You're standing on a street corner in Stilwater. To your left, a rival gang member is trying to look tough. To your right, a literal UFO is parked because you decided to spend three hours playing a weird side-mission involving radioactive waste. That’s the beauty of this game. While modern open-world titles give you a "battle pass" or make you pay five bucks for a neon hat, the unlockables Saints Row 2 offers are tied to actually playing the damn game. It’s refreshing. It’s chaotic. Honestly, it’s a bit of a time sink if you don't know where to look.
Volition really went all out back in 2008. They didn’t just give you a faster car; they gave you pepper spray, pimp canes, and the ability to fall off a building without dying. Most players finish the story and think they've seen it all. They haven't. If you aren't engaging with the Activities—the real meat of the game—you're missing about half the inventory.
The Absolute Essentials You Need Early On
Getting your respect up is one thing, but getting the gear that makes you a god in Stilwater is another. You’ve probably noticed the combat can get a bit hairy when the police notoriety hits four stars and the SWAT teams start rolling in with those annoying shields.
First thing you should do? Go find the Septic Avenger activity. It sounds gross because it is. You’re literally spraying "material" onto buildings to lower property values. It’s classic Saints Row humor. But completing Level 3 of this in the Suburbs district gives you significantly better weapon accuracy. By the time you hit Level 6, your weapon accuracy is boosted even further. It changes the feel of every gunfight. You stop spraying and praying and start actually hitting headshots from a distance.
Health is the other big one. Don't just rely on eating burgers mid-fight. Go to the Emergency Room activity. If you finish Level 3, your health regenerates 50% faster. Level 6? It doubles your total health. Basically, you become a walking tank. You can stand in the middle of a street, take a shotgun blast to the chest, and just keep walking. It makes the later Ronin missions, where those guys with katanas are constantly lunging at you, way less frustrating.
Breaking Down the Homies
Most people stick with Gat. I get it. Johnny Gat is the face of the franchise for a reason. But the unlockable homies provide some much-needed variety when you're tired of hearing the same three voice lines while driving around.
- Zombie Carlos: This is the big one people talk about. You have to finish the Brotherhood arc. After that, call 555-5966 on your in-game cell phone. He’s tough, he’s creepy, and he’s a great meat shield during those high-intensity gang takeovers.
- Jane Valderamma: You remember the news reporter? Complete the "Hitman" lists. She’s surprisingly handy with a pistol.
- Legal Lee: Finish the "Escort" activity in the University district. He’s not the best fighter, but having a lawyer on your side feels right for the Saints.
There’s also the "Vehicle Delivery" service. It's technically an unlockable "homie" perk. You get this by finishing the Chop Shop lists. Being able to have any car from your garage delivered to your feet in the middle of a wasteland is a total game-changer. No more carjacking slow-moving minivans when your sports car explodes.
Fighting Styles and Melee Chaos
One of the coolest parts about the unlockables Saints Row 2 features is the ability to change how your character actually moves. You aren't stuck with the default "street brawler" swings. Each gang you take down unlocks their specific combat style.
If you beat the Ronin missions, you get their martial arts style. It’s fast. It’s flashy. You’ll find yourself doing spinning kicks and quick strikes that stagger enemies. If you prefer brute force, the Brotherhood style is all about heavy hits and grapples. You can switch these at any plastic surgeon (Image as Designed). It’s a small detail, but it makes your custom character feel way more personalized.
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And then there’s the pepper spray. It’s a bit of a hidden gem. You get it from the "Crowd Control" activity in the Hotel District. It’s not a killing weapon, obviously, but it’s the best crowd-control tool in the game. If you're being swarmed by a dozen guys, one quick spray shuts them all down, giving you time to reload or make a break for it.
The Weird Stuff: From Chainsaws to UFOs
Let’s talk about the items that make people ask, "What game are you playing?" Saints Row 2 never took itself too seriously, and the high-tier rewards reflect that.
