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The 15 Coolest Games of Fall 2008

You want the scoop on this autumn's best gaming experiences, and we have it. Check out PC World's list of 15 don't-miss games and the reasons why our experts picked them.

Matt Peckham and Darren Gladstone, PC World

Saints Row 2 (October 14)

The Scoop: Saints Row 2; Genre: action/adventure; By: Volition; From: THQ; For: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360; Rating: Mature

Info: The gang-banging protagonist of the original Saints Row wakes from a five-year coma and hits the streets to get his groove back and dispatch double-dealing rivals in developer Volition's go-anywhere, do-anything sequel to its 2006 chart topper.

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Matt: Four words: Grand Theft Auto IV. Saints Row 2 has to leapfrog Rockstar's sprawling city simulator while distinguishing itself as more than just another me-too experience. (No pressure.) Preliminary reports sound promising, especially the fact that Volition rebuilt things from the ground up. Is it better looking? Sure, but that you expect. What you might not be anticipating are all the new ways Saints Row 2 lets you pimp your ride. You can fiddle with the way you fight and hold a weapon, as well as how you walk and talk--not to mention what your gang pals look like and drive, plus where you live and what goes inside. From pool tables to pianos and from graffiti tags to gang signs, Saints Row 2 could turn out to be more than just another Rockstar knockoff.

Darren: I knew that this game would ooze class when the developers bestowed adult-film icon Tera Patrick with the title of "Special Producer." And yet, despite all its wannabe gangsta-ism--and blatant grand-theft gameplay--I still find myself appreciating what's going on here. This game's take on multiplayer is a lot more open than most: A buddy can jump in at any time and join you in your game world. You can go on specific missions while he rolls around town on his own crime spree. Compare that with the setup in GTA IV, which locks you into death matches and cooperative missions, or Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, which makes you stick close by your partner.

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