Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 306 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 222 out of 306
  2. Mixed: 62 out of 306
  3. Negative: 22 out of 306
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  1. GordonF
    Jan 7, 2010
    7
    it's exactly the same as the original, the graphics are somewhat up to date, though it's apparent that aspects like lighting and environmental textures haven't changed. I was expecting the graphical scalability to be over the top - the kind that would make use of Crossfire or SLI setups since that's the selling point in this release but no, even the regular graphics it's exactly the same as the original, the graphics are somewhat up to date, though it's apparent that aspects like lighting and environmental textures haven't changed. I was expecting the graphical scalability to be over the top - the kind that would make use of Crossfire or SLI setups since that's the selling point in this release but no, even the regular graphics options need more choices. The biggest difference in this game is the new visuals for the armies of Mental, and the weapon models, but that's about it, Sam Stone's voice overs are a copy and paste from the original, doubt the bit rate even changed. Like the original it will get repetitive and humdrum in one long play, it truly is fun in coop, but that too will get repetitive after an hour or so. Worth it for the price tag though.… Expand
  2. Dalek
    Jan 27, 2010
    7
    Disappointment. I have never played Serious Sam before and I guess the worst thing about it is the sounds. Now I know that its just Serious sam with a few more secrets and better graphics but come on they could had done more. MAJOR lack of maps, although they are VERY long, but the thing is the atmosphere needs to change, it's just sun and inside egypt temples. Fun game, physics are Disappointment. I have never played Serious Sam before and I guess the worst thing about it is the sounds. Now I know that its just Serious sam with a few more secrets and better graphics but come on they could had done more. MAJOR lack of maps, although they are VERY long, but the thing is the atmosphere needs to change, it's just sun and inside egypt temples. Fun game, physics are nice, shiny detail.… Expand
  3. murut87
    Jan 20, 2012
    7
    Yes,its a little bit disappointing that the game still use the old thing but they improve the graphics,making it more GORE-FEST! Hell yeah....that was fun.
  4. grandpajoe6191
    Dec 10, 2011
    6
    I remember playing a demo version of this game; So far, my memory told me "Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter" was a decent game. The game was like a Duke Nukem styled game where it tries to apprehend the player with weird **** and overpowering guns. Of course it's better than Duke Nukem, but it's really, REALLY hard to beat. Not only that; the game is painfully long with repetitiveI remember playing a demo version of this game; So far, my memory told me "Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter" was a decent game. The game was like a Duke Nukem styled game where it tries to apprehend the player with weird **** and overpowering guns. Of course it's better than Duke Nukem, but it's really, REALLY hard to beat. Not only that; the game is painfully long with repetitive gameplay, which will drop your eyes down to some other game. Overall I would advise you to play the demo; a good, enjoyable 30 minutes and you'll totally forget the game. Trust me.… Expand
  5. PrincessRose
    Jun 5, 2015
    6
    It's quite a fun game, got in the complete pack when it was 90% off. Couldn't stand playing the classic as it looks too ugly. Whereas the HD version is tolerable in how it looks.

    I like that it's full on fps with plenty of hordes of enemies to kill. I dislike enemy placement way too many are put in a small space or coridor making it hard to avoid attacks at times. Game is way too    It's quite a fun game, got in the complete pack when it was 90% off. Couldn't stand playing the classic as it looks too ugly. Whereas the HD version is tolerable in how it looks.

    I like that it's full on fps with plenty of hordes of enemies to kill.

    I dislike enemy placement way too many are put in a small space or coridor making it hard to avoid attacks at times.

    Game is way too short, my first play through only took 8 hours to get through all the levels and then kill the final boss.

    Would not recommend buying this game as it's too short. 8 hours of one playthrough is just a day, to complete, not even a weekend. Don't bother with this game if you want a good single player game, I can see you'd get more playability out of this if you do multiplayer.    … Expand
  6. Izoeros
    Jun 11, 2022
    6
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  7. Collin
    Jan 9, 2010
    7
    It's very fun and enjoyable to many but also takes some customers away cause of its extreme gore.
  8. fartheststar
    Apr 25, 2014
    5
    I'm just rating this as a 5 because it's a pretty average game. Not terrible, but not much to recommend it over anything else in your backlog either. I didn't finish the game, but got much of the way through before I just decided I wanted to move on to something else. The good: I thought it had some humorous moments - like when Sam yells at the yelling bombhead guys. Some of the monstersI'm just rating this as a 5 because it's a pretty average game. Not terrible, but not much to recommend it over anything else in your backlog either. I didn't finish the game, but got much of the way through before I just decided I wanted to move on to something else. The good: I thought it had some humorous moments - like when Sam yells at the yelling bombhead guys. Some of the monsters are Huge and it's pretty cool too. The bad: This is a game whose core concept is tripwires that trigger monsters to teleport in around you, often directly behind you. The end result is there's not much point in how you strategically approach an area because even if you clear an area behind you, 3 seconds later you're going to trigger more baddies to teleport in behind you. This is the repeated dynamic of the game. Almost to the point that when you shoot something in front of you your best move is to spin 180 degrees and shoot because something probably coming from your 6 that was clear a moment before. I found this tiresome and not particularly fun.

