Game Overview
Developer: Croteam
Publisher: GOD Games
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter official page: http://www.serioussam.com/
The Serious Sequel
It’s been almost a year since we first reviewed Serious Sam. We liked the Serious Engine that allowed gigantic levels, bright colors and fun weapons. The Doom feel of the game also did it for us, as did the creative levels. But times change; new games have been released and new forefronts in FPS games have been established. How does Sam stand up a year later?
![Serious Sam 2 Review [ Take a dip @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/01-s.jpg) Take a dip
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![Serious Sam 2 Review [ Ron Popeil is jealous @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/02-s.jpg) Ron Popeil is jealous
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![Serious Sam 2 Review [ Not-so-quiet village @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/03-s.jpg) Not-so-quiet village
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Serious Sam: The Second Encounter isn’t as much a sequel to the first Serious Sam as it is a continuation. It uses the same Serious Engine, same monsters and weapons, with a few additions to each. The first game was a little on the short side, but most people didn’t mind since it only cost $20. Combined with The Second Encounter, you have a full 40 hour game for $40, not to mention the multiplayer. But does The Second Encounter stack up against its predecessor?
The uh… story
The story picks up where the first game left off. It has something to do with Sam time-traveling to save the world from the bad guys calling themselves “Mental”. It doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that you get to blow shit up in ancient Mayan, Babylonian, and Medieval lands.
![Serious Sam 2 Review [ I hate these things @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/04-s.jpg) I hate these things
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![Serious Sam 2 Review [ Which way up? @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/05-s.jpg) Which way up?
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![Serious Sam 2 Review [ Beautiful night sky @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/06-s.jpg) Beautiful night sky
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Just because Serious Sam is known as a non-stop shooter, you shouldn’t skip over the text messages that pop up now and then. If you’re playing single player, you should take the time to read the messages as they come up; they’re pretty funny. Like the rest of the game, Croteam has a great sense of humor about everything. They’ll poke fun at everything – the monsters, the levels, and especially Sam.
You can’t beat the price for The Second Encounter. The MSRP is only $20, which means you can find it for a lot less. Most expansion packs cost more than $20 when they first come out, some costing as much as a full game. Just think how little $20 is! You couldn’t go on a date to the movies for $20. Hell you can barely buy a t-shirt for twenty bucks nowadays.