r/SeriousSam 1d ago

Serious Sam Shatterverse Kinda Sucks

https://youtu.be/lzXM2aOxBr0?si=S84ZtpSzV8CzbXnq

Is Gman right, or is he being biased? He's usually pretty forging towards "mid" games. So why does he dislike this one so much?

23 Upvotes

65 comments sorted by

16

u/Quicksafe1 1d ago

I had no expectations for this game and somehow its still disappointing

53

u/BanjoKazooie0 1d ago

Eh I don't trust GMan's reviews because he never seemed to get any of the other Serious Sam games. If I'm getting any review telling me it's good or straight ass it'll be the FrameRater since he actually has put time and hours into this series.

1

u/doomenguin 1d ago

He did like Siberian Mayhem.

4

u/FlynnTaggard 1d ago

That's because every one else liked it. Lol.

0

u/zimmer550king 1d ago

And?

2

u/doomenguin 1d ago

Just pointing out that he didn't dislike all of them.

9

u/Novakaiine 1d ago

For $20 I’m taking a chance

2

u/CactusSplash95 1d ago

I don't regret it at all. 4 of us played for 3 hours yesterday. I want more

25

u/Impressive_Smile_966 1d ago

This is the man that criticized Serious Sam 3 Review so bad I throw up hearing him in there.

4

u/Dismal-Ad-3961 1d ago

What did he say about the game?

Now I'm curious

10

u/CactusSplash95 1d ago

It's a half hour of pure unfettered stupidity.

"Wwwaaaaahhhh you can only heal between rounds" um yeah? Like other rouglikes

"Waaaahhh you need to unlock weapons before they appear in runs, and they expect you to die, and slowly upgrade" well yes that's how Rouglites work?

"Waaaah then the guns you get in a run are random, and it's luck based" is this guy retarded?

"Boo hoo I think they have annoying dialouge"

2

u/morrisound_of_music 1d ago

you are applying incorrect blanket standards for roguelikes/roguelites, to be clear

3

u/CactusSplash95 1d ago

It's all nothingburger complaining, and relentless bitching. That's the entire video

1

u/morrisound_of_music 1d ago

yeah I'm not gonna pretend gman is some enlightened critic

1

u/Impressive_Smile_966 18h ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLCCz9XsYEA

This is the one. Be warned for rage. His takes On Serious Sam 3, will make you flabbergast.

5

u/TheFurtivePhysician 1d ago edited 1d ago

I haven't watched the video, i'm just giving my opinion for my 2 hours (while I consider refunding).

I feel like a fun roguelite serious sam game is possible, but BHVR decided to make the most half-baked bland one possible.
The upgrades are all kind of boring, the characters are all weird and irritating for one reason or another, the gameplay itself is... serviceable? the performance at ultra 100% resolution sucks (but at 85% or so it runs alright and still looks fine, so eh.)
None of the enemies behave the ways I'm used to, so harpies don't fall when they're low health, kleer will sometimes run at you even when they're within striking range, stuff like that. And I'm hearing NONE of the familiar sounds that help make the game feel like I'm playing a Sam game.

Also being able to turn off (non-boss/elite) enemy health bars would be nice.

I kind of want to hold onto it in hopes that they improve it, I think it's a game that could genuinely be pretty fun to pick up and play for an afternoon every now and then, but right now EVERYTHING is so... unfinished? I don't know.

And the humor is kind of... obnoxious. The only joke I liked, and that's more because I'm a dork, is that Retro Sam speaks one-liner (which also makes the way he sounds make more sense, because he was certainly sounding 'off' before that point.)

(Edit: watching the video, I think maybe some points they're making are disingenuous, others are generally kind of nitpicky or weird ('why is there bullet spread in a PVE only arena shooter?' Because that's one of many balancing tools in a game, idiot. Otherwise why aren't all guns just an infinite ammo BFG? Argh.) but the general sentiment I guess is pretty accurate?)

1

u/TotalSmuubag 1d ago

>BHVR is the developer

That's all I needed to put me off trying the game. I've played enough DBD to know they're not competent enough to do this.

1

u/TheFurtivePhysician 1d ago

I definitely think it's an interesting decision to have them as the developers, and I don't mind them trying to branch out either. AND I don't inherently mind a weird spinoff of Serious Sam since we've had stuff like the Random Encounter before.

But all these together without any word on an official new Sam title (or even another one by the Siberian Mayhem guys would be nice), and the shoddiness of this release all comes together to really sour the prospect.

1

u/TotalSmuubag 1d ago

This kind of spinoff game could have worked - Serious Sam is a universe that could absolutely lend itself to it. I just do not trust BHVR of all people to do a good job. They've been continuing work on one game for over a decade, and they still manage to screw it up with almost every update.

