Agents of Mayhem

Agents of Mayhem is a solid but wholly unremarkable game which may tide over anyone who’s had a fleeting interest in any of its clear inspirations. It doesn’t do anything new or even really attempt to, but it’s still going to scratch an open-world action itch for some. Don’t expect the world of it and you might have a dozen hours of relative fun before the rot sets in.

There’s a lot of potential scattered around Agents of Mayhem but not enough of it is realized. The shooting and abilities are fun, the characters are interesting and could develop followings individually, but everything is hindered by a half-baked open world. No matter how fun the shooting is, the in-between moments are consistently a chore. If this was intended to spring a new series of games to life, the initial effort spits and sputters on the launch pad.

I looked forward to seeing what Volition would do with a new open-world franchise. They turned Saints Row into something much more unique than the franchise’s GTA-inspired roots, and a new take on that universe could have been a great move for the developer. Unfortunately, any joy, character, humor, or interesting gameplay has been stripped from that series and left us with a wholly disappointing mistake.

Agents of Mayhem, then, isn’t perfect. Of course it isn’t; what game is? Despite its few missteps in repetition and a few bland design choices that stand out amidst a wash of personality, there’s no denying just how much fun this game is. It’s a game that leaves all seriousness behind; one that attempts to make you forget your real-world worries by bombarding you with crude language, irreverent humour and cheesy jokes that will make you roll your eyes (while secretly glowing with glee).

While I do feel like Agents of Mayhem has a bit of a generic streak, I don't believe it's a bad game. The controls are smooth, the graphics are decent, and it's fun to play at least in the short-term.