Saint's Row: The Third preview | GameStyle

Gamestyle enjoyed the original Saints Row, which was an entertaining experience but one tinged with the reality that it was a title seeking its own identity. Saints Row 2 put down more of a stake and continued to up the entertainment factor. The Third as we’ll refer to it from now on, takes players to the new gangland paradise of Steelport where it seems the streets are run by just a few, influential criminal empires.

Of course we’ve seen this before with GTA and The Godfather series. The focus of Saints Row is on the gangs rather than any tale of revenge or redemption. This is all about reaching the top and destroying anyone who stands in your way; with plenty of opportune moments for showing off. The new location of Stilwater immediately paints a picture of a decaying urban colossus, slowing dying a painful death as residents move on to more attractive and prosperous cities. Yes, this could just be Detroit or any piece of turf from The Corner or The Wire, except the law won’t help you her.

Being new to the city of Stilwater the most important piece of information is that the power rests with a trio of gangs known as the Syndicate. This illegal oligopoly is made up of three gangs putting aside their differences to maintain a prosperous equilibrium. The consortium of the Morning Star, Luchadores and Deckers each bring different skills to the table and neither will take kindly to the arrival of The Saints on their patch.

Your gang has undergone a transformation since the last instalment, one which Gamestyle will get around to playing shortly. Unfortunately a lucrative bank job goes horribly wrong and The Saints are incarcerated. While the team are licking their wounds it transpires that knocking off a bank that is backed by the Syndicate is not advisable. A confrontation shortly afterwards ends in a gunfight and The Saints are forced out of Stilwater and relocate to Steelport. Even within the confines of this industrial relic the tentacles of the Syndicate reach and begin to establish footholds within the city.

The Third is not all change as development duties are being handled once again by Volition Inc. who has been responsible for both previous incarnations and titles such as Red Faction. The team have reviewed their previous work and its major rivals and have outlined a plan to break away from open-world missions. As the stakes are higher this time around the emphasis on huge explosions and devastating toys are reinforced. These gangs can call upon huge financial reserves to power their arsenal and they will utilize any means necessary to take out The Saints.

Options will play a part in how you tackle objectives and the implications of your decisions will soon become clear. Causing major damage to a rival may not just rely on taking out a building but striping a financial resource and putting it into your own gangland empire. The co-operative mode makes a welcome return and should lend itself to the carnage and enjoyment factor that this series delivers.