The central joke of Serious Sam is that he isn't very serious at all. And nor are his games. In fact, they're extremely silly, and if they don't start behaving they're not going to get any sweets. Yes, Croteam's long-running flagship FPS is a gleefully daft blaster that revels in throwing as many enemies at you as possible, creating huge, ridiculous battle sequences that can be genuinely exhilarating.
This Switch incarnation of the Serious Sam Collection offers a generous assemblage of Sam content at a very nice price point. You're getting Serious Sam: The First Encounter HD, its follow-up Serious Sam: The Second Encounter HD, Serious Sam 3: BFE and all their respective DLC expansions; Legend of the Beast (Second Encounter) and Jewel of the Nile (BFE). It's a hefty package for sure, going above and beyond what we expected for the price. There are some omissions – the Xbox 360 version included the marvellous side-scroller Serious Sam DD XXL, and the under-rated Serious Sam 2 is entirely absent (Second Encounter is, confusingly, not the same thing). While we're dreaming, we'd love to see a re-release of the GameCube's brilliant Serious Sam: The Next Encounter, but that's probably never happening.
Still, what is here represents the core of the series, and it's more than enough to be going on with. Unfortunately, the way these games are presented here is a very mixed bag, some of which is downright heartbreaking. This should be a very easy recommendation, but the performance is – at times – utterly wretched, to the point that we question the wisdom of releasing the thing at all.
First Encounter runs at 60fps in both Switch modes, Second Encounter targets the same when docked and usually managing the same in handheld, but Serious Sam 3: BFE is a hot mess – played on the go, it can barely sustain a decent framerate; the larger the area, the worse it gets. Chugging performance and outright (and frequent) hitches make this a difficult prospect. It's a little better in docked format, but handheld play really does feel like a no-go. The options menu offers the choice of a "performance" mode... but that's the mode we played the majority of the game in. It really doesn't improve matters enough to fix the issue.
All that said, it's far from unplayable, with a few caveats. The controls are just fine, but we personally found the intensity of Serious Sam made the game extremely difficult with the slightly loose Switch analogue sticks in handheld mode. In the menu, you can switch on auto-aim, which makes a reticule appear around the currently targeted enemy, and we heartily recommend this for a breezier and less frustrating experience. Purists will rubbish this, but as we all know, purists aren't worth listening to on any matter whatsoever (except perhaps water purity, which is life or death).
When you're able to ignore the performance issues, Serious Sam Collection can be excellent. Movement and aiming (using the optional auto-aim) are very responsive indeed, surprisingly so given the technical issues. Level design is uniformly strong; while the stages are very much "wide-linear", they're rammed with fiendishly-hidden secret areas and generally paced very well. BFE is an exception, making you play through three very long, very dull levels before things even remotely pick up, but it's still far from bad overall. The focus on throwing many, many enemies at you can occasionally cause fatigue – especially in the later game where the onslaught is relentless – but that's also the appeal of this series; overcoming ridiculous odds, as a memorable cast of monsters charges you. There's a reason the headless, screaming kamikaze bombers are so iconic.
There are 50+ levels here, a whole host of weapons and hundreds of devious hidden areas and items to find. It's a thoroughly robust package and great value for money, provided that the atrocious performance of Serious Sam 3 doesn't totally kill the fun for you. Switching games is effortless (though there's a fair amount of loading here, especially when you die), there are tons of options to customise your game, and generally, it's very polished – except, sadly, where it seems to count for a whole third of the collection. There's full online and split-screen play here, which is a great inclusion, though we weren't able to find any games online at the time of review. Besides the visual issues we've mentioned, there are no compromises with this collection; this is a full-fat presentation of Serious Sam.
Conclusion
Serious Sam Collection is two-thirds amazing, but the final third is a real technical mess; Serious Sam 3: BFE is one of the least impressive Switch ports we've ever seen. It's playable, but surely the machine that can push out an acceptable version of Doom can manage this? There's the potential for early patches to improve matters, but the way it is now, we can only recommend The Serious Sam Collection as a great way to play the First and Second Encounters. That's not what's advertised, though, and as a result, we can only give this package a cautious recommendation. A three-game collection should be a three-game collection; not two games and the faintest suggestion of one.
