Serious Sam 2
- January 31, 2012
- Croteam
- 15h median play time
Get on Steam"Serious Sam 2" is a first-person shooter game where players help Serious Sam rescue the universe by defeating time-traveling enemies. The game features relentless arcade-style action against 45 types of enemies and 7 intimidating bosses, with battles taking place in diverse environments. Players must utilize an array of weapons and tactical approaches to survive the hordes of bizarre attackers.
PC
Windows
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- humor321 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in "Serious Sam 2" is a mixed bag, characterized by its cartoonish art style and over-the-top antics that aim for a light-hearted tone. While many players appreciate the game's goofy charm and find joy in its silly jokes and quirky NPC interactions, others criticize the humor as forced, cringeworthy, or outdated, with some jokes falling flat or veering into offensive territory. Overall, the humor contributes to the game's unique identity, making it a fun, albeit polarizing, experience for fans of the genre.
“Its cartoonish art style and exaggerated character designs add a layer of charm and humor, heightening the game's overall light-hearted tone.”
“From interacting with quirky NPCs to tackling bizarre objectives, the humor is omnipresent, enhancing the overall enjoyment without detracting from the action.”
“The story is full of the silliest, most random gags imaginable, and while some might consider them childish, no highbrow humor can match their pure laughs-per-minute potential.”
“Stilted delivery, sloppily animated cut-scenes, reference humor, and some unfunny jokes that are trying way too hard for a chuckle.”
“The game is just unbearably goofy and unfunny.”
“The plot is insipid, the dialogue is useless and unfunny.”
- story291 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story in this game is widely regarded as lacking depth and coherence, often described as silly, cartoonish, and filled with immature humor. While some players appreciate the comedic elements and find the narrative entertaining in a lighthearted way, many criticize it for being a disjointed backdrop to the gameplay, with minimal character development and repetitive plot points. Overall, the game seems to prioritize action and humor over a serious storyline, appealing primarily to those looking for a fun, chaotic shooting experience rather than a compelling narrative.
“The story is amazing, the challenging secrets and the atmosphere feel unique and great, not to mention how funny this game sometimes can be.”
“In Serious Sam 2, you'll find great humor, awesome weapons, challenging bosses, and overall great gameplay and story.”
“The story never takes itself too seriously and is very cleverly written.”
“The narrative is minimal and serves mainly as a backdrop for the action, which might not appeal to players looking for a more story-driven experience.”
“Nothing makes sense, every character looks like it's inbred or mutated beyond recognition and the story is a complete incomprehensible mess.”
“The story is linear and doesn't give much apprehension over what's going to happen next; this could get boring after a while.”
- gameplay291 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Serious Sam 2 is characterized by its fast-paced, chaotic action and a wide variety of weapons, allowing players to engage in intense battles against hordes of enemies. While many appreciate the nostalgic, arcade-style shooting mechanics and the fun of dual-wielding, some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and technical issues that can detract from the experience. Overall, it remains a divisive entry in the series, appealing to fans of classic FPS gameplay despite its flaws.
“At its core, Serious Sam 2 maintains the franchise's signature gameplay mechanics: players are thrown into expansive arenas, tasked with battling hordes of enemies using an impressive arsenal of weapons.”
“The core gameplay is extremely satisfying: the guns feel different but always powerful, while the battles are large-scale and epic yet never overstay their welcome.”
“Gameplay-wise, this felt very satisfying: you get a ton of cool weapons and enough ammo to play around, so you can non-stop experiment.”
“This thing isn't salvageable with nostalgia, it's just a mess, and doesn't even give you some chuckles or any substantial story to be interested in. The enemies make no sense, had to kill myself multiple times to progress in the game because of bugs, and the gameplay loop is just mind-numbing torture.”
“The game has horrid pacing, and you generally play through the same gameplay loop for over a dozen hours.”
“Don't buy, stupid boring repetitive gameplay, mindless and endless sponge enemy waves, that's it!”
