Saints Row 2

great game horrible port cant finish the mission cause it keeps crashing

This was a great game, but now all it does is crash. Just waiting for the game to be fixed now.

Replaying Saints Row 2 after so many years felt like opening an old photo album and reliving childhood memories. This game isn’t afraid to be absurd, chaotically fun, and genuinely engaging at the same time.

From the very first moments after escaping the hospital, the familiar atmosphere kicks in. City feels alive, crazy, and full of opportunities. The gameplay remains as wild and diverse as I remember, whether it’s working as a corrupt cop setting people up, driving a septic truck to spray buildings with filth, or diving deep into the main story. And speaking of the story, the classic revenge tale still holds up, making me care about my crew all over again.

Sure, the controls feel a bit outdated, and the graphics aren’t impressive anymore, but the atmosphere and sheer freedom make up for it. Saints Row 2 is an emotional throwback to a time when pure fun and chaos were the heart of gaming. And returning to that world was an absolute blast.

Score: 9/10.

Is it as good as the 360 version? No. There are many cutscene issues, and I've had it crash more often. And that's saying something, since the 360 version already isn't the most stable game out there. But at the end of the day, it's still Saints Row 2. It still has the same awesome features, awesome story, awesome everything :)

playing this game on an RX 580 and 7600 (two DDR5 ram) - the optimization is bad, but it's good enough to satisfy me and some other users

could probably not run on a toaster because of the optimization :(

also: if you're gonna play the game at 1440p or something, be aware of the fact that you will need a mod that allows you to do that, the game has clearly aged and so has the graphics, settings, etc

While the game itself is great fun, its practically unplayable without community patches and even with them its still a buggy mess.

This game was unstable and kept crashing on my pc even with the gentleman of row mod. On my steam deck, it only crash once when i got in a helicopter.

The game was pretty fun, and this is a person who is not really big fan of "gta" type gameplay if that makes sense. But i really enjoyed taking over the map, and seeing the saints gangs deal with the cops that were chasing me from time to time.

The story was silly here and there, but it knows when to take itself serous and when not too.
(kind of worried about that for saint row 3 and 4, but will see)

The variety of activities while very fun, i don't like being force to do them to proceed a mission. I rather decide on my own instead of the game forcing me to take breaks from them. Feels like padding as well.

I did enjoy the enemy gangs a lot, they had interesting gimmicks that i wanted to see play out like Mr. sunshine voodoo Magic. I did cheese a lot with the Rocket, so i cant really tell you in good faith about the quality or fairness of some of these fights (Besides the ones with helicopters, they must suck without infinite rockets or a good amount LMAO)

Hope people get the pc port they deserve, I had a lot of fun and will be moving on to saint row 3.

best saints row game with the best character and clothing customization

once you install GOTR patch and juiced, youll have a blast! though of course as everyone states, the regular pc port of this isnt great but with the patches i rarely had crashes, all in all, this game is great, worth playing for sure and def gave me some great laughs :)

and yes i did do the sacred 42nd mission
FYI

Rating: 9/10

Overview: Saints Row 2, developed by Volition, is the follow-up to the first installment in the Saints Row series, released in 2008. It's an open-world action-adventure game that allows players to take on the role of the leader of the 3rd Street Saints gang, who has returned from the dead (literally) after surviving an assassination attempt in the first game. Set in the fictional city of Stilwater, Saints Row 2 introduces a more refined and expansive world compared to its predecessor, with deeper customization, a greater focus on gang warfare, and a blend of serious themes and over-the-top gameplay.

Unlike other open-world titles like Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row 2 embraces its chaotic, over-the-top action and doesn't shy away from being wild, fun, and absurd. The game strikes a perfect balance between providing a serious narrative and allowing players to indulge in the kind of wacky activities that made the series famous.

Story: The story picks up with the protagonist, known as "The Boss," emerging from a coma after a failed assassination attempt. The Boss returns to Stilwater, which has been taken over by rival gangs and corrupt corporations. The goal is to reclaim the city and restore the 3rd Street Saints to their former glory.

The narrative is filled with memorable characters, twists, and a great sense of humor. As the story unfolds, players will clash with rival gangs, make alliances, and engage in wild and often absurd missions that involve everything from bank heists to demolishing rival gang hideouts. The storyline mixes moments of genuine drama with outlandish, comedic elements, ensuring players are engaged from start to finish.

