Notoriety Level
Your crimes draw attention—and the city responds with force.
Notoriety Level is a gameplay mechanic in Saints Row 2 that tracks the player's criminal activity and determines the intensity of police and rival gang responses. When the player commits illegal acts or provokes rival gang members, they attract potentially fatal attention from authorities or gangs. The notoriety bar visually represents how proactive the opposing forces' response will be. Continual incitement escalates the response, bringing more powerful units such as SWAT teams from the police. The player can reduce notoriety by escaping the pursuit zone, hiding to let it "cool off", entering a crib, or completing a mission that resets notoriety.
- Game Franchise
- Saints Row
- First Appearance
- Saints Row 2
- Function
- Dynamic Difficulty & Enemy Aggression Scale
- Trigger Source
- Combat, Property Destruction, and Civilian Interaction
Lore & Background
The notoriety system in Saints Row 2 directly ties to the player's actions in Stilwater. Should the player either commit illegal activities or incite rival gang members, they will provoke potentially fatal attention from authoritative figures or rival gangs. The notoriety bar is a visual representation of the proactivity of the opposing figures' response. Continual inciting of these groups will bring about a more powerful response, such as SWAT teams from the police. The player can reduce notoriety by escaping the pursuit zone, hiding to let it "cool off", entering a crib, or completing a mission that resets notoriety. Should the player character be apprehended or killed, a small percentage of the player's earnings will be removed and the player will respawn at law or healthcare institutions.
In Their Own Story
The player's character, fresh from a five-year coma, finds themselves in a Stilwater transformed by Ultor's redevelopment. As they rebuild the 3rd Street Saints, every firefight, every stolen car, every gang territory seized increases their notoriety. The police respond with escalating force—first patrol cars, then SWAT teams. Rival gangs like the Sons of Samedi or the Brotherhood send waves of reinforcements. The notoriety bar climbs, and the city's response becomes more aggressive, forcing the player to either fight through the chaos or find a confessional to clear their name.
Reader's Guide
Notoriety Level is triggered by committing illegal activities or inciting rival gang members. The notoriety bar visually shows how proactive the opposing response will be. Continual incitement brings more powerful responses, such as SWAT teams from the police. The player is chased until captured or killed. To reduce notoriety, the player can hide from police or gangs and wait for the bar to "cool off", or visit a drive-through confessional which clears the bar for a small fee. If apprehended or killed, a small percentage of earnings is removed and the player respawns at law or healthcare institutions. Managing notoriety is essential for avoiding overwhelming force during missions or free-roam exploration.
Did You Know?
- The player can lose notoriety by escaping the pursuit zone, hiding, entering a crib, or completing a mission that resets it.
- If the player is apprehended or killed, a small percentage of their earnings is removed.
- Continual incitement of police or gangs brings more powerful responses, such as SWAT teams.
- The player can hide from police or gangs to let the notoriety bar 'cool off' over time.
- The notoriety system is tied to both police and rival gang responses in Saints Row 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Notoriety Level mechanic?
It is a system introduced in Saints Row 2 that tracks how much attention your criminal actions attract from law enforcement and rival gangs. As you commit crimes, the bar fills up, signaling increased hostility from the city's defenders.
How does my Notoriety Level increase?
Engaging in combat, destroying property, or harming civilians triggers this system and raises your visibility to opponents. Each illegal act adds to the bar, making the pursuit more aggressive over time.
What changes when the level gets higher?
Higher notoriety summons stronger units like SWAT teams and dedicated rival gang hit squads instead of standard officers. The police response becomes relentless until you are either eliminated or lose their attention.
How can I lower my Notoriety Level?
You must evade capture by hiding in safe zones or staying out of sight to let the bar drain down naturally over time. Once it empties, authorities stop actively hunting you for that specific incident.
Why is this mechanic important for gameplay?
It creates a dynamic difficulty curve where reckless behavior leads to overwhelming odds against the player's gang. Managing your visibility ensures you can survive long enough to complete missions without constant interference.
More in Gameplay & Mechanics
Related in Saints Row
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Elsewhere in the Saints Row universe
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