Hey everyone, missed a Christmas upload this year, so I'm putting out this preview to let everyone know I'm cracking along. This is roughly the first quarter of the upcoming Saints Row 2022 video, and I hope it entertains and gets you excited for the full thing. I hope everyone had a good Christmas and has a good new year. Oh and in case anyone is worried. I make no predictions for how the next year will turn out in this video so there's little chance I'll doom us all again.
@Janfon1
Жыл бұрын
Happy New Year! Thank you for the quick gift before entering the next year, it has indeed made me excited for the full thing
@mecc2445
Жыл бұрын
That vampire pun, though. S rank stuff!
@_zigger_
Жыл бұрын
It's okay, Christmas is on 7th of January for normal people🙂
@roys.1889
Жыл бұрын
Snake there's a part of me wondering if you're ever gonna cover Saints Row the way you have with Yakuza after 6 or LAD. Considering we're already 30 minutes in to your NuSR video already, It'd be interesting to watch at least. Also Advanced Happy New Year! Can't wait to hear how 6 will be a soup of the world trying to move on from Kiryu (what with 60-70% of the series' cast gone for most of the story) and the self-destructive nature of tradition and secrecy for their own sake (the you-know-what and the people keeping it a secret) and the triumphant return of Pocker Circuit Fighter.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
I don't think I'll go through Saints Row as a whole, I'm half using this video as a conduit to talk about what I like in 2 anyway so while it won't cover all the ground, I think I'll hit all the thoughts I really want to get out about it
@nerdyvids1
Жыл бұрын
I think zero punctuation summed up the issue with three pretty well where it doesn’t fully commit as much as it should. It bounces back-and-forth between trying to be grounded in wacky, but with none of the elegance of two. Four works better because it has fully left reality and logic behind, and goes all in rather than bluffing
@GhostNappa2k10
Жыл бұрын
Ah yes, a small 36 minute preview. Fucking hell, mate. This is gonna be a big one. Looking forward to it!
@HansAlRachid
Жыл бұрын
Massive kudos to your ability to endure this gameplay formula for such extended periods of time and even more massive kudos to your ability to make it entertaining. Totally agree on Saints Row 3 being the tipping point by the way.
@LucaxCorp
Жыл бұрын
Your ability to endure bad gameplay for the sake of informing and entertaining people will never cease to impress me. Good on ya Snake.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
I don't see it as "enduring" in all cases cause while bad, I still somewhat enjoy it in a breaking it down sense. It's fun sometimes to try and engage with half baked ideas, maybe something is wired wrong with me but I don't really see something like this as an endurance test, at least not right now.
@michaelkitchin9665
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer It's one of the few games this year I couldn't stop thinking about. It's a fascinating collection of odd decisions. I took on a review copy after the horse had already bolted but I still had to know where Volition went. Turns out they didn't really cover that much ground. I felt a strange lack of commitment from Saints Row.
@dimma4c8
Жыл бұрын
Looks less bad and more just "bland/boring". It works fine, but thats about it
@x0xlucas
Жыл бұрын
I've got to say, your writing is some of the best (if not THE best) among the 'video essayist' here, it's always so smartly written with jokes and setups that'll pay off later. Also "you're so basic, I could code you in Atari" is so good I'm going to be using in the future hahaha.
@jtlego1
Жыл бұрын
"The Docks, Also Known As Docks" lives in my head rent-free.
@SquareHeadSlacker
Жыл бұрын
I know right. This video by itself is better than frost/nixon.
@TheKingOfJordan1
Жыл бұрын
"There are vampires that can handle stakes better than this game, since they at least have the heart to go through with it" is a better joke than anything in the game.
@no-man_baugh
Жыл бұрын
Something that I really didn't catch until replaying Revelation (the mission in 2 with Jules): Saints Row already covered "what if gang but corporate" in the first game with the Vice Kings. And that Saints Row didn't even play them off as parody
@funnywes
Жыл бұрын
as a diehard saints 1-2 fan im loving this. one of the few legitimate dunks ive seen on this new game that hasn't been "i wanted it to be like 2, something something its woke". really well put together so far, highly anticipating the full video
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Hell yeah! Glad you're enjoying it
@fuzzydunlop7928
Жыл бұрын
The understated wit of your writing makes me wish it wasn't so understated, that more people may recognize and acknowledge it. There's zero wankery to your writing, you rapid-fire zingers in such a matter-of-fact tone that I often find myself going "wait, did he just call the protagonist 'Martial Matters'!?" and rewinding the video. You're good, dude. You are very good.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Genuinely appreciate the kind words, as I feel my writing is pretty wankery, but I enjoy writing this way so whatever works
@torylva
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer About as wankery as Pratchett. It would be wankery if you paused after every zinger to go "eh eh?" as if people would not understand it otherwise
@fuzzydunlop7928
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer Okay, wankery is extant but you use wankery as part of the tone you're trying to establish - it's part of the whole. Other content creators will use it as a crutch - calling attention to something they're proud to have written by breaking rhythm and pointing it out. The more aware will perhaps be self-deprecating about it, all the while still calling attention to it indirectly but covering it with a thin glaze of often-false humility. It's superfluous wankery, I suppose I mean. You don't feel the need to coddle the words - you let them speak for themselves which shows great self-control and confidence on a platform where success stems from either luck or an enormous, ravenous sense of mercenary self-importance. I've been watching your stuff since 2016, to me you're one of the OG's of that middle era of "game analysis" along with the likes of Joseph Anderson, SuperBunnyHop, Noah Caldwell-Gervais, etc - you're also the only one I'm aware of that still regularly produces content more-or-less the same as they always have and perhaps the one that's gotten the least amount of attention or exposure out of that bunch which sucks because you're the best comedic writer out of all of them, while still able to integrate poignancy into your scripts as an added bonus. I am trying to make up for the algorithm fucking you for the past few years by lavishing you with praise. I know it's a poor substitute for legal tender but all the same it comes from the heart - regardless of the amphetamines that may or may be pumping through it concurrently. They're all genuine observations from watching your content over the years. I don't believe Stockholm Syndrome is a factor.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate it a ton man, don't worry about me and the algorhythm, I'm sure the algo will win but I'll go down swinging regardless and I'm glad to have kept your on board for so long
@fuzzydunlop7928
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer Keep fighting the good fight, my dude. I'll be here to do the engagement shenanigans and offer unsolicited opinions.
