Though theSaints Rowfranchise started life as a non-linear approach toGrand Theft Auto, borrowing much of the same general design principles and tone but switching up some mechanics and story beats, the series quickly developed its own identity. WhileSaints Row 2maintained a grounded tone, some more unique elements started to creep their way in, including more comedy-focused dialogue and mini-games. By the time theSaints Rowfranchise reached its third and fourth installments, the tone had shifted completely, honing in on the more zany and bizarre elements thatkept it distinct from theGTAseries.
Along with the dialogue, characters, and mini-games,Saints Row’s weapons also got a lot wackier. Guns that shot out Dubstep rays, RPGs that launched out mind-controlling octopi, and giant oversized hands capable of pulverizing enemies in just one hit were all just a few ofSaints Row’s wildest weapons. And though thenewSaints Rowgameseems to be sticking to a slightly more grounded tone, key word slightly, it’s vital that it includes at least a handful of out-there weapons.
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Why Saints Row Should Bring Back Its Wildest Weapons
The introduction of more zany weapons in the laterSaints Rowgames immediately set the tone for the entire adventure. When players can wield a giant purple “Penetrator” from the get-go, they know they’re in a for a wild, tongue-in-cheek ride, filled with crude humor. Having these more unique weapons appear over the course of the game continuously reminds players ofthe light-hearted tone the gameis going for.
Having these bizarre weapons in the game also keepsSaints Rowdistanced from other open-world crime games on the market. Quite a few fans are a littleskeptical about this newSaints Rowgame. With it being a reboot to the franchise, some are worried that it might lose some of the elements that made it distinct in the first place. By bringing back some wacky weapons, and introducing a handful of new ones, the newSaints Rowcan immediately capture some of what made the original games so enjoyable.
Including these types of weapons also allows the developers to flex their creative muscles. Creatinglevels, vehicles, NPCs, branching narratives, and dialoguecan successionally be a bit of a laborious process for some developers, so having the opportunity to just go wild and create whatever weapon they can imagine is probably quite a freeing experience, and that level of fun and creativity often bleeds into the player-experience.
Weapons Saints Row Should Bring Back
Over the years,Saints Rowhas had some pretty absurd weapons, and some of the best should make a reappearance in the upcoming reboot. The aforementioned Penetrator and Dubstep Gun should certainly make a reappearance, right alongside the Mollusk Launcher, which fires mind-controlling sea life at the enemy.
The Abduction Gun is another ofSaints Row’s more sci-fi oriented, bombastic weapons. When fired, this weapon launches a crowd of enemies into the air, lifting them up into the atmosphere, never to come back down again. The Black Hole Launcher is another hilariously devastating weapon, capable of firing mini black holes that consume all in its area of effect.
On the other end of the scale is the RC Possessor, capable of possessing any NPC-controlled vehicle in the game once fully upgraded. Though it doesn’t look too wacky, and its ability isn’t all that crazy, it’s still one ofthe series' most unique weapons. It is the perfect example of a weapon that can fit in a more grounded setting while still conveying the same creativity and fun as its wackier counterparts.
Saints Rowreleases on July 10, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