One of the key features is the ability to customize the protagonist, which includes changing their appearance, outfits, voice, and even their personality. This allows players to feel more connected to the story and their role in it. The game’s storyline is not overly complex, but it is full of action-packed missions and quirky side plots that provide plenty of entertainment.

Gameplay: Saints Row 2 offers an extensive open-world experience with a variety of activities, missions, and side quests. The main campaign centers around completing story missions to take down rival gangs, reclaim territory, and ultimately dominate Stilwater.

The core gameplay consists of third-person shooting, driving, and combat, with an emphasis on fun and destruction. Players can engage in shootouts with rival gang members, participate in car chases, or simply wreak havoc in the city. One of the standout features is the ability to hijack vehicles and engage in over-the-top action, such as riding around in tanks, helicopters, or even driving a hovercraft.

The game also introduces a lot of customization options. Players can modify their character’s appearance, from clothing to tattoos, as well as customize vehicles with different paint jobs and accessories. This level of personalization adds a unique touch to the game, making it feel more tailored to the player’s preferences.

Saints Row 2 features a variety of side activities that are just as entertaining as the main missions. Activities like "Insurance Fraud," where you throw yourself in front of moving cars to earn money, or "Snatch," which involves kidnapping enemies, provide hilarious diversions from the main story. The game also includes multiplayer modes where players can team up with friends to tackle challenges and wreak havoc together.

Graphics and Performance: The graphics of Saints Row 2 are decent, though they show their age compared to modern open-world games. The environments are colorful and varied, with downtown areas, residential zones, and industrial districts that make the world feel alive. While the character models and textures aren’t the most detailed, the game compensates for this with its art style, which is more cartoonish and exaggerated.

Despite its age, Saints Row 2 runs smoothly on most systems. There can be occasional performance dips during chaotic moments with lots of explosions or vehicles on screen, but overall, the game performs well on modern PCs. Some technical issues, such as occasional glitches or outdated animations, may persist, but they don’t detract too much from the overall experience.

Audio Design: The audio in Saints Row 2 is an integral part of the game’s charm. The soundtrack is diverse and full of energy, with radio stations playing everything from hip-hop to rock and pop. The music fits well with the game’s tone, making driving and missions even more immersive.

Voice acting is top-notch, with a large cast of eccentric characters that bring the story to life. The Boss can be voiced in various ways, with different options available for players to choose from, adding another layer of customization. The dialogue is witty, and there are plenty of humorous moments throughout the game.

The sound design for the gameplay is equally strong. Gunfire, explosions, car engines, and ambient sounds in the city all help create a dynamic and lively world. The game's sound effects are satisfying, and the voiceovers bring the game's world to life with distinct personalities for each gang member and character.

Challenges: Saints Row 2 offers a balanced level of difficulty. The game doesn't hold the player's hand, but it’s generally not too punishing either. The challenge comes from managing your territory, completing complex missions, and dealing with powerful enemies. However, players can approach challenges in a variety of ways, from brute force to tactical strategies.

Some players may find that the game’s side activities can become repetitive over time, especially when focusing on objectives like clearing gang strongholds or collecting collectibles. However, the variety of these activities ensures that there’s always something fun to do between main missions.

Final Thoughts: Saints Row 2 remains a standout title in the open-world genre. It offers a mix of engaging storylines, chaotic gameplay, and tons of customization, making it a blast to play. The game manages to balance serious gang drama with over-the-top antics, giving players the freedom to explore, cause chaos, and indulge in a wide variety of activities.

Pros:

Fun, open-world action with plenty of freedom
Large variety of missions and side activities
Deep customization options for the character and vehicles
Engaging story with memorable characters
Humor-filled and wacky gameplay that doesn’t take itself too seriously
Good balance of challenge and accessible gameplay
Cons:

Graphics are somewhat dated by modern standards
Some repetitive side activities
Occasional technical glitches or outdated animations
Saints Row 2 is a must-play for fans of chaotic open-world games. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish, offering plenty of action, humor, and customization. Whether you're tackling the story or just driving around causing chaos, Saints Row 2 remains a fun and memorable experience.

I always wanted to play this game since I watched a walkthrough of it. Sadly you can't play it regularly without the Juiced version. Great game though. Absolute cinema.

