A consistently improving open-world franchise embraces its inner-cheesiness. Not many games can go from being a clone of a chart-topping title to a respected companion piece of the same bestseller in three iterations or less.

PROS: Fun, flexible gameplay involving a lot of things that go boom real big; some very memorable characters, including that pimp with the auto-tuned voice; cool vehicle and weapon design with a healthy level of customization; Burt Reynolds

CONS: Technical issues like frame rate drops and graphical glitches are signs of a lack of technical polish; some odd design choices -- I kept taking hostages of fellow gang members while trying to access my crib because they were on the same button; the map isn't all that great - there are a lot of...

More fun than a barrel of monkeys and battier than Batman

Completely ridiculous gameplay; possibly the funniest game ever made; lots of things to do and places to see; loads of customization; tons of vehicles to drive and great arcade-style handling; large city to play around in; Whored Mode is a goofy distraction; fun co-op mode; fantastic soundtrack

Not much of a storyline; co-operative AI can be downright idiotic; some minor bugs and clipping issues; the game is extremely misogynistic and not for the easily offended

A copy of Saints Row: The Third was provided by THQ for the purposes of this review.

Tons of variety and entertainment in gameplay; Deep customization; Solid presentation and good soundtrack

A.I; is occasionally rough, Enemy models a bit repetitive, Finicky weapon wheel

Carolyn takes on the streets of Steelport in this review of Saints Row: The Third.

Great assortment of vehicles and weapons with which to wreak explosive havoc; Outrageous story missions and fun activities; Wonderful variety of customization options; Constantly doles out cool rewards

Visually unimpressive; Occasional glitches

Some games create atmospheric worlds that attempt to draw you in with moving stories about characters seeking a second chance, or cast you as troubled superheroes who push themselves to the limit to fight evil. Saints Row: The Third is not like those games.

Great assortment of vehicles and weapons with which to wreak explosive havoc; Outrageous story missions and fun activities; Wonderful variety of customization options; Constantly doles out cool rewards

Visually unimpressive; Occasional glitches

Saints Row has always lived in the shadow of the Grand TheftRead the full article…

+ Absolute freedom to do whatever you want; + Over-the-top world; scenarios and weapons are incredibly entertaining; + Multiple game modes and online co-op add to replayability

+ Over-the-top world; scenarios and weapons are incredibly entertaining; + Multiple game modes and online co-op add to replayability

It begged, borrowed and stole a lot of its ideas from the GTAs III, Vice City and San Andreas, certainly, but it was also the moment the Saints Row franchise established itself as the video game corollary to the movie, Crank.

Outrageous weapons and characters; customisation levels border on fetishistic; masses of fun

Graphics aren't very good; occasional breaks in gameplay; Steelport is a soulless cesspit

Three games in, Saints Row has found its stride. It is the anti-Grand Theft Auto. Volition has created a game that delights in mayhem, revels in trashy exploitation and aims to make you smile. And you will, so long as you don't stop to think about anything.

Saints Row: The Third takes everything your teenage self found awesome and distills it into a single, outrageous game.

GTAV will have to wait its turn. We've been looking forward to Saints Row: The Third for a while now and after the dirty delights of SR2 , we can't wait to get stuck in again with the current console generation's most enjoyable open world crime series.

Simply fun to play; So much to do; The driving is the best the genre has ever seen

Not a lot of new side-mission types; Homie backup calls are pointless; Steelport very similar to Stillwater