When you think about the peak of open-world chaos, your mind probably goes straight to that purple-tinted madness of 2011. Saints Row Three characters didn't just walk so later entries could run; they drove a tank out of a cargo plane while "Power" by Kanye West blasted in the background. It was a weird, transitionary time for the series. Volition was moving away from the "GTA clone" label and leaning hard into the absurd.
Honestly, the roster in this game is what kept the franchise from collapsing under its own weight. If the people weren't interesting, the giant dildo bats and laser jets would have just been shallow gimmicks. Instead, we got a group of sociopaths that felt like family.
The Saints Row Three Characters You Actually Remember
The Boss is obviously the center of the universe here. But in The Third, they weren't just a mute avatar anymore. They were a celebrity. They had a brand to protect. That shift in tone changed how everyone else interacted with you.
Johnny Gat: The Legend Who (Briefly) Left
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the lack of one. Johnny Gat is the soul of the Third Street Saints. Daniel Dae Kim’s voice acting made him the coolest guy in the room without even trying. When he "died" early in the game on Phillipe Loren’s plane, it felt like a gut punch. It was a bold move by the writers, though most of us knew he was way too popular to stay gone forever. His absence looms over the entire Steelport campaign, driving Shaundi’s entire character arc into a dark, revenge-fueled place.
Shaundi: From Stoner to Soldier
Speaking of Shaundi, her transformation between Saints Row 2 and The Third is probably the most controversial character shift in the whole series. You remember her in 2, right? She was the chill, dreadlocked hippie who knew everyone’s drug dealer.
In Steelport, she’s a hardened, high-fashion tactical expert with a massive chip on her shoulder. She's basically the "straight man" of the group now, constantly yelling at the Boss and Pierce to take things seriously. A lot of fans hated this. They missed the "Fun Shaundi." But looking back, her anger makes total sense—she lost Johnny, and she’s trying to keep a criminal empire from turning into a joke.
Pierce Washington: The Professional Punching Bag
Pierce is the unsung hero of the Saints. He’s the guy who plans the heists, handles the marketing, and somehow gets stuck doing all the paperwork. The running gag where the Boss and Shaundi just ignore his (actually good) ideas is comedy gold.
One of the best moments in the game is the carpool karaoke session. Hearing Pierce and the Boss sing along to "What I Got" by Sublime is such a humanizing moment. It's those tiny, quiet bits of dialogue that make the Saints Row Three characters feel like actual friends rather than just mission-givers.
The New Blood in Steelport
When the Saints landed in Steelport, they needed a new crew. This is where the game really leaned into its "more is more" philosophy.
- Oleg Kirrlov: A former KGB giant who is essentially the "original" Brute. He’s incredibly well-read, polite, and can rip a car door off its hinges. Having a philosopher-giant as your heavy was such a smart subversion of the "big dumb guy" trope.
- Kinzie Kensington: An ex-FBI hacker who is paranoid, socially awkward, and probably the smartest person in the city. She basically replaced the technical roles of previous characters and became a fan favorite almost instantly. Her dynamic with the Boss is pure chaos.
- Zimos: Look, Zimos is... a lot. An older pimp who speaks exclusively through an auto-tuned microphone because of a "tracheotomy" incident. He’s the physical embodiment of the game's absurdity. He shouldn't work as a character, but Alex Désert’s performance makes him strangely charming.
- Angel De LaMuerte: Voiced by the legendary Hulk Hogan. He’s a fallen luchador seeking redemption by helping you take down Killbane. He adds a weirdly spiritual, almost operatic drama to the gang war.
Why the Syndicate Failed to Measure Up
The villains in The Third are stylish, but let’s be real: they aren't as terrifying as the Brotherhood or the Sons of Samedi from the previous game. Phillipe Loren started strong—the guy had class. He was a Belgian mastermind who treated crime like a corporate merger.
Then there’s Killbane. He’s a giant, ego-driven wrestler. He’s a great antagonist for the "over-the-top" version of the Saints, but he lacks the genuine menace of someone like Maero. The Deckers, led by the "emo" hacker Matt Miller, were a fun nod to early 2010s internet culture, but they felt more like a nuisance than a threat.
The real tension in the game actually comes from S.T.A.G. (Special Tactical Anti-Gang). Cyrus Temple and his high-tech military force were the first time the Saints felt like they might actually lose. It shifted the game from a gang war into a full-on urban insurgency.
How Character Customization Changed the Game
You can't talk about Saints Row Three characters without talking about your character. The "Initiation Station" was a massive deal back then. People weren't just making "tough gangster" types. They were making Shrek, or The Joker, or realistic versions of themselves.
The fact that Volition recorded every line of dialogue for seven different voices (including a Zombie voice!) is still insane to think about. Whether you played as the suave British guy or the high-pitched "Female 1," the story felt tailored to you. It gave the Boss a personality that most "create-a-character" games lack. You weren't just a blank slate; you were a specific kind of lunatic.
The Actionable Insight: How to Experience Them Today
If you’re looking to revisit these icons, don't just go for the original 2011 release. The Saints Row: The Third Remastered is the way to go. It wasn't just a simple resolution bump. They completely overhauled the character models.
Viola and Kiki DeWynter actually look like high-end socialites now instead of shiny plastic dolls. The lighting in Steelport finally matches the mood of the story.
🔗 Read more: Why the Pokémon Platinum Delta ROM Is Still a Gen 4 Masterclass
What you should do next:
- Play the "Trouble with Clones" DLC: It’s a deep dive into the weirdest parts of the Saints' lore and features some of the best character interactions between the Boss and Pierce.
- Focus on Homie Conversations: Don't just rush the missions. When you’re driving to a waypoint, stop and listen to the dialogue between your followers. There are hundreds of unique lines that build the backstory of the Saints Row Three characters that you’ll miss if you just fast-travel everywhere.
- Experiment with the Voices: If you've only ever played with one voice, start a new save with the "Zombie" or "Russian" voice. It changes the entire comedic timing of the cutscenes.
The Saints might have moved on to space and alternate dimensions in later games, but their time in Steelport remains the moment the series found its true, neon-purple heart.