Serious sam collection switch review12/29/2023 ![]() ![]() What makes Serious Sam so unique is its odd and unique enemies that barely change throughout the whole series, the most iconic being the headless men that run at you with bombs strapped to their hands screaming (somehow). You were also able to reload weapons in this one as well, so you can see just how basic the original games were in comparison. It’s still very rough and basic compared to other games, but the graphics were much improved, especially the lighting and water effects, and actually had some minor dialogue thrown in for good measure. Serious Sam 3 is where the series started to take a more modern approach to game design, with more intricate levels, cutscenes and even ADS (aim down sights) for your weaponry. Game design is as basic as it comes in these first two games, but such was the time in that era, so it’s hard to hold it against it. You can quickly become overrun, so don’t back yourself into a corner. ![]() Enemies spawn almost constantly, so you need to always be moving and strafing to survive as you blast everything in your way. You need to make it from area to area in Egypt, but as you reach a locked door you either need to defeat every enemy that spawns over a set amount of time, or find special relics that will then unlock said door. The first two Serious Sam games are very similar and quite basic in design, sadly also showing their age and not much content within. Aside from that, it’s a pretty bare-boned collection without much in terms for extras. Multiplayer has been added for cooperative and competitive 16 players, but throughout my days of reviewing, I was only able to find a handful of other players to join every time I tried. Yeah it’s got its resolution upped to 4K, but its ancient textures still make it hideous at the best of times. So what’s been improved and updated since the last time we played as Sam? It really doesn’t seem like a lot. I also expected the awesome spin-off Serious Sam Double D XXL to be included, as it was with an older collection, but sadly it’s not here, just the main core games. Oddly enough, the latest Serious Sam 4 isn’t included, though it hasn’t been released on console yet so I can see why, I guess to get you ready for it next year. So what’s included with this latest collection? The Serious Sam Collection includes all content from Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter, Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter and Serious Sam 3: BFE, including The Legend of the Beast and Jewel of the Nile expansions. Combat is as simple as it gets, simply point and aim at the enemies constantly rushing towards you with your pistols, rifles, rocket launchers, cannons, alien guns, shotguns, minigun and more. Combat is constantly chaotic and frantic, with enemies coming at you almost endlessly, so you need to constantly be moving, finding health, shield and ammo pickups as you try and navigate towards the confusing land of Egyptian pyramids and relics. You play to blast aliens in the face nonstop, of which Serious Sam knows how to deliver. You never see this overlord though, and the “story” is paper thin at best, but that’s not why you play a Serious Sam game. This was improved in part 3, but for the most part, Sam is fighting against a never ending onslaught of aliens and machines that serve an alien overlord that humans call “Mental”. There’s really not much of a plotline when it comes to the Serious Sam games generally. Harkening back to a simpler time, the Serious Sam Collection will give you a glimpse into the past of early 2000 shooters, for better and worse. Many didn’t have elaborate set pieces, lengthy cutscenes or even much of a story, and Serious Sam is the epitome of this classic and simple game design. Like I said, my nostalgia made me remember so much more, but playing through again I realized how utterly basic its gameplay really is.īack in ‘the day’, shooters were very simple affairs. Serious Sam will never be known for its story or cutscenes, and that’s fine, as it’s simply meant to be a mindless shooter where you blast anything that moves. Serious Sam has a simple concept: Give you guns and a near endless amount of aliens and enemies to shoot, rinse and repeat. Case in point, revisiting Serious Sam after all these years made me realize just how primitive it actually was by design, especially compared to today’s gaming standards. Nostalgia is a funny thing though, as you sometimes remember things quite differently from how they actually are. Back when the Serious Sam games originally released, I remember thinking how amazing and mind blowing it looked and played.
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