Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 31
  2. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. Sam II's wild, random charm makes for a twisted Duke Nukem meets Alice in Wonderland sort of roller coaster ride-a perfect change of pace from the scads of grim 'n' gritty shooters steeped in WWII war zones and dystopian postapocalyptic futures. Just don't take it too seriously, OK?
  2. The mixture of zany antics and storyline coupled with an outrageous cast of characters makes Serious Sam 2 a must play for FPS fans.
  3. Every bit as fast and furious as the original, this game kicked my ass.
  4. Add in the co-op mode, and it comes down to the fact that if you've ever liked any first-person shooter, you should pick up Serious Sam II.
  5. I had almost forgotten how much fun I had playing the original Serious Sam, but it only took one level full of laughter and insane action to quickly remember why Sam is still the best FPS game in its class since the original Doom.
  6. A fun little game. Unfortunately, in the time that passed since the original game it has lost some its appeal. Either that or we expect more from a fully priced game.
  7. I've enjoyed Serious Sam 2 as much as I did the first release and its expansion. In some ways, it's better, I certainly laughed more at the corny humor and references to other 3D shooters ("I love collecting big guns," Sam quips on Planet Kleer. "It looks so … UNREAL.")
  8. Still, Sam nails exactly what it's aiming to do, which is to throw scores of enemies at you in some of the most frantic firefights you'll ever experience.
  9. Pelit (Finland)
    84
    Fun non-stop action. Sound effects are too tame and the weapons are not very original. Not very good as single player, but the co-op online game rocks. [Dec 2005]
  10. 82
    Fans of old school action games that focus exclusively on shooting down wave after wave of enemies will definitely find that this game delivers. Still, the endless fragfest that is Serious Sam II occasionally runs the risk of becoming monotonous.
  11. Serious Sam II is a handful. It may be more action than you bargained for. If you're not interested in the online mode then rent it first but be warned you may not finish it in one weekend.
  12. Like its predecessor, Serious Sam 2 is a fun and mindless romp, but the experience does get a little redundant.
  13. It’s not failing to reach dizzying heights of sophistication or refinement; it’s just going straight for the jugular and makes no excuses for doing that – so it can’t really be criticized for not being sophisticated or refined as a result.
  14. 80
    A game that aspires to be big, loud, obnoxious, and fun, and it succeeds. Much like the original, there’s virtually no depth here, but the focus on pure, unadulterated explosions is the perfect alternative to the heavy-handed, dramatic shooters we’ve seen lately.
  15. Game Informer
    78
    After a while, slaughtering endless waves of enemies gets a bit tiresome. Still, it's a fun way to let off a little steam, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. [Nov 2005, p.148]
  16. PC Gamer
    75
    It's not quite the Serious Sam that you've known and love, although there are plenty of great moments. [Holiday 2005, p.76]
  17. Unfortunately, while the game has heart, it just doesn't have the goods.
  18. Edge Magazine
    70
    Few other FPS titles can match the intensity of this nitrous-charged shooting gallery, but plenty of them offer the kind of less that feels like much, much more. [Nov 2005, p.104]
  19. 70
    It's essentially the same game in a prettier engine, mowing down waves and waves of enemies with the all-too-infrequent vehicle sequence or boss battle to break things up.
  20. It's hard not to find at least some love for a game which thinks (for example) it's a good idea to put a crocodile in a Croatian jersey, hide it in a level and provide a CROcodile secret bonus.
  21. If you require hollandaise with your FPS's, you'll be disappointed with its straightforward gameplay, but it's still an unpretentious delight in small doses, and it's replayable enough to stay on your hard drive for a little while.
  22. PC Format
    70
    Unfortunately, sheer numbers alone are just not enough to set this apart from the competition. [Nov 2005, p.90]
  23. 70
    There isn’t much to this game at all. Just grab a weapon and shoot stuff endlessly.
  24. A fun and frenzied shooting romp, but -- as a longtime fan of the franchise -- beneath my expectations.
  25. Serious Sam II has a lot of levels and a few good laughs, but its simple shooting action is less likely to get your adrenaline pumping as it is to make you go numb.
  26. Quite frankly it's an insult to have to pay 35 quid for something that starts getting irksome in under half a day and is only genuinely entertaining in 20-minute bursts. Mindlessly fun and manically intense it is, innovative and essential it seriously isn't. [PC Zone]
  27. Nothing but a serious disappointment... It just about manages to cover all the criteria but nothing feels as though Croteam have stretched the barrel – in many cases they feel surprisingly weaker then its predecessor.
  28. Admittedly, the assorted firepower offers little excitement, but the experience is convincingly upbeat thanks to the game’s droll sense of humour.
  29. games(TM)
    60
    It's to Croteam's credit that Serious Sam II manages to stay interesting for as long as it does, thanks to the weird enemy design and tight levels keeping the pace from slacking. [Dec 2005, p.112]
  30. The first Serious Sam was tongue-in-cheek but this sequel crosses the line into obnoxiousness.
  31. Computer Games Magazine
    50
    The problems with Sam have nothing to do with the bad guys; there's a lot of them, and they're all weird. [Jan 2006, p.42]
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 304 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 29 out of 304
  1. Jun 9, 2013
    0
    An insult to the original games. Slow, boring, unsatisfying. Can't belive this was made by the same studio.
    Lost all of the original flair
    An insult to the original games. Slow, boring, unsatisfying. Can't belive this was made by the same studio.
    Lost all of the original flair and in comparison the enemy hordes are tiny, unthreatening and well... cuddly.
    Full Review »
  2. Eon
    Jan 18, 2008
    10
    [Real score 92/100] It has some things that I think game industrys is seriously lacking, like creative level design and lots of humor. This [Real score 92/100] It has some things that I think game industrys is seriously lacking, like creative level design and lots of humor. This is game is so serious it kept me laughing or smiling throughout entire playthrough. Gameplay may seem monotonous, but who cares if you are having so much fun. It kept reminding me of Psychonauts with it's humor. Recommended for everyone that don't take games too seriously. Full Review »
  3. LukeK.
    Oct 20, 2005
    4
    Fun old time game, but thats just it its time for somethin new.