Next month,Saints Rowfans will be diving into a new game ten years or so since the release ofSaints Row 4. It’s a full reboot of the franchise, which if anything, puts more pressure on the new franchise entry. Game Rant recently played four hours ofSaints Rowin a preview, however, and one thing we noticed is how much it felt like aSaints Rowgame.
During this preview event, Game Rant also spoke withSaints Rowdev/UI artist Cailyn Talamonti about the general design of the game. She spoke about howcolor went into the general set-up of the Saints, with all the flourishes, and how tools like cell phones are good hosts for tons of information on players. All in all, it’s how this UI comes together to make the game feel new, nostalgic, and subtle.
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The subtle choices and designs inSaints Rowspeak for themselves. For example, while some games likeCyberpunk 2077will feature an aggressive cell phone feature where NPCs will constantly call and text,Saints Row’s cell phone operates as a storytelling device, active only with missions, and as a hub of information.
All the choices, even for skills or when opening up theSaints Rowstyle option (clothing menu), read very easily and come across clean. It’s simple, to the point, and lets players dip in and out, getting back to the action quicker.
“It’s like a player’s hub, like where to go, what you want to wear. Things like that, how much money you have even, and what level you’re almost at."
Even when players do get a phone call, the simple dialog box, homie heads, and overall design come across as clear, subtle, and concise. Now, when someone boots upSaints Row, they may not realize how much the UI brings out the best of its simplicity, but it goes a long way in communicating tons of info subtlely, clearly, and concisely with players.
There’s a lot of magic that goes into this overall UI design, which is all the more impressive given the UI is rebuilt from the ground up—almost liketheSaintsgang—given this is a new title in so long. As Talamonti put it,
“[It’s] totally new, but with influences that, if the players have played past Saints Row games, they can recognize. Yeah, new and nostalgic."
Saints Rowreleases August 23 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
