Gang Warfare Strategy

Saints Row may offer a playground of mayhem, but it's a mighty dangerous one. It's easy to overlook the difficulty of a game when even losing a mission is fun, but keep these tips in mind for a smoother, more efficient Saints experience.

Vehicular Shield
Natural inclination in a gunfight is to blast away, running and gunning Rambo style, and while it is certainly fun, this tactic can prove fatal in an awful hurry. Try instead to engage the larger scale fights within the safe confines of a vehicle, preferably a big one.

Posing with style.

It may not be elegant, but running down rival gang members from behind the wheel can dramatically thin the enemy's ranks. Then, once the car has taken a beating, you can roll out and engage in a much fairer firefight.

Smoking Bomb
Speaking of your car taking a beating, once it begins to billow smoke from the hood, take a quick look to find the choicest spot to cause the greatest carnage.

Hope you found yourself some cover.

Whether it’s a tightly clustered crew of enemies or a simple traffic pileup, take center aim and hit the gas. When you're certain you're on target, hit the Y button to bail out and watch the fireworks. Just remember, you've got limited time when your vehicle is in this precarious condition.

Safety in Groups
Yes indeed, whenever possible, you should roll with your homies. Your ability to recruit members based on the respect you've earned is a serious tactical advantage. They aren't there for window dressing, so before heading out on a mission, gather as many followers as you can.

Waypoint to Safety
The dynamic map available in Saints Row has its strategic uses. Most notably, when racking up notoriety with the local constabulary, set a waypoint to the nearest Forgive and Forget location to get the police off your back with a quick stopover. Setting waypoints not only paint you an obvious path to your destination, but they highlight the quickest route as well.

You're harder to kill in your ride.

Plenty of Seating
Two-seaters may be fine for a relaxing afternoon drive, but gangsters need a place to sit, and though loyal, no Saint is going to strap themselves to the roof of your car, no matter how much respect you've earned. Root around for a quality four door car in to roll with during missions.

Gun Swap Caution
The allure of the rare weapon can be hard to resist, but be sure that ample ammunition is on hand before swapping out your current gun for a new toy. This can be a common dilemma midway through missions, but just remember, missions are rarely timed, so feel free to take your time and find the best gun available with the most ammo.

Headshots Count
No one in Saints Row is surviving multiple bullets to the noggin, and with ammo being a constant concern, make sure to take careful aim and drop enemies efficiently with headshots.

Duck and Cover
You're not a superhero, so don't front like one. Enemies in Saints Row can be devastating, but of course the designers know this. Not only is cover plentiful in Saints Row (and very much designed to be used), but you can also crouch down and offer a much smaller target to those who wish you harm. In fact, this crouching position should be your default posture in almost every gunfight.

Article by Alex McLain