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Saints Row 4 lines up top spot in this week's UK charts
Lock the doors, turn off the lights, and grab the nearest frying pan: the silly season is upon us. The games industry's annual binge on blockbuster starts this week with Saints Row 4 grabbing the UK No. 1; fellow new releases Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Disney Infinity place second and third, respectively. The challenge will be to hold the top spot next week, when Rayman Legends and the console versions of Diablo 3 ride into town. After that there are the likes of FIFA 14, PES 2014, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix... oh and that Grand Theft Auto thing... arghhhhh, too many games, they're everywhere, save yourselves! Ahem. Saints Row 4 is fittingly the UK's fourth biggest launch of the year - first, second, and third are The Last of Us, BioShock Infinite, and Tomb Raider - and while its first week performance falls behind that of Saints Row: The Third, it is the bombastic series' second biggest. Talking of numbers, Disney Infinity is proving most popular on Xbox 360, which grabs 43 percent of the sales. PS3 comes in at 22 percent, while the Wii beats the Wii U with 21 percent to its successor's 10. Lower down the charts, 2K Games might be a little disappointed to see The Bureau: XCOM Declassified only debut in tenth spot, while Platinum's The Wonderful 101 flies in at just 22nd. To provide some silly season perspective, last week's number 1, Payday 2, makes an almighty drop this week to 18th.
Saints Row 4 adds presidential pre-order bonus
Those who pre-order Saints Row 4 through GameStop or EB Games and pick the game up within 48 hours of its release on August 20 will receive the Presidential Pack DLC, Deep Silver announced. The Presidential Pack offers players the chance to "live out your wildest dreams of being one of the most famous American Presidents or dress up your President like a real American Revolutionary." Unfortunately, that's the only description available for the bonus content. Aside from what seem to be images of Abraham Lincoln, George W. Bush and Barack Obama masks accompanying the newsletter from Deep Silver, it's not clear what players will get in the Presidential Pack DLC. Amazon.de is also offering the pre-order bonus, and shows George Washington alongside the other presidents.
Metareview: Saints Row 4
Our review deemed Volition's return to Steelport a "non-stop cavalcade of self-aware meta-humor and surprising, bombastic gameplay decisions from stem to stern," but there are other crews in town. Here's a meta-sampling of the net's judgments on Saints Row 4. The Escapist (100/100): "A fantastic game, keeping up the series' tradition of giving players a wide open world and the tools to go absolutely bonkers within it. It's hilarious, it's action-packed, and most of all, it's fun to play." Destructoid (95/100): "What I love most about 4 is how it puts the player first -- absolutely every new feature and ability gifted to the player seems designed purely to make the game more convenient to enjoy, and more fun to play." Giant Bomb (80/100): "The game is packed with some great moments that subvert the open-world crime genre even further than SR3 did, it's funny, and its references aren't just lazily tossed off, they're earned. You'll feel like you've played some of this before, but if you're at all interested in Saints Row's brand of weird, it's absolutely vital." Eurogamer (80/100): "Saints Row 4 may lack refinement - nothing thwarts a superhero quite so frequently as an overhanging roof or your homies standing in a doorway - but it compensates with sheer exuberance. It's a heartfelt love letter to the superhero genre and to a medium that makes such madness possible." OPM (60/100): "Occasionally excellent, often mired in mediocrity, Saints Row 4 is inferior to Red Dead Redemption and even five-year-old GTA 4 in almost every way. And while you're always likely to miss when comin' at the kings, Volition's effort still falls short of the more cohesive Sleeping Dogs, the expansive frolicking on Just Cause 2's Panau and the polished pantomime of Infamous 2."
