What looks like a GTA clone is actually a game with great potential.
In Saints Row, you are a citizen of the city of Stilwater, which is controlled by three gangs, the Vice Kings, Los Carnales, and the Westside Rollerz. You start off walking right into the middle of a gang fight, and end up being rescued by a guy named Julius. He ends up forming a gang called the 3rd Street Saints, in order to take back his neighborhood, the Saints Row district. You join up with him and, in addition to taking back your turf, plan on wiping out the other gangs in the city.
While not the most creative story, it is quite fun, and there are plenty of humorous moments throughout. It also has it's own style, thus further separating it from GTA.
Saints Row also has an online mode, allowing you to brawl with other players over Xbox Live. This was a great idea, since you can basically form gangs with your friends and go to war against other gangs online.
The only problem I had with this game was the mediocre graphics. It looks like it could be an original Xbox game. Other than that, the game is great. The story is satisfying, multiplayer is a great idea, and it is plenty fun to just drive around terrorizing the city.
If you are a fan of open-world games, you have to give Saints Row a try. While it looks like another GTA clone, it is really a crazier, more over-the-top game than GTA. If you like chaos, Saints Row is the game for you.