<s>
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
is	O
a	O
2008	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Volition	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
THQ	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
2006	O
's	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
and	O
the	O
second	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2008	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
January	O
2009	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
and	O
April	O
2016	O
for	O
Linux	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
mobile	B-Language
tie-in	I-Language
game	I-Language
was	O
developed	O
by	O
G5	O
Entertainment	O
and	O
also	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
directly	O
follows	O
from	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
custom	O
character	O
awakens	O
from	O
a	O
coma	O
after	O
five	O
years	O
to	O
find	O
that	O
their	O
gang	O
,	O
the	O
3rd	O
Street	O
Saints	O
,	O
has	O
been	O
disbanded	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
former	O
territories	O
taken	O
over	O
by	O
newly-formed	O
criminal	O
syndicates	O
and	O
a	O
corrupt	O
corporation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
's	O
developers	O
opted	O
for	O
a	O
more	O
comedic	O
tone	O
to	O
set	O
the	O
game	O
apart	O
from	O
the	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
series	O
,	O
with	O
which	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
was	O
compared	O
by	O
most	O
reviewers	O
for	O
their	O
similar	O
premise	O
and	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
promotional	O
effort	O
included	O
various	O
public	O
showings	O
,	O
special	O
editions	O
and	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
including	O
the	O
Ultor	O
Exposed	O
and	O
Corporate	O
Warfare	O
mission	O
packages	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Third	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
video	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
environment	O
,	O
offering	O
the	O
player	O
a	O
large	O
open	O
environment	O
in	O
which	O
to	O
move	O
around	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
's	O
character	O
is	O
capable	O
of	O
maneuvering	O
through	O
the	O
environment	O
,	O
utilizing	O
weaponry	O
and	O
engaging	O
in	O
melee	B-Application
combat	O
warfare	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Entering	O
cheats	O
will	O
disable	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
achievements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
select	O
the	O
outfits	O
,	O
vehicles	O
,	O
gestures	O
and	O
graffiti	B-Application
styles	O
used	O
by	O
street	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
Third	O
Street	O
Saints	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
combat	O
systems	O
from	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
have	O
been	O
updated	O
but	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
basics	O
remain	O
unchanged	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
engaging	O
in	O
melee-based	O
combat	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
will	O
perform	O
combos	O
and	O
charge	O
up	O
attacks	O
,	O
and	O
can	O
execute	O
a	O
finishing	O
move	O
if	O
three	O
consecutive	O
hits	O
are	O
dealt	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
notoriety	O
bar	O
is	O
a	O
visual	O
representation	O
of	O
the	O
proactivity	O
of	O
the	O
opposing	O
figures	O
 '	O
response	O
and	O
continual	O
inciting	O
of	O
these	O
groups	O
will	O
bring	O
about	O
a	O
more	O
powerful	O
response	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
SWAT	B-Application
teams	O
from	O
the	O
police	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
contains	O
over	O
forty	O
different	O
weapons	O
,	O
many	O
of	O
which	O
have	O
been	O
recycled	O
from	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
expanded	O
from	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
's	O
version	O
of	O
Stilwater	O
,	O
roughly	O
one-and-a-half	O
times	O
as	O
big	O
and	O
featuring	O
new	O
districts	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
prison	O
,	O
nuclear	O
power	O
plant	O
,	O
and	O
expanded	O
airport	O
among	O
others	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Examples	O
include	O
the	O
expansion	O
taken	O
place	O
on	O
the	O
Suburbs	O
district	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
double	O
the	O
size	O
of	O
its	O
depiction	O
in	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Museum	O
district	O
,	O
which	O
features	O
the	O
Eramenos	O
Ancient	O
Greek	O
museum	O
exhibit	O
,	O
complete	O
with	O
models	O
of	O
the	O
Acropolis	O
of	O
Athens	O
and	O
Theatre	O
of	O
Dionysus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
shares	O
technology	O
with	O
that	O
of	O
Red	B-Application
Faction	I-Application
:	I-Application
Guerrilla	I-Application
,	O
another	O
Volition-developed	O
game	O
and	O
so	O
certain	O
elements	O
of	O
the	O
environment	O
are	O
fully	O
destructible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Activities	O
made	O
appearance	O
in	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
and	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
new	O
Activities	O
have	O
also	O
been	O
introduced	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
has	O
various	O
multiplayer	O
components	O
implemented	O
throughout	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
"	O
Strong	O
Arm	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
team	O
to	O
earn	O
$	O
100,000,000	O
dollars	O
wins	O
and	O
money	O
is	O
earned	O
by	O
competing	O
head-to-head	O
in	O
activities	O
,	O
controlling	O
"	O
tag	B-Application
spots	O
"	O
which	O
serve	O
as	O
bonus	O
modifiers	O
or	O
by	O
eliminating	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
opposing	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
on	O
PC	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
was	O
discontinued	O
in	O
May	O
2014	O
when	O
GameSpy	O
's	O
servers	O