@planescaped
Жыл бұрын
This game has some of the most insufferable characters ever put to a video game. And this is in a world where David Cage exists.
@jtlego1
Жыл бұрын
More insufferable than the fucking *YIIK cast*. Thats almost impressive.
@PenguinDT
Жыл бұрын
As they are now part of the 'current year' Gearbox, they'll be right at home writing for whatever zoomer-streamer-inspired ear-bleed Borderlands IV is undoubtedly going to be.
@yersiniopestis2553
Жыл бұрын
I really liked Saints Row 2. Its the perfect mix of serious and goofy. The characters are funny but there is actual tension in their interactions. You want to do missions for them since you like them. The other gangs also felt intimidating because they are constantly fucking with you and your friends so you really want them off the streets. The only thing I don't like about 2 is the gameplay is a little clunky but it does its job well enough. It also still keeps the hardened criminal vibe that I don't think even Yakuza quite manages to pull of as well. The new game feels like a game written by college students where you play as college students that are a sort of gang. Its really out of touch of the original tone and should have just been a different ip entirely.
@YZY_Fox21
Жыл бұрын
Kenn michael,cockney voice,Rebecca voice,And the most hilarious ones is how well Katie samine playing her roles as femboss in Voice 1 its even better than Laura Bayley itself(Hell she can do Some High pitch voices that makes her cutest at the same times and badass)
@bigsmoke394
Жыл бұрын
In my opinion, Saints row 2022 is better than saints row 2 because in SR2 the gameplay sucks and missions were terrible. In saints row 2022 the missions are actually really fun and entertaining. The side missions are pretty cool as well.
@yersiniopestis2553
Жыл бұрын
@@bigsmoke394 Wow. I couldn't disagree more. Between the thousands of snarky lines that make me cringe out of my chair, and the not that much better gameplay, it just throughly unimpressed me. SR2 has heart to it. The characters are well written, the rival bosses are fun to hate, and I enjoyed most of the side missions. Granted I couldn't get that far into 2022 SR because it made me want to die playing it, so I can't really compare the two as accurately. From what I played, I really didn't like it at all and thought it had no redeeming qualities other than that New Mexico seems like a pretty place.
@stefanocer3094
Жыл бұрын
"It's not just on the nose, it's downright in there, and yet this guy says it's not" If it's not accidental, it might be your greatest pun
@xLeandroIX
Жыл бұрын
"Eli , mate, you are so goddamn basic,i could code you on an Atari" Had to stop the video because i couldn't stop laughing for 5 minutes
@shaheerjazbhay1717
Жыл бұрын
Nice touch using the scene from Yakuza 3 which is a whole story dump where the chapter's name is "The plot" when you mentioned that it's a bit more wordy.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Also from Yakuza 3, the first entry I played in the series
@Youdoinggood
Жыл бұрын
It really do be the plot
@arskakarva7474
Жыл бұрын
I was actually kinda sad that Saints Row 4's thing took place in a virtual reality and it wasn't just that because the Boss is an utter buffoon they self-convince themselves they have superpowers just because they're the President (and drink too much Saints Flow while listening to the greatest hits of the 80's) and now they're going to Duke Nukem an alien invasion.
@boarfaceswinejaw4516
Жыл бұрын
middle class kids pretending to be lower class people forced into crime is already a hard sell when you try to make your characters likeable.
@fuzzydunlop7928
Жыл бұрын
That's why I think the part of Saints Row 2 set in and around the university was a good move - natural intersection between suburbanite youth and inner-city crime - frat boys need to get their drugs from somewhere. It introduced characters like Shaundi and somenhow made them likeable. Until the third game where they just make her into a different character entirely, I guess. It also helped establish a jackass-like tone to the game.
@r0de
Жыл бұрын
0:18 "I suppose you could call me old Testament" Honestly Snake, I don't know if it this gets said enough, but your ability to just subtly insert tongue-in-cheek humour like that into a longform Script, without it de-railing the flow or slowing down the pace, is unrivaled Dunno if it's that Trademark Bri'ish Snark, but I'm always positively surprised by it
@DickieCheezits
Жыл бұрын
> Preview > Nearly 36 minutes Never change, Snake.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
lmao
@DickieCheezits
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer You probably think I'm kidding, but I'm dead fucking serious.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
@@DickieCheezits Vague threat of death is a pretty good incentive
@maxresdefault3850
Жыл бұрын
Now that Volition is getting absorbed by Gearbox. It's a little sad to see them go. Being appreciated for one specific title must be a blessing and curse.
@PenguinDT
Жыл бұрын
Yes but no; Volition had a long track record of excellent games and two other cult franchises. However, they were stuck with only Saints Row because they no longer had the rights to anything else (Descent is a source of legal battles to this day, whilst Red Faction was purchased by THQ Nordic after the O.G. THQ's collapse).
@isabellamorris7902
Жыл бұрын
Wow, I had assumed people were overstating how anti-charismatic the leads were because they had a Pride flag in their flat, but nope they actually do seem like pretty gross people. This is peak millennial marketing, like that super-corporate phony shit that people did in the mid 2010s before they understood how to fake authenticity
@zyonhunter
Жыл бұрын
i like that you pointed out how the characters in the new game are trying so hard to be likable, you end up just hating them. atleast the saints in two knew they were dirtbags but they either acknowledge it, or didn't care. also having the main character be this perfect person who can do no wrong and just blame it on their superiors for their own short coming makes them come off as a narcissist.
