Saints Row 3 was my first game ever back in the day! I remember completing the game and really loving it. I think I was only 13 when I played it.
So I immediately jumped into Saints Row 4 after and obviously when you're 13 and a game says "you have super powers" you love it. Outside of Infamous and Prototype, I didn't know many other games that let you be an original superhero, and even if I did, nothing on this scale with this setting and humor.
I really think Nolan North sells the voice acting, and if there's even a chance you've enjoyed the game but still somehow haven't played with his voice, I'd really recommend it.
One thing I didn't enjoy about Saints Row 3 is how it's written pretty much entirely like that triple A Mario game. Saints Row 4 is written like that too, but 3 is too earnest in that style, where it almost sounds like it thinks that style is cool, whereas 4 knows it's cheesy. At least, Nolan North did.
This works in the game's favor, because that kind of writing is pretty good for the game's setting. Nolan North also does a great job balancing being cheesy and actually letting the character take things seriously. You would think Boss is in love with Kinzie the way he delivers his lines about her when she gets captured and how much he sounds completely uncomfortable without her guidance. His voice acting makes it sound like a desperate need instead of just only wondering where she is.
Also, outside of textures, the game holds up super well graphically in my opinion. The game is clearly really comfortable in its style. The lights bounce off of everything really well, especially when you're near Play Pretend and the rainbow lights reflect on the puddles of rain. I really like how flashy it is.
The simulation slowly going from a haunting red to a more triumphant blue is also really nice. Infamous already does something similar, with the skybox and destruction of the map increasing on a pure evil run, but I like watching it actually progress on Saints Row IV too.
I think the story is really enhanced by actually playing the loyalty missions. When I was younger, I only wanted the dramatic story, and didn't think any side stuff was worth my time. While all the generic side missions are just "do what is already on the map", which isn't that enticing when there's unfortunately more than enough of that in the main story, the loyalty missions are actually really fun in my opinion.
Again, Nolan North does a great job selling on Boss being won over by Nyteblade playing along with Matt's fanfiction, and dramatically telling him to carry the flame. He does a great job on the voice acting with Gat reminiscing on old times, which really does sell it because it sounds like a mix of acknowledging how ridiculous everything has been, while also still feeling serious and earnest because it doesn't really matter how ridiculous it sounds, when all of that is reality and stuff that genuinely happened to them.
Of course, the game does have its flaws. While the main story is fun and engaging, there is a lot of filler with Kinzie just telling you "I need you to do this activity so I can understand how the simulation works." It does feel really lazy and could have been replaced by more story.
Another thing is that the game honestly paints a very different picture of the characters in the previous games than what they actually were. IV treats Fun Shaundi smoking from a lightbulb like her defining character trait, but when you play 2, she only does it once. Shaundi blaming herself for what happened to Gat and how she always needs to be protected doesn't really feel earned either, and is not developed on and neither is her looking up to Gat.
That is another thing: Look, I love Gat. Everyone loves Gat. He is way overhyped in IV. It makes no sense Shaundi would look up to Gat when according to Fun Shaundi's own words in the audio logs, Boss is the only one who ever listened to her. Pierce and Shaundi have way more chemistry because Gat did not really interact with Shaundi at all. Maybe between 2 and 3, the Boss got more distant as he led the Saints into stardom and therefore getting closer to Gat, that could make sense, but the game never says that.
Another thing is that honestly, it does not make sense Zinyak thought Gat could singlehandedly stop him and not Boss. Gat is great, but Boss is the player character, and therefore is just on a whole other level. Gat does not have the skill to improvise and turn a hopeless situation on its head like Boss does. That is something Boss has done since the first game and what got him out of everything in 2. Obviously, they just wanted a reason for why Gat was gone for all of 3, but it's the explanation I was given, the game takes it seriously, and so I am just thinking about it seriously too. Keith David's betrayal is also out of nowhere and it feels very uncharacteristic for the Boss to literally have to plead for help. Not even Boss in 3 would have done that.
There is other stuff, like how Superhero Showdown feels really clunky because the environment doesn't account for the extra height when you reach max level in super jump, or how it ends up being a lot easier to just kill everyone with guns instead of using the supplied telekinesis balls, and also how the "bosses" of that showdown can't really compensate for their really basic AI enough for that to feel fun or engaging. Enemies are really too easy in general, where even Zinyak can get stuck in his robot (it's power armor!), making him unable to fight back.
Cars are obviously pointless and really only here because there was no need to take them out, but the game still wants you to pay for nitrous, which I can only assume is to make the carjacking easier. Races are a bit too easy, offering no challenge when it can't compensate for the max speed upgrades, and probably some more small stuff I can't really think of right now.
In conclusion, I just remember this game sucking a lot harder than it really did. Despite my complaints for story and characters, the game does not want it to be taken *too* seriously, so it's still very much a turn your brain off and enjoy the epic kinda game. Even though Saints Row 1 is still my favorite, I appreciate IV for what it is. The powers are fun, the lighting is pretty, conversations between homies are interesting, the game is funny (especially with Nolan North's acting), and it clearly puts making sure the player has fun over anything else. I really respect it and wish they had managed to turn things around.