The new maps include Kleer Fortress, The Snowrider, Monkey Canyon, Dragon Gates, Horus Sanctuary and Castle of Pain. As for the new characters, you have Serious Sam Classic (from The First Encounter) along with Biker Blaze, Devolver Dude, Kleer Kurt, Dark Delilah and many more. The update also provides fixes for issues with player models, levels and visibility in the base game.

Check out the full patch notes below for more details. Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem is currently exclusive to PC via Steam. For those seeking more Serious Sam mayhem, there’s Serious Sam: Tormental, a top-down rogue-lite that launched out of early access last month.

Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem Update 1.03

Full changelog

What’s New:

• Steam Workshop and Serious Editor are now available. Show us those filthy modder hands!
• Survival mode has arrived! Check a look at 6 brand new levels with awesome visuals and new absolutely badass music. Survive solo or with friends in Co-Op! Those include Horus Sanctuary, Dragon Gates, Castle of Pain, Kleer Fortress, The Snowrider, and Monkey Canyon.
• New player models! Old fan-favorites, and brand new ones alike: Serious Sammy, Dark Delilah, Biker Blaze, Kleer Kurt, Devolver Dude, Octanian Oleg, Beast of the Apocalypse, and Serious Sam Classic (The First Encounter).
• All player models have been livened up through the use of a revolutionary technology of eye movement.

Gameplay fixes:

• Reduced Hoverboard HP from 500 to 300. Still, General Brand now gets angry when you use the Hoverboard on him. Feet on the ground!
• Changed default “Extra Enemy Strength per Player” in Cooperative mode to 0. Because Double Barrel into a Kleer’s face is sacred.
• Minefield now kills the rider along with their ride. Checkmate, speedrunners (j/k we love you but it had to go for other reasons).
• You can now mash “Use” when trying to mount a nimble monster, free from the fear of accidentally unmounting it right away, because there is now a delay before you can unmount.
• Some enemies were awarding too few points, so we adjusted that.
• Minor Biomechanoid now performs a parting shot during its death. Just like in old times.
• Increased health awarded for melee kill of the Pyro and Draconian Burner enemy.
• T.A.C.T. gadget now stops functioning when a cutscene starts.

Visual fixes:

• Added weapon wheel preview icons for both alternate weapon skins.
• Cutscenes have been tweaked and/or optimized, including a fancy fade-to-black before the start of each cutscene.
• Fixed an issue where some decals (posters on walls, markups on the floor) would disappear when the player was close to them.
• Fixed an issue with lots of models showing up dark, when playing with Prebaked Lighting enabled on Roadside Picnic level.
• Fixed an issue with waypoint distance displaying incorrect value when the player is driving a vehicle which is too big for any possible path to the objective.
• Fixed several visibility/sectoring issues across all levels.
• Fixed an issue where General Brand would sometimes evaporate at the end of the boss fight.
• Fixed an issue where the wrong model of the XPMR “Burner” raygun was displayed in Netricsa.
• Fixed an issue where the dual-wielded “Burners” would sometimes light up the stripe on the wrong weapon when used with the controller.
• “Burner” and Crossbow visuals now take the auto-aim into account.
• Various visual fixes across player models.
• Various visual fixes across all levels.

Other fixes:

• Fixed an issue where invoking Netricsa in Co-Op would sometimes cause all spectators of the player who invoked it to have a permanent black screen.
• Fixed an issue which caused softlock on “A Smell of Petroleum Prevails” after the AK fight (gate not opening) if the player loaded a save from an older version of the game. You can now use any save of that level.
• Various other softlock fixes across all levels.
• “Roadside Picnic”: fixed overly bright water reflections in the bunker.

It wouldn’t be a new Serious Sam experience without some new weapons. Fortunately, Siberian Mayhem offers a healthy amount of firepower like the AK and Perun crossbow along with new gadgets and vehicles. Players will also have new side missions to fulfill and new characters to interact with.

Currently, Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem is available only for PC but it should release for consoles sometime later. In the meantime, check out the opening 10 minutes of the game here and stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

It starts out simply enough with Sam “Serious” Stone on the coastline, fighting through several familiar enemies in the snow. The pistol is soon replaced with the trademark shotgun as Sam has to rescue a survivor. Overall, it’s not much different from Serious Sam 4 and that’s either a good or bad thing depending on the person.