Comments 52
"Purists will rubbish this, but as we all know, purists aren't worth listening to on any matter whatsoever (except perhaps water purity, which is life or death)."
Bravo!
I have played only First and Second encounter, There are no other Serious Sam games for me
If this ever gets a physical release I will get it
Is it actually on the EU eShop yet?
I enjoyed Next Encounter on Gamecube the most, but when this gets patched, has gyro aiming added, and goes on a decent sale, I'd gladly replay them as well. I would have preferred a physical European version however. I always do (even if I still sometimes go for the digital versions on a deep sale...)
its a shame the 3rd one is a dud. Also what's going on with the European release?
Btw, this totally reads like a 7/10, but oh well.
I'd heard that this doesn't have online, the devs themselves said as much... Is that "Online and local multiplayer" listed in the Pros section accurate? Maybe it's a Pro that it doesn't have online?
First two are amazing fun I have to say but 3 is gruesome. Still, for fans its worth it for on the go and its still one of the silliest fun shooters you can pick up. Maybe wait for a sale on this one.
@jump The ratings board were not happy with the rating over here so pulled the European version until they have re rated it. I bought it on the US e shop instead as I am a huge fan. Its not brilliant but its still a lot of fun.
@Reprise
That's what I was thinking, especially since he used the word "amazing" to describe two-thirds of the game. I'll probably get this since I've never played these before. Maybe patches can help with the third game.
Well, that is a shame indeed.
@Cwiiis Unfortunately this is the case, the devs confirmed it's local only on their Discord.
https://imgur.com/a/Yht6HHZ
@Shambo I'm glad someone else enjoyed it, too. The combo system was rad. That and Timesplitters 2 might be the games I played the most on the Gamecube.
Bought this day one. 3 is indeed a bit rough, but still enjoyable for a fan. First two run amazing, and survival mode for all 3 is included too. Worth every penny.
Still might get it, but I'm interested to see if 3 will get patched.
@Reprise It was, some day ago,but suddenly disappeared...
No mention of gyro in the review so I take it the game doesn’t have it. It really is quite baffling how often developers omit gyro aiming.
Such a shame it didn't get online multiplayer, suppose I will be getting it on the PS4 instead - Its not even showing on the UK eshop for me to check.
I'm sick of games launching on Switch and lacking game modes.
I've been waiting for this to come back on the eShop for some time. I want this so bad. Does anyone know how long it's going to be till it's relisted? I've tried reaching out to the devs but no reply.
@Thaliard Especially if I remember correctly, in co-op, you could kill your co-op player and add their combo to yours, which led to some hilariously hectic situations. I'm quite certain that was in Serious Sam, but I may be mistaken. I played Timesplitters Future Perfect more than 2, but then again, I may have played that game more than any game ever.
Wait... So is the third one "far from unplayable" or "barely playable"? Those two descriptions are pretty different...
SS2 and TNE are easily better games than SS3. Had the former two been in place of thr latter (or just in the collection at all), I would have picked this up at launch.
@jarvismp does it have online ?
I can totally recommend Serious Sam 3 in VR!
I was going to buy it but it got pulled from the eshop. Shame about the performance issues, hopefully they'll iron it out if it ever actually gets released.
Wow can't say I agree with this review. I mean is the reviewer aware of how there's a performance mode option? They mention it but I've been playing this on my Switch Lite and the performance is fine for all the games, never seems to dip below 30fps and it looks like Serious Sam to me. Obviously it's not going to look as good as it would on a gaming PC but you shouldn't be expecting that. The aiming also feels fine for me and the loading isn't that bad. I kinda feel this just wasn't a game the reviewer was into. If you enjoy this kinda classic PC FPS there's a lot to enjoy, tons of content for your money.
@Zuljaras same here I want Physical now that Doom Eternal has shafted the Physical collectors.
@Yodalovesu It's a weird one because "unplayable" changes its context for the round-up at the end, but you're right, I should have used a different word. It's playable in that it runs, you can play it, but - you know - it barely skirts tolerable, which isn't good enough.
@JayJ I am aware of the performance mode and my time spent with the game was spent using it. Game runs even worse when you don't use it. It's a poor job on SS3.
