Looking back, moving forward

Volition is positioning Saints Row as “a chance to go back to our origins” – indeed, a word cloud of the roundtable chat after its private reveal to press would probably have “roots” dwarfing “grounded” and “fans”. Yet while the outlandish action suggests the series is still happy to indulge in gleeful silliness, it would be wrong to say it’s not grown up at all since the original game. It’s become significantly more progressive for a kickoff, with this latest entry showcasing not only a diverse cast but a greater awareness of the issues facing young people in capitalist America. Despite that promised return to first principles, the series’ outlook now feels quite different from the more cynical – some might say nihilistic – worldview of the GTA series.