It's no secret that the Saints Row reboot has been divisive among franchise fans. A poor CGI reveal trailer at Gamescom combined with mixed messaging about returning features had fans wondering if Volition had gone too far and removed the feel and tone they loved. Volition delayed the game from a February 25 release to an August 23 to polish the title and fine-tune the experience. The studio is back and ready to show off Saints Row once again and showcase why it is indeed a proper Saints Row title. The studio allowed us to take a peek at customization in the new title and we're happy to say that it's a proper evolution that follows closely in its predecessor's footsteps.

No doubt one of the heavier criticisms leveled at the title is the 'Boss' character. In past games, players could heavily customize the Boss to their heart's content. For Saints Row, however, much of the marketing has focused on a preset protagonist played by Bryce Childs, worrying longtime fans that they'd not get to create their own Boss. Thankfully, this is not the case. Not only is the Boss fully customizable in nearly every way, but some smart new additions might make this the best character creator in any Saints Row game.

First off, the basics. Gender, shirts, pants, shoes, hats, underwear, socks, hairstyle, hair color, skin and voices can all be customized. This isn't surprising, considering all these options were there in previous entries. There's an insane amount of different customization items available, though many of them will need to be unlocked through playing the game. New to the franchise is asymmetrical customization, which allows you to customize each side of your character. Want a yellow eye on the left and a blue eye that slags slightly on the right? You can now do that. Saints Row also introduces prosthetics, which tie in nicely to the asymmetrical feature, allowing you the freedom and flexibility to create a Boss that truly represents you.

Of course, those who want to jump into the action and alter the appearance of their Boss later can do that. There are eight different presets available from the start, and all can be modified from various stores or the Saint's headquarters. Keeping up the Saint's brand of ridiculousness are the new Modesty graphics that hover over the Boss' genitals. Ever want to place an eggplant over the Boss' eggplant? Now you can.

Customization runs deep in the Saints Row franchise, digging into nearly every aspect of the game, including vehicles, guns and your empire. Saints Row expands on this and the graphical capabilities available on current and last-gen machines to deliver deeper customization. For vehicles, this means a robust roster of 80 different cars, trucks, helicopters, VTOLs, motorcycles, and hoverboards to collect. You can switch out their paint jobs, alter the engine, transmission, and horn's audio, throw in some fancy lighting, and add special features like nitrous, off-road kits, and a towing cable.

Beyond basic vehicle customization, vehicles can be equipped with Signature Abilities that give them some sweet capabilities. For example, crabwalk allows players to make easily maneuver their vehicles. Ball-and-Chain literally adds a wrecking back you can swing at enemies. Ejector seats fling you into the sky and then wingsuit to safety, and Infinite Boost is literally infinite nitrous. Beyond that, the developers teased that beating the story would unlock additional abilities.

A Saint needs a good weapon to get the job done and Saints Row believes that that weapon should reflect your style. Saints Row IV provided ways to alter the look of your gun by placing a simple skin on it or converting it to look unique (i.e., a Super Soaker burst rifle). Saints Row takes that further by allowing players to change every aspect of their weapon. Swap out materials and textures to have a unique-looking weapon or add some personal flair with a few decals. Of course, you can still make guns look zany too. Umbrella assault rifle and potato cannons, anyone?

Finally, the last aspect of customization comes down to the one thing every empire needs: an HQ. The HQ will be your home within the game, providing quick access to character, vehicle and weapon customization from within its walls. In addition, pedestals throughout the building allow you to put your personal touch on the surroundings. You'll also launch your assault on the city's current criminal empires from here. There are fourteen different locations to conquer, so make sure to check out the war table on the second floor often.

Saints Row's reveal at Gamescom 2021 was messy, showcasing a game that didn't seem to resemble what fans expect from the franchise. After many months of waiting, it's not only lovely to see Saints Row back, but also showcasing an element that fans love about the franchise. Customization has always been near and dear to the franchise's heart, and the fact we're getting such a robust character creator is fantastic. While we'll have to wait and see what's going on with the rest of the game, it's at least clear that Volition has nailed customization.

Saints Row launches August 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Players will get a chance to test out the character creator themselves before launch. Volition intends on releasing tools to let players create their Boss sometime before August 23.