The classic step on the franchise evolution ladder usually leaves space for the end. That’s how Jason did it, after repossession antics and finally being dragged to hell, he ended up in space as the next logical progression, can’t get much bigger than space. In 2014, the Saints Row franchise, after finally concluding, decided to do one more curtain call, in the opposite order of Jason, in Saints Row: Gat Out Of Hell.

After dealing with the Zyn empire in what was supposed to be the final send-off for the franchise, the survivors celebrate with a Ouija board for Kinzie’s birthday party. This goes about as well as you’d expect, summoning Lucifer, who kidnaps The Boss to be a partner for his daughter. Not taking this lying down, Gat and birthday girl Kinzie storm off to hell to get the boss back. Down here, they meet friends and rivals cast to the depths of eternal damnation. Carnage is on the menu, as Gat and Co. attempt the grand plan of punching Satan in the face.

New Hades is a touch more cosy than some other sandboxes the franchise has created, but it is nice that players get a new location instead of Steel Port again. You play as either Gat or Kenzie, although the game assumes you’ll play as the guy on the box. If you have a save from Saints Row 4, it does import your boss, which is pleasant, but that’s it for customisation. The side activities are the main buffet here, as you complete them to gradually tick off Satan enough for a showdown. Most of the classics are here, but there are new ones to test returning players. The challenges that were the side-content are now the main focus, with the player doing a certain amount to tick off Satan to challenge him.

A lot of little touches and ample demonstrations of care and affection are ever present through Gat Out Of Hell, which make it seem like a product of love. New Hades is cool looking, with a lot of fun gags throughout. Forethought was put into designing the world of hell, heard in the collectable audio logs. Without businesses, your cash flow is limited, requiring you to be creative with your powers if you want the coolest stuff. Scattered around New Hades are the Seven Deadly Weapons, unique weapons that can give you an edge. As well as powers quite similar to the ones in 4. The cars don’t have any radio, but like 4, you won’t be spending too much time. The flying does require some finesse, with your charges limited, but you’ll quickly get acclimatised to it. In your quest to rescue the Boss, you meet some famous faces, cast to hell, from Blackbeard, Shakespeare, and Vlad the Impaler, even Vogel, the big bad you killed in Saints Row 2 (complete with his voice actor).

Gat Out Of Hell tells you almost everything about the game from its title. More Saints Row fun that refuses to take itself seriously, more of a remixed version of the core components of 4, done in this labour of love style. From a developer who just refuses to let go of one of their most compelling creations. There’s so much to talk about in such a small package that the only recommendation is to play it yourself. Revel in the fun crime sandbox action for just one more time, and find out for yourself what the road to hell is paved with.

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