CroTeam is finally getting ready to release a proper sequel, with a brand-new engine rebuilt from the ground up. The rep who showed us the game at E3 claimed that this engine could do anything the Half-Life 2 engine could, and that it had bells and whistles sticking out of places you don't even want to know about. We're not sure about that, but the graphics were indeed impressive, with 100 times the detail on the enemy models without giving an inch in its goal to fill the screen with dozens of them at a time. Particularly impressive was the "giant world" where Sam was the relative size of an ant, surrounded by grass blades tall as buildings and mushrooms the size of zeppelins. Here Sam would encounter many of the over game's over 45 enemies, including giant ants.
n And speaking of the giant ants, 2K Games promised that Sam would be able to ride them, along with other animals in the game. In fact, these mounts and other vehicles and turrets are one of the major additions to the game. Another important addition are non-player characters in each game world, which can offer Sam information or fight alongside him.
Most of all, though, CroTeam seems to have remembered what fans loved about Serious Sam and have set out to give it to them in spades. Most of the classic weapons are back, but with graphical overhauls (the cannon with its huge pressure meter was particularly neat). There are also new weapons, like a rapid-fire shotgun and a bizarre parrot -- yes, as in "bird" -- with a bomb chained to its foot. Apparently CroTeam adheres to the adage of, "If you love something, set it free and watch it blow the crap out of something," because setting the bird loose causes it to fly off and deposit its payload on the nearest enemy. All in all, Serious Sam 2 promises to be Serious Sam, but more. Make that MORE, because they've even brought co-op multiplayer back and plan on having 40 levels, which is bigger than Serious Sam and its standalone expansion pack put together. Look for it in fall 2005.
