Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular games of all time – but it’s not available for the Xbox 360.

Spotting a gap in the market. THQ have come up with Saints Row, where you cruise around the urban sprawl of Stilwater city in a variety of machines, completing different gang missions. Sound familiar?

Does it look the part?

Unless you have a seriously powerful PC you’re not going to see better graphics than on the Xbox 360 until the Playstation 3 makes its belated arrival in the UK.

Saints Row harnesses the 360’s processing power to the full but the engine powering the game is not entirely up to scratch – the action becomes jerky and slow when there’s a lot going on on-screen.

Realistic simulation or arcade fun?

It bears all the pick up and play hallmarks of the famed GTA series, right down to ultra-simplified car handling and regular instruction on how to perform different tasks.

In fact, the cars aren’t half as fun to drive as the GTA ones – they’re generally slower and not as easy to throw around corners.

How does it play?

Badly. The control system is enormously irritating, requiring you to move both the player and the ‘camera’ following him at the same time.

The car controls are unintuitive, shunning the trigger controls most Xbox driving games use. Discomfort and frustration set in very quickly.

How much gaming will you get out of it?

If you can get used to the control system Saints Row is a big game with a large city to explore. But by every measure this is a third-rate GTA knock-off: it’s not as funny, imaginative, stylish or intelligent.

Pole position or flaming wreck?

5/10. A missed opportunity.

Author – THQ
Publisher – THQ
Available format(s) – Xbox 360
Price(s) – £49.99
Format tested – Xbox 360
Review by Keith Collantine

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