A unstable port that is apparently known to crash regularly and has other issues including performance problems and NPCs in cutscenes, even the opening cutscenes, walking through walls and stuff while they're talking. For me it was fine for the first maybe 40 minutes of play, then crashed twice in the next hour or so, which is about where I draw the line these days (given what I'd also read about this being a constant issue).

Apparently you can make the game more stable (but still not *stable*) by installing a sequence of 3rd party patches and a different executable, but I wasn't willing to jump through those hoops or risk getting a virus over it.

As it is, this game should not be for sale and should be removed from Steam.

certified classic. legacy.
i definitely love this game, despite the terrible port. if you're experiencing fps drops or crashes try to install a Juiced Patch. it fixed a lot of issues with game for me

while the game itself is fantastic, this port is HORRIDif you can emulate xbox360, run that version instead its somehow more stable

Saints Row 2 is an open-world action-adventure game that continues the saga of the Saints, a notorious gang seeking to reclaim their turf in the fictional city of Stilwater. After the protagonist awakens from a coma, they discover that their former gang has been dismantled, and various rival factions have taken control. The story unfolds as the player embarks on a quest for vengeance and redemption, working to rebuild the Saints while navigating a world filled with chaos, humour, and emotional undertones. The game brilliantly balances absurdity with heartfelt moments, making it a unique experience in the open-world genre.

Positives

• Compelling Storyline: In my opinion, Saints Row 2 boasts the best story in the entire series. It weaves together a narrative that is both engaging and emotionally resonant, showcasing the highs and lows of gang life while maintaining a humorous tone. The blend of serious themes and wacky antics keeps players invested.
  
• Emotional Moments: Amidst the outrageous missions and quirky characters, there are very emotional moments that genuinely tug at the heartstrings. These scenes add depth to the characters and elevate the overall experience.
  
• Hilarious Game Modes: The game offers a variety of funny game modes that provide a refreshing break from the main storyline. Whether it’s participating in ridiculous challenges or engaging in over-the-top activities, each mode adds to the game's charm.
  
• Character Customisation: One of the standout features is the great character customisation system. Players can create their own unique character with an extensive range of options, from appearance to clothing. This allows for a personalised experience that enhances immersion.
  
• Innovative Weapons: The arsenal of fun weapons available in the game is nothing short of entertaining. From the standard firearms to the bizarre, the weapon choices encourage creative gameplay and add to the overall enjoyment.
  
• Memorable Side Characters: The game introduces a number of great side characters who are both interesting and entertaining. Each character has their own unique personality and backstory, contributing to the richness of the world.
  

Negatives

• Frequent Crashes on PC: Unfortunately, one of the significant downsides of Saints Row 2 is that the game can crash frequently on PC. This can be quite frustrating, as it interrupts the flow of gameplay and detracts from the overall experience.
  
[*]Grindy Reputation System: The reputation system in this game can become quite grindy, especially when compared to the more streamlined systems in Saints Row III and IV. Players may find themselves spending excessive time on repetitive tasks to progress, which can become tedious.

Conclusion

While Saints Row 2 is not without its flaws, as with any game, it remains an incredibly enjoyable experience. The combination of a compelling story, emotional depth, and hilarious gameplay makes it a standout title in the series. The game captures the essence of chaos and camaraderie in a way that few others do. Despite its crashes and grindy reputation system, I still RECOMMEND this game to anyone looking for a wild ride in the world of open-world gaming. It’s a true gem that deserves to be played.

Great game, terrible port for PC. I'd only recommend for single player use that you buy on sale and obtain mods that improve the game's performance.

good game mods work well if good pc

One of THE best games from a generation of gaming i was not able to experience myself just follow the instructions of the highest rated comment and get ALL those mods and fixes......while i have played it before it was extremely laggy and all . I still enjoyed it quite a bit, now with all these mods i can relive the greatness once again....also great on mid end pc's with these mods.....got it at like 80% off but still would pay full price

if the game keep crashing for you, refund and buy it on GOG. it works flawlessly there. i got it for only 2 USD.

i don't quite understand why this is listed as not working with steamdeck. worked great for me. awewsome game, even by today's standards.

a really good game but is very and i mean VERY broken crashes every few times deletes my save files even after downloading stuff to fix it i'd only recommend either the new saints row or saints row 2 for PS3/XBOX 360

Saints Row 2 is the best in the series and I find it to be a amazing game. However the PC port barely runs at all and using the Gentlemen Of The Row mod pack only extends the game from not crashing for 10 to 30 minutes. This game is a 10/10 but I'd recommend playing this game on a PS3 or Xbox since backwards compatibility

SR2 is the best SR game. I Loved them all (besides the reboot, it was okay) but I remember playing SR2 and SR3 on the Xbox 360 all the time. Both amazing games. Too bad the reboot basically killed the franchise.