were	O
shut	O
down	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
's	O
multiplayer	O
can	O
still	O
be	O
played	O
via	O
LAN	O
tunneling	O
software	O
such	O
as	O
Evolve	O
or	O
Tunngle	O
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
PS3	I-Operating_System
version	O
's	O
multiplayer	O
can	O
still	O
be	O
played	O
using	O
XLink	B-Protocol
Kai	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
unaffected	O
as	O
they	O
use	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
for	O
matchmaking	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
failing	O
to	O
kill	O
Maero	O
during	O
an	O
assault	O
of	O
the	O
Brotherhood	O
's	O
base	O
,	O
the	O
Boss	O
eventually	O
eliminates	O
him	O
during	O
a	O
demolition	B-Application
derby	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Volition	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
in	O
2005	O
,	O
about	O
a	O
year	O
before	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
's	O
core	O
goals	O
was	O
to	O
develop	O
an	O
identity	O
for	O
the	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
franchise	O
within	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
was	O
known	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
clone	O
"	O
based	O
on	O
its	O
first	O
release	O
's	O
similarities	O
to	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
sandbox	O
game	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Accordingly	O
,	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
was	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
series	O
 '	O
own	O
upcoming	O
sequel	O
,	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
IV	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
questioned	O
about	O
the	O
two	O
sequels	O
 '	O
close	O
release	O
dates	O
,	O
lead	O
producer	O
Greg	O
Donovan	O
responded	O
that	O
they	O
thought	O
their	O
game	O
could	O
compete	O
,	O
that	O
he	O
saw	O
the	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
sequel	O
moving	O
"	O
in	O
a	O
more	O
realistic	O
direction	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
there	O
was	O
"	O
room	O
for	O
more	O
than	O
just	O
one	O
game	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
genre	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
very	O
different	O
experience	O
than	O
what	O
...	O
other	O
games	O
are	O
looking	O
to	O
do	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
developers	O
continued	O
onto	O
the	O
sequel	O
's	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
series	O
narrative	O
was	O
conceived	O
as	O
a	O
three-part	O
story	O
,	O
with	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
as	O
the	O
second	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
script	O
had	O
roughly	O
80,000	O
lines	O
of	O
dialogue	O
,	O
twice	O
that	O
of	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
's	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
script	O
was	O
written	O
to	O
follow	O
"	O
a	O
path	O
of	O
betrayal	O
,	O
revenge	O
and	O
redemption	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
retains	O
Saints	B-Application
Rows	I-Application
light	O
humor	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
"	O
over-the-top	O
,	O
socially	O
distorted	O
"	O
narrative	O
juxtaposed	O
with	O
dark	O
,	O
gritty	O
moments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
's	O
silent	O
protagonist	O
speaks	O
in	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
,	O
granting	O
the	O
protagonist	O
more	O
personality	O
and	O
improving	O
the	O
storytelling	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
James	O
Tsai	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
lead	O
designers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
exclusive	O
,	O
Volition	O
expanded	O
the	O
sequel	O
's	O
initial	O
development	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
port	O
was	O
developed	O
in-house	O
by	O
a	O
team	O
that	O
previously	O
worked	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
struggled	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
's	O
Cell	B-General_Concept
architecture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lead	O
producer	O
Greg	O
Donovan	O
blamed	O
their	O
"	O
failing	O
to	O
take	O
systems	O
and	O
features	O
to	O
completion	O
"	O
as	O
programmers	O
fought	O
last-minute	O
bugs	O
,	O
artists	O
lacked	O
time	O
to	O
finalize	O
designs	O
,	O
and	O
consequently	O
,	O
playtest	B-General_Concept
versions	O
were	O
not	O
ready	O
until	O
late	O
in	O
the	O
development	O
cycle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
was	O
heavily	O
marketed	O
and	O
promoted	O
through	O
Internet	O
and	O
television	O
trailers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Subsequent	O
trailers	O
over	O
the	O
next	O
several	O
months	O
also	O
highlighted	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
,	O
but	O
one	O
made	O
light	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
IV	I-Application
's	O
lack	O
of	O
replay	O
value	O
,	O
and	O
another	O
demonstrated	O
the	O
cooperative	O
mode	O
using	O
characters	O
modeled	O
on	O
the	O
candidates	O
from	O
the	O
2008	O
United	O
States	O
presidential	O
election	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
competition	O
from	O
THQ	O
and	O
WorthPlaying	O
gave	O
the	O
winner	O
a	O
trip	O
to	O
a	O
San	O
Francisco	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
multiplayer	O
event	O
and	O
published	O
their	O
thoughts	O
online	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
British	O
fashion	O
label	O
Joystick	O
Junkies	O
ran	O
a	O
T-shirt	O
design	O
competition	O
in	O
September	O
2008	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
top	O
entry	O
was	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
first	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
pack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
conventions	O
,	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
appeared	O
at	O
the	O
2008	O
E3	O
,	O
THQ	O
Gamer	O
's	O
Day	O
,	O
