Genre: First Person Shooter
Year: 2001
Developed by: Croteam
Published by: Gathering of Developers
Platforms: Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, Palm OS
#319
Feeling Like: Serious Same 2

I really miss the giant boxes PC games used to come in. Serious Sam: The First Encounter’s packaging was similar to other games of this era; they arrived in an unnecessarily big, mostly empty box. Just to contain a jewel CD case and possibly an oversized instruction booklet. What a waste!

BUT, it was apt for Serious Sam: The First Encounter. The game itself is unnecessarily big – levels sprawl with endless geography. Obelisks appear on the far horizon, armies of monsters arrive out of nowhere and the end boss towers over the enormous pyramid you’re trying to defend. It’s almost intimidating, if you didn’t have guns that take up 1/4 of the screen to fight back with.

If you’ve read my Serious Sam: Second Encounter entry, then you’re prepared for what to experience in the first iteration. It’s mostly the same – waves of creative enemies who croak, charge, shoot and scream their way towards you. You’re constantly strafing, sprinting or jumping to put some modicum of distance between yourself and them. A single enemy is no match for you, but they never come alone. I hope you found that ammo cache, you’re going to need every shot.

That’s all I’ve got. It’s a leaner version compared to the sequel, but the fundamentals are exactly the same. I’m glad Scott showed me the game. Back when we all had PCs, but not super powerful PCs, this was a easy get. It was also $20 and did I mention we were in high school and barely had any money of our own? A seriously good deal.

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