Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The core of Serious Sam remains its breakneck, arcade-style shooting where you face wave after wave of bizarre aliens with an arsenal of overpowered weapons. In this edition—based on Serious Sam: Gold—you can mix and match firearms from both the First and Second Encounters, letting you wield heavy artillery from the later chapters in the earlier levels. This mash-up encourages experimentation and keeps each encounter fresh, even in familiar arenas.

One of the most significant additions is the new life system: earn 100,000 points to gain an extra life and instantly respawn at the spot where you fell, rather than trekking back to the last checkpoint. This change dramatically shifts the risk/reward balance, allowing you to play more aggressively without the dread of long backtracking. Coupled with combo multipliers for rapid kills, every firefight becomes a tantalizing dance of score-chasing and survival.

Checkpoint mechanics now revolve around telephone booths scattered through the levels. Unlike the PC release’s save-anywhere approach, these booths offer distinct save points that double as a quick-travel hub in single-player. It preserves the old-school tension—knowing that a misstep means returning to the last booth—while still granting more leeway than the original hardcore death penalties.

Enemy variety and level design work hand in hand to maintain a relentless pace. From skeletal soldiers and kamikaze clones to hulking bosses, each foe demands different tactics. The somewhat smaller arenas—compared to the desktop version—tighten the combat but don’t sacrifice the trademark sense of scale. You’ll find yourself darting around tight corners and open courtyards alike, always under fire and always hungry for the next weapon power-up.

Graphics

Graphically, this version preserves the bold, colorful palette of the Gold Edition while adapting it to slightly more compact environments. Textures remain crisp, and character models retain their quirky, exaggerated proportions. Though you won’t see the massive landscapes of the PC original, the trimmed levels still showcase intricate carvings, alien architecture, and dynamic lighting that breathe life into each battle zone.

Environmental detail shines in the contrast between ancient temples and futuristic compounds. Sand-blasted pillars, hieroglyphics, and dilapidated statues coexist alongside high-tech consoles and shimmering force fields. While some surface areas may appear flatter due to console memory constraints, dynamic shadows and occasional particle effects ensure each corridor feels alive and potentially lethal.

Performance is generally steady, with smooth frame rates that keep the action fluid even when dozens of enemies swarm the screen. Loading times at checkpoint booths are brief, maintaining momentum without jarring pauses. On modern hardware or consoles, this streamlined edition often outperforms its PC predecessor in consistency, making it a solid choice for those who prize uninterrupted gameplay.

Story

The narrative in Serious Sam has never been its strongest hook—and that’s perfectly fine. You are Sam “Serious” Stone, an intergalactic weapon of mass destruction, sent back to ancient Earth to thwart the alien overlord Mental. The plot unfolds through sparse cutscenes and minimal in-game dialogue, setting the stage for pure run-and-gun mayhem rather than a cinematic odyssey.

Despite its bare-bones storytelling, the game injects personality through Sam’s quips and the ludicrous enemy designs. Each level’s environmental details hint at Mental’s encroaching influence over human history, from desecrated pyramids to storm-ravaged villages. This contextual backdrop gives your mission a sense of urgency without bogging down the action with lengthy expositions.

Fans of thoughtful, twist-driven plots may find the loose storyline too thin, but for those seeking a light narrative frame to support nonstop combat, Serious Sam delivers. The occasional boss encounter or mission objective—rescue scientists, retrieve artifacts—does just enough to propel you forward without interrupting the relentless momentum.

Overall Experience

At its heart, this edition of Serious Sam is a love letter to fans of fast-paced, over-the-top shooters. The blend of classic level layouts and modern refinements—like the 100,000-point extra life system and telephone booth checkpoints—strikes a satisfying balance between nostalgia and accessibility. Whether you’re a veteran Sam player or a newcomer hungry for old-school thrills, you’ll find plenty to love.

Replayability is high thanks to the scoring incentives and combo mechanics. Every run encourages you to chase higher point multipliers, perfect your weapon load-out, and master the ebb and flow of each arena. Local multiplayer modes, if available on your platform, add further value by letting friends join the chaos, coordinate strategies, or simply see who can rack up the most outrageous kill streaks.

While the streamlined levels may feel more contained than the sprawling maps of the original PC launch, they also deliver a tighter, more focused experience. The game’s polished performance, vibrant visuals, and relentless combat loop coalesce into an energizing package that stands the test of time. If you’re after an unapologetically bold shooter that rewards aggression and skill, this version of Serious Sam is a purchase you won’t regret.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10