@roys.1889
Жыл бұрын
12:35 - The truth bomb of the century is that by this logic, MGSV is a better Saints Row game than Saints Row is. PMCs and the ethics of corporatism in the context of mercenary warfare is a big part of the lore and that game explores it and its after-effects way better than NuSR ever will.
@thecoolestfool7688
Жыл бұрын
whenever Kevin speaks, I can't stop thinking about Yagami from Judgement since both of them share a VA
@NishaPerson
Жыл бұрын
"Kaito-san, the capitalist system we live under is responsible for the injustices of the court system."
@thecoolestfool7688
Жыл бұрын
@@NishaPerson "YAGAMI, THE MOLE KILLED ANOTHER PERSON" "Welp, that just happened"
@manukau5271
Жыл бұрын
“These guys won’t stop coming on us!” “Well that’s a thing…”
@thegamingprozone1941
Жыл бұрын
Oh yeah I forgot about the English dub I use sub
@TheFreakDownStreet
Жыл бұрын
As someone who prefers the latter half of the original saint’s games, I was actually happy when they said the tone would be between 2 and 3. The third was still too masturbatory and 4/GoH had basically taken any thing reasonable and tossed it. Somewhere in the middle genuinely feels right were saint’s row needs to be. Chaotic goof ball, but with enough sense to make the chaos worth something. By god did they fail to reach that completely mundane height. (Fuck I forgot how “How do you do, fellow kids” this game’s writing is)
@wintermute5974
Жыл бұрын
Strongly agree with this. In 3 it felt somewhat appropriate for how egotistical and high off success the characters were meant to be, but 4 just seemed like Volition falling too in love with their own creations.
@THATGuy5654
Жыл бұрын
The "Billboard Maneuver" was probably not something to put into the intro. You don't go full looney tunes unless you're ready to stay at full looney tunes.
@michaelkitchin9665
Жыл бұрын
I'll have to replay it but I think that's the only driving she does in the game, too.
@bigsmoke394
Жыл бұрын
@@michaelkitchin9665 It's not
@bitarctic4859
Жыл бұрын
I lament the new SR, not because of what it is or what it was going for, but because they had the pieces in place for a serious crime drama that DOES allow for player expression, only instead of in side content, in the main story proper. Ill preface this by saying that while I was mulling this over, it occurred to me that it sounds somewhat like Shin Megami Tensei and the concept of Law, Chaos, and Neutral alignments, but bare with. The four main characters dont need to be established super buds at the start, but being friendly is fine, so long as that friendship comes from a commonality: money problems. Its super easy to use. The boss is restricted by their student loans, and every year they cant pay it off, the debt gets worse. Theyve tried every legal job they can, and its led them to Marshall, where their desperation brings out a skill in high pressure situations they didnt know they had before, as well as leads them to taking a life. But, despite their abilities, they go unfairly unregocnized, and it leads them to the idea of taking their skills into their own direction. Nina wants more than anything to be an artist, and engineering skills she learned in the past is all that allows her to make ends meet. This led to her being picked up by the Panteras, as they pay her well, well enough to live as she pleases between jobs. It also, however, comes with a moral dilemma for her. She, before the start of the game, hasnt committed a crime herself, in a direct manner anyway. But she knows shes an accessory to crimes, and murder, through the shop work shes done for the Panteras, and now theyre starting to pressure her garage into chopshop work as well. She wants the easy money, but doesnt want to be a part of something she has no say in how its run. Eli (is that his name? I immediatly forgot after watching the video and I cant be bothered to look it up) is motivated by the general want to succeed. He doesnt necessarily have terrible money issues, but does see how money is restricting his roomies and their growimg friendship. He is business minded, and decently good, but just hopping into a random company with good accumen doesnt get you a good salary. For the sake of his success, and to help his friends, hes pushed more towards the white collar crime, and slowly becomes detached from the morals of it as he grows successful, and soon hes only driven by success for its own sake, and not charity. Kevin grew up poor, and know what its like to try desperatly to earn money to live; he watched his parents work themselves to death. In spite, he tries living off the grid so to speak (no bank accounts, money handled only physically, never signs a contract when he DOES work), and is seen kinda like hes bumming off the others kindness. But he does contribute, cooking, cleaning, and generally being a positive influence. He takes to the Idols, (who in this concept are less of a gang and more a political activist group), as they espouse ideals (hah) that resonate with him. One in particular is their stance on crime; don't hate the criminal, hate the laws that force them into crime. He watches as the people who showed him kindness slowly are drawn more into the criminal world just to survive (and soon to thrive) and it firmly solidifies his ties to the increasingly anarchist and extremist Idols, who go from a nuisance political group, to almost a rebel militia over the course of the story. As the Boss, you could have options who to support, and not just through dialogue options or button presses. Give the player the option of story or faction missions to complete, but lock out other ones based on that decision. Who ypu resonate and side with changes how the story branches. And in the end, its the players choice what the Saints become.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
If it were up to me I'd stick to a more linear path and make the Saints a lot more customisable for expression, I like these character write ups (which actually give them any character), Zeroing in on Eli, I cut a portion from later in the video which does more or less the same as you're doing, reinterprets him I used a clip of London gangster Bobby Cummine's when talking about "Crime as a business" and I was gonna pull that back around to talk about Eli later. Bobby wasn't a criminal until a couple of coppers stitched him up and he told himself "You wanna see me be bad, I'll show you how bad I can be.", he had criminal friends who had no direction, but Bobby was an excellent organiser and planner, and sort of took the reins as someone who had bigger ideas and a means to direct people. And uh, well it would have probably been sprawling but I think Eli could have been someone like that. Seeing these three "talented" but disorganised "gangsters" and giving them direction.
@bitarctic4859
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer Absolutely agree on that as well. I was more focusing on the marketing speak of "player expression through the NPC allies" and the claim itd be more serious. Like, if they wanted that, they did nothing to capitalize on the potential they had on their table already.