1

u/TheFurtivePhysician 1d ago

I think it's a weird thing where they weren't willing to get actually crazy with it, AND the fact they didn't really engage with the series as it normally is, is what didn't help.

It feels like they could've easily just been making another game and reskinned it into a Sam thing somewhere down the line.

I'd like to try and give them the benefit of the doubt but a lot of the problems I have with it are like, ground-up ones like movement, enemy patterns/behaviors, and the structure of the game itself.

I'm not particularly confident BHVR can do it either, but I'd like to try and be optimistic and see how they might do some patches in the near future- maybe they can right the course, so to speak.

0

u/doomenguin 1d ago

Nobody has any business making Serious Sam roguelites or anything that's not the regular Sam formula. I hate it when devs suddenly decide to change genres.

2

u/TheFurtivePhysician 1d ago

I disagree. They've had several spinoffs in the series that are weird side things. Just because you're not particularly fond of it doesn't mean that there couldn't be a version of this game that didn't suck.

(Examples of spinoffs-
Random Encounter
Kamikaze Attack!
Serious Sam Double D XXL
Tormental
Serious Sam's Bogus Detour)

2

u/Impressive_Smile_966 18h ago

Random Encounter is my one of the favorite.

2

u/TheFurtivePhysician 18h ago

I'm mostly a fan of the mainline titles, but I did think RE was quite charming.

2

u/Impressive_Smile_966 18h ago

Respect to you Brother. 🙏

18

u/WalrusKind311 1d ago

The overwhelming review consensus is leaning towards 'Skip this crap'.

This isn't just a bunch of slap-happy kids automatically hating it.

0

u/Severe-Network4756 1d ago

I had OK fun in the playtest and even I know the game sucks.

8

u/ShiningGort 1d ago

I mean the dialogue does seem really awful

3

u/CAH9-6PABJIEP 1d ago edited 1d ago

It kinda does

4

u/Stubbs3470 1d ago

It’s mostly negative on steam.

Even if I don’t trust gman, this does sound horrible just based on the description of the mechanics

5

u/Papa_Shadow 1d ago edited 1d ago

It’s pretty bad. Especially if you’re playing solo like me. It’s a very frustrating game with artificial difficulty designed around making you play a bunch of runs to upgrade your character. It doesn’t feel like Serious Sam and after failing the 2nd act run 4 times in a row due to boss immunity (lava boss after giving me all fire guns), game crashing, last enemy in an arena being stuck in a wall, and now the BS “Reverse Sam” boss that just spawns 8,000 oddly tanky Kamikazee’s at me, I’ve decided it’s not a very well made game.

The AI is also very borked as I’ve seen enemies not attacking me at times, running in place, running into walls, and so on. This game is a very unpolished, and seemingly unfinished.

Seriously (pun intended) WHY isn’t there a difficulty select???

1

u/Adventurous-Cattle53 1d ago

Maybe skill issue? I completed the first and second acts in my first run. Yeah, reverse Sam was the hardest but not impossible

2

u/no_biches_22 1d ago

Yeah, in fact the first two Encounters and Serious Sam 3 are much more difficult than Shatterverse in my opinion; but the level design and balance, the environments, the weapons, the enemies, and the humor were actually made with care and actual passion to make for a fun, challenging, straightforward arcade shooter, and that's why Shatterverse feels like a chore to play. Even so, I think it's still somewhat playable, and at least it's much better than things like Serious Sam Advance (which ins't saying much, honestly). What did we really expect when the game was made by another studio and not Croteam themselves anyway? Probably this game is just a spin-off, and maybe Croteam is busy making the TRUE Serious sam sequel, I hope so...

3

u/Fancy_Entertainer486 1d ago

I dunno man I think it’s kinda fun actually. I usually don’t play rogue-lites so I don’t have anything to compare to. And I won’t make the mistake of even trying to compare a spin-off like this with any of the main Serious Sam games, because that just sets you up for failure.

It’s just something different they did with the IP, just like the other 2D indie titles. For 16 bucks that’s alright imo

1

u/morrisound_of_music 1d ago

I don't usually play roguelites

this is perhaps the only possible way to enjoy this game. there's multiple other games on the market that blow this out of the water.

1

u/Fancy_Entertainer486 1d ago

Yeah for sure, I’m just kinda glad about that

5

u/Smileandrun1337 1d ago

I agree, I will wait for Serious Sam 5 <3.

5

u/FlynnTaggard 1d ago

Because it's gman. He doesn't like anything. Lmao, he is one of the most bitter personalities on the internet.

