Developer: Croteam
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Rrp: £14.99 (Steam and Humblebundle)
Released: 28th April 2010
Available on: Steam and Humblebundle
Played Using: Mouse and Keyboard
Approximate game length: 8 Hours
“The second verse is similar to the first.” I can’t remember what song that particular lyric is from but the sentiment attached very much applies to this game. Some games come out with sequels that completely outshine the original, Half-life 2 for example makes the original game look lazily cobbled together. Others have sequels that are inferior, usually because the studio in question misunderstood what their audience wanted. This game falls into neither camp, its a bit better than the original simply because of a graphical upgrade but otherwise its the same game with a different backdrop. That isn’t to say there is anything wrong with that, take a look at the Assassin’s Creed series each game improves upon the last iteration (most of the time).
Anyway back to this game, Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter is the second game in the mainline Serious Sam series. This isn’t to say that this is Serious Sam 2, it really isn’t. I find the easiest way to think of this is that the first and second encounters are two halves of a book while Serious Sam 2 is the next book in the series. And again I’ve had an aside speaking about yet another game, well at least it’s from the same series.
Honestly this is very much a repetition of the first game, just with improved graphics (since this is a re-release and is using the same engine as Serious Sam 3). Sure, it throws you into a new environment and gives you a few new enemies and weapons but mechanically speaking this is no different.
That’s it, there really isn’t much else to say. If you want to play a run and gun style shooter that require little to no brain power then this game is a very strong contender, just remember that running backwards is almost always helpful.
Actually there is one last thing to mention and that this game also includes all of Serious Sam: The First Encounter which has also been remade in the Serious Sam 3 engine.
If this appeals to you perhaps try;
Shadow Warrior
Doom (2016)
Wolfenstien: The New Order