Though not really showcased in the video, there new enemies and bosses to tackle along with new weapons like the Perun crossbow and AK. There are also new gadgets and vehicles along with five new missions (not to mention new side-missions). Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem is currently releasing for PC alone but it may come to other platforms later. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

Siberia brings five new levels set in cold and harsh landscapes from a ghost town to the Arctic coastline. New enemies have been deployed to make Sam’s job even tougher than usual and that includes new bosses. Fortunately, there are new weapons to utilize from the “Perun” crossbow to the AK along with new gadgets and vehicles. You’ll also have new allies to assist you with new side-missions to complete.

There’s no word yet on when Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem will be coming to other platforms so stay tuned for more details. You can also check out our review for Serious Sam 4 here.

Out of nowhere, with practically no fanfare, publisher Devolver Digital has launched Serious Sam 4 for Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Xbox One and PS4 version hasn’t launched, and there’s no word if it will, which is particularly interesting because originally the game was announced for old-gen consoles.

In our review of Serious Sam 4, we awarded it a score of 7/10, saying, “Serious Sam 4 won’t rewrite the book for narrative FPS campaigns and that’s perfectly fine. It sticks close to the series’ roots while offering some contemporary improvements and improved presentation. If you’re hankering for some straightforward shooting action that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Sam “Serious” Stone’s got your back.” You can read our full review through here.

As spotted by Gematsu, Serious Sam 4 was recently rated for the PS5 by the German USK. There are a few interesting things to note here. For starters, while the game has had a version announced for PS4 and Xbox One for a while, that got delayed into 2021 due to its timed Stadia exclusivity, and with 2021 almost done, publisher Devolver Digital (who also acquired developer Croteam in October 2020) might be getting ready to bring the game to consoles at last. Of course, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions were not announced, so this rating might suggest that a cross-gen launch could be planned.

Of course, nothing has been officially announced yet, so at this point, all we can do is speculate. Here’s hoping there’s some clarity on this front from Devolver in the near future.

In our review of Serious Sam 4, we awarded it a score of 7/10, saying, “Serious Sam 4 is no masterpiece but its combination of blockbuster movie action with non-stop shooting action is still pretty fun. Even if the story is generally forgettable or the mission design feels one-note, Croteam has managed a seriously impressive revival for its cult classic shooter.” You can read our full review through here.

Right off the bat, the story sees Sam and his squad of the Earth Defense Force’s Alien Artifact Acquisition division venturing to Rome. Word has gotten out about an alien artifact that could lead to greater things so naturally, AAA is on the case. It’s not long before the convoy is attacked and Sam is thrown into the thick of things yet again, mowing down Mental’s hordes by the thousands in the name of humanity.

"For as likable as the story and characters can be though, they likely won’t resonate with FPS fans expecting a deeper narrative."

You’re not necessarily picking up a Serious Sam game for the story. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the narrative adapts the big-budget, action movie blockbuster formula. It’s got all the tropes you would expect – Sam punching out his superior officer, frantic escapes from burning lava, one-liners upon one-liners, the enemy commander that cowardly mocks our hero, a somber guitar that plays during quieter moments to remind us of what’s lost, the list goes on. None of it is fairly original or top of the shelf, mind you. But in the context of what Croteam is going for, it works, which is saying something considering the utter ridiculousness of it all.

AAA is full of motley personalities, from the firebrand pilot Hellfire and the rambunctious Rodriguez to the contemplative Jones and nerdy Kenny. I found myself chuckling at their corny exchanges while also appreciating the more serious (no pun intended) moments. Are they the best written characters I’ve ever come across? Hell no. Does their dialogue become annoying at times and bizarrely repeat at others? Absolutely. Nevertheless, I felt a sense of camaraderie with this pack of action movie stereotypes.

Sam is his usual wise-cracking self, making jokes while threatening to continue fighting even if all the ammo in the world ran out because – and I’m paraphrasing here – “My fists don’t need bullets.” That being said, there’s some nice character depth that makes him more human, especially in how he cares for his squad. Again, it’s all standard action movie fare but it’s done well enough for those who can get into it.

For as likable as the story and characters can be though, they likely won’t resonate with FPS fans expecting a deeper narrative. The same goes for the mission design in the campaign – for all intents and purposes, each mission is about going from one point to another, killing waves and waves of enemy aliens. Serious Sam 4 is pretty old-school in this regard – killing all of the enemies in an area will unlock the gate to the next area and sometimes, you’ll need to hunt for keys. There’s not a whole lot of variety in the kinds of objectives you’ll tackle.

"Serious Sam has always been about throwing vast numbers of semi-mindless hordes at you, and the sheer number of them meshes well with the types of enemies on offer."

