Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem Review – SERIOUSLY SAM…?
Have you ever thought “Hmmm, it’s about time we got another run and gun style game, with arcadey graphics and a main character that is so like Duke Nukem, it’s not funny?” Well, if you have, then why don’t you grab your shotgun as Sam Stone (AKA wannabe Duke Nukem) gets ready for another crazy adventure, in Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem.
Wait, This Game Actually Has A Story?
To be totally honest, there really isn’t much at all to do with story. I mean, sure you get a couple of tape recorders to listen to and some pamphlets to read, but it really doesn’t explain what is going on, or what has already happened. It just chucks you in the thick of it and goes “good luck!” Now I understand that it follows on from previous titles, however, it is really easy for a newcomer to just stand there and be like “right, where are we going?”
Telling a story through pamphlets and recorders is fine, IF the player has the patience to stop blasting their way past enemies. I understand this is done for the fans of the franchise who love their lore. However, for newcomers, all it does is make the game tedious and confusing. Unfortunately, there is just not enough story content to really drive you forward, making the game feel increasingly dull and repetitive.
Serious Sam’s Gameplay Is Actually… Not Bad!
Now as for the gameplay, it has its good points aaaannndd not so good points. Firstly, I know why this game is called “Serious Sam” and it has nothing to do with the main character Sam Stone. It’s because after dying for the 15th time, the only thing you can sit there and ask is “Seriously Sam?” In all honesty, the controls actually feel pretty good. You may have to mess with the sensitivity, but once fixed, you’ll be a God of chaos and mayhem in no time.
However, it’s incredibly easy to be overrun, which is why the grenade launcher and shotgun are definitely your friends. I mean, I like to call them Des and Troy, but you can call them whatever you want. The major downfall with the gameplay is the melee attack. You can only melee an enemy when the button prompt shows. This just messes with your timing and means you have to wait for the enemy to get really close for the prompt to show. This is a little ridiculous. However, if you time it correctly the melee kills are quite satisfying, so at least that’s good.
More Music Please!
When it comes to world and sound design, it’s actually not bad. I really like the arcadey feel of the game. I like the look of the environment and all the crazy-looking aliens right before they explode into pieces. It’s not breaking down walls, but it definitely achieves that arcadey style of game, and I am still yet to find any glitches. The music for me is another positive, there just isn’t enough of it.
Whenever you find yourself fighting enemies, the soundtrack cranks up and gets that blood pumping. However, when you have defeated all your enemies, it dies down straight away. Honestly, they should have kept it going the whole time so that you can storm through everyone and everything with you headbanging the whole time.
Decision
Is Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem worth picking up? That would depend. If you are a fan of the Serious Sam games, then sure. This is just more of your run-and-gun style mayhem, with some pretty good gameplay and some great music. However, if you’re new to the franchise, you can easily feel lost very quickly with nothing to drive you forward.
Apart from that though, the gameplay is fun and it’s always entertaining to ride in a mech suit, stomping on everyone and cutting aliens up with a chainsaw. So if you enjoy the run and gun style of game, sure – give it a go. However, if not, then it might be a good idea to give it a miss. All in all, it’s definitely a solid game, especially considering it was made by a group of modders.
By Dillon Van Der Putten – Reviewed on PC
Good
Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem is simply a good run and gun game. There really isn’t much emphasis on story, and honestly, there really isn’t much other than exactly that – running and shooting. This doesn’t make it a bad game, it just makes it fun for a particular audience. For those that love getting chased, shooting countless bad guys, and being under pressure, this game does a great job!
This game was reviewed using a download code provided by Devolver Digital. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.
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