Serious Sam: The Random Encounter

 PC
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 40
  3. Negative: 12 out of 40

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  1. markwhitton
    Nov 20, 2013
    2
    Okay, this is officially an anti-recommendation… The Random Encounter was released to promote Serious Sam 3, fair enough… Unfortunately it’s truly awful… Serious Sam as an RPG should just not have been attempted! He doesn't suit the format; the game isn't fun and of course being a turn based RPG makes game-play rapidly slow, Serious Sam should not be seriously slow… This is a short game ofOkay, this is officially an anti-recommendation… The Random Encounter was released to promote Serious Sam 3, fair enough… Unfortunately it’s truly awful… Serious Sam as an RPG should just not have been attempted! He doesn't suit the format; the game isn't fun and of course being a turn based RPG makes game-play rapidly slow, Serious Sam should not be seriously slow… This is a short game of nine levels, it’s safe to say I didn't (or couldn't) attempt to complete this as it just didn't grab me in any way! People who enjoy RPG’s may perhaps enjoy this title; but it’s pretty much choose a gun pick a direction or distance and select “OK”.… Expand
  2. MbccompanyX
    Apr 4, 2019
    4
    Sorry excuse for a game, even after all those years is still riddles with random crashes and the dev hardly is present to help
  3. Shinigurai
    Dec 29, 2011
    3
    Interesting idea, disappointing result. I was ecstatic when I read that this game was "turn-based." I thought it would like a traditional turn-based RPG. No. You select weapons and point them downrange, then in real-time your characters shoot while enemies advance, leaving you to strafe up and down the screen to avoid incoming fire. As you strafe, your line of fire moves with you. ThisInteresting idea, disappointing result. I was ecstatic when I read that this game was "turn-based." I thought it would like a traditional turn-based RPG. No. You select weapons and point them downrange, then in real-time your characters shoot while enemies advance, leaving you to strafe up and down the screen to avoid incoming fire. As you strafe, your line of fire moves with you. This might be ok if you could time when your character fires, but between dodging incoming fire and trying to keep track of moving enemies there is simply more luck involved in this game than strategy.… Expand
  4. Nikkistix686
    Mar 17, 2012
    9
    I find the game really fun and amusing and a steal for it's price. The turn base isn't exactly what you would expect but I like the system anyways it's good for keeping players on their toes.
  5. Lanopo
    Jan 1, 2012
    10
    Pretty original title, defiantly deserves a higher rating than it got. Five bucks isn't alot, and I think that most of the reviewers did not take that into account, unless their annual salary makes them think five bucks a big deal.
  6. HarryWebbinger
    Feb 18, 2013
    10
    After Playing Serious Sam TRE for 20 minutes I must say that I love this game. It´s a must have for anybody!! I got it for less than 1 buck but its more worth than many games I payed 8 or 15 bucks .
    The game is funny timeless. But serious its Sam and not of the cheapest style
  7. aksu113
    Oct 28, 2011
    10
    This game reminds me of old final fantasy and this game is funny.this game is one big joke for serious sam.bosses are really bad for everyone.the game is also a good old-fashioned way and rpg players enjoy this game
  8. Nevermind
    Apr 28, 2012
    10
    Omg, what the heck is this? That was basically my first thought playing this game. But, that said, the game captures the Serious Sam spirit quite perfectly. Too perfectly , really, because it can be quite hard in the end. Original elements, random enemies, 8 bit retro look, it really is a wonder this got only such a low score, knowing how some reviews are made. Perhaps the colors were notOmg, what the heck is this? That was basically my first thought playing this game. But, that said, the game captures the Serious Sam spirit quite perfectly. Too perfectly , really, because it can be quite hard in the end. Original elements, random enemies, 8 bit retro look, it really is a wonder this got only such a low score, knowing how some reviews are made. Perhaps the colors were not bright enough, or maybe this is not a natural progression to the latest ukulele themed colorful block puzzle. Ok this is not the greatest game ever made, but if you ever find that game for $5 please let me know. I believe my expectations were met considering the price, and in that context this gets a good review considering the original bits and retro look, and the original 8 bit arcade music - oh, wait...… Expand
  9. Captain_Chaos
    Jun 22, 2016
    3
    A novel idea to turn Serious Sam into a SNES-style turn-based RPG is marred with game-breaking bugs and completely unbalanced difficulty. I couldn't get more then an hour or two into it before being completely unable to progress.
  10. slider1983
    Jul 25, 2020
    7
    With the battle against Mental thought to be finished Sam returns back to the present only to find that his actions in the past have done nothing to change the timeline. Sent this time into the future Sam has decided to assassinate Mental there. Gearing up to take on his forces Sam gets help this time from Gregory and White. Take control of all three heroes as they charge Mental’s forcesWith the battle against Mental thought to be finished Sam returns back to the present only to find that his actions in the past have done nothing to change the timeline. Sent this time into the future Sam has decided to assassinate Mental there. Gearing up to take on his forces Sam gets help this time from Gregory and White. Take control of all three heroes as they charge Mental’s forces and have a seriously good time while they’re at it!