@DannyFedora
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer this version of eli sounds a lot like a reimagining of julius' role in SR1 - while the boss/Playa is doing the fieldwork, julius/eli is essentially the mastermind/brains/"official" leader of the gang which for a reboot is honestly a good way to go. if you're not going to bring back the fan favorite characters, bring back/modernize their archetypes
@anonymoose1121
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the preview, hugely looking forward to the whole thing. I was "let down" by the latest Saints game (I didn't hold much hope to begin with) and I've been craving to hear a breakdown from someone that sits where I do with the franchise, 2 being my favorite as well. You're the best man for it!! Have a great New Years!!!!
@bobwozere1
Жыл бұрын
Jesus this is quality. You're an alchemist, turning that turd of game into a very enjoyable video. Can't wait for the full vid
@marknificence2474
Жыл бұрын
"There are vampires that handle stakes better than this game, because at least they have the heart to go through with it." There's a wealth of wonderful wordplay in this video, but that has to be my favorite. Might have to poach it for my own use later. Can't wait for the full review. Stay awesome, Snake.
@OV3RK1LL3R65
Жыл бұрын
I'm downright giddy that Snake likes the game purely because it offers such a buffet of bizzaro creative decisions to analyze and critique. The game was dragged over the coals on launch by most youtubers, but im not sure any of them really scratched the surface on how utterly baffling this game is.
@theoutsiderjess1869
Жыл бұрын
The Nina rescue is the weirdest thing I have ever seen in the series simply cause she pulled a Tony Hawk American Wasteland gimmick with the billboard but with less charm
@Jezzared
Жыл бұрын
As someone who entered the series at 3, it's my favorite. I actually thought it struck the balance in tone perfectly, and have always been intrigued by the opinion that other people prefer 2, which to me didn't feel all that different in that respect. 4 is wildly out of tone compared, but i also think it's a masterclass in writing the absurd as though it's standard. Making the phrase "The President of the united states, who is a gang leader, shoots aliens down with a red white and blue flak cannon on the front lawn of the white house." not just contextually relevant but actually plausible in the setting is a feat in and of itself. The superhero genre really clashes with the crime sandbox, though. I actually didn't hate the idea of the reboot when it came out, but i still haven't shelled out the money simply because of its lukewarm reception. Honestly, if it was completely bad it might be fun just to jab at, but its middling success makes it simply dull, in the series most noted for going completely off the rails. I honestly love both Yakuza and Saints Row for providing crime drama that is simultaneously absurd, action movie fun, while also being able to hold a more serious tone (even if only at points, for SR). I wish we had more games in that genre, but i almost wonder if the monkeys paw is that they'd all end up like the SR reboot: trying so hard to accomplish something when they lack the deeper understanding of why it succeeded in the first place. With good writing, though, the saints row games are fairly replayable for me, which is not something that happens often with story driven games. Maybe this'll inspire me to try and make SR2 run without crashing again. Maybe. Nonetheless, i'm very excited that you've decided to cover this. Your sacrifice for our sanity is noted and appreciated. And i know you'll give it the fair shake it sorta could use.
@ProsperoCh
Жыл бұрын
Only partially related, but you reminded me of why I find the Boss in 2 to be the best iteration of the character. They come across as genuinely smart and cunning, scheming up some absolutely diabolical plans to get back at their enemies, and always willing to cheat if they get backed into a corner. But they're not infallible either, where it's entirely possible for them to fail or for someone to get the upper hand on them. Compare that to the Boss from 3 or 4, who has the intelligence of a salmon and couldn't tell left from right without Kinzie or Asha or whoever else to point them in the correct direction. They're far too busy being WACKY to be an actual character. And then there's the Boss in this, who is as competent as the story needs them to be but always comes across as incredibly lame, no matter what.
@natedigger5678
Жыл бұрын
I remember reading a text interview ages ago where one of the devs spoke about how the dark themes in 2 scared and intimidated him and how he was a vocal proponent of removing them.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Got a link on that?
@natedigger5678
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer I should have clarified, it was around Saints Row 3, not the new game. I'll see if I can find it.
@proudnhello1294
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate you driving on the left side of the road the whole time.
@Conflict-ff5pi
Жыл бұрын
It's interesting to me to look at the cutscenes in this game and think about how the player character in saints row 2 would have reacted to them. If you'd tried to stiff that sociopath on pay after the job's already done, he'd have made it his mission to tear you to pieces in the most petty and violent ways imaginable. But this player character just meekly takes it with a bit of backtalk and then complains in the car while slinking off, tail between his legs. Really just ruins the power fantasy that's meant to be inherent to games of this genre.
@torylva
Жыл бұрын
If they wanted to make the game all about "Crime but business!" They should have focused on the business side. Crime is not the reason for the business, business is the reason for the crime. Murder and plunder is all well and good, but who will pay for the graves? If your people gets put in jail, who will take care of their families? This is real things criminal empires has to consider and even deal with in a very... Corporate way. Like having people whos job is to take the blame and go to prison. Not some horrible backstab, but rather "If you go to prison for 10 years, we will take care of your family and give you 100.000 dollars when you are released."
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
It's another part of how very few of the pieces fit together, they picked crime as a business but either lacked the wit or confidence to drill into what that means. Cause as you pointed out with avoiding bad business and making sure people are covered. I think there's comedy to be mined there. but new Saints Row is just so empty headed that it devolves into mindless quips and constant padded out gunfights
@torylva
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer Exactly. If they had the patient for the long haul, they could also have it devolve into corporate culture after you hit the big leagues. You slowly realise that your entire dream of freedom was overtaken by the slow corporate drilling of profit and the entire PLAN of making it for yourself disappeared. It became about the day to day workings of a criminal empire, the minutia of things like signing paychecks and making sure those you have a protection racket actually pays up. Not you, because you are the boss now. You just sign the paperwork. At first, you only come in once a week to get some work done and then go out doing crazy shit to build your empire. Towards the end, the empire is built, you don't have the time to do crazy antics because each day is you going in to sign off on paperwork and then meet with other mid-bosses to plan the week. And you realise there is no time for crazy antics if you want to run it successfully.
