Saints Row 2 beginner guide: Respect, cash, cribs and notoriety
Rebuild the Saints and understand the resources that control story access and free-roam survival.
Edition covered
Saints Row 2’s original base campaign, first released on consoles in 2008 and on PC in 2009. Publisher pictures show the PC listing. Console-exclusive DLC, community-restored DLC and overhaul-mod rules are outside this guide.
Complete the opening before planning the gang routes
The prison escape and early Saints missions establish your character and headquarters. Continue until the rival gang missions and activities become available. The open city contains distractions immediately, but the prologue gives the campaign its proper set of contacts and objectives.
| Resource | Purpose | Reliable habit |
|---|---|---|
| Respect | Enables further story missions | Complete activities between campaign jobs |
| Cash | Buys equipment, services and property | Refill supplies before optional purchases |
| Food inventory | Portable health recovery | Stock useful items before long missions |
| Stored vehicles | Transport for repeat trips | Keep a dependable vehicle in the garage |
| Cribs | Home, wardrobe and storage functions | Use as a preparation stop |
Earn Respect to start more story missions
Respect acts as a progression resource in Saints Row 2. Activities are an efficient way to earn it, and different activity types offer different challenges. If a mission cannot start because Respect is low, complete an activity rather than repeatedly returning to the same marker.
| If this happens | Check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Story mission is unavailable | Respect and prerequisites | Finish an activity or earlier mission |
| Activity icon is missing | Prologue progress | Continue rebuilding the Saints |
| Ammo runs low mid-mission | Weapon and shop preparation | Restock before retrying |
| Travel becomes a chase | Police or gang notoriety | Resolve pursuit before the next task |
Spend cash on useful recovery and equipment
Weapons, ammunition, food, clothing, vehicles and properties compete for the same money. Refill necessities before a lengthy mission, then invest in preferred equipment. Style contributes to Respect benefits, but buying expensive clothes should not leave you unable to stock your guns.
Break pursuit before resuming an errand
Police and gang notoriety create different threats. Use vehicle changes, shops and other available escape tools as the situation allows, and keep moving toward safe space. Starting a fragile activity while heavily pursued can make its opening unnecessarily difficult.
Police and gang notoriety create different threats.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Saints Row 2 — publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Saints Row Wiki: activities and diversions | saintsrow.wiki |
| Saints Row Wiki: unlockables | saintsrow.wiki |
| GameSpot: Saints Row 2 walkthrough | www.gamespot.com |
| Saints Row official legacy overview | saintsrow.com |