- graphics268 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Serious Sam 2" are characterized by a vibrant, cartoonish art style that some players find charming, while others consider it dated and less appealing compared to its predecessors. Many reviews highlight the game's colorful environments and humorous design, which contribute to its unique aesthetic, though the cutscenes are often criticized for their low resolution. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they are generally regarded as enjoyable and fitting for the game's light-hearted tone.
“Its cartoonish art style and exaggerated character designs add a layer of charm and humor, heightening the game's overall light-hearted tone.”
“The graphics in Serious Sam 2 are some of the best of the era; it has vibrant, colorful environments with detailed textures and beautiful lighting effects.”
“For a game that came out in 2005, Serious Sam 2 has graphics that can compare to games from 2010-2014, even maybe some newer games.”
“The menus are clunky, the graphics options are unclear, the bloom/HDR effect is blinding in places, the cut-scenes look like resized (but still not full screen) 144p... and it has progress blocking bugs which the devs never cared to patch.”
“While the colorful art style is charming, the visual quality doesn't quite measure up to modern standards, which might be a drawback for some players.”
“The graphics are cartoonish and very bright and really make a difference to the earlier titles and the chosen music and sound assets are pretty awesome.”
- music119 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its diversity and quality, featuring a mix of genres that enhance the gameplay experience, from epic orchestral pieces to tribal and techno beats. Many players highlight the dynamic soundtrack that adapts to different environments and combat situations, although some note that the combat music can become repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The music is truly addicting and interesting to listen to.”
“The music is phenomenal and it really puts you in the mood for each area that you're currently in.”
“The excellent soundtrack should also be given a shout-out here, as each map is filled with brilliant music catered to its landscape.”
“The music gets kinda repetitive after a while, mostly because the combat music seems to be the same between each stage of each chapter; it drills your brain and stays there like dental caries.”
“The annoying songs that play every time you get a powerup are by far the worst, and in one boss that requires you to collect powerups constantly, it got nearly unbearable.”
“I also hated the art style, characters, soundtrack, and cutscenes.”
- stability31 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes affecting gameplay, particularly in multiplayer and save functions. While some players find it enjoyable despite these issues, others experience significant technical problems, including freezing and texture glitches. Overall, the game is described as "very buggy" but still fun, especially in cooperative play.
“It runs great on Windows 10.”
“First, I'll say that Sam 2 runs great on the Steam Deck.”
“It's not buggy; there are no technical issues.”
“To call this game buggy would be an understatement.”
“The game is randomly buggy, with moments where I would get stuck on environmental pieces and see weird texture glitches.”
“The save game is buggy and will get corrupted; Croteam just straight up ignores this game even though it's the most Serious Sam game out of all of them.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that the endless waves of enemies and lengthy levels can drag on, making the experience feel monotonous. While some appreciate the colorful environments and varied level design, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment, leading to a sense of fatigue as the game progresses.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Sometimes they spawn enemies individually, and it’s very clear how small some levels truly are, if you take away all the waiting and needless grinding.”
“Npc spamming gets boring after a while unless you like grinding levels over and over again.”
“Wow, this is the most tedious game I've played in a long time.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many users noting limited replay value due to a lack of post-game content and dated mechanics, rating it as low to medium. However, some players find enjoyment in co-op modes and mod support, which can enhance replayability significantly, particularly in the Serious Sam series. While certain aspects may offer fun and challenge, the general consensus leans towards a need for more engaging content to sustain long-term interest.
“Adding more post-game content or challenges would enhance its replay value.”
“Serious Sam series are always fun, challenging, and very replayable.”
“With the ability to install mods, the game also has high replay value.”
“Replayability 2/10”
“Another drawback is the limited replayability.”
“The dated graphics and clunky controls can be a bit of a letdown, and the limited replayability means there isn't much to do once you've finished the main campaign.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and freezing, particularly in multiplayer modes. While certain users noted that enabling vsync improved performance, others criticized the need for file edits to enhance gameplay. Conversely, some praised the game's engine for its low system requirements and stable performance, highlighting that it runs smoothly despite occasional graphical hiccups.
