The term ‘GTA Clone’ is thrown around way too much. Nothing is original these days and everyone takes inspiration from somewhere, it’s just whether or not they can actually build upon what originally inspired them. Besides, there’s always room for competition in the market; although it’s often the case that ‘GTA inspired’ games don’t really make much of an impact. The original Saints Row was pretty successful and I see no reason why its sequel can’t be as successful. In fact, I believe it may be more successful based on recent happenings in the video game world. As I previously wrote a lot of people felt GTA IV was a disappointment because some of the whacky over-the-top fun that had marked previous outings (such as driving a monster truck off a huge mountain) was reduced due to Rockstar’s attempt to focus on realism. It didn’t make it a bad game - and the humour still remained - but it did seem like Rockstar was handing the stupid factor off to someone else. This is where Saints Row 2 steps in, and they even tried to win over those disappointed GTA fan boys with the comparison video below. Saints Row was known for its improvement of some of GTA’s features, and while GTA IV also fixed many of those it seems that, yet again, Saints Row 2 is set to try and win one over on GTA.

The picture above can pretty much sum up what you’re going to get out of Saints Row 2. The list of activities in the video above is pretty exhaustive compared to GTA IV’s, in my opinion, pretty lacklustre offerings. It’s hard to see how you could avoid getting at least some fun out of the game, even if the game’s humor is far more slapstick than the satire we’re used to in the GTA franchise. The hot dog costume signifies the great deal of customisation and choices you have in Saints Row 2, far more than the few outfits available in GTA IV. Now you can completely customise your characters appearance (including the ability to play a female character), such as their age, weight, features, voice, fighting style etc. Clothing is far more modifiable than before, meaning that you can modify the colouring and layout. These options also extend to your gang, so you can have your gang all decked out in the same costumes (which, thankfully, can also be ninja costumes) and also modify the graffiti tag they use. You can also completely deck out the ‘cribs’ that you and your gang call home, adding items such as pool tables, TV’s and minibars.  This is all without touching the apparently ‘extensive’ vehicle customisation options. Weapons start with the basic submachine guns and handguns (which can be dual-wielded) but you also have access to flamethrowers, sledgehammers, satchel chargers, katanas, shock pads etc. Additionally you are now able to pick up items of the scenery to use as melee weapons.There’s far more I could get into, such as the respect system, the ability to own businesses, the new combat system, the new gangs, multiplayer (and the co-op mode). However, I don’t want to make this post too long - as I tend to make a habit of that. The point is that Saints Row 2 packs a massive amount of features, but it remains to be seen if the gameplay can be engaging enough to make let you experience them all. Yes, like I’ve done with this post they’ll be plenty of comparisons to GTA but, if the game is good enough and sells enough, it may just have established it’s own franchise that widely differs from the new realistic approach of GTA. There’s enough room in this world for more than one sandbox game, they just have to be good enough.

Saints Row 2 is out on November 7 in the UK, annoyingly the US version hits on October 14. You’ll also have a choice of Xbox 360, PS3 or PC.