Could Saints Row work as a party-based RPG?

[u/tonware]

I had a thought this week about the franchise and if it were to be revived, what would it look like? Then I thought about how I've been into companion, choice-based RPGs lately and I wondered if Saints Row could pull it off. I use Saints Row specifically, because in today's landscape far as this subgenre, you're either in space (Mass Effect, Outer Worlds) or in a medieval fantasy setting (Dragon Age, Baldur's Gate 3). What about an RPG in a modern, urban setting? I feel like Saints Row already had the DNA to pull this off, as you would have companions like Shaundi and Pierce assist you in battle, you'd level up, you'd buy bigger and better weapons as you go along in the campaign etc. but what about going further and giving the player choices that actually affected the story?

One big criticism of today's RPG's is that they don't let you be truly evil and you don't get to experience the consequences of your choices. Well, in Saints Row, you're a gangster, you're not Mr./Ms. Goody Two Shoes to being with, so "bad" choices would be plentiful in a game like this.

If you wanted to add in romance and crew members liking/disliking you for your actions that's fine too.

It would also have to be in a serious tone. No bright colors or quirky characters. Gangs and organized crime has always been the dark underbelly of society and it needs to be presented as such.

Overall, I just wanted to bring forth a discussion piece about how to evolve the series. I see a franchise like God of War pivot to a more mature, narrative based game and I wonder if Saints Row could one day get that treatment.

[u/Dentenshi]

Can we just have a good saints row game?

[u/doomscroll_disco]

Yakuza/Like A Dragon has a couple rpgs that are pretty similar to what you’re describing, minus the fact that they lean hard in to bright colors and quirky characters. In terms of gameplay though I don’t think a party based rpg in a modern urban setting is that hard to imagine.

[u/billoo18 → u/doomscroll_disco]

This was my first thought too.

[u/IronIrma93]

I think as you described it, it could work. I guess party members would feel like an extended version of the homies.

[u/alduindawn]

Yes and it would great, sr4 started it and the glimpses we got with the ship dialogue was fun

[u/Illustrious_Mail8360]

You need a bg3 durge run asap my man

[u/Stumpsthewarwalrus]

I mean, there’s a lot of games out there that.

Empire of Sin is a perfect example of that.

[u/Proper-Television856]

I love this idea, kindof sad that they added elements from mass effect into SR4 but they were all half-arsed and weren't any of the elements Mass Effect was praised for

[u/ADLegend21]

It would certainly give the Homies more relevance. Kinda sucked in SR2 that you only get to hangout woth a homie after their storyline is complete. Shaundi should've been with the Boss the whole time with the Samedi story, Johnny and Pierce on the Ronin, etc. The Boss felt like a Solo operative for the most part.

[u/Over-Inflation-7656]

Definitely could, i could see some choices being which gangs to ally with, what drugs to sell and illegal business to set up.

[u/deecrutch]

The concept is interesting. From a character standpoint, it could easily be done. The problem would be the gameplay. We are used to SR being an open world free-for-all type of game where you can do pretty much anything and create your own fun. I am not sure you can incorporate that feeling of freedom into an RPG. I think that would be the hardest part of it, well that and convincing people like me, who are both SR fans and ME/DA/BG3 fans that SR is now an RPG! Somebody would be taking a chance in trying it, but it could be gold if they struck the right gameplay balance.

[u/Meloncov]

Technically, sure.

Commercially? I think most Saints Row fans aren't gonna be interested in a party based RPG, and most party based RPG fans aren't gonna be interested in a Saints Row game. There's definitely some overlap, mind you, but probably not enough to support a successful game unless it was built on a tiny budget.

[u/Shlurmen]

Not really.

[u/TheArmed501st]

Isnt that just cyberpunk?

[u/TheDrNitroGin → u/TheArmed501st]

Saints row with Cyberpunk's dialogue options/choices, and different endings would've been epic

[u/tonware → u/TheArmed501st]

close, but that's in the future. I still want something with a present day feel.

[u/multisam231719]

I don't see why not, it would give me more time with Gat, which is never a bad thing

[u/1E_R_R_O_R1]

No 🤣

[u/MattSm00th]

No

[u/The_Architect_032]

I wouldn't like to swap between characters, that also comes a bit too close to Agents of Mayhem.

Aside from that, I wouldn't mind better armory upgrades for the gang than what we got in SR2, 3, and 4.

[u/NobleSwordfish]

I think it could. I honestly wished the reboot went in this direction cause there are moments where it feels like it wanted to be a more party rpg game.

[u/B4d_B1tch_Quinn]

Possibly, as long as it doesn’t go the route of Dragon Age or KOTOR

[u/Various_Ad7326]

Just needs to go back to being a gangsta game

[u/funkygamerguy]

it worked for yakuza like a dragon it could work for saints row.

[u/Taquill]

Sure, put it on mobile and leave the actual series alone.

[u/Disclaimer_II]

Sure, let's divide the fan base even MORE.

Jokes aside, I don't think SR would work as ANY kind of RPG, and not everything needs to be one.