Saints Row IV vs GTA IV - Which is better?

[roflmao]

Steam currently has both Saints Row IV and Grad Theft Auto IV on sale for $5. I've never played any of the Saints Row games and haven't played a GTA game since 3 on the PS2. Are either of these worth picking up?

P.S. - I hate this time of the year.  Steam is the devil and knows how to take my money.  I just picked up Terraria and Fallout 3 for about $5 (total!). And I'm tempted to pick up The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition which I think is $3.

P.P.S. - What I'm saying is one of these has to be stellar for me to jump on it.  My backlog doesn't need another game I'll never play no matter how cheap it cost.

[lukester]

Haven't played either. I'm not even allowed to play GTA haha.

General consensus is that SR iv is great fun, while gta iv is a disappointment.

Also, Saints row iv is getting a lengthy expansion next year called "gat out of hell".

[Desh]

I haven't played Saints Row 3 o r 4 but I have played Saints Row 2.  GTA IV is a pretty good game.  Their wasn't that much customization in GTA 4.  Also, they went with a more "simulation" style driving experience.  I liked the game but it wasn't my favorite in the series.  The graphics were mind blowing in the day but not near as good as GTA V is.  From what I've read Saints Row 4 has a better storyline and more customization.  I keep telling myself I'll nab a copy of 3 and 4 one of these days. 

I actually bought Saints Row maybe 3years ago on an impulse buy.  It was in the bargain bin somewhere for $10.  I didn't know anything about the series but I figured I'd give it a go.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked that game. 

[jtucci31]

While I haven't played Saints Row IV, I've played 3 and enjoyed it, I really like GTA IV. However if you're getting it on the computer, you have to worry if it will work well enough. The game gave me some trouble on the PC, especially with the Games for Windows Live thing. It was not ported over well.

If it's the complete Episodes from Liberty City pack (GTA IV, Lost and Damned, and Ballad of Gay Tony) I'd say go for it. Even if it's a few extra bucks. The story in all 3 really had me, I enjoyed each one. I especially liked parachutes in TBoGT. GTA IV was long-ish while the other two DLC games were significantly shorter, but still provided enough content within them (in my opinion of course).

Just GTA IV alone is great. Exploring all of Liberty City is fun, If you're dicking around or actually playing the story. The DLC's are better for random gameplay as they add more vehicles/weapons/areas to visit.

Obviously I'm biased as I have not played Saints Row IV. But I figured I would just put my thoughts in on the topic. I really liked GTA IV and when V was announced I was so excited. But I hardly played it once it came out. I found myself going back to GTA IV when I was in the mood for GTA. Maybe try a GTA since you haven't since 3? Or stick with Saints Row. You said you enjoyed 3, and from what I remember (I could be wrong) I heard IV is pretty similar in a lot of aspects.

[HailingTheThings]

Saints Row is dildos, get it.

[DragonmasterDan]

Having played a bit of Saints Row III (or the third like it's named after Lupin) I just didn't like the game as much as GTA.

Here's the thing, I don't like actually doing missions in these games. I find it boring and tedious and the last time I played through all of the missions in one of those kinds of games was GTA III which is 13 or so years old at this point.

What I do like is drawing high speed chases with cops and what not. In Saints Row the Third cops don't really chase you they show up, park their vehicles and then like wait for you to fight them. From what I've played of the Saints Row series compared to GTA, Saint's Row is way too combat oriented for my liking.

[glazball]

Which is better?  Definitely Saints Row IV!  It's fun and hilarious.  Sure, GTA has high production values, yadda yadda.  Saints Row simply has fun with the formula and will literally make you lol repeatedly.

My specific bitch about GTA4 is: let's say you accept a mission, drive all the way there to start it (which could be a long way in the latter parts of the game), then die - the game will make you get back there and start it all over from the beginning.  No mid-mission checkpoints.  Minor gripes include the fact that the main character talks like Ren from Ren & Stimpy and overall, imo the GTA games are played out.  They just aren't fun really.  I even sat through GTA5 and though it was more interesting and fixed a few issues, it has gotten old.

Saints Row, on the other hand, a blast from start to finish.  Best $5 you'll ever spend.  Fun, silly, ridiculous - I'll play any Saints Row games that come out in the future but GTA?  Nah, I'm done.

[esteban]

A: Both suck my left one. Avoid.

[SuperDeadite]

Just play Vice City and f*ck the rest.