Saints Row 4 review: The Saints rule everywhere
Being properly, legitimately astonished by Saints Row 4 is an unavoidable eventuality inherent to the experience, but there's something to be said for going in completely blind, as I did. If at all possible, I highly recommend it – Volition's latest is a non-stop cavalcade of self-aware meta-humor and surprising, bombastic gameplay decisions from stem to stern, and to enter the experience with even the slightest knowledge of what's coming would be doing yourself a major disservice. If you absolutely must be convinced, however, allow me to elaborate on exactly why Saints Row 4 is a modern classic befitting the insane legacy of the 3rd Street Saints.%Gallery-191107%
Mire yourself in inescapable debt, get $1 million Saints Row 4 special edition
There aren't many ways to absolutely guarantee headlines nowadays, but Deep Silver is employing one sure-fire method: Offer a special edition of Saints Row 4 at GAME for $1 million. Named "The Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition" or "The Million Dollar Pack," it includes a number of luxurious bonuses totally unrelated to the game, such as a Virgin Galactic space flight, plastic surgery, a seven-night stay at the top royal suite at the Burj-Al-Arab in Dubai, a "hostage rescue experience," a Toyota Prius and a Lamborghini Gallardo. Oh, and the lone buyer receives a copy of Saints Row 4's Commander in Chief Edition. At the risk of breaking standard writing conventions, we need to stress its price in all-caps: 1 MILLION DOLLARS. We're opting to believe that this is only a joke, at least until someone buys it.
Dead Island: Epidemic puts zombies back in MOBAs
What's a ZOMBA? It's not that thing that roams around your floor sucking up dirt but instead an entirely new thing that makes a happy marriage of Dead Island's zombies and MOBAs: a Zombie Online Multiplayer Battle Arena. Trust us, that term will be on everyone's lips come next week. Dead Island: Epidemic is an upcoming free-to-play MOBA set in the same gory world as the PC game. Details about the game are scarce, other than the fact that it'll be for the PC, feature three players, and probably contain a thousand bad "brainssss" references. Developer Deep Silver said that more information about the title will be released at Gamescom in a couple of weeks. [Source: Deep Silver press release]
Humble Deep Silver Bundle adds Metro 2033, Sacred Citadel, Risen
The Humble Deep Silver Bundle recruits Metro 2033, Sacred Citadel and Risen today. These new additions are free for anyone who's already purchased the bundle, while new customers must pay over the average price (currently just shy of $5) for the trio. Calling the Humble Deep Silver bundle successful is perhaps an understatement: It has sold over 340,000 bundles and earned in excess of $1.6 million since its introduction last week. The pay-what-you-want lineup consists of Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition, Saints Row 2, Sacred 2: Gold Edition, Risen 2: Dark Waters and Saints Row: The Third and all its Full Package DLC. Paying more than $25 also secures a copy of Dead Island: Riptide. The Humble Deep Silver Bundle has little less than a week to go before closing its virtual doors. It's also worth noting that these games are provided as Steam codes, so you'll need Valve's digital distribution platform to run them.
Saints Row 4: Inauguration Station plans presidential look
Like Saints Row 3's Initiation Station, The Saints Row 4: Inauguration Station will allow players to customize their Commander in Chief on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 before that game's launch on August 20. It's available today on Xbox 360, tomorrow on PC and August 13 on PS3, so let your imagination run wild about who will be leader of the free world that saves us from the mundane concepts of politics and brings the fight to the alien threat.%Gallery-191107%
Modified Saints Row 4 granted MA15+ rating in Australia
Saints Row 4 was finally deemed acceptable to be sold in Australia today, having previously been denied classification twice by the territory's ratings board. The listing isn't currently on the Australian Classification Board's site, but publisher Deep Silver provided us with a statement confirming a reworked version of the game earned, in a curious twist, the MA15+ rating rather than the adult-only R18+ rating it failed to achieve previously. Deep Silver said developer Volition removed one 20-minute mission in the reworked version, and noted the 'Rectifier' anal probe weapon, which the ACB also raised concern over, will be available in a DLC pack "as originally intended." Deep Silver's statement reads: Deep Silver and [local distributor] AIE are pleased to report that the Australian Classification Board has now approved Saints Row IV for sale. They have granted the game a MA15+ rating. To achieve this rating one loyalty mission featuring the character Shaundi has been removed. This mission has been widely reported on and contains the use of alien narcotics to obtain certain superpowers. This mission represents approximately 20 minutes of gameplay out of the hours available to purchasers. The removal of this mission has no negative impact on the story or the superpowers and will not detract from the enjoyment players will get from their Saints Row IV experience. The rectifier weapon will be available as part of a DLC package as originally intended. Deep Silver respects this decision and thanks the Australian Classification Board for their assistance with this matter. Back in June, Volition's over-the-top sandbox adventure became the first game to be refused classification by the ACB following the long-lobbied-for introduction of the R18+ rating. Deep Silver requested the ACB re-review the decision, which the rating board did last week when it once again denied the game classification. Today's news means the saga is finally at an end, and the game can and will be sold in the Australian territory; Deep Silver confirmed to Joystiq the Australian release date remains August 22. Elsewhere, The Xbox 360, PS3, and PC game comes to North America on August 20, and Europe on August 23.
