Summary
- Genres: Adventure, Racing, Shooter
- Platforms: PlayStation Portable
- Developers: Volition
- Publishers: THQ
Saints Row: Undercover: The Cancelled PSP Game
Saints Row: Undercover was a cancelled adaptation of the Saints Row franchise for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). It was originally intended to be a direct port of Saints Row 2, but over time it evolved into a standalone title. Despite being quite far along in development, the project was cancelled in 2009.
Development
Saints Row: Undercover was developed by Volition, the same studio behind the main Saints Row games. Development on the game began in 2007, shortly after the release of Saints Row 2. The game was originally intended to be a direct port of Saints Row 2, but the developers quickly realized that the PSP’s hardware was not powerful enough to handle the game’s complex physics and graphics engine.
As a result, the developers began to scale back the game’s ambitions. They removed some of the more complex features from Saints Row 2, such as the ability to customize your character’s appearance and the ability to drive vehicles. They also reduced the size of the game’s world and the number of missions.
Despite these changes, Saints Row: Undercover was still a very ambitious project for the PSP. The game featured a large open world, a variety of missions, and a cast of colorful characters. The developers also managed to retain many of the core features of the Saints Row franchise, such as the over-the-top violence and humor.
Cancellation
Saints Row: Undercover was nearing completion when it was suddenly cancelled in 2009. The reasons for the cancellation are unclear, but it is believed that THQ, the game’s publisher, was not happy with the game’s progress.
Whatever the reason, the cancellation of Saints Row: Undercover was a disappointment for fans of the franchise. The game had the potential to be a great addition to the PSP library, and it is a shame that it was never released.
Legacy
Despite its cancellation, Saints Row: Undercover has had a lasting impact on the Saints Row franchise. The game’s development team went on to create Saints Row: The Third, which was a critical and commercial success. Saints Row: The Third also introduced many new features and ideas that would become staples of the franchise, such as the ability to create your own gang and the ability to use superpowers.
In 2016, Volition released a documentary about the development of Saints Row: Undercover. The documentary, titled “Saints Row: Undercover: The Lost Game,” provides a fascinating look at the game’s development and cancellation.
Gameplay
Saints Row: Undercover was an open-world action-adventure game. The player controlled a character named Johnny Gat, a member of the Saints gang. The game featured a variety of missions, including street races, gang wars, and assassinations. The player could also explore the game’s world, which was based on the city of Stilwater from Saints Row 2.
Saints Row: Undercover featured many of the core features of the Saints Row franchise, such as the over-the-top violence and humor. The game also featured a variety of weapons and vehicles, which the player could use to complete missions and explore the game’s world.
Reception
Saints Row: Undercover was never released, so it is impossible to say how it would have been received by critics and fans. However, the game’s development team has said that the game was nearing completion when it was cancelled, and that it was shaping up to be a great addition to the Saints Row franchise.
Legacy
Despite its cancellation, Saints Row: Undercover has had a lasting impact on the Saints Row franchise. The game’s development team went on to create Saints Row: The Third, which was a critical and commercial success. Saints Row: The Third also introduced many new features and ideas that would become staples of the franchise, such as the ability to create your own gang and the ability to use superpowers.
In 2016, Volition released a documentary about the development of Saints Row: Undercover. The documentary, titled “Saints Row: Undercover: The Lost Game,” provides a fascinating look at the game’s development and cancellation.
Review Score
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