GTA may have been the first open ended game, but Saints Row has perfected it.
Cons: no bikes or airplanes, few gameplay and graphic glitches.
Saints Row isn't an ordinary open ended game like the GTA series, yes it might be similar with wide sexual reference, drugs reference and the ability to kill everybody you see, but deap down it has brought a new way to play and open ended game for the next generation. Now the difference can be noticed from the start not only are the graphics way better then GTA, but the player is finaly able to creat it's own character, from an Asian to a spaniard to a negro and to the ordinary white. The game starts with you're survival after a bloodsheding gang war, Julies the leader of the Saints takes you under his wing asking for you're help to re-take the "hood"
after that its all up to you what mission's to start and what gang to take down first. Another difference from GTA is that the player needs to gain respect before he can undertake a mission, this is done by completing activites, ranging fro hos snatching to assassinations to hijaking and even the never seen before insurence fraud.
The player starts with a basic set of clothes and it's up to you to best fit all the different variety of clothes to make a perfect fit, adding purple in you're outfit will gain you respect bonuses, the more purple the more bonus. The player can also buy jewlery, new haicuts, food and drugs, which has no effect beside making the screen blury. the day is dividen between day and night. during the night the player can decide to rob stores for some extra cash or weapons.
If you have played any of the GTA games and enjoyed it this game is a must buy for you. you will discover a whole new way to play open ended games.