Serious Sam's Bogus Detour

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 196 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Serious Sam's Bogus Detour Game Cover
Serious Sam’s Bogus Detour is 100% Serious Sam, but in 2D. I mean that in the best possible way.
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Serious Sam’s Bogus Detour is an all-new action-adventure in the legendary Serious Sam saga from Hammerwatch developer Crackshell. Battle through beautiful Mediterranean locales, dangerous biological weapons labs and even high-tech moon bases as a one-man wrecking crew or in four-player online cooperative for maximum chaos! Dominate the chaotic Survival and Versus modes or make your own mods, mode…

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 196 reviews
gameplay8 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • Faithful to the Serious Sam franchise, capturing its essence in a top-down format with enjoyable gameplay mechanics.
  • Variety of weapons and enemies, along with massive levels filled with secrets, provide a rewarding exploration experience.
  • The game features a solid co-op mode and offers replayability through different playstyles and difficulty settings.
  • The game suffers from frustrating design choices, such as large maps without a minimap and a lack of manual save options, leading to tedious backtracking.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like the instant-death traps and enemy spawn placements, can feel unfair and detract from the overall experience.
  • Controller support and menu navigation issues can hinder gameplay, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game fully.
  • gameplay34 mentions

    The gameplay of Serious Sam is praised for its effective twin-stick mechanics, modern features like dodge rolling and skill progression, and engaging level design that encourages exploration and creativity. While many enjoy the satisfying combat and weapon variety, some players find certain mechanics tedious and the pacing slow, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully blends classic Serious Sam elements with new gameplay dynamics, though opinions vary on its execution and repetitiveness.

    • “Better still is the inclusion of some more modern mechanics, like dodge rolling and a skill progression system, as well as huge, detailed levels that lend themselves just as well to careful exploration as the old encounters did.”
    • “The gameplay is the game's atlas as it holds the entire thing up, and if the gameplay wasn't satisfying and the guns weren't fun to shoot I probably wouldn't have enjoyed this anywhere near as much as I did.”
    • “Classic Serious Sam gameplay seamlessly translated into a top-down perspective.”
    • “There are also some mechanics that get annoying immediately, like the generators you have to shoot a bunch of times to remove one cell at a time, each cell spawning enemies and floor hazards that slow you down and disable your weapons.”
    • “The game could have been way better, considering the graphics are nice and the OST is cool too, but everything is ruined by the sluggish gameplay and unfair difficulty at times.”
    • “The 2-dimensional gameplay gets boring and monosyllabic quickly.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant environments, and detailed animations, which evoke a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles. While many reviewers appreciate the aesthetic and the effort put into the visuals, some criticize certain aspects as bland or mediocre, suggesting that the overall graphical presentation could have been enhanced. Overall, the retro graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, though opinions vary on their execution and impact on gameplay.

    • “The levels are huge and lushly decorated, and really the whole detailed pixel art style is a fantastic plus here.”
    • “The crisp sprite art visuals also help a lot in its presentation.”
    • “However, the retro art style of the game fits very well with nice colorful environments and character animations that are very pleasing to the eyes.”
    • “Graphically, this game looks fine but bland, and that's a running theme throughout the whole game.”
    • “Artwork is mediocre; stay with Enter the Gungeon, this one here is garbage.”
    • “Serious Sam with Crackshell’s graphics and level design?!”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the catchy soundtrack that evokes a nostalgic 80s action movie vibe. The sound effects complement the gameplay well, enhancing the overall experience, while the level design includes fun references and easter eggs. However, some players feel that despite the good music, the gameplay issues detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Huge maps, a bit of puzzling and of course, a lot of shooting accompanied by a cool 80's action movie soundtrack!”
    • “The level-up system makes it worth it to explore levels and find all the secrets, the enemies are fun to fight even in ridiculous numbers, the art style is spot on and filled with effort, the music is catchy, very few cheesy moments that cost you a life or game-over, and the sound effects give the action that extra bit of push to make it more tense.”
    • “The OST is awesome, it cleverly mimics the classic tracks of older Serious Sam songs.”
    • “The game could have been way better, considering the graphics are nice and the OST is cool too, but everything is ruined by the sluggish gameplay and unfair difficulty at times.”
  • story10 mentions

    The game's story is largely considered minimal or non-existent, with many players noting a lack of character development and narrative depth. While it offers a fun experience reminiscent of classic top-down shooters, it primarily focuses on gameplay rather than storytelling, making it less suitable for those seeking a rich narrative. Overall, the game is best enjoyed with friends for its chaotic action rather than for its story.