Comic	O
Con	O
,	O
PAX	O
,	O
GameStop	O
Expo	O
,	O
and	O
Leipzig	O
Games	O
Conventions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
promoted	O
itself	O
in	O
the	O
Myspace	B-Application
Music	O
Tour	O
and	O
November	O
2008	O
,	O
an	O
Australian	O
fundraiser	O
for	O
men	O
's	O
health	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
,	O
THQ	O
signed	O
a	O
deal	O
with	O
Massive	O
Incorporated	O
to	O
include	O
in-game	O
advertisements	O
on	O
their	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
products	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
"	O
Initiation	O
Pack	O
"	O
,	O
exclusive	O
to	O
Australia	O
and	O
New	O
Zealand	O
,	O
included	O
promotional	O
items	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
pizza	O
box	O
and	O
bullet-shaped	O
USB	O
memory	O
stick	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
month	O
before	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
producer	O
Dan	O
Sutton	O
stated	O
in	O
an	O
interview	O
that	O
they	O
"	O
definitely	O
"	O
planned	O
to	O
make	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2008	O
,	O
THQ	O
confirmed	O
that	O
a	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
port	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
in	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2016	O
,	O
Volition	O
released	O
a	O
Linux	B-Application
port	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	O
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
aftermath	O
of	O
the	O
auctioning	O
of	O
THQ	O
's	O
assets	O
following	O
its	O
bankruptcy	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
source	O
code	O
for	O
the	O
PC	O
port	O
of	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
was	O
believed	O
to	O
be	O
lost	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2019	O
,	O
Volition	O
announced	O
it	O
had	O
found	O
the	O
source	O
code	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
begin	O
work	O
to	O
rebuild	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
modern	O
systems	O
,	O
including	O
replacing	O
GameSpy	O
with	O
Steam	B-Application
matchmaking	O
support	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
allowing	O
for	O
user	O
mods	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
when	O
the	O
update	O
is	O
released	O
it	O
will	O
contain	O
the	O
two	O
DLCs	B-Protocol
,	O
"	O
Ultor	O
Exposed	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Corporate	O
Warfare	O
"	O
which	O
had	O
not	O
been	O
previously	O
released	O
for	O
personal	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
received	O
several	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
releases	O
,	O
including	O
two	O
episodic	O
expansion	O
packs	O
:	O
Ultor	O
Exposed	O
and	O
Corporate	O
Warfare	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
slated	O
for	O
release	O
on	O
April	O
16	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
the	O
pack	O
was	O
delayed	O
a	O
week	O
to	O
April	O
23	O
so	O
it	O
could	O
be	O
released	O
alongside	O
the	O
demo	O
for	O
Volition-developed	O
game	O
Red	B-Application
Faction	I-Application
:	I-Application
Guerrilla	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
releases	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
reviews	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
video	O
game	O
review	B-Application
score	I-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Windows	O
release	O
received	O
"	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
"	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yahtzee	O
Croshaw	O
of	O
The	O
Escapist	O
Zero	O
Punctuation	O
named	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
his	O
2008	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
a	O
runner-up	O
for	O
GameShark	B-Device
's	O
overall	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
games	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
console	O
version	O
of	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
garnered	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jack	O
Thompson	O
,	O
a	O
former	O
lawyer	O
and	O
longtime	O
critic	O
of	O
violent	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
called	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
a	O
"	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
ripoff	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
as	O
is	O
true	O
with	O
pornography	O
,	O
as	O
is	O
true	O
with	O
violence	O
,	O
the	O
subsequent	O
products	O
tend	O
to	O
push	O
the	O
envelope	O
even	O
more	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2021	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
listed	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
worst	O
PC	O
ports	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
sold	O
approximately	O
365,000	O
copies	O
in	O
its	O
first	O
month	O
,	O
outselling	O
Dead	B-Application
Space	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
the	O
same	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
comprised	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
these	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
's	O
January	O
2009	O
Windows	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
shipped	O
over	O
2.6	O
million	O
copies	O
by	O
the	O
next	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2009	O
,	O
THQ	O
reported	O
a	O
$431	O
million	O
loss	O
in	O
revenue	O
,	O
but	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
sales	O
totaled	O
2.8	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combined	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
series	O
had	O
worldwide	O
sales	O
in	O
excess	O
of	O
six	O
million	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best-selling	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
franchises	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
September	O
2010	O
,	O
Saints	B-Language
Row	I-Language
2	I-Language
has	O
sold	O
over	O
3.4	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