That being said, Croteam does a great job of mixing things up. Though combat takes place in wide open areas, as is the Serious Sam tradition, the various enemies and their placements feel well thought-out. This extends to the side objectives as well. Some of them have unique little stories, which can be as simple as signing a soldier’s gun or shutting down a portal machine, but they can also provide new weapons like Black Hole Grenades, unique gadgets (including one that bestows Bullet Time), new weapons like the Assault Rifle and Tactical Nuke, and even attachments.

Even if you choose to ignore the side objectives, there’s still plenty to like about the core gun play. Serious Sam has always been about throwing vast numbers of semi-mindless hordes at you, and the sheer number of them meshes well with the types of enemies on offer. The freakish Processed may be easy to dispose of from afar but throw in some charging Kleer, various Gnaar, a Werebull or three, and some Beheaded Kamikaze, and suddenly you’re running, circle-strafing, jumping, and quickly switching between weapons.

Some encounters might see you taking down Octanian Snipers or Arachnoids from a safe distance while others introduce ignited Space Mummies that throw fireballs. Even the boss fights are pretty well done, adding a few wrinkles on top of the traditional “shoot it in the face and/or weak point till its dead” mechanic. It also doesn’t hurt that despite predominantly taking place in and around Rome, there are all kinds of interesting vistas to explore, including the cityscape, coliseums, ruins and a lava-ridden landscape.

Weapons feel appropriately powerful and responsive, whether it’s the pump-action shotgun or grenade launcher. The attachments also feel great, like the shotgun’s grenade launcher or the grenade launcher’s cluster bomb. It all makes you feel like a bad-ass while still creating an air of danger thanks to the sheer number of swarming enemies. Not every new mechanic feels like an instant win though. There are now Melee Finishers a la DOOM and they can be upgraded to restore health or take down bigger enemies. The problem is that they can only be initiated from the enemy’s front. Dodged a Processed and want to execute a Finisher from behind? You can’t. In fact, you have to be perfectly in front of it for a Finisher.

"While it won’t dethrone the likes of DOOM Eternal or even Metro Exodus in terms of sheer fidelity and detail, it’s still a good looking game."

This becomes an even bigger issue when dealing with foes like the Kleer since the window to finish them is small. Sam isn’t impervious during the actual Finisher animation either so having to attack perfectly from the front is an additional detriment in many cases. This same issue plagues the new ability to ride Werebulls. Once the skill is unlocked, simply hit E to mount a Werebull…at least in theory. You have to do it from the front, which is a tall task when it’s charging you down for massive damage. Even backed into corner and literally jumping on a Werebull didn’t offer the prompt to ride it.

The other skills are fairly straightforward, from faster reload speed and dual-wielding weapons to using sign posts and other objects as melee weapons. Hunting down Artifacts of Might allocates skill points with each skill only requiring one point. You’re free to mix and match, and reassigning skills can be done freely at any time.

In terms of presentation, Serious Sam 4 is good overall, barring some issues here and there. Rome looks aesthetically pleasing, while all of the aliens are sharper and more suitably menacing than ever. The attention to detail is also well done, whether you’re traipsing through ruins or wandering through forests. Of course, you sometimes have to stop and admire the sheer number of enemies running, screaming and galloping towards you. While it won’t dethrone the likes of DOOM Eternal or even Metro Exodus in terms of sheer fidelity and detail, it’s still a good looking game.

Sound quality is a slight notch below the visuals, especially when it comes to some enemy sounds (which sound old-school by default), but it’s still executed well overall. The voice-acting is decent, which helps when Sam is throwing out a litany of crab puns. The music isn’t too varied but has some good pieces – like the heavy metal track that plays while battling a Witch-Bride for the first time. Other tracks are good at setting the atmosphere while more fast-paced tunes will fade in when the action heats up.

"Overall, Serious Sam 4 is no masterpiece but its combination of blockbuster movie action with non-stop shooting action is still pretty fun."

In the Settings menu, there are options for anti-aliasing and resolution but you can’t really fiddle with texture quality, foliage density or some other finer details. Instead, there’s an option to set CPU Usage and GPU Usage from Lowest to Ultra while also choosing a target framerate. It took some time to settle on a decent setting, which – given my setup of an Intel Core i5-4400 at 3.10 GHz, 8 GB of RAM and a GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB VRAM – consisted of Medium settings at 900p resolution. It wasn’t perfect, which makes sense when looking at the system requirements, but it offered some nice performance.