Saints Row, Dead Island head up Humble Deep Silver Bundle
Humble Bundle organizers have launched The Humble Deep Silver Bundle, a pay-what-you-want compilation offering up Steam codes for Saints Row: The Third, Dead Island, and other standout games from the publisher's PC catalog. Buyers who pay $1 or more will receive Steam codes for Saints Row 2 and Saints Row: The Third, along with the pirate-themed action-RPG Risen 2: Dark Waters and the Gold Edition of Sacred 2. Pay more than the average purchase price (currently around $5) and you'll also get the Game of the Year Edition of Dead Island and Saints Row: The Third's Full Package DLC collection. If you're feeling particularly charitable, you might consider the bundle's $25 purchase tier, which includes a Steam copy of Techland's recently released Dead Island: Riptide. The Humble Deep Silver Bundle will be available for purchase through August 13.
Saints Row 4 denied Australian classification in re-review
The Australian Classification Board reaffirmed the ban on Saints Row 4, a three-person panel unanimously refusing the game classification in its re-review of the original decision. Drugs were again the cause of consternation for the ACB, who said Volition's over-the-top sandbox game couldn't attain the recently introduced R18+ rating and as such be sold in the country because "drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted." Saints Row 4 is expected to launch in Australia on August 23, the Steam page listing a "Low Violence" version; publisher Deep Silver told us in June it had plans to submit a reworked version of the game for the territory. The decision passed today, the ACB clarified, is on the "unedited" version of the game. We've reached out to Deep Silver for comment. On January 1, Australia passed the much-lobbied-for law permitting games for audiences over the age of 15 to be bought in the country, these games carrying a R18+ rating. Many games have since earned the rating, including Ninja Gaiden 3 and Dead Island: Riptide, but in June Saints Row 4 became the first game to be refused classification since the law's introduction. It was soon followed by XBLA hit State of Decay, although unlike Saints Row 4 that game has since been rated R18+.
Latest Saints Row 4 special edition comes with rotating display case
Saints Row 4 has added another special edition to its pre-order lineup with the "Game of the Generation Edition." The GotGE edition includes everything found in the $99 "Wub Wub" edition, but this $130 package also adds in – and we swear we checked with publisher Deep Silver to make sure we weren't being punked – a light-up rotating display case for the game and a velvet pouch to keep everything safe for posterity. Normally we'd berate such a ludicrous collector's edition, but this is Saints Row we're talking about and it can go full-out crazy in context. Heck, they could charge $200 for an edition that ships with a giant, purple weaponized phallus and we'd have to say, "Fair play!" Come to think of it, that's not a terrible idea ... %Gallery-194753%
Saints Row 4 gets DLC season pass, includes Enter the Dominatrix
Saints Row 4 will feature a season pass for downloadable content, publisher Deep Silver has announced. The season pass will be available for $9.99 (€9.99 / £7.99) and will grant access to two mission packs, including a "Director's Cut" of the Enter the Dominatrix DLC, which is "a tongue-in-cheek vision of what this content was originally going to be like." At a recent Comic-Con panel, developer Volition said the DLC would involve the characters explaining why the content was cut from the game. The second mission pack will arrive in late 2013. The season pass also includes an exclusive weapon, the "Rectifier." Yes, it's an anal probe. Saints Row 4 invades your personal space on August 20.
Saints Row 4 up for Australian classification re-review next week
Saints Row 4's down under scrutiny will occur again next week, as the over-the-top sandbox crime game attempts a second run by the Australian Classification Board. The ACB banned the game last month, raising issues over its depiction of drug use and an "alien anal probe." Publisher Deep Silver previously said it was planning to re-submit a re-worked version of the game - apparently a "low violence" one going by Steam Australia. That re-review is now confirmed and dated for this time next week on July 29, and hopefully it's a decision that leaves both parties satisfied. Saints Row 4 was the first to be banned in the country after the government passed the law permitting R18+ games for adult audiences. The second game, banned a day after Saints Row 4, was State of Decay. Thankfully, Undead Labs' own reworked version came through its re-review earlier this month, and the developer expects to bring the XBLA game Australia's way on Friday, July 26.