The Chainsaw and the Pimp Cane
You want the chainsaw? Go play "Crowd Control" in the Suburbs. It’s as messy as you’d expect. The Pimp Cane, which is actually a shotgun disguised as a walking stick, is unlocked after finishing "Hoing" in the Downtown district. It has a unique firing animation that just oozes style. It’s not the most practical weapon in a long-range fight, but for close-quarters "business," it's unbeatable.
Infinite Ammo: The Ultimate Goal
This is the "endgame" for most players. Each weapon category has an infinite ammo unlock tied to a specific activity.
- Infinite SMG Ammo: Finish Level 6 of "Snatch" in the Downtown district.
- Infinite Pistol Ammo: Finish "Fuzz" in the Projects. (Fuzz is arguably the funniest activity in the game anyway, so this is a win-win).
- Infinite Shotgun Ammo: Finish "Drug Trafficking" in the Airport district.
- Infinite Rifle Ammo: Finish all the "Hitman" lists.
Once you have infinite rifle ammo, the game basically turns into an action movie. You can just hold down the trigger with the AR-50 and watch the world burn.
The Secret Vehicles
There is a literal UFO called the "Destroyer." To get it, you have to complete the "Trailblazing" activity. It hovers, it shoots lasers, and it completely breaks the immersion of the game in the best way possible. Then there’s the "Peewee" mini-bike. You get it by finishing the "Insurance Fraud" activity. It’s tiny, it’s ridiculous, and you look like a giant riding a tricycle.
Hidden Gems You Probably Missed
There are things you unlock just by exploring or doing specific, non-obvious tasks. For example, the "Secret Lab" crib. Most people stick with the high-rise apartments or the renovated church. But if you head to the Wardill Airport and look for the underground bunker, you can turn it into a home base.
Also, the "Galleria Redux" mall. There are stores in there that only open up or offer specific items once you’ve reached certain points in the story. Keep an eye on the "Let's Pretend" store. That’s where the truly bizarre outfits—like the hot dog suit or the space ranger gear—reside.
The "Stunt Jumps" and "Barnstorming" locations also count. While they don't always give you a physical item in your inventory, completing all of them unlocks the "Buggy," a small off-road vehicle that’s probably the best handling car for off-road shortcuts in the entire game.
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Making the Most of Stilwater
Getting all the unlockables Saints Row 2 has to offer isn't just about completionism. It’s about power scaling. If you try to rush the final missions of the Ultor arc without the health upgrades or the infinite ammo perks, you’re going to have a rough time. Those Ultor masako squads do not play around. They have high-end body armor and better AI than the street gangs.
A lot of players complain that the "Insurance Fraud" activity is too hard. Pro tip: Head to the highway. If you can get hit by a truck and then "bounce" onto three or four other cars, your multiplier sky-rockets. It’s the fastest way to hit that Level 6 goal and get your reduced damage rewards.
Actionable Strategy for Completion
If you're starting a new save or going back to an old one to clean up the map, follow this order to make your life easier:
- Fuzz & Septic Avenger: Get your accuracy and pistol ammo sorted.
- Emergency Room: Get that health regeneration immediately. It saves lives.
- Fight Clubs: Unlock the combat styles early so you aren't just throwing basic punches for 20 hours.
- Snatch & Drug Trafficking: These are the "grind" activities, but the infinite ammo for SMGs and Shotguns makes the mid-game missions a breeze.
Saints Row 2 is a masterpiece of "more is more" design. Every weird mini-game has a purpose. Every hidden tag you spray or CD you find contributes to making your character an unstoppable force. It’s a game that rewards curiosity with chaos. Go find that UFO and start causing some real trouble in Stilwater.
Next Steps for Your Stilwater Takeover:
- Start with the Suburbs Septic Avenger activity to fix your weapon sway before tackling the Ronin missions.
- Dial 555-5966 on your phone after the Brotherhood finale to recruit your most resilient homie.
- Focus on the Hitman lists early; the rewards there are more practical for story missions than the "fun" vehicle unlocks.