Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

  • Summary: [Xbox Live Arcade] The legendary Sam "Serious" Stone returns to battle the relentless hordes of Mental's army in glorious high definition on Xbox LIVE Arcade in Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter. Based on the original indie arcade shooter sensation Serious Sam: The First Encounter, Serious Sam HD features stunningly redesigned visuals, over-the-top action, and intense online co-op for up to four players. [Croteam] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 33
  2. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter for the Xbox 360 is a return of a classic. It may seem a little dated by some, but I personally believe that for both newcomers and nostalgic gamers like myself, the HD remake that is now available still provides a wonderful experience in terms of both speed and adrenaline pumping action.
  2. An utter hoot and a welcome return - but it's too little, too late. [Feb 2010, p.82]
  3. For nostalgia alone, die-hard fans will get a lot out of this HD remake, but gamers who have been spoilt by current genre favourites may well find Serious Sam HD a bit too simple for its own good.
  4. It’s still a classic, then, but one you’d be wise to play in brief installments. And with no real plot to lose yourself in, no breadcrumbs to follow, and very little else to bother yourself with besides headshots, perhaps this is Serious Sam as he’s always meant to be encountered – as a palate-cleansing blast of pure four-colour chaos to enjoy between other courses.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. AlexP
    10
    A perfect remake. Visual: 10/10 -- Graphics that easily beat full-priced titles such as Red Faction, Lego Star Wars, Frontlines: Fuel of War, and The Outfit. For $15. There are effect you will only see in this game, such as the shadow of a palm tree being held in the dust as it settles in the air. Pools of blood from settled corpses. Enemies being blow apart in variant, gratuitously violent fashion. Rag doll effects as you destroy enemies everywhere. Hi resolution textures as can only be done on a low polygon world. Waterfall vistas... Sound: 9/10 -- Active switching from ambient music to action music? Check. Perfect sounds for all guns? Check. Satisfying grunts of pain from your slaughtered enemies? Check. Gameplay: 10/10 -- A pure action shooter at heart, making no disguises, and no compromises. While it introduces itself as a seemingly brainless shooter, wide variety of enemies all require different tactics. Health is limited, no waiting for a few seconds to get to full health, how you do in this battle will be important for how you do in the next one. The intensity never lets up, and that is what divides in from all the more forgiving 360 games, it actually couldn't be played on Serious on Xbox Live by a 10 year old. Multiplayer: 10/10 -- As good as it is in single player, this game is built to take coop on to you customized liking. Want tougher enemies that will need teamwork to bring down? Do it. Want to play on the hardest difficulty setting with limited lives and unlimited ammunition? Go ahead. It's up to you. No "me-too" deathmatch options here, this Seriously isn't what this game is about. Final verdict: Better graphics than many off-the-shelf titles, great sound, incredible single player fun that you can invite your friends to. If you like Left for Dead, you will love Serious Sam, and by the way, SS has a campaign of 12 hours, not 3 and half. Expand
  2. Dan
    10
    This game is a pure joy to play. If you've played the original back in 2001 there's nothing new to be found here but damn is it fun. The graphics are beautifully updated and the addition of ragdoll physics make the gameplay much more entertaining. Who doesn't want to kill thousands of enemies in brief amounts of time with awesome weapons? If you like more "serious" shooters, stay clear of serious sam, but if you're looking for an old school shooter quality and charm game look no further than serious sam HD. An awesome remake. Expand
  3. JoeyM
    10
    People are taking this game way too seriously with respects to high end realism and fancy graphics. This is a classic FPS game that is meant to be played with over the top action, gore, and little to no thinking involved. This game is great for those who need a break from the stresses of COD and other realistic shooters. Great game at a great cost. Did I mention your friends can get in on the action with you with 4 player co-op? Expand
  4. rolfo
    10
    Who needs Borderlands? Play this online with 4 friends and you will have a blast! Even single player totaly rocks! Beutifull with great sound this is one of the best arcade games yet! Worth every mp! Had it included Second encounter I would gladly had paid full retail price! Expand

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