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Serious Sam II

EMAIL PRINT pc

7.5 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 31 critic reviews
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Based on 20 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Croteam

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action

Players: 16

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 10, 2005

Summary

The second generation Serious Engine allows Croteam to create characters with over 100 times more detail than the last Serious Sam iteration and allowed developers to create huge, lush environments and even crazier enemies than before, without having to scale back the gameplay in any way. With the capabilities of the new engine, Croteam will surpass the record set with the first Serious Sam for the most enemies on screen at one time. [2K Games]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Serious Sam: The First Encounter Serious Sam: The Second Encounter

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Computer Gaming World

Sam II's wild, random charm makes for a twisted Duke Nukem meets Alice in Wonderland sort of roller coaster ride-a perfect change of pace from the scads of grim 'n' gritty shooters steeped in WWII war zones and dystopian postapocalyptic futures. Just don't take it too seriously, OK?

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GamingTrend

The mixture of zany antics and storyline coupled with an outrageous cast of characters makes Serious Sam 2 a must play for FPS fans.

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Gamezilla!

Every bit as fast and furious as the original, this game kicked my ass.

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eToychest

Add in the co-op mode, and it comes down to the fact that if you've ever liked any first-person shooter, you should pick up Serious Sam II.

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Game Chronicles

I had almost forgotten how much fun I had playing the original Serious Sam, but it only took one level full of laughter and insane action to quickly remember why Sam is still the best FPS game in its class since the original Doom.

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Worth Playing

I've enjoyed Serious Sam 2 as much as I did the first release and its expansion. In some ways, it's better, I certainly laughed more at the corny humor and references to other 3D shooters ("I love collecting big guns," Sam quips on Planet Kleer. "It looks so … UNREAL.")

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PGNx Media

A fun little game. Unfortunately, in the time that passed since the original game it has lost some its appeal. Either that or we expect more from a fully priced game.

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AtomicGamer

Still, Sam nails exactly what it's aiming to do, which is to throw scores of enemies at you in some of the most frantic firefights you'll ever experience.

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Pelit (Finland)

Fun non-stop action. Sound effects are too tame and the weapons are not very original. Not very good as single player, but the co-op online game rocks. [Dec 2005]

IGN

Fans of old school action games that focus exclusively on shooting down wave after wave of enemies will definitely find that this game delivers. Still, the endless fragfest that is Serious Sam II occasionally runs the risk of becoming monotonous.

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Cheat Code Central

Serious Sam II is a handful. It may be more action than you bargained for. If you're not interested in the online mode then rent it first but be warned you may not finish it in one weekend.

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Gamers Europe

It’s not failing to reach dizzying heights of sophistication or refinement; it’s just going straight for the jugular and makes no excuses for doing that – so it can’t really be criticized for not being sophisticated or refined as a result.

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GameZone

Like its predecessor, Serious Sam 2 is a fun and mindless romp, but the experience does get a little redundant.

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G4 TV

A game that aspires to be big, loud, obnoxious, and fun, and it succeeds. Much like the original, there’s virtually no depth here, but the focus on pure, unadulterated explosions is the perfect alternative to the heavy-handed, dramatic shooters we’ve seen lately.

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Game Informer

After a while, slaughtering endless waves of enemies gets a bit tiresome. Still, it's a fun way to let off a little steam, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. [Nov 2005, p.148]

PC Gamer

It's not quite the Serious Sam that you've known and love, although there are plenty of great moments. [Holiday 2005, p.76]

2404.org

Unfortunately, while the game has heart, it just doesn't have the goods.

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Edge Magazine

Few other FPS titles can match the intensity of this nitrous-charged shooting gallery, but plenty of them offer the kind of less that feels like much, much more. [Nov 2005, p.104]

PC Format

Unfortunately, sheer numbers alone are just not enough to set this apart from the competition. [Nov 2005, p.90]

Gamer 2.0

If you require hollandaise with your FPS's, you'll be disappointed with its straightforward gameplay, but it's still an unpretentious delight in small doses, and it's replayable enough to stay on your hard drive for a little while.

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GameSpy

It's essentially the same game in a prettier engine, mowing down waves and waves of enemies with the all-too-infrequent vehicle sequence or boss battle to break things up.

