Saints Row 2 vs Torn
Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2 , released back in 2009, is gangster-themed open world game that is somewhat similar to what you'll expect in an old Grand Theft Auto game. The game was originally XBox exclusive and due to this, the game may feel a lot like a port... some may even say a poor port at that. However, the game itself is pretty fun to play. There are three main gangs or factions that you'll need to exert your dominance over so that your own gang, the Saints, can thrive. As expected of a gangster-themed game, there are plenty of pretty violent side-missions as well, most of which involve driving into pedestrians, destroying other people's properties, performing a drive-by, spraying excrement on big corporations, and well, wreaking as much havoc as you can in general. However, it's a point to note that the game doesn't have prostitutes that you can hire unlike in GTA, though there are some skimpily-dressed female AIs walking about.In this game, you'll also get to own multiple cribs scattered all around the city of Stilwater, each with their own set of upgrades and customization options. Similarly, your character can be customized down to the last detail too. The best part about this game is the wide variety of fun vehicles you can steal and collect in your garage. There are even helicopters, planes, boats and motorcycles that you can steal.
Despite its rather bad (by today's quality and standards) graphics, Saints Row 2 is a pretty huge game. Only the main missions will take you hours of gameplay, let alone the many side missions, the hours you put in to collect your fleet of cool cars, exploring the city's every nook and cranny, and even finding and getting the items you need to customize your character's looks. If you're into this sort of games, Saints Row 2 is definitely worth the price.
Torn
Torn is a browser-based text-based MMORPG (now available on Android!) that is among the earliest crime-themed text-based MMOs on the internet. It has inspired multiple equally-popular games, including Zynga's Mafia Wars and David Maestri's Mob Wars, though the former isn't as lasting as Torn.In this game, you play as an up-and-coming mobster in a vast fictional city that is just ripe for you to do your misdeeds in. The types of crimes you can commit, albeit virtually, in this game in astounding, and this is more so if you take into consideration that levels of depth and intricacies that Torn goes to make the game as immersive as it could. Of course, if you "failed" a crime attempt, you can risk going to jail for quite some time, from minutes to hours to even several days. You can battle other mobsters as well, both individually and in a clan.
There are plenty of other stuff to do aside from diving into a life of crime or dueling others. You can take up legitimate jobs or set up a business of your own; you can hit the gym to level up your stats; you can enroll in an educational course; or you can even craft items and sell them to others by posting ads.
Torn is one of the longest-running, mafia-themed, and text-based MMO game out there, and those aforementioned are just some of the reasons why it managed to stick around for so long. If you enjoy text-based mafia games, you'll want to give this game a try!