Latest Reviews of Volition Games
Review Summoner (PS2) - Ambitious RPG Remains a Relic of the Past
They sure don't make 'em like this anymore
Summoner is a party-based CRPG that launched on PS2 in 2000, and it was recently given a new lease on life thanks to a re-release on PS5 and PS4 via PlayStation's Classics push. Developed by Volition (later Deep Silver, of Saint's Row fame), the studio's ambitious and expansive effort was marred by a lack...
Review Saints Row (PS5) - Seriously Dumb Fun Outweighs Dated Open World
The old dusty trail
Believe it or not, it's been nine whole years since Saints Row IV, and to be honest, not much has changed (minus the superpowers and alien invaders, obviously). The simply titled Saints Row is a reboot of the series, sporting an entirely new setting, new characters, and a fresh story — but the gameplay structure that the...
Review Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell (PS4) - More Silly Sandbox Action
Damned if you do
Republished on Wednesday, 13th July, 2022: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of July's PS Plus Extra, Premium lineup. The original text follows. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell isn't actually a PlayStation 4 game. Right from the word go, the now-zany...
Review Saints Row IV: Re-Elected (PS4) - Ridiculous Open World Is Dumb Fun
You got the power
Republished on Wednesday, 13th July, 2022: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of July's PS Plus Extra, Premium lineup. The original text follows. Saints Row IV is the definitive sandbox game for anyone who's a bit tired of the more serious attempts like Watch Dogs,
That one was for you, Johnny
Hearing Troy Baker shout "get the **** out of here!" as you punch a policeman square in his privates is still pretty funny. In fact, Saints Row The Third in general is still pretty funny — at least, some of the time. The game's almost nine years old, yet Saints Row The Third Remastered is a welcome reminder of just how...
Review Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered (PS4)
Revolutionary
The last console generation seems like a quainter time compared to now. Granted, we didn’t have as many indie games then as we do now, but for every big-budget blockbuster there were numerous B-games: passion projects lacking polish but full of heart. We’re talking about games like Deadly Premonition, Binary Domain, The...
Player agency
Watching Saturday morning cartoons as kid, there was always one thing that bothered us about shows focusing on paramilitary groups such as M.A.S.K. and G.I Joe. No, it wasn’t the fact they were designed primarily to sell toys to impressionable young minds, it was the way none of the teams ever showed up en masse to foil the plans of...
Review Saints Row IV (PlayStation 3)
The boys are back in town
At one point in Saints Row IV, your character, the Boss, tells series veteran Shaundi that it’s been “one helluva ride”, perhaps inadvertently summarising developer Volition’s latest title. What started out as little more than a franchise looking to piggyback on the success of Grand Theft Auto has travelled an awful...
Review Saints Row: The Third (PlayStation 3)
Third time's the charm
Saints Row: The Third distances itself from the seriousness of its competition, offering a sandbox that's as stupid as it is refined. There're so many things we wish we could say about Saints Row: The Third, but doing so would break the element of surprise. The latest entry in Volition's copycat sandbox series rips up the...
Review Red Faction Guerrilla (PlayStation 3)
Red Faction Guerrilla follows the tale of Alec Mason, a simple miner looking to make an honest living on the developing surface of Mars
But politics are rife on Mars - and the EDF are taking control in none to friendly ways. Unable to resist the temptation of avenging his brother - who fell at the hands of the EDF - Alec Mason is dragged into the...
Latest Volition Articles
DLC Review Jerking Around in Saints Row IV: Enter The Dominatrix
Strap off
Since Saints Row: The Third, Volition's franchise has built itself up as the stupidest open world game available, constantly breaking the fourth wall, jamming popular culture references into just about every line of dialogue, and generally just being very, very self aware. Saints Row IV's first mission-based DLC comes in the form of Enter...
News Prep Your President with Saints Row IV's Inauguration Station
Your short shorts are ready, Mr. President
Much like with Saints Row: The Third's Initiation Station demo, you'll be able to create, customise, and upload your own Saints boss for Saints Row IV using the cleverly titled Inauguration Station, which is set to release tomorrow on the European PlayStation Store, and next Tuesday in North America. From...
News Johnny Gat Is Back with a Vengeance in Saints Row IV
Here's Johnny
Much to the disappointment and rage of many, Volition decided to kill off fan favourite character Johnny Gat during the opening hour of Saints Row: The Third. Despite reappearing as a zombie later in the game, and as a giant mutant in the 'The Trouble with Clones' DLC, these cameos weren't really enough to appease the disgruntled...
News Saints Row IV Declares Its Independence with Ridiculous New Trailer
"Welcome to Earth!"
As if we needed any further convincing that the Saints Row franchise has gone completely insane, this new Independence Day trailer for Saints Row IV is probably the most ridiculous promotion that we've seen for the upcoming release thus far. Characteristically full of swearing, stupid dialogue, and explosions, our latest glimpse...
News Alien Anal Probe Ensures That Saints Row 4 Is Banned In Australia
Causing trouble Down Under
Saints Row: The Third became infamous for its dildo-shaped weapon, and it would appear that its sequel is trying to be even more tasteless. It showcases an item known as an "Alien Anal Probe", which can be inserted into the bottoms of unsuspecting foes. Unsurprisingly, the inclusion of this weapon has resulted in the game...
DLC Review Jerking Around in Saints Row IV: Enter The Dominatrix
Strap off
Since Saints Row: The Third, Volition's franchise has built itself up as the stupidest open world game available, constantly breaking the fourth wall, jamming popular culture references into just about every line of dialogue, and generally just being very, very self aware. Saints Row IV's first mission-based DLC comes in the form of Enter...
News Prep Your President with Saints Row IV's Inauguration Station
Your short shorts are ready, Mr. President
Much like with Saints Row: The Third's Initiation Station demo, you'll be able to create, customise, and upload your own Saints boss for Saints Row IV using the cleverly titled Inauguration Station, which is set to release tomorrow on the European PlayStation Store, and next Tuesday in North America. From...
News Johnny Gat Is Back with a Vengeance in Saints Row IV
Here's Johnny
Much to the disappointment and rage of many, Volition decided to kill off fan favourite character Johnny Gat during the opening hour of Saints Row: The Third. Despite reappearing as a zombie later in the game, and as a giant mutant in the 'The Trouble with Clones' DLC, these cameos weren't really enough to appease the disgruntled...
News Saints Row IV Declares Its Independence with Ridiculous New Trailer
"Welcome to Earth!"
As if we needed any further convincing that the Saints Row franchise has gone completely insane, this new Independence Day trailer for Saints Row IV is probably the most ridiculous promotion that we've seen for the upcoming release thus far. Characteristically full of swearing, stupid dialogue, and explosions, our latest glimpse...
News Alien Anal Probe Ensures That Saints Row 4 Is Banned In Australia
Causing trouble Down Under
Saints Row: The Third became infamous for its dildo-shaped weapon, and it would appear that its sequel is trying to be even more tasteless. It showcases an item known as an "Alien Anal Probe", which can be inserted into the bottoms of unsuspecting foes. Unsurprisingly, the inclusion of this weapon has resulted in the game...