This game is pretty much an almost perfect sequel. it irons out all the kinks of the original game and ends up being pretty much the greatest gangster simulator ever, one thing I hated in the first was how grindy the side activities are but they're way more fun in this game and a lot less grindy. the gunplay,cars,customization and pretty much everything wipes the floor with the first game. the radio stations give late 2000's nostalgia and the world of stilwater is much more fleshed out in this game with more memorable gangs than the first personally for me, the characters in general are great imo. Pierce,Shaundi,Johnny Gat and Carlos are all great and seeing what happened to the Saints Row 1 characters is cool. easily one of the best open world games I've played