I take it there is no gyro aiming?
The first two games sounds like really good ports. Shame about the third seemingly being a "hot mess"
@StuartGipp So am I missing something here, I watched this video and at around 12:00 there's a decent amount of action but seems to be running around 25fps or so, which seems substandard but playable. Does it get worse in other parts?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCEwKejc884
I reread your review and sounds like the performance might only be playable in docked mode?
@doctorhino I captured this myself, in docked mode : https://twitter.com/Stupacabra/status/1328831119819587584?s=19
£30 seems really expensive for an eShop game to me, personally I’ll be waiting for that inevitable 50% off sale in January. But I hope those that buy now enjoy it
@StuartGipp Wow, that's not just losing frame rate, that's full on chugging. I hate that feeling so much from old pc days, yeah it's unplayable I agree.
@doctorhino Mileage may vary, naturally - it runs better in some areas than others, but it frontloads poor performance. For me it's pretty much a dealbreaker to offer three games and have one of them run as poorly as this. Patches, like I said, could fix it! And I hope they do.
Either there are lots of lazy and incompetent developers or we need a switch pro.
@MJKatana It does but I haven’t tried it out yet.
@sixrings Both.
@doctorhino I've already seen a frame rate test for this game on the Switch and it seems to run rather well for the most part:
https://youtu.be/ldygtOPskkY
I also played it myself and can confirm how I haven't seen any real issues.
Been playing it for a few days now, only encountered a handful of frame-drops. Game is a blast on switch lite, haven't tried the third one yet though...
Really REALLY needs a patch that adds gyro
Laezie portings of jumpmans and shootings with no gyros
Still conspicuous by its absence on the EU store. Any update on what is going on there? Despite its flaws, I will throw money at this. If I can.
5/10 seems bit harsh. I can't comment much tho cause I've never seen or played any of these except the first one for about 20 minutes at friends house. But imo there needs to be a serious issue to merit such a loss of points. Like there's a game I'm not gonna mention atm that I love to defend, but it HAS a fatal flaw that has still yet to be fixed. So yea it can def sit at it's real life score of 5/10 and I understand why. Good game with an unfixed fatal glitch. I don't get the low score on this review. Only real issue was with frame rate on 1 game of the series set. Oh well, to each their own.
Wow. So THAT's why Second Encounter seems so foreign to me! I was a huge fan of SS2 way back in the day and thought something was awry with my memory. Good to know.
I skipped this on Switch and opted to get the Xbox version because I expected it the Switch would have issues. To be fair, the 'remaster' bit is somewhat overstated in my opinion. The games really don't look very current gen to me and come off like early Xbox 360 titles more than updates. Still, I'll always love them. I really would like to see a Complete/Definitive Edition with all of the games though.
Still getting this, shame to hear about the issues in the 3rd game. I'm a bit more tolerant of performance issues than most people. I've seen the word "unplayable" being tossed around like crazy the last few years.
I agree with the "5/10 is too harsh" crowd. 3 always was the weakest entry in the series in my opinion anyway, they should have included The Next Encounter which i loved on the GameCube instead.
I'm still grabbing it considering Doom will be a no go.
I guess Australia is affected by the pulling from the EU shop also as i cant see it either. I remember on 360 XBLA theFirst Encounter was released but Second Encounter was unavailable for some annoying reason. I hope its not a permanent thing.
I was looking forward to buying this collection. But the game was removed from the AU shop.
@Jhomesjones
which fatal glitch are you talking about just want to know it because i am interest in this collection
I just bought it because it was 50% off on the eShop and I am very happy with it. A lot of content for the money. Some of the comments here say there's no online play, but there most definitely is. Maybe it was patched in? Problem is, no one is actually playing it online. I have yet to find an active game. Shame as I think death match and co-op would be really fun. I haven't played 3 yet so I cannot confirm if it still has any performance issues. Also, this is the first time any of these games have been on a Nintendo console, which I think is pretty significant. As someone who had a Wii and Wii U, it was a real bummer that they never got games like this, Doom, Duke Nukem etc. Of course the Gamecube had The Next Encounter, but honestly this is a lot better than just one exclusive game.
@vio Can you post an update on how well 3 works when you try it?
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