It is no secret that the recent reboot of the Saints Row franchise was controversial from its outset, stripping away the established story of the previous four mainline games and introducing an entirely new set of characters. While the reboot aimed to tell its own unique story, its use of the Saints name meant that it was inexorable that fans would make comparisons to the franchise's original titles.
Having launched only recently, discourse surrounding the new Saints Row title has been relatively mixed in terms of the game's reception. Be it through glitches or a cast of characters that did not resonate with many players, it is clear that the reboot could have used a character with the same presence and swagger as the original titles' Johnny Gat.
Johnny Gat In Previous Saints Row Games
Johnny Gat was an integral part of Saints Row's plot right from the outset of the franchise with its first release in 2006. Being one of the most influential and prominent members of the Third Street Saints, it can be said that Gat is one of the most memorable characters across the entire series.
Developing a close bond with the playable protagonist of the original Saints Row games, Gat was loved by fans due to his style, loyalty, and connection to the gang. Johnny Gat is overtly brash and hot-headed, being as quick to insult as he is to pull the trigger. However, behind the outward bravado and violence is a man who holds his friends in high regard and is willing to risk his life for their protection.
Due to the aforementioned hotheaded nature of Gat, he often served as one of the main sources of comedic relief within the games that he featured, which only furthered the positive reception that he received from players. Gat became so beloved that he even featured as a playable character in the Gat out of Hell expansion for Saints Row 4, typifying how beneficial a similar character may have been for the recent Saints Row.
Why Saints Row Needs a Johnny Gat
While many fans have stated a litany of different reasons as to why they were not entirely impressed with the recently launched Saints Row reboot, the fact that the core cast of characters for the game seem so far removed from the original cast appears to be a fairly consistent negative. Of course, the fresh direction of the main gang members within the reboot is a core part of the new title's identity, although the fact that the core gameplay remains the same as previous titles makes the new characters feel out of place for many.
Players have stated that, while the original Saints Row characters were hardened and unashamed criminals, the newer characters from the reboot seem to contradict themselves. With preppy attitudes and worries about paying student loans juxtaposing the morally-absent and nefarious criminal acts that the cast carry out, a more traditional Johnny Gat style character appears to be needed.
This kind of character would have to command the same larger-than-life and memorable persona of Gat, and they would have to act in a manner befitting the kind of person who would become such a hardened career criminal. Given the inherently whacky nature of Saints Row that has translated over to the reboot, this kind of character can still be likable and produce a level of comedic relief that resonates more holistically with audiences. Given how many think that the new Saints Row is missing something that the original games had, a character like Johnny Gat could very well have been the difference.
Saints Row was released on August 23, 2022, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