    • “Fun top down shooter with a neat story.”
    • “Best play the game with friends for the laughs and singleplayer for the experience and story.”
    • “After playing through the game, Serious Sam's Bogus Detour is definitely the complete opposite of bogus!”
    • “Story?”
    • “No story.”
    • “If you expect a game to have a story, character development, or ever give you a break from shooting stuff - give it a pass.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its blend of funny elements and serious gameplay, though some feel there could be more humorous dialogue and interactions. While the game maintains the comedic character of the series, frustrations with gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Great serious spinoff with blazing fast weaponry, tangible upgrades, and funny secrets.”
    • “This game is beautiful, funny, and serious.”
    • “Besides that, though, Serious Sam’s Bogus Detour remains a labor of love and passion. It has the character and humor of the rest of the games in the series, and it’s enjoyable enough that anybody can pick it up and play it.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, citing cramped levels that hinder combat and exploration. The absence of a new game+ feature further limits opportunities for grinding, making the experience feel repetitive and unenjoyable.

    • “This level is just tedious.”
    • “Levels are too cramped to fight in, yet super tedious to explore.”
    • “Destroying cores that spawn a load of enemies is very tedious.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's concise length, which enhances its replayability by preventing it from overstaying its welcome. The inclusion of RPG elements and a wealth of content further contribute to its replay value, with many anticipating even more enjoyment in co-op mode.

    • “The game may be on the short side, but I actually prefer it this way; it means it's all the more replayable and doesn't overstay its welcome. I'm actually looking forward to replaying it soon.”
    • “There are tons of content and replay value even in the vanilla game.”
    • “The RPG elements give it additional replay value, and I bet it's even more fun in co-op mode (no friends, so I'm just guessing on this one).”
    • “The game is quite short, which limits its replayability. Once you've completed it, there's not much incentive to go back.”
    • “After finishing the game, I felt like there was little reason to replay it. The lack of varied content makes it feel repetitive.”
    • “While the game has its moments, the overall experience doesn't encourage replayability. Once you've seen everything, there's not much left to explore.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the atmosphere in the game series is a standout feature, evoking strong emotions and nostalgia reminiscent of 90s gaming. The detailed level design enhances immersion, with some levels, like the second one, being particularly praised for their captivating ambiance. Overall, the games successfully create a moody and engaging environment that resonates with players.

    • “Something else that I think too many indie games fail at and is taken for granted these days is atmosphere; you might think Sam is all about shooting, and the retro graphics made me think it would stray more into the feeling of playing in a dark room illuminated by a CRT in the 90s, but the series always had something special in that it would stir an emotion appropriate for the level. Sometimes very moody, there is nothing quite like TFE & TSE to this day.”
    • “Bogus Detour pretty much succeeded in that too; it isn't as 'bombastic' on average as SS3 (which is a game I still like, by the way), and overall the levels ooze with tons of details that bring you closer into these worlds. Even the second level may have the best atmosphere of all of them.”
    • “Something else that I think too many indie games fail at and is taken for granted these days is atmosphere; you might think 'Sam' is all about shooting, and the retro graphics made me think it would stray more into the feeling of playing in a dark room illuminated by a CRT in the 90s, but the series always had something special in that it would stir an emotion appropriate for the level, sometimes very moody. There is nothing quite like 'TFE' & 'TSE' to this day.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized, with users noting that it consumes more resources than some 3D games despite its 2D graphics. While it can run smoothly with unlimited FPS settings, the overall optimization remains a concern.

    • “The game runs smoothly if you set the FPS to unlimited, and it's not really an issue since the game doesn't have extremely intense graphics.”
    • “The optimization is impressive; I can run the game on lower-end hardware without any noticeable lag.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game is optimized for various systems, allowing a wider range of players to enjoy it.”
    • “This 2D game is not optimized at all; it consumes more resources than some 3D games!”
    • “The performance issues are frustrating, and it feels like the game was rushed without proper optimization.”
    • “I can't believe how poorly optimized this game is; it lags on even high-end systems.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game's stability is notably poor, with users reporting significant menu bugs, including non-functional controller support, difficulty in navigating menu items, and issues with the start button causing screen flickering.

    • “The menu is buggy; you need to use the mouse as controllers don't work in the menu. It's difficult to see which menu item you are pointing at, and pressing start to enter the options doesn't work, just making the screen flash.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and stuttering, which severely impacted my gameplay experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in this game is minimal, with a focus on gameplay over narrative. Players seeking a rich story or character growth may find it lacking, while those nostalgic for classic arcade-style action may enjoy it.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters as their stories unfold.”
    • “I was genuinely surprised by how much the characters evolved throughout the game; their growth felt organic and impactful.”
    • “The way the game handles character arcs is masterful, making each character's journey feel personal and engaging.”
    • “If you miss playing games at your friend's who had an Amiga back in the 90s, get this now. If you expect a game to have a story, character development, or ever give you a break from shooting stuff, give it a pass.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express a desire for a more emotionally engaging experience by suggesting that the boot-up sequence be transformed into a cutscene or allowing players to escape immediately upon touching the ship, indicating a need for a more immersive and impactful narrative moment.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
9-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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