Developer Tips

You can’t do everything yourself—even though you’re a badass. Keep at least one homie or your Saints backup with you most of the time—especially if you’re planning to take out a Gang Operation or answer a survival call.

BUY EVERYTHING and BUY IT EARLY —all property, all stores, everything that makes you money. Building up your hourly income helps you get to awesome even faster.

Learn to hide. Killing from behind cover keeps you alive.

Swallow your pride and run away. There’s a reason notoriety is wiped in your cribs and the stores you own. Other gangs and police will eventually send enough backup to kill you. Things getting too hot? Get the hell out of there.

Best way to take out Gang Operations? Mass kills. At minimum, stock up on grenades before you go.

—Anne Odom, Project Manager

If you choose to take Killbane’s Mask, when you wear the mask and stand close to people, doing a taunt will catch them all on fire.

—Greg Donovan, Senior Producer

Shaundi and Zimos have met before. Recruit them both at the same time to hear where.

Nut shots and melee attacks are a good way to stop Decker specialists.

Rear rotors can be shot off attacking helicopters .

Oleg can’t fit into most cars, but he will climb into truck beds.

—Adam Pletcher, Principal Technical Artist

Use the car torpedo feature to take out a group of crowded enemies.

—Glenn Lattiere, Tester

Save file 100% is reached with:

All Missions Complete

All Activities complete

All City Takeover (Gang Operations + stores + properties) complete

All collectibles obtained

—Elizabeth Zelle, Tester

While driving a police car or motorcycle, turning on the emergency lights will cause other vehicles to pull over to the side of the road.

—Morgan Henry, Tester

Special Spawn: Eagle (attack helicopter that’s basically an upgraded Vulture)—spawns at the Guard Base helipads.

Stork (transport helicopter used by the Saints)—spawns at the airport.

—Zavian Porter, Senior QA Tester

Professor Genki can be found roaming the streets of Steelport. He’s a tough cookie, but killing him yields substantial rewards.

—David Bianchi, Designer

Provided by Chris DuBois, Tester

Campaign Speed Run

Volition’s fastest recorded speed run as of 10/19/2011 is 4:10:56 by Chris DuBois, Tester. Can you do better? Here are a few tips from the man to get you started.

Provided by Chris DuBois, Tester

Mission 1

Pick up the money from the gang kills to get at least $100.

Stand behind the SWAT Riot Shield forces to kill them quickly.

Mission 3

There is a Gang Operation nearby for an early $1,000 once on the north side of downtown island just north of the Rim Jobs.

If you have $200, buy the KA-1 Kobra up to level two.

Once at the base, get into the Bear and use that to kill the majority of the Guards; it’s a lot faster.

Firing a guided missile at tanks is faster, as they’ll die in one shot, while dumb fire takes four missiles.

Mission 4

Opposite side of the park is a collectible and Gang Operation for an extra $2,000.

Alley paths are faster than the GPS route to Rim Jobs.

Mission 5

While still in the basement, kill as many of the enemies as possible before moving to the stairs. Not all of them but many are required kills.

Kill the enemies from the landing helicopter when it arrives, this will stop the spawns from the elevator.

Mission 8

During City Takeover, when buying the Friendly Fire, upgrade the KA-1 Kobra to level four if the money is available.

If the Kobra is level four, Genki will be very easy. Only use the KA-1 Kobra and even a body shot (on Casual difficulty) will be a one shot on all mascots.

Mission 13

A well-placed grenade when the Brute comes out of the elevator will kill it quick, or reduce the health so it can be finished off quickly.

Mission 14

Buy RPGs before going to Angel.

Use the RPGs on the Brutes to finish them quickly.

Use the minigun to kill the Flamethrower Brutes if you are out of rockets.

Mission 31

Don’t stand near the air conditioners on the roof. The snipers tend to blow them up.

Mission 38

Use a RPG on the Brute to kill fast.

Mission 33

Make sure to stun or kill the  sniper to limit the damage you  take.

Mission 35

Blowing up the AC units on the roof can distract or take out the Deckers, and prevent you from getting hurt accidentally when running through.

Mission 37

Using the Shock Hammer from the Decker specialist can help to clear out the enemies in the TV studio, but be careful of the explosives.

Mission 40

Using the tank shells to destroy groups of STAG is faster than individually targeting them.

Mission 41

Repeatedly fire the Sonic Boom to keep the zombies staggered until you can get the time to fully charge.

Mission 43

Use the RPGs on the Brutes to finish them quickly.