Canceled Saints Row PSP spinoff released for free by creators

By Danny Cowan Published April 4, 2016

Inside Volition: Saints Row Undercover

Developer Volition has unearthed a canceled PSP entry in its popular Saints Row series, and is now giving away an unfinished prototype version free of charge.

Though Volition notes that it can’t supply technical support or assistance in getting the game up and running, enthusiast site Unseen64 confirmed that the canceled project is playable using software emulators like PPSSPP.

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Saints Row: Undercover was designed as a PSP-exclusive spinoff in Volition’s open-world action series, and features a unique storyline, original characters, and a redesigned control scheme suited for Sony’s legacy portable platform. Development started in 2009 before the decision was made to abandon the project prior to its release.

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Publisher THQ originally envisioned Undercover as a port of mainline series sequel Saints Row 2, but when the PSP’s hardware proved inadequate for the project’s scope, its developers began creating a unique standalone game with the working title Saints Row: The Fall. The project was later renamed Saints Row: Undercover before its cancelation.

“THQ, our previous publisher, decided that Saints Row 2 was doing well, and maybe we could get a port to mobile,” Volition video producer Alexander Mejia recalls.

Volition community manager Mike Watson sheds light on what led to the project’s cancelation: “Volition isn’t a handheld developer, so when projects like this come up, we get an outside studio to work on it. […] Volition looked at the project and after multiple reviews felt that it really wasn’t living up to what a Saints Row game could and should be.”

The playable prototype version of Saints Row: Undercover includes a tutorial mission, limited character customization options, and an explorable open world, but story missions had not yet been fully fleshed out. Volition notes that it may show off more prerelease material in the future if fans respond positively to the release of Saints Row: Undercover.

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Saints Row reboot still looks wacky, even if it’s formulaic

The main character of Saints Row glides in a wingsuit.

The Saints Row series is making its grand return after seven years. The Saints Row universe fully reset at the end of the Saints Row IV DLC Gat Out of Hell, so Volition's next game is a full-on reboot of the series. After the underwhelming Agents of Mayhem, this reboot allowed the developer to redefine what a Saints Row game could be without the constraints of classic characters or settings. Unfortunately, that new vision is much more plain than I'd hoped despite the series' expected madcap tone.
While the results of this reimagining have the enjoyable and wacky Saints Row flair that one would expect, I was left quite underwhelmed by a recent hands-off preview of several missions, combat, and the open world in Saints Row. This upcoming game is set in a new Southwestern city of Santo Ileso and features a new cast of Saints characters, so Volition has an opportunity to go big and bold here. Ultimately, it's looking formulaic for a series that's known for being off-kilter and wildly creative.
SAINTS ROW – Game Awards Gameplay Trailer
Grounded absurdism
During my hands-off preview, I got to see the new team of Saints in a variety of missions. These include a loan agency robbery gone wrong that results in a big car chase, a raid of a car-loving Panteros gang's headquarters in a helicopter, and a rescue mission for one of the player-character's friends after he's kidnapped by a bunch of Deadmau5-looking crooks from a gang called the Idols.
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Also, because it's an entirely new cast of characters that have yet to prove themselves to fans, there isn't any nostalgia factor that can help make up for subpar jokes. Currently, Volition's strategy is to give the narrative a sense of "groundedness" despite its kooky aspects to make players care about this character and that narrative.
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Absurdly generic
While each mission that I described earlier does have the Saints Row series' trademark quirk, they aren't exactly pushing the boundaries of what to expect from a third-person, open-world game so far. While I only saw a few side missions, like one where players had to ride shotgun and fend off cops for a jewelry thief, our look at the map and missions suggest that Saints Row may be a fairly boilerplate open-world game.

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Vehicles in Saints Row.

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In a lengthy showcase, Saints Row developer Volition detailed the game's deep customization systems. It all starts with the new boss of the Saints, whom players can make into anyone they want. Customization starts at what has been available in previous games in the franchise -- yes, including crotch and breast sliders -- and then some. If players want, they can make a true-to-life Shrek, or they can create a boss fitted with running blade prosthetics and pearlescent skin. Every part of the body can be customized, and when it comes to facial features, things don't have to be symmetrical either. Players can have their boss look like a veritable Picasso painting if they want.

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The crew of the Saints Row reboot stands against a wall.

The upcoming Saints Row reboot has been delayed from its original release date of February 25, 2022, to August 23, 2022. The game was revealed just in August, with its original release date landing it in the tail end of what's set to be an incredibly busy month for gaming.

https://twitter.com/SaintsRow/status/1460842656494493699

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