Though the Saints Row franchise started life as a non-linear approach to Grand Theft Auto, borrowing much of the same general design principles and tone but switching up some mechanics and story beats, the series quickly developed its own identity. While Saints Row 2 maintained a grounded tone, some more unique elements started to creep their way in, including more comedy-focused dialogue and mini-games. By the time the Saints Row franchise reached its third and fourth installments, the tone had shifted completely, honing in on the more zany and bizarre elements that kept it distinct from the GTA series.
Along with the dialogue, characters, and mini-games, Saints Row's weapons also got a lot wackier. Guns that shot out Dubstep rays, RPGs that launched out mind-controlling octopi, and giant oversized hands capable of pulverizing enemies in just one hit were all just a few of Saints Row's wildest weapons. And though the new Saints Row game seems to be sticking to a slightly more grounded tone, key word slightly, it's vital that it includes at least a handful of out-there weapons.
Why Saints Row Should Bring Back Its Wildest Weapons
The introduction of more zany weapons in the later Saints Row games immediately set the tone for the entire adventure. When players can wield a giant purple "Penetrator" from the get-go, they know they're in a for a wild, tongue-in-cheek ride, filled with crude humor. Having these more unique weapons appear over the course of the game continuously reminds players of the light-hearted tone the game is going for.
Having these bizarre weapons in the game also keeps Saints Row distanced from other open-world crime games on the market. Quite a few fans are a little skeptical about this new Saints Row game. With it being a reboot to the franchise, some are worried that it might lose some of the elements that made it distinct in the first place. By bringing back some wacky weapons, and introducing a handful of new ones, the new Saints Row can immediately capture some of what made the original games so enjoyable.
Including these types of weapons also allows the developers to flex their creative muscles. Creating levels, vehicles, NPCs, branching narratives, and dialogue can successionally be a bit of a laborious process for some developers, so having the opportunity to just go wild and create whatever weapon they can imagine is probably quite a freeing experience, and that level of fun and creativity often bleeds into the player-experience.
Weapons Saints Row Should Bring Back
Over the years, Saints Row has had some pretty absurd weapons, and some of the best should make a reappearance in the upcoming reboot. The aforementioned Penetrator and Dubstep Gun should certainly make a reappearance, right alongside the Mollusk Launcher, which fires mind-controlling sea life at the enemy.
The Abduction Gun is another of Saints Row's more sci-fi oriented, bombastic weapons. When fired, this weapon launches a crowd of enemies into the air, lifting them up into the atmosphere, never to come back down again. The Black Hole Launcher is another hilariously devastating weapon, capable of firing mini black holes that consume all in its area of effect.
On the other end of the scale is the RC Possessor, capable of possessing any NPC-controlled vehicle in the game once fully upgraded. Though it doesn't look too wacky, and its ability isn't all that crazy, it's still one of the series' most unique weapons. It is the perfect example of a weapon that can fit in a more grounded setting while still conveying the same creativity and fun as its wackier counterparts.
Saints Row releases on August 23, 2022, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.