonetheless entertaining and worthwhile.
  6. Gamezilla!
    70
    It is so easy to die in this game that you may not notice you’re dead until after you realize you’ve been shot at.
  7. games(TM)
    70
    Polished, involving and a great deal of fun, but current-gen in all but the smallest details. [Oct 2006, p.126]
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  8. Gamestyle
    70
    Refreshingly, the size of the game is just enough and avoids the titanic proportions of GTA.
  9. Edge Magazine
    60
    While Rockstar made its millions capturing the grotesque allure of fantasy crime, every character in this me-too endeavor is simply grotesque. It has a taste for hot coffee, but only knows how to serve it straight. [Oct 2006, p.88]
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  10. G4 TV
    60
    The game goes overboard, too, when it attempts to be clever or creative. When Row tries desperately to outdo "Grand Theft Auto" in terms of its in-game radio stations—accessed when players hijack cars—it fails miserably.
  11. 360 Gamer Magazine UK
    60
    Relatively small game world does it no favours. [Issue #15]
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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2006
9
#9 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2006
14
#14 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 285 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 190 out of 285
  2. Mixed: 65 out of 285
  3. Negative: 30 out of 285
  1. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    7
    Wish they would remake this one. Remaster it or something, release it on all platforms, let everyone have fun with the saints. A good start ofWish they would remake this one. Remaster it or something, release it on all platforms, let everyone have fun with the saints. A good start of the series. Pickens approves.… Full Review »
  2. BlueFalcon
    Nov 9, 2007
    10
    I hope gta4 is this much fun. At the moment this is the best game on the xbox 360 (yes better than gears of war, yes better than halo 3, and I hope gta4 is this much fun. At the moment this is the best game on the xbox 360 (yes better than gears of war, yes better than halo 3, and yes better than bioshock, oh and yes better than the orange box). To address some other comments i see... after 30+ hours of gameplay I haven't come across any noteable glitches. Calling this a gta clone doesn't do it justice. It improves upon the sandbox formula in a lot of memorable ways.… Full Review »
  3. BaronMonaco
    Jan 7, 2016
    7
    Saints Row is the first episode of one of the most emblematic sand box game of the last (and probably current) generation.

    This first    Saints Row is the first episode of one of the most emblematic sand box game of the last (and probably current) generation.

    This first episode truly represents the spirit of Saints Row, is fun and "offensive", the dialogues are really funny and the side activities entertaining. But unfortunately it wasn't as polished than in Saints Row 2 or 3, both driving and shooting are a little clunky, the side activities quickly become repetitive because you have to do each one 24 times without main changes.

    Graphically the game looks good for one of the first 360 games but it's also full of bugs and glitches that can harm the game experience (I hate when my car disappear and I'm here sitting on nothing). At least the soundtrack was great...

    All in all you can expect 20 hours for the main story plus 15 hours to finish the game at 100%, we're in the good average for a sand-box game.

    So yes it was a good start for the series but it needed to be improve and thank god it was, I advise to buy number 2 or 3 before this one.    … Full Review »
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