Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

About Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

Croteam released this 2009 remake of their classic arcade shooter for PC and Xbox 360. Devolver Digital handled the publishing duties to bring a visual upgrade to the original 2001 hit. You play as Sam Stone, a hero sent back from the 22nd century to stop the evil alien overlord Mental from destroying humanity. The story relies on time travel artifacts called Time-Locks and ancient Sirian tech. It is a straight-up run-and-gun experience that strips away complex narratives in favor of pure shooting action. You face endless hordes of monsters across desert ruins and Egyptian temples without much downtime between the firefights.

Gameplay

You move forward while spraying bullets at waves of enemies that spawn faster as you progress. The controls feel tight and responsive for a third-person perspective shooter where you strafe around cover or run straight into danger to get a better angle. A typical session involves clearing out a large room filled with Gnaars, Sentries, and Kottalors before moving to the next area. You can switch weapons to handle different threats, from shotguns for close range to miniguns for crowd control. The game supports up to 16 players in co-op mode where everyone shoots at the same targets simultaneously. There are no inventory menus or complex skill trees. You just grab ammo and health packs while enemies try to overwhelm your position with sheer numbers.

What Players Think

Players on IGDB have given this title a solid 74.6 out of 100 based on 92 ratings. The community moods lean heavily toward nostalgic and chaotic energy during peak play sessions. Average playtime sits around 8 hours for the main campaign, though completionists might spend double that time hunting every collectible or weapon skin. Critics and fans alike note the high replay value in multiplayer matches where team coordination matters more than individual aim. Review snippets often highlight the improved lighting compared to the original but acknowledge the dated enemy AI. Despite some criticism regarding the linear level design, the community ratings suggest players appreciate the fast pace and lack of grinding.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth buying if you want a cheap shooter that respects your time. At a low price point, it delivers hours of mindless fun without forcing you to learn complex mechanics. You will earn achievements for clearing levels on hard difficulty or finding secret areas. The co-op mode remains a strong draw for groups looking to shoot things together. Avoid this if you expect deep story moments or modern graphics. Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter stands as a competent remake that holds up because it never tries to be anything other than a loud shooting gallery.

Storyline

In ancient times, Earth was involved in a massive conflict between Mental, an evil extraterrestrial being who wants to rule the universe, and the Sirians, a technologically advanced sentient alien race that left many of its artifacts to be discovered by humanity. In the 22nd century, Mental and his army of grotesquely twisted monsters return to Earth intending to destroy humanity. The humans are quickly overwhelmed and driven back to Earth. As a last resort, humanity uses the "Time-Lock". This mysterious Sirian artifact contains the power to transport a single person back to a chosen point in time. Because of his bravery in fighting these monsters, Sam "Serious" Stone is chosen to use the Time-Lock in hopes that he will defeat Mental and change the course of history.