Game that saved the west probably. Port is an absolute joke and there's mods that go a long way fixing it, had very limited success with desktop and deck (due to my incompetence probably) so I've stuck to emulating a console release. Game is great, shame the patch will never release.

First off, you need hella mods to get the game working, and even after that getting multiplayer to work will send you down an endless spiral of forum posts and Reddit threads with no end.

This is a GEM of a game!

The open world has a lot to do and explore. Personally I felt that the later iterations lost a little bit of that artistic soul that made the open world feet more alive and dynamic.

With that said, the PC Port for Saints Row is poorly optimized.
You will have to manually download and install a few essential fixes to make the game playable again.
[Which, I'll list them out below]

01. STEAMLESS (An extremely essential DRM Removal tool)

https://github.com/atom0s/Steamless/releases

• Download The Latest Version of Steamless from the link above.
  
• Launch the Steamless executable.
  
• Locate your SR2_pc.exe.
  [found where Saints Row 2 is installed]
  
• Select the "Unpack File" option to remove Steam DRM.
  
• Rename the newly created "SR2_pc.exe.unpacked" file to simply "SR2_pc.exe" to replace your original executable.
  

02. Large Address Awareness Patch (4GB Patch)

https://ntcore.com/4gb-patch/

• Download the 4GB Patch from the above link.
  
• Extract and Launch the 4gb patch executable.
  
• Locate your SR2_pc.exe to apply the patch.
  [found where Saints Row 2 is installed]
  
• Select the "Okay" option when it's done.
  

03. DXVK Patch

https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/releases

• Download the Latest Version of DXVK from the above link.
  
• Extract/open the latest version of the dxvk.tar.gc file
  
• Within you'll find a folder named "x32"
  
• Copy "d3d9.dll" and "dxgi.dll"
  
• Paste both files where SR2_pc.exe is located.
  [found where Saints Row 2 is installed]
  

04. Saints Row 2 Juiced

https://www.saintsrowmods.com/forum/threads/saints-row-2-juiced-patch.21627/

• Download the latest version of this patch.
  
• Extract all the files and folders of the patch to where SR2_pc.exe is located.
  
• Open the "reloaded.ini" configuration file using a text editor.
  
• Carefully read through and Manually enable essential fixes one by one.
  
• Avoid enabling anything that has "Experimental" flag
  
• Save and Close.
  

05. Gentlemen of the Row Mod

https://www.saintsrowmods.com/forum/threads/gentlemen-of-the-row.24/

• Download Gentlemen of the Row v1.9.2 from the above link.
  
• The Installation instructions are provided within, it is fairly simple and easy to follow.
  

06. RADMIN VPN (Use this to play coop with friends!)

https://www.radmin-vpn.com
(The Juiced patch does provide another way to play CO-OP and Multiplayer using Openspy, but you may need to port-forward and possibly change your firewall settings etc to get it to work - I personally prefer Radmin VPN since it's free and easy to setup and it offers you a safe virtual local area network without much hassle)

• You and your friends must Download and Install Radmin VPN. (it's completely free).
  
• You must 'Create A Network' within Radmin VPN for you and yours friends.
  
• Share the Name and Password of your Network to your friend/friends.
  
• You and your friends then needs to connect to that Network.
  
• Start Saints Row 2, then you can Start/Host/Load a CO-OP > LAN PLAY from the main menu.
  
• Your friend can then Find Your Game and Request to Join you under the COOP LAN menu.
  
• You both need to Make sure that you have installed all the fixes and mods mentioned above.
  
[*] You both Need to have absolutely identical Installations of the "Gentlemen of the Row Mod".

And with that, you can enjoy this game with your friends or by self to your hearts content!

A true masterpiece, one of the only games that’s kept me interested after finishing it, sad to see where this series has gone.
The pc port fucking sucks but sr2 juiced fixes literally everything so if you have half a brain cell you should be able to download it.

Very badly ported, constant crashes, good was great on console but not playable on the port.

Saints Row 2 delivers an open-world experience full of chaos, humor, and freedom. Its diverse missions and customization options make it a must-play for fans of action-packed adventures!

