Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope
- September 20, 2017
- Croteam VR
- 7h median play time
A natural progression for Serious Sam into VR.
In Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope, players step into intense arena-based combat, surviving endless waves of randomly generated enemies across various difficulty levels. Update 7 introduces a new skill and power-ups system, enabling players to unlock weapon upgrades and lay waste to enemies with tactical orbital lasers and plasma cannons. Compete against others in daily challenge leaderboards, customizing your experience with Serious Sam or Serious Sammy characters.
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and a polished experience, making it visually appealing.
- The gameplay is fast-paced and intense, providing a fun and chaotic shooting experience.
- There is a good variety of weapons and enemies, which keeps the gameplay engaging.
- The game currently has limited content, with only a few levels available, leading to a short playtime.
- The lack of movement mechanics can make the gameplay feel restrictive and less immersive.
- Some players find the difficulty spikes to be frustrating, especially on higher difficulty settings.
- graphics112 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in this VR game are widely praised for their high quality, vibrant detail, and smooth performance, often described as some of the best in the genre. Players appreciate the extensive customization options that allow for optimal performance on various hardware setups, with many noting the immersive environments and well-designed enemies. While some mention minor issues like pixelation at distance, the overall visual experience contributes significantly to the game's enjoyment and immersion.
“Visuals are better than most VR games I've played, yet performance is quite good. Playing at 200% supersampling with all graphics settings at max on an RTX 3080 and Ryzen 5950X with a Valve Index, I get a consistent 90 FPS, which is totally fine for this type of game.”
“The graphics in Serious Sam VR are truly amazing, with high-resolution textures, wonderful shaders, and the feeling of being present in this weird VR world full of monsters is the best so far.”
“Absolutely stunning graphics, with a superb array of graphic control options to tweak to everyone's liking and PC configuration.”
“The graphics just don't quite pop - because most enemies are medium/medium far away, they suffer from the usual VR pixelation issues - you just can't appreciate the enemy design at that distance.”
“The higher graphics settings are really taxing on your system unless you have something top of the line; I would recommend medium or low depending on what you have.”
“It's a fun game, but does require a heftier build; I have 2 980-TIs and a 4770K processor and still experience some frame stuttering from time to time, so be aware of that.”
- gameplay86 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Serious Sam VR is characterized by its fast-paced, wave-shooter mechanics that emphasize reflexes and strategic weapon use, providing a chaotic yet satisfying experience. While the game features a variety of weapons and well-designed levels, some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, it successfully captures the essence of the Serious Sam series, though opinions vary on its long-term replayability and innovation.
“The gameplay is super addictive and amazing to play.”
“Fast-paced waves, and great gameplay that forces you to prioritize targets, weave and dodge, and conserve ammo on higher difficulties.”
“Serious Sam VR proves it with a well-balanced set of weapons, challenging difficulties, tons and tons of enemies, and easy-to-pick-up-hard-to-master game mechanics.”
“Basically everything in the gameplay was designed for the player's ability to freely navigate dual-wielded weapons independently of each other in two separate hands. In keyboard and mouse mode, both of your guns point to the same place, and due to this, since you can only attack from a singular weapon output point, you get overwhelmed quite easily. So be advised, don't buy this game at full price for a couple of hours of misguided goofing around if you lack the equipment to properly play it.”
“The gameplay is so simple that there's not much to keep me coming back.”
“The gameplay is boring and dull.”
- story74 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 89 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story mode is structured around a series of short missions, each consisting of waves of enemies, with minimal narrative depth and no cutscenes. While players appreciate the humor and unique environments, many feel the overall story is lacking, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus. Despite its brevity and simplistic plot, the game offers replayability through various difficulty levels and endless modes, appealing to fans of fast-paced action rather than those seeking a rich narrative experience.
“Beautiful graphics, funny and interesting story, great and challenging bosses.”
“The story missions are really well done and each one is unique and offers something new.”
“The levels and weapon variety feel very well done and the small story connecting each level with Sam's little jokes and narration feel great.”
“There really isn't much story line here at all, and while the Serious Sam series really isn't about the story line, it at least adds a little bit to the immersion level of the game versus just feeling like a shooting gallery.”
“The game is nice and fun but way too short for the current price tag; I passed it in like 20 minutes, only 8 levels which last a few minutes each, and the storyline is totally absent. This is a simple wave shooter for now.”
“There's no cut scenes, a story that can be drawn out in full in less than a small paragraph, and no real progression.”
- replayability29 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly engaging due to various difficulty levels, upgrade systems, and additional modes like endless waves and daily challenges, others feel that the core content lacks memorability and depth, leading to a limited incentive to replay. Many users appreciate the potential for improvement and skill development, particularly in cooperative play, but note that once the challenges are completed, the game may not hold long-term replay value. Overall, it offers a decent replay experience, especially for those who enjoy grinding for upgrades and tackling harder difficulties.
“Plus, the developers also added replayability; for example, in lower difficulties, you can beat all of the stages of a world and then buy power-ups, which you can use to play higher difficulties.”
“I've been playing for the last 6 months, and with all the weapon upgrades, it's hugely replayable, so I don't plan on ever uninstalling.”
“Wildly fun and replayable with multiple difficulty levels and weapon options.”
“Despite the above praise, the replayability was quite low for me - none of the levels or fights were memorable enough to come back to them and try getting more points for the upgrade tree.”
“Replayability is for those who want to improve their score by increasing the number of enemies, their accuracy, and using different weapons - otherwise, maps and waves are repetitive and most will move on.”