    Like any major title released today if there’s one constant in the world of gaming is a promotional tie-in. Sometimes it’s a competition, sometimes it’s a comic book or a vinyl soundtrack (why vinyl and not CD???) but one thing that is certain is that if an eagerly awaited game is coming out expect some kind of tie-in. Video game tie-ins, or at least indie game tie-ins to big release games however is unusual. When Croteam’s Serious Sam 3: BFE (2011) was in the process of being released indie company Vlambeer, known for its tiny pixel style 2D games, got in on the action with turn based RPG/shooter Serious Sam: The Random Encounter (2011). The game contains three worlds with three stages per world. You make your way across the map until you hit a random battle. You take on the bad guys will all your favourite weapons from the mainline games here plus you can collect items (some new) along the way like the old favourites Serious Bomb as well as Serious Damage. The game essentially works with a timer where you control the action of moving up and down firing at enemies. When the timer stops the game freezes and allows you to pick your next weapon, item or strategy for all player characters on screen. Once this is done the timer starts up again and so repeat/rinse till death or completion. Poor Sam and his friends have to do all this running backwards and we all know by now how much he hates doing that right? At least you can move your characters out of harm’s way during active gameplay. There’s not much more going on in gameplay apart from all that. Make no mistake this is a short game. An endless mode is made available upon completion but this is artificially extending the length. Critics were keen to see the game length as a major issue but for the price point I don’t feel that criticism is justified. My concern is more a couple of bugs which years after release the developers still have yet to iron out like the game crashing sometimes at the game over screen or a bizarre bug that doesn’t allow you to restart a save file. The game is fine for a budget title. The graphics are cute and the music is synth awesome.

    The Random Encounter is a seriously short game taking no more than two hours to complete. The endless mode of course extending the gameplay time helps but for those who complained about the length the fair price and it being a promotional tie-in mean one shouldn’t expect depth. For the price it makes an alright purchase although I wish those bugs were sorted out. In all it’s not a bad game at all.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Mar 22, 2012
    60
    Interesting retro action with a satirical touch is damaged by rapidly emerging stereotypical playability. [March 2012]
  2. Gaming Nexus
    Dec 7, 2011
    58
    While the game itself isn't bad so to speak, it does get repetitive kind of quickly. It's an interesting concept, and I am a huge fan of 16-bit games, especially RPGs, but the short length of the game and the repetitiveness of the battles is kind of a let down for me.
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  3. Eurogamer
    Nov 17, 2011
    80
    The Random Encounter makes for a short game, but an extremely enjoyable one, the two-hour campaign providing you with plenty of hectic victories and glorious defeats. It also leaves you with an Endless Mode, some lovely pixelated memories, and that warm feeling that only comes from seeing something very new built from ideas that are very, very old.
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