I've completed it twice in a row (like finishing it the first time and presseing the new game+ immediately after). This game was not hard in any way, it didn't have a ton of mechanics, but it just kept me glued to see it from alternative perspectives, because the world and character building is awesome. Everything felt so intriguing to poke around. The only complaint I got, is that this game is not meant for a laptop, performance-wise. I'd put a 4/5 because of the lackluster optimisation, as I've played much more complex games with this 1000 passmark points laptop vga (I had to play on 1366x768, to have 60fps, dropping down to 20-30 at several map sections). But let's assume I was on my pc, so it's a 5/5.
I was looking for a believable world only Pirana Bytes could achieve, like they did in the first Gothic games and Risen, where even the mechanics drove the plot (like the main hero being a nobody and having no way to improve without others - hence looking for a camp). I was expecting much more populated cities. I was alienated by weird cutscenes that took control of my character (it proved to be only two of them, or something, both at the very beginning). And I dropped the game after several hours. Then I tried to do it again. This time, I forbade myself to use the quest markers all the time, and tried to use teleporters only from other teleporters, not from random map points. This made me explore more. After a very slow start (almost 10 hours), I upgraded my weapon (bow) for the first time and was able to travel much more freely. And it started to kick in. The communities started to feel the right size. The companions, although being follower-puppets, engaged in the main plot in interesting and unexpected ways (treason, sacrifice, love, main plot tools). Also the plot was leaking intriguing details. The world had new locations for me to discover until the very end. I've completed almost every quest there was. I even starting to use the markers and teleporters, it didn't hinder my pleasure any more. Then I completed the end battle, saw the end credits. And it still continued! I had another hour of gameplay with the ability to see how the world changedwill change because of my actions. And then the second round of credits. And I still had the ability to play, but I want my sequel now!
I played Saints Row 2 just before this and I won't understand, why some consider that to be better than SR3. - Gamplay-wise, there is an enourmous amount of love developers have put in this game. SR2 had great mechanics, this game improved every one of them. - "One" reviewer told this game is boring, because it has dildos in it. In like two missions. At the same time, it doesn't have a feces-spraying mini-mission, which somehow makes it bad again. Oh, I get it, feces are intellectual. - Mini-missions ARE better. In SR2 you HAD to do them to be allowed to do main missions and get bonuses like pricedamage reduction. There were 12 levels for each type. Here it's 3 levels, separated by distance so you don't feel like you grind them. You get money for their completion, which in turn you spend on any bonus YOU want. - The balance is great with bonuses. This game has several complete damage reduction bonuses, but I got my first one at about 90+% game completion. And just the moment I got bullet invincibility, a mission started where all damage is melee and there is not reduction against it. It's like a cheat, except it's not. I could only buy all bonuses after all missions. - There is a purpose for the money! - I'll never understand the "plot is better in SR2". It's hard to blame a whole game because of one man fault. But the plot is fantastic here. In SR2 you had three non-connected storylines and then a super-short fourth one in the end. It had memorable plot moments, sure, but at some moment I was reinstalling my system and failed to backup my save files. And god, it was boring to do the brotherhood and mini-missions all over. And the ronin are cliche chinese. Only Mr Sunshine was funt to kill. - Closing note, I've also heard someone complaining SR3 game is worse, because you can't choose your undershirts and socks. Is that serious? You can't even see those the whole gameplay, unless you are playing a mad streaker. Buy this one.
Love the game, especially when you get a ton of upgrades and everything starts to explode all over the place (and the game spawns bosses, like they were regular mobs to compensate :D ) There are some quirks though, like, lack of keyboard control in menus (while the games is played with keyboard) and menus are inconsistent (like sometimes the back button is in the upper right corner, and than it's down in the center). Also, of important note, you can't save. It's not only about permadeath (permadeath is fine), you just can't really start a game and close it to continue it later. So if you have 10 free minutes, well, you either die sooner or get disappointed, because you won't be able to continue it later. These quirks are why I couldn't decide on mark (more like 4.5/5). But considering it's price, it's a 5/5.
