We haven’t dedicated extensive time to Saints Row at our offices in recent years. Therefore, Volition’s new title, Agents of Mayhem, will be evaluated on its merits as an open-world action-adventure game, rather than its connectivity to previous entries in the series or pre-existing storylines.
Doctor Babylon operating.
Agents of Mayhem is set in a near-future version of Seoul, South Korea. In this setting, the nefarious conglomerate L.E.G.I.O.N. (the League of Evil Gentlemen Intent on Obliterating Nations) initiates its plan for global domination, centered around an anti-matter weapon. Players assume control of (ultimately) twelve agents from M.A.Y.H.E.M. (Multinational AgencY Hunting Evil Masterminds), tasked with thwarting L.E.G.I.O.N. and their enigmatic leader, Morningstar. The narrative also introduces adversaries such as the arch-villain Doctor Babylon and a Swedish antagonist named Magnus Torrison.
This is a third-person perspective open-world game, allowing players to freely navigate the environment, drive vehicles, discover collectibles, undertake side missions, and enhance their characters. Familiar elements for players of GTA, Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, and even Saints Row, will be readily apparent. The popularity of these expansive and content-rich titles is largely attributed to their freedom of exploration and the significant playtime they offer. Agents of Mayhem’s unique mechanic lies in its ability to switch between three different heroes, selected prior to each mission. The initial roster includes three heroes, with the option to unlock an additional nine through gameplay. Hollywood serves as a versatile all-around character, Hardtack excels in close-quarters combat with his pump-action shotgun, and Fortune is a nimble Latin American technician proficient with pistols. Damaged heroes can be benched, allowing players to utilize another character. Each hero presents distinct strengths and weaknesses, typically balanced between power and speed. Characters also possess a special attack that requires a cooldown period, and a Mayhem mode enabling them to inflict increased damage or generate impressive chaos, serving as both an entertaining and effective gameplay element.
The agents exhibit a notable lack of acrophobia.
In certain aspects, Agents of Mayhem may draw comparisons to Overwatch‘s MOBA structure. However, while Blizzard’s title is a first-person shooter primarily focused on online multiplayer, Volition’s game emphasizes single-player experiences, although an online mode becomes available after reaching level 8. Another noteworthy gameplay feature is the ability for all characters to perform gravity-defying triple jumps and withstand falls from any height without sustaining damage, adding excitement to loot collection on rooftops and skyscrapers.
From a technical standpoint, Agents of Mayhem performs adequately. The visuals exhibit an 80s-inspired modern-retro aesthetic, though not exceptionally advanced. The audio is mixed in 7.1 surround sound, providing a well-balanced experience with clear dialogue in the front channels. The game was received prior to its official launch and presented a polished and relatively bug-free experience for an open-world title, albeit not the most technologically ambitious example of the genre. However, minor frame rate fluctuations were observed, even on the PS4 Pro. The control scheme is a mixed bag. While generally functional and offering better-than-expected vehicle handling (with the appropriate vehicle), the controls can feel sluggish and slightly unresponsive during combat scenarios. In this area, inspiration could have been drawn from first-person shooter competitors like Call of Duty and, particularly, the Uncharted series. It is conceivable that a future patch could address these concerns.
Agents of Mayhem’s aesthetic draws inspiration from 80s cartoons like He-Man and G.I. Joe.
In conclusion, Agents of Mayhem is an accessible game, and the mission map avoids the overabundance of repetitive side missions found in some titles like Assassin’s Creed. However, the game world can feel somewhat generic and artificial. The inhabitants of Seoul react to gunfire merely by ducking their heads, remaining stationary. The AI is also not particularly sophisticated; enemies can be easily eliminated from a safe vantage point as they approach predictably. Similar to Saints Row, Agents of Mayhem employs a humorous tone. While not overtly juvenile, the humor can occasionally lean towards the puerile, eliciting more sighs than laughs. The characters exhibit a lack of self-seriousness, which can be effective in games like Ratchet & Clank, but often comes across as cheesy in this context. Fortunately, the developers have exercised restraint in keeping cut-scenes and dialogues concise.
While Agents of Mayhem may not be a genre leader, it provides enjoyable and lighthearted open-world action with plenty of mayhem. While there are arguably superior games in this category, for players who have already experienced GTA V, Uncharted 4, and Assassin’s Creed Unity, Agents of Mayhem is a reasonable choice, particularly for fans of the genre. Furthermore, enthusiasts of the Saints Row series may appreciate the cross-over references, characters, and narrative connections.
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