Serious Sam: The Second Encounter

"Starting to get SERIOUS pain in my trigger finger"

Introduction:
Serious Sam games are all about learning the ''Way of the Gun.'' The first game was all about blasting everything you saw within a miles radius to bits and pieces, not much have changed :)

Graphics:
This is one bit they have improved on, better gun effects, explosions, details. Very much like the first game, but improvements, and the first game have good graphics overall. I just find Sam himself a bit ''left over'', like they didn't bother, but apart from Sam, great graphics. Some pretty neat and advanced graphic configuration too, so if you have a rather slow comp, you shouldn't have too much trouble running this game, but slidin' every bar to ''extreme quality'' needs power.

Story:
Thin as a shaven leaf. This game doesn't focus on story, it focus on the gameplay itself. So if you are the kind that MUST have a storyline, you'd be rather bored with Serious Sam:TSE.

Gameplay:
This is where the game shines as bright as polished gold. You'd think that shooting wave after wave of enemies would make you bored, but no sir. Blasting headless enemies and crazy bulls IS fun, a lot of fun. And some of the comments Sam dishes up, makes you laugh even more. There is no ammo shortage in this game, you find plenty of it, because that's what the game is all about, shooting and blowing everything up, so you need lead, and lots of it. Let's just say, if you like mindless fun in spades, this is a great game!

Music:
I find the music really good. Often it's just slow and calm music, but when there's enemies about, the music pumps up to a fighting rythm, fast and intense, it really fits this game. My favourite is when you have laid a couple of hundred enemies dead, and you think everything is over, and you can have a break, and suddenly in the music someone shouts MOOOOORE!! you know you got more trouble on your hands :)

Replayability:
You will probably finish this game quick, but theres LOTS of secrets to uncover, and some of them are really hilarious. And this game is so funny, you'll come back for more, again and again. And if you are a bit like me, you finish a game on every difficulty, that's a challenge too.

Final Word:
This is the first game I've ever hurt my finger in a FPS game, you really have to press it down, a lot, no, most of the time. So be ready for clean, unparalleled, frantic, chaotic, serious, explodin' heap of action. Because that's what this whole game is all about! Fire at anything that moves, and on everything that looks suspicious. Serious Sam is a game I recommend everyone that loves shooting to get, it's diamond amongst games when it comes to pure action. In my eyes, this is a clear 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/03, Updated 03/31/03