Serious Sam Classics: Revolution Review Summary

Remastered graphics, fixes, split-screen support, and the Bright Island campaign are welcome, but co-op barely works, crashes are frequent, and multiplayer is nearly dead.

Remastered graphics and fixes: Graphics are well remastered for modern monitors and hardware, with improved framerate and graphical options. Many bugs have also been fixed.

Split-screen multiplayer support: Online multiplayer supports split screen for 2-4 players, including 4-way split-screen on one computer. This feature is appreciated by players.

Bright Island new campaign: Bright Island is a completely new campaign with around 7 levels and 2 secret levels, serving as a fitting bonus. It is worth playing and blends seamlessly into the experience.

Overall positive gameplay experience: The game is described as good, awesome, and very cool, with very good gameplay. Many players had fun with it and consider it a great deal.

Large and varied arsenal: The game features a huge arsenal with 17 different weapons, providing lots of guns to choose from. This adds to the gameplay variety.

Multiplayer population is near dead: Users report that multiplayer servers are mostly empty, making it difficult to find matches or populate games. Some note it is almost completely dead with only a few servers still active.

Co-op mode barely functional: Players describe co-op as tough, barely working, or almost impossible to play. There are also reports of it breaking down entirely during the finale.

Early access game unfinished: Reviewers point out that the game is in Early Access, meaning it is unfinished and may not be completed. Some also note it is still in beta with no new updates.

Multiplayer desync is rampant: Players frequently lose synchronization immediately upon joining servers, causing allies to appear invisible or shoot walls. The issue often requires a server reload to fix and makes multiplayer effectively unplayable.

Graphics considered outdated: The visuals are described as bad and not up to modern standards. Many feel the HD version shows little improvement over the original.

Compilation of first two Serious Sam games: This package combines Serious Sam: The First Encounter and The Second Encounter into a single unified release. It includes the classic versions of both games, with enhancements and improvements.

Co-op and versus multiplayer support: The game includes both online and local co-op, as well as versus modes. Split-screen is supported for up to four players, with adjustable settings, and multiplayer can be played over LAN or online with dedicated servers.

Steam Workshop integration: The game features Steam Workshop support, allowing players to download and share custom maps, campaigns, mods, skins, sounds, weapons, and characters. This extends the game's longevity through user-generated content.

First-person shooter gameplay: It is a classic first-person shooter with fast-paced action, large arenas, and a focus on fighting masses of enemies. The gameplay retains an old-school feel with modernized graphics.

Bright Island campaign included: A new campaign called Bright Island is included, featuring new weapons, enemies, and levels. It serves as a third campaign alongside the original two encounters.

Frequent Game Crashes: Players report frequent crashes across various scenarios, including after dying, loading, gameplay, and on modern hardware. Some crashes occur on specific levels or when joining multiplayer servers.

Multiplayer Latency and Connection Issues: Online multiplayer experiences heavy lag, high latency, and connection problems, making it often unplayable. Players also report difficulty connecting and intermittent connections.

Stuttering and Frame Pacing Issues: Players experience stuttering, frame hiccups, and input lag, particularly in fullscreen or borderless modes. Windowed mode is sometimes used as a workaround.

Runs Well on Modern Hardware: Some players report that the game runs very well on new PCs, with high framerates and no crashes or severe bugs.

Poor Performance in Bright Island: The Bright Island DLC and campaign suffer from severe framerate drops and stuttering, especially in open areas or when looking at distant objects. Even on high-end systems, performance drops to 30 FPS or lower.

Recommended for Serious Sam fans: Many reviewers strongly recommend the game for fans of the Serious Sam series and those wanting to discover the classics. It is often described as an excellent purchase for anyone who enjoys the franchise.

Buy the game: Many reviewers simply recommend buying the game, stating it is worth the money and a great purchase. Some emphasize it is a must-have.

Play HD versions instead: Some reviewers suggest playing the HD remakes or the original classic games instead of this version. They often cite better graphics or more complete content in other versions.

Recommended for old-school FPS fans: The game is highly recommended for fans of old-school first-person shooters and classic FPS gameplay. It appeals to those who enjoy retro shooters.

Worth buying on sale: Several reviewers advise purchasing only during a sale, as the game may not be worth the full price. Some mention it is a cheap way to get the classic games.

Community fair range: $9.99 - $19.99.

Game completion: 73.0h.

Story completion: 19.0h.

Endgame: 1000.0h.

Serious Sam Revolution often starts fun, especially for classic-shooter fans and co-op groups, but many players report that enjoyment fades after the first hour or so as repetition, pacing, and multiplayer problems set in.

Friction: Multiplayer desync and disconnects; Empty servers and few active players; Repetitive, slow, and tedious level design; Corrupted saves and crashes in co-op/multiplayer; High multiplayer latency; No progression mechanics beyond shooting and looting.

Unlock drivers: Revolution bug fixes for multiplayer and 64-bit editor, plus widescreen support; Steam Workshop and mod download support for custom content.

Hardcore Old-School Arena Shooter Veteran: Campaign-focused, high-difficulty solo play with speed, endurance, and survival challenges. Motivation: To master intense old-school arena combat and relive classic Serious Sam challenge. Stance: buy.

Co-op and Multiplayer Social Enthusiast: Co-op campaigns, split-screen, LAN or online deathmatch, and social competitive modes. Motivation: To share classic Serious Sam chaos with friends in co-op and competitive multiplayer. Stance: sale.

Workshop Mod and Custom Campaign Explorer: Installs workshop campaigns and overhaul mods, explores community maps, and customizes the experience. Motivation: To extend the game through community-made campaigns, mods, and endless custom content. Stance: buy.

For the Windows <8GB VRAM cohort, the available reports are dominated by crashes and instability, with only limited positive feedback.

Windows <8GB VRAM: negative. Most included reports describe crashing on modern Windows systems, including repeated crashes after the intro, though one user recommends the game.

Linux and Proton: User feedback indicates strong Linux/Proton compatibility. Multiple users report the game is playable on Linux Mint with default Proton settings, and one user explicitly thanks DXVK and Vulkan components. No Linux-specific launch failures, anti-cheat blockers, or required workarounds are mentioned. The only negative review concerns V-Sync/FPS capping but lacks any Linux, Proton, or SteamOS context, so it is not counted as a Linux compatibility issue.

Bundle of TFE and TSE: The package includes enhanced versions of Serious Sam: The First Encounter and The Second Encounter in one collection. It provides both classic games together.

Steam Workshop Support: Revolution adds Steam Workshop support, enabling players to create and share mods and custom content. This feature was absent in the originals.

Free for Existing Owners: Owners of the original Serious Sam Classic games on Steam receive Revolution for free. Additionally, buying Revolution grants the two classic games for free.

Affordable Pricing: The game is sold at a low price, often cheaper than buying the two classic games separately. It offers two games for the price of one.

Extra Content and Modes: The package includes additional maps, achievements, co-op, and community-made levels. It also features a new campaign with newer levels and weapons.