According to THQ, the return to the open world of Stilwater will feature a number of improvements over the original, including both online co-op and competitive multiplayer gang banging, as well as a collection of new rides and customizable cribs, gangs, character gender, age, and voices. In addition, THQ marketing guru Scott Guthrie suggests that Saints Row 2's story is also getting a face lift, describing the narrative as "much darker and more sinister" than the first game.
Released in 2006, the GTA-inspired original Saints Row was met with generally positive reviews, though admittedly it had little competition with which to contend when released. The real test will be next year, when the sequel shares shelf space with Rockstar's hotly anticipated GTA IV.
