Summary
- Release Year: 2004
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2
- Developers: Climax Group
- Publishers: Global Star Software
Serious Sam: Next Encounter: A Time-Traveling Alien-Blasting Extravaganza
Introduction
Serious Sam: Next Encounter is a first-person shooter video game developed by Croteam and published by Gathering of Developers. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and GameCube in 2004. The game is a sequel to Serious Sam: The First Encounter and follows the titular Serious Sam as he travels through time to stop his evil clone, Mini Sam, from destroying ancient civilizations.
Gameplay
Serious Sam: Next Encounter is a fast-paced, action-packed FPS that pits the player against hordes of alien enemies. The game features a variety of weapons, including shotguns, assault rifles, rocket launchers, and miniguns. Players must use their weapons to defeat the aliens and progress through the game’s over 40 levels.
The game’s levels are set in three distinct historical periods: Ancient Rome, Feudal China, and Legendary Atlantis. Each period features its own unique set of enemies and challenges. For example, in Ancient Rome, players must battle against gladiators, legionnaires, and giant scorpions. In Feudal China, players must face off against ninjas, samurai, and dragons. And in Legendary Atlantis, players must fight against sirens, minotaurs, and giant crabs.
In addition to the single-player campaign, Serious Sam: Next Encounter also features a variety of multiplayer modes. These modes include deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag, and pass the bomb. Up to 8 players can compete in multiplayer matches on the PS2 version, while up to 4 players can compete on the GameCube version.
Story
The story of Serious Sam: Next Encounter begins with Sam “Serious” Stone being transported to the future by Mental, the main antagonist of the Serious Sam series. Mental reveals that he has created an evil clone of Sam, known as Mini Sam, and that Mini Sam is traveling through time to destroy ancient civilizations. Sam must travel back in time and stop Mini Sam before he can succeed.
Sam travels to three different time periods: Ancient Rome, Feudal China, and Legendary Atlantis. In each time period, Sam must defeat hordes of aliens and find a Timelock, a device that can be used to travel through time. Once Sam has collected all three Timelocks, he can confront Mini Sam and defeat him once and for all.
Reception
Serious Sam: Next Encounter received positive reviews from critics. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, its variety of weapons and enemies, and its humorous tone. However, some critics found the game to be too repetitive and its graphics to be outdated.
Despite the mixed reviews, Serious Sam: Next Encounter was a commercial success. The game sold over 1 million copies worldwide and spawned two sequels, Serious Sam 2 and Serious Sam 3.
Legacy
Serious Sam: Next Encounter is considered to be one of the best FPS games of its era. The game’s fast-paced action, its variety of weapons and enemies, and its humorous tone have made it a fan favorite. The game has also been praised for its innovative use of time travel as a gameplay mechanic.
Serious Sam: Next Encounter has had a lasting impact on the FPS genre. The game’s fast-paced action and its focus on over-the-top violence have influenced many subsequent FPS games. The game’s use of time travel as a gameplay mechanic has also been used in other FPS games, such as TimeSplitters and Singularity.
Conclusion
Serious Sam: Next Encounter is a classic FPS game that offers fast-paced action, a variety of weapons and enemies, and a humorous tone. The game’s innovative use of time travel as a gameplay mechanic makes it a unique and memorable experience. If you’re a fan of FPS games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Serious Sam: Next Encounter.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
