Serious Sam 4 reignites the classic FPS series in a high-powered prequel to Serious Sam 3: BFE, loaded with an explosive arsenal, intergalactic carnage, and perfectly timed one-liners. With humanity under siege in an invasion of Earth, lead the resistance as Sam ‘Serious’ Stone when Serious Sam 4 arrives for purchase on the Stadia store on September 24.
We caught up with Davor Hunski at Croteam to get the scoop on what to expect when Serious Sam 4 arrives on Stadia.
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Hey! Can you introduce yourself and Croteam?
Sure thing - I’m Davor Hunski, Chief Creative Officer at Croteam. Croteam is a veteran indie studio from Croatia. We have started in the proverbial garage (actually, it was a small studio apartment with no AC) more than 27 years ago, and we've been going strong ever since. For the most part, we are known as the authors of the hectic over-the-top first-person shooter series Serious Sam and the much calmer and relaxing award-winning puzzle game The Talos Principle.
What about Stadia makes you excited to bring Serious Sam 4 to players?
We aren't just a game-dev company. We like to think of ourselves as a tech company as well. After all, we have been developing our own game engine technology from the very beginning. We always love to explore new technologies, and just like we got excited when we first saw VR, we got excited when we first started thinking about developing a game for a streaming platform like Stadia. Stadia changes the way we play games. You power on your TV or start up your browser, pick up a controller, and play. No downloads, no updates, no fuss. It's simple, just like our take on the action-shooter genre. Serious Sam and Stadia are a perfect fit when you look at it that way.
For both experienced fans of the series as well as for new players, what should we expect to see in terms of the story and gameplay?
In short, a lot! For one, this time around, we have a pair of excellent writers who have penned a story worthy of an action blockbuster. This is a long-overdue gift to those fans who have always been interested in the Serious Sam lore. With that said, Serious Sam 4 is still the same experience you'd expect it to be. It's not a story-driven game. It's absolutely gameplay driven, and that's where it shines.
We didn't want to reinvent the wheel, so the gameplay will be recognizable from the moment you jump in. Serious Sam 4 is all about dancing with the enemies and finding the right weapon for the job in any given situation. It's still about fighting an unimaginable number of monsters and enjoying the chaos.
How big is Serious Sam 4 compared to its predecessors?
Everything in Serious Sam 4 is bigger than it ever was. The levels are bigger, the hordes are bigger, and the bosses are bigger. We have taken the Serious Sam formula and cranked it up to 11.
That’s hype. Is there an exciting moment from the game that you can tease for us?
There are many, and they start happening on the streets of Rome, right at the beginning. Players can expect to wreak havoc and dispose of numerous monsters throughout the game while using some of the series' craziest weapons — like a giant pirate cannon, a rocket-propelled chainsaw, or a rocket launcher which shoots homing missiles. Sam will be able to dual-wield weapons this time, so you can grab a rocket launcher in one hand and an auto-shotgun in the other, and destroy everything around you. You'll ride a heavily modified popemobile, shoot at thousands of enemies, and use special gadgets like the mini-nuke or time-warp. Excitement will never end; we can promise that much.
Are there any new features that you are excited to bring to the franchise?
The weapon upgrade system. It takes the fighting to the next level. We're not talking about an elaborate upgrades system with crafting and whatnot. Instead, we have opted for a simple design that allows the players to add extra depth to the combat by unlocking alternate fire modes. For example, with an attachment, you can upgrade your traditional laser weapon with a powerful beam that pierces through anything you shoot at and shreds it to pieces.
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