Serious Sam: Next Encounter

"Neat!"

this game kicks! I love it... of course, I ain't no newb, I'm a veteran - I played the first serious sam on my bro's PC when it first came out, but my comp couldn't handle it and I didn't have an X-Box, so I was rather excited when it came out fer PS2.

Plot: 10/10
The plot is deep - make no mistake, this is a thinking man's game - it takes place in Ancient rome where a mysterious force is changing the very essence of the fabric of time itself. As the young warrior Sir Sam Stone you are sent back in time to unlock the mysteries as you embark on an epic quest through the ages. Lots of twists and turns as you endure plot twist after plot twist. Of, course, this is all sarcasm - there is no plot what-so-eva.

GAMEPLAY: 8/10
helluva good time - I enjoy just about every moment I play of this - it works like an arcade game, you kill stuff and earn points - the twist? There are a LOT of things to kill to earn points... I mean, TONS of stuff. Given, there aren't as much enemies as in the PC versions... but this may be due to the limited memory space available to the PS2. There aren't any puzzles to slow you down, either... it's just pick up a gun, shoot stuff... pick up a bigger gun, shoot more of an even bigger enemy... and since there are about twenty guns... well, you get the idea. Oh! And you get a jeep with unlimited rocket launchers!!! So, why only an 8? Well, there are, like... 40+ levels - whatever that means... I'm like. on level 38... there are probably 41 levels in all) And, I hate to admit it... it gets kinda old near the end cuz the levels get three times as long with ten minute battle after ten minute battle against the same enemies... sigh... it never gets so bas as you want to stop playing though, and if it does, there's always multiplayer (including the best CO-OP game EVER!!!).

GRAPHICS: 8/10
eh.

MUSIC: 8/10
actually, pretty good - every explosion sounds like an explosion and every bullet sounds like a bullet. The soundtrack is vibrant and epic-sounding.... I like it better near the end when it goes techno/grunge rock - that's pimp! Sam talks a lot with some silly comments ranging from the hilarious "Been a while since I spanked the monkey" to the repeditive and overused "Enough with the bull already!"

OVER ALL: 8/10

I LOVE This game and would love to give it a 10/10... but I have ADHD and need a game that is a constant and neverending adrenaline rush... the usual gamer will get annoyed with the steep difficulty and repeditive gameplay... still, go buy this so they'll make a PS2 sequel... for me.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/26/04