I highly recomened you buying this game for cheap. It has a great story, missions and weapons. But you have to download stability mods to be able to play this game. Use this https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2652709959 to stabilize the game

You can also play co-op with your friends if they download the same mods as you.

To play, you have to get Radmin VPN, create a server and your buddy joins or he creates a server and you join him. After the person joins the server, click co-op and LAN PLAY, online won't work.

This game sits in a weird spot. It is regarded as a GTA clone yet manages to be its own thing.
There are some dark moments in the game but for the most part is just mad fun. Not as insane and over the top as the next games. I can see that this game really does lead to SR3 (in a gameplay and story sense), since they went further into extreme with SR2 compared to SR1.
The only thing here is that SR1 and SR2 are connected, like SR3 and SR4 are. I consider those 2 different branches of the story. In SR1 and 2 the boss wants to rid of the gangs in order to create a safe place for kids to grow up. To complete that rival gangs were destroyed and the saints as well. But after certain events in 2 it goes totally opposide. Without Saints new gangs arise and now you get those and in the end revenge plot comes to a close only for your character to embrace the evil he has become.
Your character and the saints aren't morally grey. You've been playing as the bad guy this whole time and you end the game as a bad guy.

The customization in this game is insane (both character and clothing). The music is great. The missions fun and side quests funny. The map is rather small but packed with things and a lot of stuff happening (with NPCs). So the world feels alive.

The HUGE downside is the PC port. Aim acceleration, bugs, crashes and a whole lot of issues plague this game. Thankfully there are guides to solve this created by the community.

one of the best games ive ever played. please fix the bugs tho! the cut scenes are WACK

Such a great game, it may be janky for pc and that i had to download a mod so my pc wouldnt crash for every mission, but other then that, it was good, and i would recommend that to others, because i love the saints row

the pc port is really REALLY bad but there are some mods that can help with that and trust me, its worth it

The Game is super fun and the customazation for your character is amazing the only thing is after acouple hours of game play the game will crash. Apparently from others that have played its been a thing since the relese on steam, I do hope this ishue gets resolved one day. Otherwise from that ive loved this game.

If u wanna play on PC port from steam is buggy as f*ck. You can buy it from GOG its still have a lot of bugs and needed to mod or use this guide from RaveN (I used the guide and I play without no problem)

Guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2652709959

This is one of the best games I've ever played, great characters, great missions, 10/10 ending. But sadly the game does have crashing issues and a terrible port but so far it only happens every once in a while, make sure to download the patches and to save your again frequently so you don't lose progress when you do missions or stuff.

This game is the only game in ENTIRE series worth anything. This is the classic. The online when this game was new was amazing. Tons of laughs as you battle with the seemingly never ending amount of undying pimps. GTA for dirty minded people with a need for just passing the time.

Enjoying the Co-op grind (mind the glitches / bugs and unintended features). Just make sure to mod your game before playing or you're going to have a fun filled un-updated steam version from 2009 to play.

This one is the best in the series of Saint's Row. It is better than all of them including the reboot. But the problem is that the game runs poorly: crashes, stuttering, frame rate drops, and other problems that show what a piss poor port it is.

If you can play the game do so with no hesitation, but don't get it on Steam or PC.

bug at mission Laundry Money, when in last cutscene force closed.

great game, very nostalgic. PSA can be pretty buggy sometimes

A classic gangster / car racing game, with many of the same great features as the most famous in this genre ;) Some crashes in the PC version tho, can only play on Low graphics setting despite having a good gaming PC.

A really good open world crime game, definitely can scratch that itch for that genre. (via gentlemen of the row mod)

Best open world game of all time, Keeps on getting better with community patches from SR Mods website.

I've loved this game since it came out. Look at the guides because it does need a patch to work. Once I installed the patch it has since worked flawlessly. I love how funny this game is, the character customization, the storylines, and the play style.

has very poor optimization but it can be fixed with modding, overall the game is fun.

the game is fun but you cant have anything else open or it will crash

EXTREMELY BUGGY! keeps closing out and doesn't automatically save progress so i have to save manually every 5 minutes. some missions or even stealing a car causes the game to crash and close automatically. disappointing as i loved this game on ps2 however the PC version is a lost cause.

Even though I think it is too old for me to play it now, I played it for nostalgia. If you know the franchise, play it for nostalgia, the bugs must not be considered (my opinion).