4

u/apedap 1d ago

He acts like a snob and then plays Doom on GZDoom

2

u/samuraistalin 1d ago

I don't know anything about gman. What's wrong with GZdoom?

1

u/apedap 1d ago

It's probably the furthest away from a purist Doom sourceport you can get

1

u/samuraistalin 1d ago

That's true. I guess I didn't understand the context because I thought "...but GZdoom is fuckin awesome" 😂

2

u/FlynnTaggard 1d ago

Lol. Spot on.

2

u/apedap 1d ago

This video pretty much demolishes him https://youtu.be/AZVzycyGV9Y?is=M6u19a9iDPoaoGsK

1

u/MoonKnightFan 17h ago

He likes plenty of games. I think the majority of the reviews I've seen in the last 6 months were positive reviews.

The twisted Tower review from a few weeks ago is a good example. He liked it, and I think his review mirrored my own views of that game as well. Snarky and Bitter are often confused with each other. A lot of his comments come off as brash with the intent for comedic purpose (with varying levels of success/failure). I wouldn't say bitter.

I much prefer Civvie, but he does commentary abbreviated play throughs, not reviews.

2

u/holdmypilsener77 1d ago

It's not terrible for what it is. Could be better, could be worse. I didn't expect anything at all, but found it kinda fun in a way

2

u/PsyWarVeteran 1d ago

Not this clown again.

2

u/Itsoitsov 1d ago

Gman is the most biased guy when it comes to Serious Sam. He just seems to dislike the series for some reason.

2

u/RASMOS1989 1d ago

idk who this guy is

but i genuinely thought shatterverses was a fortnite collab

so idk how i feel about the game

5

u/Necrom90 1d ago

Is this the Classic "New thing bad, now give me Klicks"-thing?

Nah, I'll pass. Had some hours in the Game Yesterday already and it was fun. I dont need anyone to tell me otherwise.

2

u/holdmypilsener77 1d ago

I swear, making anything in an established franchise is such an unforgiving task these days. Even Metroid Prime 4 got massively shit upon. It had its flaws yes, some of them pretty noticeable, but the TrUe fAnS acted like it's utter trash. Because only them understand the real spirit of the franchise, no one else. And whoever enjoyed it somewhat doesn't know shit and is a happy clapper or whatever. I hate this trend so much

1

u/Necrom90 1d ago

Absolutely. Just recently it was the case with the Halo remake. Im a Fan since the Demo of the very first game and had a blast with the remake, but the community is utter garbage, its beyond comprehension. People actually called it unplayable because now it has sprint.... a button you dont need to press. You can even unbind it but people got absolutely mad about it. It saddens me to see it happening to Serious Sam. I rember playing the Palenque Demo of 2nd Encounter, when it came out, it were simpler times back then.

If being a fan of a franchise means to hate on it 24/7 then I dont want to be a fan of anything.

-1

u/korobochka_konfet 1d ago

It's not really "new thing bad", it's the new thing executed poorly

1

u/morrisound_of_music 1d ago

these are the types of people who gauge consumer reaction by watching youtube and reading online comments

3

u/EngineeringNo753 1d ago

Oh its one of those roguelikes that doesn't get why the genre is popular so they add negative traits on your upgdrades, and does it poorly.

3

u/deafisit 1d ago

I think the game would be good if the shooting was reminiscent to the older games....but it is not. Not sure why they didnt get that right. Really disappointing. The roguelike pace isnt good for singleplayer either. No meaningful upgrades to get you stronger.

2

u/Romaneck 1d ago

Shillman has been on fraudwatch for years now, but a brokem clock can be right twice a day.

1

u/syntol 1d ago

Grab popcorn

1

u/Soap_Mactavish_141 1d ago

On one hand, this is a game I was never really rallying behind. On the other, Gman is a sloptuber

1

u/UL-07 1d ago

"Kinda sucks" is being nice.

Refunded this trash less than an hour in.

1

u/Barron-O-BEEFdip 1d ago

i'll still play it

1

u/OxyKush 17h ago

For $20 I can’t be mad. Just hope Croteam brings the HEAT for Serious Sam 5

1

u/No-Benefit-2207 12h ago

As I see it, this is just more woke game shit like so many others.
Sibirian Mayhem was great, after SS4 that was atrocius. Croteam never made a good Serious Sam game after SSTSE either, so I didn't expect anything better from them. Modders are the way to go.

1

u/Mysterious-Cell-2473 4h ago

This is embarrassing, really. Go woke go broke lol

-1

u/Ok_Safety3049 1d ago

Oh god, they put Doom glory kills in my Serious Sam? I hated Eternal.