“Saints Row 2”: Say what you will about “Grand Theft Auto,” it had style.

“Rockstars’ GTA,” while gleefully nefarious, is a polished, smart series. The game certainly has a dark side, but “GTA” also exudes biting social satire that intelligently criticizes the world around us.

In comparison “Saints Row” is a knock-off series, with its newest game little better than a poor cousin to its spiritual forbear.

“Saints Row 2” does have its shining moments, particularly in regard to character customization and online cooperative game play. Creating my character for wanton destruction seemed like an e-thug version of “The Sims.”

Gamers will be able to play with one another across the vastness of fictional Stilwater City, carrying out missions and helping with side-quests. This game is fatally flawed in that it does not measure up to “GTA.”

Even if others were to characterize the comparison as unfair, the game still fails on its own merits: incredibly linear for a sandbox title, plus the graphics are so poorly wrought you could play this game on a graph calculator.

This game is a cheap imitation of the “GTA” series. If it’s e-thug simulation you crave, go buy “Grand Theft Auto 4” and play to your heart’s content. Otherwise, avoid this game at all costs, lest you get the reek of failure upon you.

Price: $59.99

For: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Rated: “M” for Mature

Justin Arnold

jarnold@heraldnet.com