Unfortunately, there are a number of different bugs and glitches, from oddly fluctuating textures in cutscenes (which, by the way, have some strangely lifeless eyes on the character models) to subtitles and entire lines of dialogue cutting out. Another issue saw the music following a major battle abruptly stopping instead of fading out. Audio issues didn’t occur that frequently and there weren’t any crashes or major performance issues. The AI was a bit iffy though with enemies sometimes running into walls or, more rarely, ignoring my presence after killing their friends. These will likely be addressed pretty quickly and while not heavily dragging down the experience, they do dull its sheen a bit.

Overall, Serious Sam 4 is no masterpiece but its combination of blockbuster movie action with non-stop shooting action is still pretty fun. Even if the story is generally forgettable or the mission design feels one-note, Croteam has managed a seriously impressive revival for its cult classic shooter.

This game was reviewed on PC.

The main appeal to the Serious Sam franchise has always been its chaotic action of mowing down tons and tons of enemies. The latest entry in the series, Serious Sam 4, is no different and looks to be giving you exactly what you’d expect. But Sam will be part of a story, too, and it seems it’s going for something specific.

Speaking with PC Gamer, writer Jonas Kyratzes spoke in depth about the game’s story. There he described it as something of a B-movie, but also one that was sincere. He said the team aimed to create an overall positive human story that goes from silly to serious with more personal stakes than previous titles. You can see a bit of that tone in the latest trailer that highlighted the game’s story through here.

“It’s not exactly that narrative is more important in Serious Sam 4,” Kyratzes said. “It’s not a game that is structured differently than previous Sam games. It’s not that we tried to take a Sam game and then make a narrative Sam game out of it, because that would be weird. It’s more that it was an attempt to—without trying to disparage the previous games in any way—to do it better.

“It was an experience that needed characters, a villain, a sense of events happening in the world. The thing was just to try to do it well. It’s still a game that’s primarily an action game, it still plays like any classic Sam game, it’s just an attempt to also do the sort of B-movie kind of story that it does, but to do it well, to do it in an entertaining, clever, and hopefully charming sort of way.

“This is more personal. The whole game is more personal. You’ve got your friends there, the stakes are more personal—its the whole Earth being destroyed obviously, but also the people you care about. You see Sam actually joking around with people, and he’s still very recognizably Serious Sam, but he has actual friendships, he has people he cares about.

“This is a completely sincere take. It’s silly, it’s goofy in places, it’s serious in places too. It has moments of proper humanity, between the characters but also between what Sam stands for and what the villain stands for.”

Serious Sam 4 will launch on PC and Google Stadia on September 24th. You can check out the requirements for the PC version through here. There are console versions of the game slated for some time in 2021.

Serious Sam 4, much like the series as a whole, is all about killing a lot of aliens. And boy, do we mean a lot. The game has seen a few delays, but is set to come out later this month. While the main draw is the absurd amount of enemies you’ll be blasting through, there is a story here. A new trailer highlights that with the actually serious part (kind of, sort of) of Serious Sam.

You can check out the trailer below. It’s an interesting contrast as it begins with something of a sober tone until the main character shows up, clearly not belonging with the rest of the cast in how he talks or looks. I imagine that is part of the charm, though, and to the trailer’s credit, it sticks with the gag until the very end.

Serious Sam 4 is set to launch September 24th for both PC and Google Stadia. You can see the requirements for the PC version through here. The game will also come to consoles at some point in 2021.

It’s time once again to dive into the multiple monster action with the first person shooter, Serious Sam 4. The game has seen a few delays, but is now slated to hit later this month. The franchise has always been known for its very crowded nature as Sam must shoot through legions of aliens. The fourth installment is no different, and it looks like you’ll need a pretty hefty piece of equipment to get the full benefits.

The game’s Steam page has now been updated with requirements. The minimum is 8GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 780/970/1050 or an AMD Radeon 7950/280/470. While those are pretty low, it’s worth noting those are for playing the game in 720p at 30 FPS. The recommended is a pretty big jump with 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 1080/2060 or AMD Radeon Vega64/5700.

Serious Sam 4 is set to launch on PC and Google Stadia September 24th. The game is also set to hit consoles, but has been pushed back to an undetermined time in 2021.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor: 4-core CPU @ 2.5 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: nVidia GeForce 780/970/1050 or AMD Radeon 7950/280/470 (3 GB VRAM)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 40 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Requirements are based on 720p rendering resolution at 30 FPS

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (1909)
• Processor: 8-core CPU @ 3.3 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: nVidia GeForce 1080/2060 or AMD Radeon Vega64/5700 (8 GB VRAM)
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 40 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Recommended APIs include DX12 and Vulkan.