“I definitely will revisit the game many times to clear hard settings on the two levels; I imagine it will take me a bit of time to accomplish that. However, once you clear everything, you may find that the game does not have the highest replayability value at the moment.”
- music25 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its heavy metal soundtrack that enhances the action and overall gameplay experience. Reviewers noted that the music complements the intense combat, making players feel empowered and engaged, particularly during boss fights. While some mentioned minor issues, such as repetitive loops in certain areas, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment.
“The soundtrack is amazing and perfectly complements the game.”
“Fantastic mix of weapons and enemies, the boss fights are incredibly fun and the music makes me want to rock out as I tear through hundreds of monsters.”
“I have to say, this game is amazing, much more than I was expecting, it has great gameplay, graphics, physics, and amazing music.”
“In the first region, the music is literally a two-second loop.”
“Somehow and probably due to the music and the character, the overall feeling reminds me of the movie 'Last Action Hero.'”
“From level, enemy, and weapon variety to design, graphics, optimization, and soundtrack.”
- optimization21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance across a range of hardware, including lower-end systems. Many players appreciate the extensive customization options for graphics and performance, allowing for a tailored experience without significant stuttering or overheating issues. While some minor performance dips occur in specific scenarios, the game is generally regarded as well-polished and visually impressive.
“Visuals are better than most VR games I've played, yet performance is quite good. Playing at 200% supersampling with all graphics settings at max on an RTX 3080 and Ryzen 5950X with a Valve Index, I get a consistent 90 FPS, which is totally fine for this type of game.”
“The experience is really well polished and optimized - great gorgeous graphics with smooth frames (except once when I got swarmed by maybe 100 spiders at arm's reach).”
“The games are well optimized, play very well, have options for movement and comfort, just overall done very well on every single title.”
“The performance on my minimum spec is solid and there weren't any major issues, although I did get some dips in performance on a particular map (2/4) on planet 2 when there were lots of dead enemies near me.”
“Raw data looks a bit better, but SSVR is more optimized than raw data.”
“Performance is way better than raw data.”
- humor18 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in "Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope" is characterized by its corny, over-the-top style, featuring ridiculous enemies and massive weapons that contribute to a fun and chaotic experience. While some players find the humor engaging and entertaining, others note that certain gameplay mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with satisfying gunplay, making it a lively option for multiplayer fun.
“And on top it’s garnished with the typical Serious Sam humor.”
“The entire game has a little bit of a low-budget feel, but it is funny as hell.”
“The corny humor, the massive guns, and the ridiculous enemies are all here from Serious Sam; just be prepared to hold your ground.”
“But then a mandatory bow is introduced, which is utterly impossible to use, making it very hard and unfunny to clear the rest of the levels.”
- stability12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability across a range of hardware, with users reporting smooth performance and no significant bugs or crashes. Many players noted that it runs well on older systems, such as the GTX 970, and delivers good visuals without any major glitches. However, some users experienced issues related to proxy internet settings, which affected gameplay.
“Runs great on older hardware and still has good visuals.”
“Graphics are top notch and the game runs great on my 4790k and GTX 970.”
“The game itself runs great; the enemies, backgrounds, and other effects are buttery smooth.”
“Update: The game finally works after 7 days of troubleshooting with the developers. The game will not play if your system uses proxy internet.”
“No crashes or visual glitches noticed while running it on an MSI 1070 Armor at 2.2GHz/9.6Gbps (driver: 375.86) for nearly 2 hours.”
“No dropped frames or any glitches at all.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is viewed negatively, with many players describing it as tedious and unnecessary. Critics highlight the unoriginal and frustrating nature of the skill tree and weapon upgrade systems, which detract from the overall enjoyment, particularly when forced to use less enjoyable weapons like the bow. Overall, the grinding is seen as a cash grab that only completionists might tolerate.
“I very much doubt anyone but the most ardent completionists are going to want to run it long enough to get good enough to work through the tedious unlock tree.”
“It's just completely unoriginal, tedious, and it just feels so completely unnecessary.”
“On levels when you're forced to use the bow, I find myself not looking forward to the next wave, but hoping that it will be over soon, as it's so tedious.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing it for incorporating common mobile game tropes and feeling like a cash grab, while others appreciate the developers' efforts to avoid isolating users for profit. Overall, opinions vary, with some players feeling exploited and others supporting the developers despite the game's shortcomings.
“This title is not a cash grab.”
“It may have serious Sam assets and a VR interface, but apart from that, it has all the moronic mobile game tropes that gamers with dignity and a spine rightfully despise, short of microtransactions and ad overlays.”
“This is some grindy garbage cash grab.”
“Like a lot of VR games right now, it just feels like a quick cash grab honestly.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is noted as a mixed aspect; while some users feel it lacks impact, others appreciate how it enhances the overall experience, particularly through diverse monster designs and engaging boss fights that add variety to the gameplay.
“The use of atmosphere and simple level elements elevate the experience above less polished shooters, while the diversity of monsters and different boss fights provide a novel variety throughout the game.”
“The haunting soundtrack and immersive visuals create a captivating atmosphere that draws you into the game's world.”
“Every corner of the environment is filled with detail, making the atmosphere rich and engaging, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.”
“The weapons feel terrible, and the atmosphere is equally lacking.”
“The use of atmosphere and simple level elements elevate the experience above less polished shooters, but the diversity of monsters and different boss fights keep a novel variety throughout the experience.”