@dmaker4147
Жыл бұрын
Ya know, I dont know what's going to happen in 2023, but I sure do hope that your channel will grow and get the recognition it deserves. Oh, yeah, and you personally, stay safe and never change unless it's for the better
@ValentineGrimCC
Жыл бұрын
This here is a preview of the comment I'll leave under the full video.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Exciting!
@Slysheen
Жыл бұрын
Focusing on 2 vs 3 for a bit, I'm in the camp that likes 3, but that's also because it was my first, and that seems to be the general story of most of us who do. I would be very interested in seeing those numbers across the fandom to see if it's a wider trend. I wonder how much of the feel of 3 is taken in relation to 2, with the "not going far enough" bit, since as someone with none of that context I felt 3 hit a good sweet spot of being wacky but not going completely off the rails and the cuts back to darker reality felt more like a reverse slapstick gag aided by their usual briefness. It's like being the straightman in a comedy routine but instead of being just the observer you're forced to go along with the insanity. -- I'm very glad you're tackling this Snake, even as others went "Bad game bad" I had to stop and go "Yes, but that's not it, there's meat on these bones and while we can probably guess it's rancid meat there's still plenty to dig through."
@heroinboblivesagain5478
Жыл бұрын
Only snakerer would call a 35 minute video a "preview" Mans always on that grind. Can't wait for the whole thing.
@EmmyTee
Жыл бұрын
I really resonated with your thoughts about the game being full of weird and contradictory ideas. I think watching so much game criticism broke me, because I really enjoyed SR2022 for all its weird features, despite the whole package being lackluster and often frustrating. Anyway, happy holidays and thanks for still being around! Can't believe I'm watching you for 4 years already, here's for 4 more.
@MrDrCthulhu
Жыл бұрын
"Who is this for?" is what I asked myself over and over in regards to this game. I can only assume the people Volition made this game for don't actually play video games, considering the absolute flop it ended up being. Looking forward to the full review.
@namlesone
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your insistence on having puns in the script, Snake, they're truly remarkable in this one.
@xBrakit
Жыл бұрын
Man, each upload from you is an event at this point. I know this is only the intro but I'm already floored. I don't know how you manage to have the little zingers in your writing land EVERY time without it coming across as snobbery, each time you drop one of your little writing flourishes I either start cracking up or lean back in my chair with an eyebrow raise, caught off guard by how much it adds to the commentary. I know I said it on your Yakuza 0 video, but I feel like I won the lottery with one of your videos landing in my recommended some years back. I know it's a commonly-aired opinion in your comments section, but you really are a hidden gem of a channel. I'm not sure if the powers that be will give you the exposure you deserve, but speaking personally, in terms of quality you're up there with the greats in my book. In terms of video essays on games from passionate dorks, it's Noah Gervais, Running Shine, and you at the top shelf for me. Thanks as always for the quality work, Snake! Looking forward to the full review.
@plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009
Жыл бұрын
Eli caring about carbon footprint is already a proof he is a poser Anyone who really cares about the environment knows that individual carbon footprint is bullshit to take away responsibility from corporations
@MSupaCroc
Жыл бұрын
Dude, your rewriting of the beginning mission was great.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Thanks very much!
@samz8691
Жыл бұрын
I can relate to the intro a bit, I'm a fan of several games in various series (Such as Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops/AC!D, Tomb Raider Underworld and Serious Sam 2) that the lead dev/new devs in interviews/references clearly do not like. (in Tomb Raider Underworld's case, I hear that apparently in a too-long-didn't-watch Noclip Documentary, they even call Underworld a mistake outright while Kojima seemed to try to ignore Portable Ops and AC!D even more so.) It sucks when either the old devs (or new devs who are now making the series) really seem like they couldn't care less about your personal favourites in it.
@fbmb1337
Жыл бұрын
The only thing that makes me happier to see this on my feed (because I guess your suffering makes for really good points about game design) was that verbal evisceration of an interview you showcased. I don't think I've ever seen any game exec be so throroughly shutdown by a valid criticism that they just blue screen and default to corporate speech. Masterful.
@yungoldman2823
Жыл бұрын
“Id say nuts to them, but theyd probably just laugh” man your writing is absolutely impeccable
@H1GHLANDER360
Жыл бұрын
I'm real excited to see what you have to say about this game. Seeing all the discourse regarding this game made me feel like the director's had no idea what they wanted to do with this game. Either a comedy or a crime drama, it feels like a bizzare mix. I played a bit of the second game but did playthrough and finished three and four. I love three and four just for embracing its silly tone(while subjective on my end given the I played only three and four) you can still have conflict within your silly game but at same time be consistent with your tone. The reboot just doesn't have much of an identity. Looking forward to see what you have to say.
@Never_heart
Жыл бұрын
Saints Row 3 had some tone consistency issues. While 2 and 4 were tonally "quirky crime sandbox drama" and "Unhinged self aware parody which some dramatic payoff for the games before" respectfully. SR3 kind of wavered back and forth between those 2 tones. Somehow this Saints Row, tone stwitches in an even more extreme manor. In 3 that tone switch was usually a gradual increase and decrease, but here it's a violent switch on, switch off. One extreme to immediate other extreme with no transition to even attempt cohesion
@datanazush9405
Жыл бұрын
I was intrigued a touch by the trailer but that's just because I like the player gang being kind of low-tier shitkickers compared to the rich, established wacky theme gangs that are your rivals. I'd have liked the reboot more if it was tonally closer to a midpoint between 1 and 2. Part of the problem I have with the concept of crime games following the same group is that the story needs to contrive why you're starting at zero again every time and let's be real, the first game of any franchise is almost never the best, so this game being kind of (a lot of) bad could be a lot more bearable if the tone was more grounded to give the reboots space to grow, find a good flow for its humor, honestly build up the Saints as a close group of friends that needs to be individually encouraged into forming an actual gang, also probably and this is a controversial thought, probably make them a bit more likable rather than just 'witty' Quick edit: I genuinely think this game could've also benefited from the crew starting off genuinely destitute, working shitass jobs to rent a shitty apartment. Exaggerate the millennial state to an extreme because if it's going to be a millennial power fantasy you might as well start from a real low point.
