'Saints Row' takes players on a crime spree that's goofy

This year's reboot of Saints Row presents a sunny sandbox bursting with heists

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While the series has always stood in the shadow of Grand Theft Auto

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it shines when it does what it's always done best: trading GTA's cynicism for gonzo humor and earnest character portraits.

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While never as rich or mechanically satisfying as GTA 5

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the new Saints Row more than makes up for it with a pitch-perfect balance of comedy and compelling storytelling.

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That is, if you can actually play it without game-breaking bugs (more on this later).

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The last few times we visited the gang, Saints Row took its goofiness to the extreme

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Watch our previous story Drew Barrymore says Joey King should portray

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