He's the Gat man, ski bi di bi di do bap do
Johnny Gat – voiced by Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Hawaii Five-O) – returns from the life beyond in Saints Row 4. He now holds doors for old ladies and no longer slurps his soup. Hahaha, no, he's still a trigger-happy sociopath. Death doesn't change Johnny Gat.
Metro: Last Light 'Faction' DLC dated July 16, more content announced
Metro: Last Light's first piece of downloadable content pulls into the station on July 16 (July 17 for PS3 in Europe). The "Faction Pack" includes three single-player missions, with players taking on three specialist roles in the radioactive wasteland. The DLC includes the perspective-shifting roles of a Redline Sniper, Reich Heavy and Polis Ranger. The Faction Pack is priced at $4.99 (£3.99, €4.99, 400 MSP), and there's always the Metro: Last Light Season Pass for $14.99 (£11.99, €14.99, 1200 MSP), which also includes the Abzats weapon and all upcoming DLC. The upcoming three packs were also revealed today, but there's no release window to be found in the rubble. The "Tower Pack" includes a challenge-based game mode, the 'Developer Pack' adds another solo mission and finally "The Chronicles Pack" explores the side-stories of Pavel, Khan and Anna.%Gallery-193523%
In Saints Row 4, what's old is new again
Memories of its time under the command of THQ linger while playing Saints Row 4. Featuring content that was once slated to launch as a premium DLC expansion for Saints Row: The Third, the latest game from Volition was transitioned to a full retail product by its former, financially unstable publisher. THQ has since disappeared and publisher Deep Silver lords over the dildo waving, running into traffic, beautiful monster franchise known as Saints Row. But for the first time, a new Saints Row game hasn't seen a significant boost in terms of technology or mechanics. The game, on those levels, picks up exactly where it left off ... it's only crazier. Though it borrows ideas from movies like The Matrix and games like Crackdown and Prototype to inject alternative worlds and superhuman abilities into the mix, Saints Row 4 feels like the DLC we didn't get that's wrapped, at least in the beginning, around a tired alien invasion story.%Gallery-191107%
Saints Row 4 celebrates @!$#in' ID4
In this f-bomb dropping, NSFW trailer for Saints Row 4, the game celebrates its independence. Its independence from being compared to that other grand theft title first two games tried to clone, independence from THQ and independence from independence. Yeah, why not!
Saints Row 4 'Low Violence' version pops up on Steam Australia
Volition's enforced rework of Saints Row 4 for Australia looks to be a "Low Violence" edition, at least according to the game's Steam page for the country. There are no details on what exact changes make the violence "Low" enough to satisfy the Aussie ratings' board, so we've reached out to publisher Deep Silver for clarification. Last month, Saints Row 4 became the first game to be refused Australia's R18+ rating, which was introduced on January 1 - State of Decay soon became the second. An "alien anal probe," posited as a "visual depiction of implied sexual violence that is interactive," and the involvement of illicit drug use were cited as the two main reasons for the ban. Deep Silver previously told us Volition is reworking the game's content for the country, so a Low Violence version makes sense in that regard. Whether it really makes sense when it comes to a game like Saints Row 4 is another matter.
Saints Row 4 E3 demo walks and talks West Wing style
For those who weren't at E3, here is the walk-and-talk through of Saints Row 4's behind-closed-doors presentation. It starts off with a Sorkinian West Wing opening and gets playfully ludicrous from there. Your guide on this journey is Jim Boone, senior producer of the game, who shows off the game's new alien threat, the Blackhole Launcher and some of the new player superpowers. We always knew there were nukes under the White House, but who knew about the double-cannon flak guns? Preordering the game – along with previously mentioned bonuses – will also net costumes The Iron Rogue and Queen Amazonia. Just gonna skirt that similarity lawsuit. %Gallery-192683%
