Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The core appeal of Serious Sam: Gold Edition lies in its relentless, run-and-gun action. Players step into the boots of Sam “Serious” Stone and blast through wave after wave of bizarre alien creatures using an arsenal that ranges from dual-wielded pistols to rocket launchers. Each encounter is crafted to test your reflexes and ammo management, making every skirmish feel both chaotic and rewarding. The pacing rarely lets up, ensuring that you’re constantly on the move and always under pressure.

One of the standout features carried over from Serious Sam: The First Encounter and The Second Encounter is the open-ended level design. Rather than funneling you through narrow corridors, the game drops you into expansive arenas where enemies can approach from all sides. This design philosophy encourages constant situational awareness and creative use of the environment—whether ducking behind pillars for cover or funneling foes into chokepoints before unleashing explosive ordnance.

Serious Sam: Gold Edition also includes the fan-made “Dark Island” episode, which adds fresh level layouts and enemy combinations to the mix. While the core mechanics remain unchanged, these bonus levels introduce new environmental hazards and unique set pieces that break the repetition of the original campaigns. For veteran players seeking extra challenges, Dark Island provides that much-needed twist on familiar gameplay loops without straying from the series’ trademark intensity.

Graphics

Visually, Serious Sam: Gold Edition reflects its early-2000s origin. The character models are blocky by modern standards and textures can appear flat when viewed up close. However, the game’s bold color palette and cartoonish enemy designs help mask technical limitations and contribute to its distinctive aesthetic. The vast desert plazas, sprawling temples, and alien landscapes still manage to captivate, thanks to their scale and atmospheric lighting.

Environmental variety is a major strength: from sun-drenched Egyptian ruins to shadowy tombs, each locale feels unique. The addition of Dark Island brings a darker, more foreboding setting that contrasts nicely with the desert environments of the original campaigns. While lighting and particle effects show their age, the engine’s ability to render dozens of enemies onscreen simultaneously remains impressive even today.

For players on modern hardware, there are community-made engine ports and HD texture packs that breathe new life into the visuals. These enhancements smooth out frame rate concerns and upgrade textures without altering the fundamental look of the game. Even in its stock form, Serious Sam: Gold Edition’s graphics hold a nostalgic charm that complements its frenetic gameplay.

Story

The narrative of Serious Sam: Gold Edition is straightforward and unapologetically arcade-like. You play as Sam Stone, a battle-hardened mercenary traveling through time to thwart the alien overlord Mental. The plot serves mainly as a backdrop to justify the constant onslaught of enemies, with brief cutscenes and text interludes setting up each new location.

While the story doesn’t delve into deep character development or intricate lore, it provides enough context to keep players engaged. The sense of progression—venturing from Ancient Egypt to medieval castles and beyond—creates a satisfying sense of journey. The Dark Island episode weaves in its own mini-arc, unveiling hidden chambers and relics that hint at Mental’s expanding scheme.

Humor and one-liners from Sam add flavor to the proceedings, preventing the narrative from feeling too dry. The game’s tongue-in-cheek tone and over-the-top premise strike a balance between simplicity and charm, ensuring that the focus remains squarely on explosive action rather than melodrama.

Overall Experience

Serious Sam: Gold Edition brings together two beloved classics and stitches in community-created content, offering hours of high-octane entertainment. As a compilation, it provides exceptional value: you’re essentially getting two full campaigns plus the Dark Island fan episode in one package. The seamless integration of these components makes for a cohesive, marathon-worthy FPS experience.

Multiplayer remains a highlight, whether you’re teaming up in co-op to mow down hordes or competing in classic deathmatch arenas. The simple, skill-based combat translates well online, and the large, open maps encourage dynamic strategies and frantic firefights. Even today, finding pickup games or hosting your own server can rekindle the adrenaline rush that Serious Sam is known for.

While the game shows its age in certain technical aspects, its raw energy and unapologetic focus on action ensure it stands out in a market often dominated by tactical shooters. Whether you’re a long-time fan revisiting these iconic chapters or a newcomer curious about the roots of modern arena shooters, Serious Sam: Gold Edition delivers a blast from start to finish.

Retro Replay Score

7.8/10