The Serious Sam series has been an underground favorite among PC gamers for almost two decades. The franchise's absurd nature and fast-paced gameplay made it a surprise hit during the early-2000s. It's a simple series that's easy to pick up but hard to put down. Although Serious Sam 4 isn't exactly what fan expected, it pushes the series' frantic gameplay further than it has ever been before and provides an enjoyable experience one would expect from the iconic franchise.

With Serious Sam 4 finally landing on digital marketplaces, many gamers are looking to jump into the series for the first time. However, the constant barrage of enemy hostiles can be overwhelming for newcomers. The chaotic first-person shooter has a reputation for throwing countless adversaries at unsuspecting players. Figuring out the best strategies to take on these mass hordes can be difficult for people unfamiliar with the series. Luckily, there are some ways for new players to get ahead. Here are a few tips and tricks that will help novices blast their way to victory in Serious Sam 4.

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Keep Moving

Movement plays an important role in any FPS, but in Serious Sam, moving sideways, also known as strafing, is key. Enemies will try to overwhelm Sam by attacking from all sides while inching their way towards him. Standing still will only lead players to an early grave. Strafing around opponents is the best way to avoid enemy projectiles while pumping them full of lead.

Many levels in Serious Sam 4 are pretty expansive, allowing players to move around the map with relative ease. The sheer openness of these levels should play to Sam's advantage, since players won't have to worry about an object blocking their strafing route mid-battle. Continually moving around enemies will not just limit Sam's damage intake, but also bundle them up together, allowing players to mow them down with minimal effort. As simple as it may seem, strafing around enemies is essential to a player's success in any Serious Sam game.

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Take Out the Kamikazes First

Arguably the most annoying opponent in the entire franchise, kamikazes are simple opponents that pack a serious punch. They take away an astronomical amount of health and can come out of nowhere if players aren't on their A-game. They usually attack from all angles, making them difficult to spot while taking on large hordes of enemies. Thankfully, they belt out a hysterical scream whenever they grace players with their presence. Taking out these kamikazes should be a player's number one priority as soon as they hear that obnoxious battle cry.

Additionally, kamikazes will do as much damage to Sam's opponents as they will to the sarcastic hero. If players can blast them away while they are surrounded by other adversaries, they will severely hurt, or even kill, their comrades. Think of them as a human grenade that can only be triggered by a well-placed bullet. They can severely hurt opposing forces when used right, but if they are triggered too close to Sam, players can expect to go up in flames.

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Use the Codex

One of the most common mistakes new Serious Sam players make is ignoring their codex entries. The codex gives players valuable information about all the ruthless enemies Sam encounters throughout his journey. Once Sam defeats a new opponent, a description page will be sent to his codex explaining all the ins and outs of that specific enemy.

The codex will explain an enemy's threat level, attack methods and even give players tips on how to defeat them. This can be extremely helpful when players are having trouble taking down a certain adversary. Understanding each enemy and how to approach them is vital in progressing through Serious Sam 4. However, veteran players might find the codex less useful since a lot of enemies are carried over from previous entries.

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