Completing Activities is the fastest way to earn Respect, which is required continue the storyline.
Along with new Activities, some previous Activities from Saints Row return, while others have been cut. Unlike Activities in Saints Row, each Activity in Saints Row 2 has just six levels instead of eight, and there are just two instances of them, rather than three. Unlockables are awarded after completing level three and level six of each Activity, rather than after completing all eight levels in Saints Row.
The amount of Cash and Respect earned increases with each level, as does the difficulty of the activity.
There are 4 types of Diversions: Collection, Jobs, Stunts, and Minigames.
At the beginning of the game, some Diversions are available, but most do not become available until after "Appointed Defender". It is possible to unlock the rewards associated with the available diversions.
Available are: Stunt Jumps, Barnstorming, Secret Areas, CD Collection, Combat Tricks, Driving Stunts, Vehicle Surfing, Base Jumping, Store Hold-Ups, Mugging.
Most diversions are not required for 100% completion, but reward Cash, Respect and Unlockables.
Diversions are more varied in their structure when compared to Activities, and do not count towards 100% Completion (with the exception of Tagging and CD Collection). While Diversions also awards cash and Respect, the amount is far smaller than that awarded through Activity completion. Diversions tend to have simple objectives and generally only feature overlay text on the HUD.
Differences[]
The differences between Activities and Diversions:
Activities show the standard Mission screen. Diversions usually have overlay text.
Activities are required for 100% Completion. Diversions are usually not.
Sometimes referred to as Easter Eggs, Saints Row 2 has specific Secret Areas. When one of these 32 Secret Areas is discovered, a message is displayed on the screen, and is counted in the game statistics. All underground areas and the islands that not marked on the map are counted as Secret Areas.
Earned by driving a car over a raised jump and flying through the air. Stunt Jump locations are not marked in any way, and may be hills, cliffs, or wooden boards. There are 80 Stunt Jumps.
There are 50 tags hidden around the city which must be covered with the 3rd Street Saints tag. Tagging is started by entering the spray can marker in front of the tag and pressing the Action button when prompted.
Unlike other Diversions, Tagging is counted toward 100% Completion.
The only collection Diversion started with the Action button.
Jobs[]
There are 10 levels of each Job, a Reward is unlocked for completing the 10th level.
Prompted upon entering any Ambulance. In this Diversion, an Ambulance is driven to accidents and Civilians are revived using Shock Paddles and Chest Compressions.
Prompted upon entering any Blaze Firetruck. In this Diversion, a Blaze to scenes of building fires, enter the buildings and extinguish the fires using a Fire Extinguisher.
A sex-themed 'Job' in which certain movements are performed with the analog sticks in a limited amount of time. This diversion can be started at several locations around Stilwater, but is not marked on the map. Unlike other Diversions, failure does not result in restarting from the beginning.
A series of maneuvers and stunts which involve a car. Stars are increased either by maintaining the stunt for an extended period of time, or by frequently repeating the stunt.
Bailouts
Big Air Jumps
Burnouts - must be witnessed to earn stars
Powersliding
Hydraulics
Near Misses - must not crash while performing
Oncoming Lane - must not crash while performing
Roadkill
Stoppies - must be performed on a bike
Two Wheels
Vehicle Surfing - prompt is shown while standing on a moving vehicle.
The aim of Base Jumping is to land within a bulls-eye while Parachuting. This Diversion can be started by pressing the Action button when prompted after deploying a Parachute.
Prompted upon stealing a car with one or more passengers, there is a prompt to start the Hostage diversion. The aim of this diversion, is to drive around for a certain amount of time, without slowing down enough that the hostage can escape.
A 3D video game where zombies must be killed using limited weapons. This diversion can be started at the Television in each Crib, and at some locations around Stilwater.
Frenzy Diversion, the game files reference this diversion as a menu item, but there are no other details. A different file indicates that Frenzy was a menu category. There is also an unused Trail Blazing string named "Frenzy Instructions".
Production footage shows other Activities which are not included in the final game:
Turfwars - gameplay appears similar to Strongholds.[1]
Happy Fun Ball - gameplay involves destroying buildings with a wrecking ball.[2]
Trivia[]
Unlike in Saints Row, Activity cutscenes cannot be replayed.
Because Activities can be played at any time, neither Carlos Mendoza or Johnny Gat are featured in any Activity or Activity cutscene, due to storyline events which make them unavailable at some points in the game.
In a Community Q&A video, Volition's Community Manager J Goldberg incorrectly claimed that there was a police diversion in Saints Row 2.[3]