Saint’s Row 2 once again casts you in the role of that same guy (or gal if you choose – there are surgery options available), who’s assigned the task of taking back the boroughs of Stilwater in the Saints’ name. Like the first game, you can go about this any way you please, and out-of-the-box thinking during missions is encouraged. You can snipe from afar, drive a big car, and use both of your fists to beat the crap out of your adversaries, while feeling confident the whole time that the majority of missions don’t carry an unrealistic time limit or brutal multi-part conquests. It feels more relaxed here, and although the production values are a few tiers below GTA IV, it’s an absolute blast to play, even more so than Rockstar’s opus in some cases. The missions have you doing everything from steering a gurney (loaded with a patient) down a hospital corridor, to tossing bums into shacks in a cavern tourist trap. Diversions such as car surfing take messing around in the game world to the next level, and give you something to do when you’re out doing nothing. The city is teeming with stuff like this, and with the activities of the first game along for the ride, the campaign mode can sometimes feel like a distraction.

A potent character-creation suite allows you to create a stunning self portrait. Later on you can go to clothing stores and plastic surgeons to further alter your appearance and/or gender. I went with a Clockwork Orange look for my gangster, opting for an all-white uniform with a black bowler and an English accent to seal the deal. I also chose a look of anguish to plaster on his face, partly because it looked authentic and partly because my first glance produced laughter I hadn’t experienced from a game in ages. You can also choose from a list of fighting styles, walking styles and positive or negative reactions for your character to perform, with more available to unlock as you progress. This staggeringly detailed customization system even extends to vehicles, gangs and hideouts.

Layered on top of all this is a well-written story and a genuinely funny script voiced by some semi-famous names such as Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Dorn (Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation). The characters are surprisingly well developed, too, with each gang boss following his own agenda, lieutenants who interact with one another and Stilwater residents who react to any mischief perpetrated by your character. I found a lot of entertainment in just hanging out on a street corner to listen in on conversations about my feats. Some were hilarious and some were downright cruel, but I got satisfaction in knowing that I was responsible for both their diatribes and praise.

If Grand Theft Auto has evolved into the equivalent of a Scorsese crime drama, then Saint’s Row 2 is the Naked Gun version. It’s creative, obscene and boarders on psychotic in some instances, but it can also be something that you can pop into your console and just mess around with after the story is done. Follow the GPS navigation beacon downwards for my final verdict.