Double the Gun, Double the Fun
We were first introduced to Sam “Serious” Stone a decade ago. Since then, we’ve followed him through one adventure after another as he fought to save humanity from the extraterrestrial overlord Mental, whose sole mission has been to eradicate everything and everyone on Earth. The series is known for its trademark wit and old school shooter combat, inspired by titles like Doom and Quake, the games that made the FPS genre popular in the first place. Nowadays, with the success of the Call of Duty franchise, the FPS genre has grown stale with one Modern Warfare clone after another. Luckily, the Serious Sam games show up to fill the void.
The next episode in the series, dubbed Serious Sam 3: BFE, promises even more of the classic shooter combat the series is known for, as well as more expansive environments, more detailed enemies (and more of them), and 16-player cooperative play. You can be sure there will be no shortage of the humor, hidden items, and quirky enemies that fans of the series have come to expect from these games.
This game acts at a prequel to the original Serious Sam. Set amidst the crumbling temples of 22nd century Egypt, BFE blends the old school shooter with more modern gameplay. You can be sure there will be plenty of spectacular enemies and wide-open battlefields to fight through without the nuisances of campers and cover systems. This is a game that’s all about holding down the trigger as you mow down anything that’s unfortunate enough to get in your way.
Speaking of the sorry souls that get in your way, Mental’s legions of warriors have seen a few new additions, including the Scrapjack, a hulking bulbous creature with guns for arms. There will also be a handful of familiar (albeit ugly) faces, like the Headless Kamikaze, Sirian Werebull, and Gnaar. You won’t simply be tearing apart waves of cannon fodder; this time the enemies have been designed to force you to mix up your strategy a bit by throwing more interesting enemies your way. Adapt to survive.
Not too much has been unveiled regarding the co-op gameplay other than the fact that the entire campaign will be playable with up to 16 players. If playing nice just isn’t your thing you can always take the fight against others in a plethora of competitive modes like the classic Deathmatch mode and Beast Hunt. So whether you’re the type of gamer who enjoys playing well with others or the type who likes to show your mad skills by ruining other players online, Serious Sam: BFE has plenty to offer.
Sometimes an enemy manages to get through your endless hail of bullets. If such an event should occur, Sam now has Serious Melee Attacks to remedy the situation. When a bad guy gets a little too close to your personal bubble, it’s time to unleash a can of you-know-what on them, preferably in the most violent way imaginable. These melee attacks aren’t the boring old bash-them-over-the-head-with-the-butt-of-your-gun moves that so many shooters arm you with; these moves inflict serious pain and they are far more entertaining to watch.
Keeping in tune with previous games, BFE will be just as funny—If not more so—than its predecessors. The explicit sense of humor, jokes that break the fourth wall, and the bizarre enemy designs will keep this game from feeling like the typical FPS. The advanced NETRICSA (NEuro-TRonically Implanted Combat Situation Analyzer) A.I. system will also be making a return, granting you much needed Intel on the battlefield in the form of cataloging enemies, detailing weapons, and providing hints should you find yourself in a sticky situation.
Serious Sam 3: BFE looks to be shaping up quite nicely. It promises more of everything we’ve grown to love about the series, as well as a myriad of new additions and locations to explore. If you’ve found yourself growing tired of one “realistic” first person shooter after another, Serious Sam’s next foray just might be a breath of fresh air. Just make sure your trigger finger is nice and limber.
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