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The Saints Row universe has a rich and chaotic history. From street gangs to intergalactic battles, Volition has taken players on a wild ride. Agents of Mayhem represents a new direction, stepping away from the familiar Saints Row formula and offering a fresh perspective on open-world action. This review dives into the game’s strengths and weaknesses, exploring whether it successfully carves its own identity or simply rehashes old issues.

Agents of Mayhem – Seoul Cityscape

Seoul’s Empty Streets: A Persistent Problem

Despite over a decade of experience crafting open worlds, Volition seems to struggle with creating environments that feel truly alive. While the futuristic Seoul in Agents of Mayhem offers a visual upgrade from the drab Steelport of Saints Row: The Third and IV, it still suffers from a similar emptiness. The city, while visually appealing with its unique blend of Asian architecture and futuristic elements, lacks depth and interactivity. NPCs feel like lifeless props, populating the streets without contributing to a sense of bustling urban life. The absence of radio stations or meaningful interactions further reinforces this sense of isolation, leaving Seoul feeling like a beautiful but hollow shell.

Content Overload, Depth Deficit

Agents of Mayhem falls into the same trap as its predecessor, Saints Row IV: prioritizing quantity over quality. While the game boasts over 50 missions (called Operations), many feel repetitive and formulaic. The core gameplay loop often involves traveling to a location, eliminating LEGION troops, hacking a computer, activating a device, destroying equipment, and perhaps facing a boss before escaping. This structure, while occasionally punctuated by more dynamic encounters, grows tiresome through repetition.

Agents of Mayhem – Repetitive Gameplay

The procedurally generated LEGION Lairs further contribute to this sense of repetition. While the randomized layouts offer some variety, the limited number of pre-fabricated rooms and visual assets leads to a predictable and ultimately unengaging experience. The lack of visual distinction between Lairs makes each encounter feel like a rehash of the last, diminishing the sense of exploration and discovery.

While the game features an intriguing narrative with colorful villains, the overarching plot feels underdeveloped and concludes on a somewhat underwhelming note.

Mayhem’s Memorable Agents

Despite its narrative shortcomings, Agents of Mayhem shines in its character development. Volition’s knack for creating memorable and engaging characters is evident in the diverse roster of Mayhem agents. This eclectic group, operating from the airborne fortress known as the Ark, initially seems like a clash of personalities. However, their interactions and banter during missions reveal a surprising camaraderie and depth.

Agents of Mayhem – Diverse Characters

While the humor of Agents of Mayhem is toned down compared to the often-crude jokes of Saints Row: The Third, the game retains a distinct personality. Each agent boasts a unique backstory and motivations, contributing to a vibrant and engaging ensemble cast.

Combat with Character: A Deep Dive

Agents of Mayhem’s greatest strength lies in its combat system. Volition has crafted a fluid and dynamic experience that surpasses previous entries in the franchise and holds its own against other third-person shooters. The game’s emphasis on combat is evident from the outset, and its success hinges on the player’s enjoyment of this core mechanic.

With 13 playable agents, each possessing unique weapons, abilities, and Mayhem ultimate attacks, the game offers a wealth of tactical options. The key to success lies in mastering the art of switching between three agents on the fly, exploiting their complementary skills and abilities.

Agents of Mayhem – Character Switching

Whether it’s Oni’s fear-inducing attacks, Hardtack’s teleharpoon, or Oleg/Yeti’s area-of-effect stun, each agent brings something unique to the table. While skilled players can certainly excel with a single agent, the true depth of the combat system lies in adapting to different situations and utilizing the right agent for the job.

Building Your Mayhem: Customization and Progression

The depth of combat is further enhanced by a robust character progression system. Each agent can be customized with a variety of gadgets that modify their abilities, weapons, and passive traits. These gadgets offer a surprising level of flexibility, allowing players to tailor each agent to their preferred playstyle. From altering Scheherazade’s blinding darts to enhancing Daisy’s minigun or granting Braddock the ability to see through walls, the customization options are extensive. This, combined with four permanent upgrade branches and core stat boosts, provides a rewarding sense of progression and experimentation.

Agents of Mayhem – Customization Options

Finally, the GREMLIN Tech adds another layer of tactical depth. These limited-use items, ranging from useful to outrageously powerful, offer creative ways to approach combat. From exploding pigeons to giant rolling metal balls, the Gremlin Tech allows players to unleash mayhem in style.

Agents of Mayhem – Gremlin Tech

Conclusion: A New Direction with Familiar Flaws

Agents of Mayhem represents a bold new direction for Volition, offering a fresh take on open-world action with a focus on dynamic combat and character customization. While the game suffers from some familiar flaws, including a lifeless open world and repetitive mission structure, its engaging characters, deep combat system, and wealth of customization options make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.