“Had some performance issues initially with this one, though that mainly came down to my hardware being a lot more powerful than what the game could handle, but enabling VSync either via the game or your GPU's control panel fixed the issues.”
“Good and stable performance, a lot of FPS, good netcode.”
“There's moments where you say 'damn, this game had amazing graphics for its time' and it did, not only that, but the engine is super optimized.”
“The game has poor optimization for being the 'best' in the series. It somehow has not gotten a remake. I do think this is a good game even when I haven't played it, but it freezes on me for no reason at all. Players should not have to edit the files to play a game the way they like it.”
“Fun game; awful multiplayer, with constant stuttering and disconnecting.”
“Level geometry is very conservative. I could have sworn the original had more slopes and varied arenas than this one, and I suspect this was done solely due to pathfinding performance concerns and not gameplay design reasons.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as cartoonish and light-hearted, contrasting with previous entries in the franchise, which some players find off-putting while others appreciate its uniqueness. The soundtrack enhances the experience with epic orchestral pieces, and the game features a variety of settings that shift in tone and design, providing a mix of humor and challenge. Overall, while opinions on the visual style vary, the atmosphere is recognized for its distinctiveness and ability to create engaging gameplay experiences.
“The game's soundtrack is also noteworthy, with epic orchestral pieces that add to the game's overall atmosphere.”
“The story is amazing, the challenging secrets and the atmosphere feel unique and great, not to mention how funny this game sometimes can be.”
“And it has fun with its setting, as you will travel over 7 different episodes, each with its own atmosphere.”
“I suspect at least some of them are talking about the atmosphere that feels more cartoonish when compared to TFE and TSE.”
“Horrible look, story is worse than you would expect, and the overall atmosphere seems lacking.”
“Though I really hate the goofier graphics and atmosphere in this one, the gameplay is very solid, with decent weapons, enemy variety, and level design.”
- character development7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is characterized by its cartoonish art style and exaggerated designs, contributing to a light-hearted and humorous tone. However, many users feel that the game lacks depth in storytelling and character development, likening it to a Saturday morning cartoon rather than a sophisticated narrative experience. Ultimately, players appreciate the game for its fun and adventurous gameplay rather than for rich character arcs or mature themes.
“Its cartoonish art style and exaggerated character designs add a layer of charm and humor, heightening the game's overall light-hearted tone.”
“Story-wise, since these games do feature a fair bit of story, it kind of feels more like a Saturday morning cartoon with all the comedic cutscenes. The very wacky character designs and all the different environments definitely give off that vibe.”
“No one ever bought Serious Sam because they wanted a story-rich, sophisticated, and realistic game with mature character development; they bought it because once in a while we all want something lighter and relaxing for a change. To tell the truth, the Serious games are really good at what they do (which is being immature and adventurous), and that's why we love them.”
“I feel that the game lacks depth in terms of story and character development.”
“Not to mention the character design of every NPC that isn't Sam is bizarre.”
“Story-wise, since these games do feature a fair bit of story, it kind of feels more like a Saturday morning cartoon with all the comedic cutscenes and wacky character designs.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of nostalgia and heartbreak, with players expressing deep connections to its story and characters, often leading to tears during poignant moments. However, some critiques highlight an overreliance on cutscenes and a lack of humor, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully evokes strong feelings, though it may overwhelm some players with its intense narrative.
“It is so heartwarming to see SS2, probably the first game I've ever played and many memories connected to it, being updated more than 15 years after release.”
“Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
“If you are close to a stroke, then you should consider this game a hazard because its deep story is just heartbreaking and so well written.”
“The game focused too much on cutscenes, resulting in a boring story and unfunny jokes.”
“The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact.”
“I found it hard to connect with the characters due to the shallow writing.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect has been criticized for misleading advertising, as users feel the game does not align with the run-and-gun shooter experience promoted in ads, instead resembling older titles like Half-Life 1.
“It's really nothing like the run and gun shooter that the ads would suggest; it plays more like Half-Life 1 in that regard.”
“Fake advertising.”
