Breaking Down: ‘Saints Row IV’ Announcement Trailer
Welcome to Breaking Down. Do you ever find when a new trailer is released you miss some key details? Maybe something small slipped through the cracks, or maybe you didn’t see it? Well in this series we break-down the trailers, so you don’t have to.
Today we are focusing on the Saints Row IV Announcement Trailer. To the untrained eye this is a short trailer, but it is packed full of crazy Saints Row goodies. So enough talking, let’s get into the details.
0.05: Right away we are shown our lead character surrounded by some sort of energy field. With the ‘Enter the Dominatrix’ expansion originally meant to showcase a Matrix-like world, could our main character have just entered or left the ‘Dominatrix’? We are also confirmed that the game main colour of choice will once again be the colour purple.
0.09: This bridge looks quite futuristic and seems to be sticking to the ‘Dominatrix’ theme. Could this event be taking place within the world itself? Our character does seem to be running at superhuman-like speeds, but the surrounding buildings look modern. So maybe, certain areas of the world have a futuristic style, possibly due to this new technological ‘Dominatrix’?
These fellows are either all wearing Nanosuits, or they could be a race of alien enemies. We are also given a close-up look in the next screen where a female character is performing a move well-known from the Matrix films, further reinstating the ‘Matrix’ motif. Also laser rifles, confirmed.
0.12: As stated earlier this looks like the ‘Dominatrix’ world, mixed with the real-world. In the background we also see someone or something chained to a building, could this be someone we have to rescue? Our character also looked to have the ability to jump at superior heights, could we be given super-human abilities in this alternate world?
We get some more fast cuts, with our character being locked into a machine. This might be the way we transfer our minds into the ‘Dominatrix’.
Could this perhaps be another alien? Or, knowing Saints Row, this could be our main character after a few alterations. Either way, that gun looks like it packs a lot of power.
0.14: The Tron lightcycle is confirmed to make a comeback.
0.15: Once again we are shown having another superpower, as we crash down to the earth in an Ironman-like fashion. Smashing a group of police cars away as we land, with that purple energy field still appearing around our character.
0.20: This could be a long shot, but our limo seems to have an American flag, we are dressed quite sharply and the building behind us is decorated in an election type manner. Could we be running for City Mayor? Or better yet, President?
0.22: Rocket launcher guitar case? I’m in.
0.24: Once again superpowers make an appearance, as it seems we are using an ability to freeze people. But the power generated from our hand is being fired at one of the earlier aliens, so could they somehow tie into our special abilities?
Our alien friend is frozen solid from our earlier manoeuvre; with one punch the alien is shattered revealing an obvious health item and his weapon. I would assume shattering enemies will provide health, maybe even the ability to use their dropped firearms.
0.26: We are given some classic Saint Row antics, with a laser gun blowing the policeman’s face to Looney Toon proportions.
00.32: Car-surfing confirmed. But what is that alien-looking being on the power pole? These aliens have popped up vigorously through this trailer, so perhaps they are the real threat to your gang this time around.
We see that the police appear to be working with this alien race. We do see health being dropped by the police officer, so seems like most enemies will drop items.
Prototype, anyone? Seems like we also have the power to glide.
Now this massive gun is covered in American symbols; the stars and stripes, the colours and even an eagle crest in the centre. Maybe my theory of President isn’t that crazy?
0.33: This is a great close-up of an alien, his face reminds me of a Batarian from Mass Effect, but apart from that he seems very well armoured.
0.35: Another close-up of an alien, this one seems more of a grunt/soldier in comparison to our last, who seemed higher up the food chain.
0.39: The billboard in the background looks like an alien wearing the sort of handkerchief housewives used to wear in old posters. With the slogan “We will get you” written beside it, have these aliens taken over?
0.42: Giant mech, with giant guns.
With a mix-up of Phantom and the Flash, this looks like a superhero costume. Maybe we decide to use our abilities to become a superhero ourselves?
0.49: The giant mech with giant guns flies…Yes please.
0.52: Now it seems like we are using The Force/telekinesis ability to lift this car and throw it at will, if these superhero theory is correct we are the most powerful superhero ever. At the top of the image we also see a massive statue, now this is total guess-work but it looks like it is a statue of an alien. So perhaps they have taken over and are letting us humans know who is in charge.
0.53: This is a Saints Flow energy drink mascot, CLIMBING A BUILDING! Could this be our character somehow giant-size? Or an enemy we will have to face?
0.55: On closer inspection, enemy.
1.02: The pièce de résistance of the trailer is that Saints Row IV is confirmed for an August 23 launch worldwide, except for America who receive the game August 20. We have been told the game will come to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. We do notice that the video at this point keeps having static interference. This perhaps plays into the ‘Dominatrix’ world aspect, or maybe the aliens are attacking us through technology?
There you have it, the entire breakdown of the Saints Row IV Teaser Announcement Trailer. What have I missed? What do you think of my theories? Excited for the games launch? Expect more Saints Row IV details very soon, but until then we have guitar case rocket launchers to look forward to.
Jamie Briggs manages Analog Addiction and you can like them on Facebook, follow his daily life on Twitter @JamieAA and his videos on YouTube.
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