    Overall, it's not terrible, but not anything special either. My rec: Consider playing something else in your backlog instead. If you really want some frantic running and shooting with no rhyme or reason to where the monsters are coming from - you might like this more.    … Expand
  9. dracoblues
    Dec 29, 2011
    7
    A review on this game would be divided in 2 way's to look at it. If you already played the previous Serious Sam version, you will notice that the ONLY thing that changed is graphic, so it could be good for some and very bad for others. If you haven't played the previous Serious Sam then the way to look at it is a fresh fun great game, with giant monsters and great difficulty levels if youA review on this game would be divided in 2 way's to look at it. If you already played the previous Serious Sam version, you will notice that the ONLY thing that changed is graphic, so it could be good for some and very bad for others. If you haven't played the previous Serious Sam then the way to look at it is a fresh fun great game, with giant monsters and great difficulty levels if you are playing in the harder options.… Expand
  10. hansen1981
    Sep 21, 2013
    6
    Standart Seiou Sam with HD resolution and bigger textures. I complete this game at 4 hours. All other components (levels, music, effects) full completely identical with original game. For nostalgia ok. For searching new gameplay features (or something new) no.
  11. ritardedartkid
    Jul 20, 2013
    6
    Not really a whole lot to do except shoot things for 4 hours. There's no real plot and it's basically just hordes of enemies over and over and over again. Mildly entertaining, at best.
  12. SatAnNorris
    Aug 10, 2020
    7
    Great game and the HD version runs well on modern hardware. You can run through all maps in four hours or try to find all secrets, including two hidden levels. Works great with Steam, so you can invite a friend directly through the Steam interface.

    Instead of buying the First Encounter, I'd suggest getting Second Encounter directly, because it includes the Egyptian levels from First    Great game and the HD version runs well on modern hardware. You can run through all maps in four hours or try to find all secrets, including two hidden levels. Works great with Steam, so you can invite a friend directly through the Steam interface.

    Instead of buying the First Encounter, I'd suggest getting Second Encounter directly, because it includes the Egyptian levels from First Encounter as well as additional locations.    … Expand
  13. eZfoRjK
    May 24, 2021
    6
    HD? Realy? Where? Why? Drive, fun, waves of monsters, that's cool. But the graphics ... It could have been done much better. It is noticeable that the game spent a minimum of time and resources for development. However, of course, I plunged into this game with interest, because exactly at that moment when the fight begins, you absolutely do not notice the defects, as if you are playingHD? Realy? Where? Why? Drive, fun, waves of monsters, that's cool. But the graphics ... It could have been done much better. It is noticeable that the game spent a minimum of time and resources for development. However, of course, I plunged into this game with interest, because exactly at that moment when the fight begins, you absolutely do not notice the defects, as if you are playing the classics, But this is not a classic. Just a remake for just a game, but definitely not HD.… Expand
  14. IdleSpace
    Sep 25, 2022
    7
    Очень неплохой олдскульный шутер на пару вечеров, расслабиться на пару вечеров - самое то (особенно в компании друзей).
    Играл в версию fusion - проблем с производительностью не нашел (в отличии от ХД версии).
  15. Menaga
    Aug 14, 2022
    5
    Recommended
    11.4 hrs at review time
    Hard difficulty
    Gameplay 5/10
    Music and sound 7/10
    Screenplay 4/10
    Technical 6/10
  16. Miz_Gamer
    Dec 5, 2022
    7
    An ordinary shooter, suitable if you want to relax and just shoot and look at the beauty of Egypt

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
88
#88 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 35
  3. Negative: 1 out of 35
  1. 3DJuegos
    63
    As long as you aren’t expecting anything revolutionary, Serious Sam HD will deliver its classic action gameplay with a graphic boost. Just for fans of brainless shooters.
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  2. Eurogamer
    70
    As it is, for all the added beauty and inherited class, I don't think there's enough freshness or sophistication here for that to happen.
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  3. VideoGamer
    70
    What needs to be remembered is that this isn't a brand new Serious Sam game, but the original in new clothes. As such it feels a little dated compared with modern releases. It's undoubtedly fun and relentless in its strive for all-out action, but with a recommended retail price of £18, it feels a bit light.
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