@nathancongdon248
Жыл бұрын
I think the phrase “Mary Sue” gets overused on the internet, but I honestly think that the main character(s) of this game are a perfect example. The writers start off by assuming that characters are identifiable and relatable to the audience. They are the good guys no matter what they do, and everybody who opposes them must be wrong in some way. They display an unnatural level of competency in a field they shouldn’t be in for their age. They never make a mistake- and if they do, it’s because somebody else forced or tricked them to. They fail to grow as characters because they are already perfect. Any flaws they have are actually just “quirks” or “eccentricities” to make them stand out, and not an actual problem to be worked on. They aren’t a part of the world- they are the world itself.
@jtlego1
Жыл бұрын
Even in the original quintology, The Boss (and Gat to a lesser extent) still made mistakes and had flaws. The Boss's stubbornness over the Brotherhood arc leads to the death of a close companion and while Johnny's shenanigans are exaggerated from 3 onwards, hes the one that points out the big philosophical conflict of SR3 and the consequences of his "death" still lingers over the course of the game.
@Gio954
Жыл бұрын
It's weird hearing snake speak for just half an hour, unnatural even, I demand at least 5 hours next time, smh. For real though the review is looking great already, late merry christmas and happy new year to ytou snake!
@kingfreedom160
Жыл бұрын
A lot of people point out that Eli looks like Erckel. I agree, in a metaphorical sense. If this is what modern game developers think that gang members look like, someone should pay for them taking a day trip to downtown Baltimore and we'll see how many of them come back, because these people have no idea what a gang member is.
@TrinSpin
Жыл бұрын
Is it my imagination, or does Snake tend to try write his Christmas Playings to convey the general vibe of the game/problem he's discussing? Like NARC seemed to have a lower-brow, snappier feel; Oui, The Revolution had loftier musings; Greedfall, a much more plodding feel; and now, a slightly spiteful, smug one with rapid--fire puns. Note, not saying he comes across that way, just that it seems like it's trying to impart that feeling (without actually dragging the video down)
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
I don't think it has been an intentional thing, more that the resulting video tends to form around the game, and this one inspired a lot of weird, probably unhealthy spite that I had to play around with.
@TrinSpin
Жыл бұрын
@@Tehsnakerer Trickle down vibenomics? But, yeah, I feel you with the spite. I'm a 1/2 guy, too (ffs I still remember driving Spyders up the invisible walls on the car park MP map to spawncamp with the RPG). tbh I felt as much (if not more) vitriol for Gat Out of Hell as I do for this. Does the reboot get as bad as kzitem.info/news/bejne/uYOuvHqFfKKdqIY ?
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Never actually played Gat out of hell, that does look pretty bad, but this new game is going to much worse places and making me work harder for it... Or longer
@versebuchanan512
Жыл бұрын
Rarely has there been a big franchise I've given less of a shit about. I can't *WAIT* to watch you explain it for me
@loveableTechnopath
Жыл бұрын
Snake I don't know if you did this on purpose but your dude looks like chad Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver.
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
Nope that was an accident I'm afraid, if it's amusing people though I'm happy enough that that.
@Dreadnautilus
Жыл бұрын
Saints Row reboot tries to tackle themes of people being driven to a life of crime due to economic pressures, but in its attempts to be "relatable" to its perceived audience in this regard it just comes off as weird. The type of people who join gangs because they need the money aren't doing it because they need to pay off their college loans, they do it because they dropped out of highschool.
@asahitownboys
Жыл бұрын
14:07 Alex Yiik would bodybag the Reboot Saints and honestly, he'd be more fun to hang with too.
@Leckaine
Жыл бұрын
My condolences for playing this. I'm still a bit upset over the fact that IdolNinja died of cancer and that Saints Row 2 pc patch is probably never gonna be finished and released or it's most likely going to be the same dogshit that happened with Saints Row 4 and 3.
@roys.1889
Жыл бұрын
14:05 - Snake, YiiK was 2 years ago m8. You don't have to relive that if you don't wanna.
@Pimploaf_YTP
Жыл бұрын
The bit regarding stakes, vampires, and the heart is some of the best wordplay I think you've ever done. Thanks for breaking everything down so well, I'm looking forward to the full video.
@NishaPerson
Жыл бұрын
Some of the voice cast in this game, including some of the other boss voices, are some of my favorite voice actors currently active. Greg Chun, Max Mittleman, Etc. I just feel bad they're in here. Even their performances can't save the script. And they seem worse as well by association.
@roys.1889
Жыл бұрын
I both love and hate the fact that you said that Yakuza filled the silly and serious gap for you after 3 disappointed you. I've been trying to get (and partially succeeded in) getting one of my friends into the series and hearing you say that makes me feel kind of vindicated somehow. Also I love how you went from Saints Row I, then 2, then Yakuza 3. That's an odd progression but it all oddly makes sense.
@hubguy
Жыл бұрын
As a longtime Saints Row 2 fan and someone who wasn't fond of the Third or IV, this video is cathartic and validating lol
@Shiratto
Жыл бұрын
As someone who started with 3 then went forwards I did enjoy the wackiness at the time because of how separate it was from a lot of it’s more serious contemporaries. For a while I wondered why 3 and 4 had such distaste when in comparison to the first two and I think I finally have an idea why. I thought at first it was just a slightly more cartoony GTA starting out but clearly all the love for the characterization wasn’t an understatement. It was always out there and wild but still knew how to hit those heart strings and now you’ve convinced me to give 2 a shot (I would go for 1 as well but I’ve been PlayStation all my life)
@Shiratto
Жыл бұрын
27:28 Also found it endearing to find out I’m not the only one to do that. Then again most of my subsequent playthroughs of a game on those musically diverse characters are because I’m addicted to character creators.
