the second encounter |

Publisher: Developer Digital

Developer: Croteam

Release Date: 4/28/2010

Available On

I could never get into Serious Sam, mainly because I didn’t have the (at that time) powerhouse of a computer to run this strange FPS. Serious Sam was in vain of other first-generation FPS games like Doom, Duke Nukem, and Quake. Serious Sam infused strange humor, and that’s what set it apart from the more serious shooters. The HD version is just a prettied-up version of the second game, and it still stands that only fans will enjoy this.

There is no real story attached, but you pay as Sam, who runs around shooting weird, yet interesting, foes with super powerful weapons. Weapons range from your standard array of FPS weapons, such as a flamethrower, rocket launcher, double revolver, shotgun, etc. The foes can be pretty funny, with headless kamikazes that scream, skeleton horses, and just weird, indescribable beings. On top of this, the levels are pretty open and the HD graphics look nice, but it’s not enough to save the ancient gameplay.

We’re so used to amazing cinematic gameplay that just runs and gun shooters seem boring. Not only this, but the weapon selection is a pain because there’s no radial menu of any type or even category. They aren’t even numbered! You can never remember which weapon is which number, so you try to find the right weapon while backing away from enemies, which leads to frustrating deaths. Also, the game is plagued with irritating hidden secrets that are nearly impossible to find. The game is also very hard unless you play on the easiest setting, and your guns never feel quite powerful enough.

While there is a nice variety of environments, they seem static, stale, and lifeless. I would have liked to see more detail, like animals running around, birds flying, and just the extra stuff you see in modern games. I don’t want just an old game with better graphics. Why bother unless you modernize it a little more? Because that’s who’s going to play it. People who are used to modern shooters. I really wish Serious Sam would evolve into a modern shooter, because I can guarantee it would be amazing.

There are a few neat things, like being able to record your game, but unfortunately, no one’s playing online. I would have liked to see some making-of videos, a history of Serious Sam, or something like that. I understand fans of the original will dig this, but the people who evolved along with the genre just can’t get it.