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Eurogamer

It's hard not to find at least some love for a game which thinks (for example) it's a good idea to put a crocodile in a Croatian jersey, hide it in a level and provide a CROcodile secret bonus.

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GameBiz

There isn’t much to this game at all. Just grab a weapon and shoot stuff endlessly.

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Adrenaline Vault

A fun and frenzied shooting romp, but -- as a longtime fan of the franchise -- beneath my expectations.

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GameSpot

Serious Sam II has a lot of levels and a few good laughs, but its simple shooting action is less likely to get your adrenaline pumping as it is to make you go numb.

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Computer and Video Games

Quite frankly it's an insult to have to pay 35 quid for something that starts getting irksome in under half a day and is only genuinely entertaining in 20-minute bursts. Mindlessly fun and manically intense it is, innovative and essential it seriously isn't. [PC Zone]

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Total Video Games

Nothing but a serious disappointment... It just about manages to cover all the criteria but nothing feels as though Croteam have stretched the barrel – in many cases they feel surprisingly weaker then its predecessor.

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Times Online

Admittedly, the assorted firepower offers little excitement, but the experience is convincingly upbeat thanks to the game’s droll sense of humour.

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games(TM)

It's to Croteam's credit that Serious Sam II manages to stay interesting for as long as it does, thanks to the weird enemy design and tight levels keeping the pace from slacking. [Dec 2005, p.112]

Computer Games Magazine

The problems with Sam have nothing to do with the bad guys; there's a lot of them, and they're all weird. [Jan 2006, p.42]

Sydney Morning Herald

The first Serious Sam was tongue-in-cheek but this sequel crosses the line into obnoxiousness.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Eon gave it a10:
[Real score 92/100] It has some things that I think game industrys is seriously lacking, like creative level design and lots of humor. This is game is so serious it kept me laughing or smiling throughout entire playthrough. Gameplay may seem monotonous, but who cares if you are having so much fun. It kept reminding me of Psychonauts with it's humor. Recommended for everyone that don't take games too seriously.

Jinko gave it a10:
Wonderfully chaotic. A pleasure to unleash the day's frustrations on never-ending hoards that truely deserve to be rendered.

Jesse C. gave it a5:
Budget price tag aside, Serious Sam II relies too much on simple, silly fun to keep your attention longer than a few minutes. Even with the extreme lack of depth in the game, killing hundreds or even thousands of enemies is a good premise, but poses a problem when the core combat of the game isn't enjoyable or satisfying at all. I don't want to sound repugnant or anything, but when you shoot somebody in a game you want feedback, explosions, you want the enemy to fire back a few feet, and blood shooting everywhere. You want a sense of actually hitting something. In Serious Sam II there is none of that. When you shoot somebody it feels like you are just taking away his health and when his health hits zero he'll die. Vechicle segments are simple and would be much more satisfying if they were treated the same way. One of SS2's strongest features are it's graphics. It may not be a F.E.A.R or Quake 4, but alot of outside environments are massive (though not as massive as the original's levels) and extremely colourful. Thank god there are no dark corridors in this game. Serious Sam II is a one trick dog, and when that one trick is pretty lame in the first place a game like this can't succeed. This is a below average title.

Joe gave it a9:
This game looks sweet, even with my only decent system. My friend has a top spec pc & on that it just looks awesome. It looks like this game scales really well depending on the pc you have. I had heaps of fun playing this game. Th enemies can be really funny & the action just doesnt stop for the most part.Also there is the biggest baddest level bosses any game has ever seen here. All in all its a 2005 game of the year contender, for those who like non-stop shooter fun.

K. Dep gave it a9:
If this game sold for $60, it would get a 2. The price is good, and so is the game. The value is excellent. It's not HL2 or Quake 4 people, get used to it. It's funny, entertaining, and wildly fun. It's one of those games where holding down the trigger for 5 minutes is actually the strategic way to win. Simple, yes. Easy - heck no. I really enjoy this game and the laughs it brings. It's refreshing.

Paul gave it a7:
Great Fun! AD you are reviewing the wrong game, you are thinking of Serious Sam: The Second Encounter release ages ago. This is Serious Sam 2.

Luke K. gave it a4:
Fun old time game, but thats just it its time for somethin new.

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