@commisaryarreck3974
Жыл бұрын
SR1 really needs a remaster. Quite badly That or a PC port (preferably done by ANYONE but CD Projekt Red with how badly they fucked the PC port for SR2. Yes I'm still salty)
@Shiratto
Жыл бұрын
@@commisaryarreck3974 Would be really nice to get any sort of port to modern platforms
@Shiratto
Жыл бұрын
Beat 2 with a 99% completion rate (feel like my CDs got bugged out) Damn good game with a great story. I don’t play a lot of games where you play an absolute and total bastard so it felt pretty refreshing considering how you’re likely going to play this type of game. Only thing I didn’t really like was, fittingly enough for the full review, was the driving mini games as a single mistake could potentially ruin a good run. Interested in seeing if this effects my replay of 3 and 4 later on.
@nikital.6523
Жыл бұрын
That line about insurance fraud as an example of ridiculous stuff is amusing. Ye, sure, kids are prone to doing some insurance fraud around Halloween all the time, the little buggers! The way it's described, the gaggle feels like a worse gang from Watch Dogs 2. Which is somewhat of an achievement. Probably. As a sidenote, I don't like the modern AAA-esque sandbox. Especially the concept of "activites". These aren't sidequests, these aren't natural happenings and these aren't a part of a greater gameplay loop. These are, indeed, activities. Stuff to do to remind you that no, you're not dead and trudging through the purgatory in a form of a typical sandbox - you are, indeed alive and wasting your time on this. At best. At worst these are keys dangled in front of a toddler. P.S. This one seems to work well enough as a part of its own, so I'd say this video is a success. Cheers.
@DemonBlanka
Жыл бұрын
Man snake, I love your writing, it's a fantastic blend of witty and pointed deadpan humour and insightful analysis wrapped in an easy to digest delivery. Looking forward to the full video and whatever cool stuff you do next, the Sonic and Hooligans videos were amazing.
@cyberninjazero5659
Жыл бұрын
11:20 Huh I thought you were going for a Taxi Driver reference
@viewofascene
Жыл бұрын
"As charmin as used cushelle" That was good
@gelatinouscatgirl8369
Жыл бұрын
Damn Snake popping off with writing and editing on this one. Can't wait for the full video.
@bardofhighrenown
Жыл бұрын
The more I think about this video, the more I think the game is either genius or accidentally the perfect critique of my/our generation. I think you summed it up best when you said "They are all meant to be brilliant, yet unappreciated... our victories to feel easy because we're great and monumental because we're overcoming the odds." This is not in inaccurate critique of millennials in general and whether created purposefully to make that point or whether it is a hilarious, yet unavoidable side effect of creating an experience meant to appeal to my generation.
@vaclav4435
Жыл бұрын
If the game is a power fantasy, it's a power fantasy for what could be called the "dispossessed middle class". We grew up expecting to achieve a certain standard of living in adulthood as a matter of course, but historical circumstance meant that didn't happen for a lot of people. Naturally this made a lot of people unhappy and resentful, but there's something odd about how this expressed is in media like Saints Row '22. The story has the form of the traditional rise-to-power narrative, but there's this unconscious sense of entitlement permeating the whole thing. It's less about striking out on your own with your friends and building something new, and more about making the world acknowledge how great you were all along. Of course, nobody likes to think of themselves in this way, so the impulse is obfuscated or rationalized into a more socially acceptable form, which these days takes the form of political rhetoric. (Both left and right are equally guilty of this these days.) But that impulse is still there, and people can still sense it behind the justifications, and the inability of media like Saints Row '22 to be honest about the motivations of its characters ends up making them look like pathological narcissists or people who lack any sense of self-awareness.
@bardofhighrenown
Жыл бұрын
@@vaclav4435 I think there is some truth to that. I think the jarringly deceitful 'rise to power' narrative that you talk about is due to, like you said an unwillingness to openly admit your own narcissism and it speaks to millennials wanting simultaneously for other people to have no expectations of them, while secretly coveting still the success of their parents to show them that they were wrong about them being 'lazy' and 'entitled'. This unwillingness to commit to wanting either to be traditionally successful and striving for those lifestyle goals or by actually coming to terms with the economic realities of today, accepting that they are out of reach and creating for themselves new goals for about what a successful life is. It creates a perpetual embarrassment about life which causes people to hide away their personality and instead adopt only bumper sticker slogans and ideological talking points as personalities.
@cdos3884
Жыл бұрын
I'm a tad confused. Why did they seem to big up the fact you could customise your character? Like, that's been in games for YEARS. Its even been in the previous Saints Rows so, what's the big deal about "Be your own boss"?
@JacobSteakfries
Жыл бұрын
I'm one of those rare breeds of individuals that liked every Saints Row game for different reasons. (Though 2 is still my favorite don't worry.) So it's really impressive that this game just fails to appeal to just about anything that I liked about any of the four games. It TRULY IS a game marketed to NOBODY. I can't wait to see you try to figure out this absolute enigma of a game in the full video because it is downright a baffling piece of media.
@buckbumble1872
Жыл бұрын
"there are vampires that handle stakes better then this game" as a fellow savage worlds lover and DM i gotta say, you get a benny for that one.
@Pimploaf_YTP
Жыл бұрын
It was already great but the kicker about vampires at least having the heart to *go through with it* raised it so much higher for me
@Dodsodalo
Жыл бұрын
It's sad that the funniest part of the game is when the NPC says "It's no laughing matter," When it thinks it's being funny, but it's honestly true for the whole game. Funny, but sad. Like a suicidal clown making a handkerchief noose.
@burningsheep4473
Жыл бұрын
I didn't play through the first two and didn't like The Third all that much either. Some good fun to be had, some good verticality and a mediocre nonsensical story in an unimpressive open world. The AI seemed adequate and fine in terms of reactivity. Better than in Cyberpunk for instance... Just like in Red Faction: Guerilla the AI is still "good" at producing huge traffic accidents and behaving inadequately once things go out of control... which leads to some good emergent comedy at times. But Saint's Row - The Third didn't have anything that was actually more than mediocre or at best kind of good. Red Faction: Guerilla had the genuinely outstanding building destruction to help it rise above mediocrity.
@tentacledood5784
Жыл бұрын
Hey Snake, I think it might be worth showing what Volition was responding to when they said "haters gonna hate", it really emphasizes just how much they are throwing away any good will their fans could have had.
@vaclav4435
Жыл бұрын
Okay, I have to ask: was it just a coincidence that your Boss ended up looking like Travis Bickle, or did you design him like that intentionally as a sort of ironic joke at the game's expense? I mean, everyone who plays a Saints Row game makes a freakshow character at some point to make the game's cutscenes look ridiculous, but here it feels like your Boss is doing that on a thematic level. Even as you watch him go through his schtick, you still think of "Taxi Driver" and De Niro's intensity, and it just makes the game's own milquetoast take on criminality look even more shallow and half-hearted.
@Izithel
Жыл бұрын
Really looking forward to your full video Tehsnakerer, thanks for suffering trough Saints Row and other games to bring us your insightful and funny videos. Among the long form youtube essay creators I watch you're definitely the one I enjoy watching the most. SR3 Kind of reminds me of the RA3, both games fully embraced the wacky part of its predecessors and both I found to be less fun or memorable in the long run because of it. Wacky all the time is like a roller coaster always going down, you need the up parts and the air time on the hills for contrast, going down faster and faster is exciting at first but quickly becomes boring.
@zcritten
Жыл бұрын
That other male voice you played with the "who messes with the saints bit" sounds like a side character you're meant to hate in another open world game, like some annoying cia guy you meet who get's too excited about the plot Also glad you did give some time to the really awful discussion around this game Feels like a lot of reviewers just ignored that a good amount of the criticism was not about the actual game itself but the "WOKE" stuff drowning out every actual problem
@roys.1889
Жыл бұрын
Also I genuinely wonder if Snake is driving into oncoming traffic on purpose of if that's the Bri'ish Muscle Memory doing its thing.
@Interference22
Жыл бұрын
One thing mentioned that I don't entirely agree with: I don't think angry people *did* drown out saner heads. Volition did what every corporation does when their audience realises their latest product has serious issues: pretend that the mad, fringe opinions represent the bulk of criticism so they can dismiss the actually reasonable complaints.
@Some_Really_Random_Dude.
Жыл бұрын
The reason why people liked the saints, was not because they were relatable as people, it's because they were honest and unapologetic. The boss said it best, "the hell I do I got the saints." Yes, he murders, steals, vandalises. He's a horrible human being, with absolutely no redeeming qualities and he likes it. Between a plan that if executed decently would result in little to no casualties, or the plan where stuff blows up. He'd pick the second one every time. But he still cared about a few thing, about his friends, his gang, his legacy. Even if that care was often expressed by committing a bit of the old ultraviolence.
@plastron8010
Жыл бұрын
i been burnt out watching every review bring up the same issue with nuSaints without getting into the details as to why the jokes are bad or the character writing is nonexistent. good to see your comparisons with past games and why SR3's concept has appeal and why SR2's characters can be likeable monsters
@hemangchauhan2864
Жыл бұрын
I really really hoped SR2 PC port got fixed, because I only played SR4
@newnamesameperson397
Жыл бұрын
Saints row 2 was the pinnacle. It knew when to be goofy and when to be serious. Saints row the new one is just this boring shallow mess that reminds me alot of those type of fake people whose whole personality is their social media that is to say really manufactured.
@javsandarts
Жыл бұрын
I was literally re-watching the Yakuza 5 video to help me clean the house, now I have to sit down and enjoy a new brand video? best present ever
@jtmgamer
Жыл бұрын
I think what could have made this game work as both a better modern satire and more interesting story is that the gang is started, not by wannabe socialists in debt, but rather sociopathic narcissists who see forming the Saints as a way to gain popularity through internet clout and do more heinous things because their followers tell them to, leading to them becoming more dangerous and egotistical, which would probably resonate with people a lot more than #studentloans
@bhlaab
Жыл бұрын
theres a popular tv show about a guy who couldnt pay his medical bills so he started a criminal empire. maybe they could have looked to that for inspiration
@torylva
Жыл бұрын
Crazy content is a spice. If you take all spices you have and throw them in a pot without any food, all you will get is a generic spicy taste, which is even worse than unspiced food, because now you wasted the spice as well. That's saints row. It is all spice, no flavour or distinction
@Tehsnakerer
Жыл бұрын
That's a very good summation of Saints Row, and the absolute dearth of anything good to come
@acetrigger1337
Жыл бұрын
This is the kind of reboot that the next reboot mocks and plays it off as a joke... but this joke is not funny, it is just dated and bland.
@korkskrew2000
Жыл бұрын
The writing in this, Dead Rising 4 and the recent High of Life make me truly wonder how the fuck does someone who think this is good get into a position of power as high as the writer.
@lukevankleef4245
Жыл бұрын
David Jenkins seems pretty cool for a games journalist.
@ryanmcglum6838
Жыл бұрын
God I love your videos Snake. The script in your videos is just so tight and funny, never gets old. I love hearing you talk about games!!! Look forward to every upload
@Indigo_Gaming
Жыл бұрын
35 minute preview?! The sheer enormity of this lad.
@darkdude9248
Жыл бұрын
the only thing that everyone unanimously agrees on when talking about the game is "who is this for?"
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