{{Short description|2022 video game}} {{Good article}} {{Use British English|date=September 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox video game | title = Serious Sam: Tormental | image = Serious Sam Tormental.jpg | developer = Gungrounds | publisher = Devolver Digital | series = ''Serious Sam'' | engine = Unity | platforms = Windows | released = 8 April 2022 | genre = Twin-stick shooter, rogue-lite | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | director = Kristian Macanga<ref name="Credits" /> | designer = Kristian Macanga<ref name="Credits" /> | programmer = {{Unbulleted list | Kristian Macanga | Guy Unger | Ivan Gabriel Juričić | Goran Tomašić<ref name="Credits" /> }} | artist = {{Unbulleted list | Guy Unger | Menno Stas | Ana Marija Lončar | Goran Tomašić<ref name="Credits" /> }} | writer = Darkcola, MD<ref name="Credits" /> | composer = {{Unbulleted list | Damjan Mravunac | Jukio Kallio | Sanja Dorić<ref name="Credits" /> }} }}
'''''Serious Sam: Tormental''''' is a 2022 twin-stick shooter and rogue-lite game developed by Gungrounds and published by Devolver Digital. One or two players traverse procedurally generated levels across several stages set in the mind of Mental, the antagonist of the ''Serious Sam'' series. They use two weapons each, of which the primary weapon can be enhanced through "mods" found throughout the game. The unlockable player characters can perform dodge rolls and a unique special ability. Upon the player character's defeat, the player is reset to the start of the game. After completing all stages, the players can use black keys to unlock power-ups from a vault. The stages then loop with increasing difficulty.
Gungrounds initially developed ''Spitfire Inferno'' with inspiration from ''Geometry Wars''. After exhibiting the game at several video game conferences, the studio became a part of Croteam Incubator, the development team expanded, and the game's theme was shifted to the ''Serious Sam'' series. ''Spitfire Inferno'' was renamed ''Tormental'', then ''Serious Sam: Tormental''. It was made available in early access in April 2019 and released in April 2022. The game received mixed reviews, with praise for its humour, art, and combat, with criticism towards technical issues, repetitiveness, and lack of innovation.
== Gameplay == thumb|left|The player, as NETRICSA (centre), fighting several enemies ''Serious Sam: Tormental'' is a twin-stick shooter with rogue-lite elements.<ref name="VG247: Early access" /><ref name="PC Gamer: Early access" /> It takes place within the mind of Mental, the antagonist of the ''Serious Sam'' series.<ref name="PC Gamer: Early access" /> Mental's frontal lobe serves as a hub area.<ref name="The Games Machine: Review" /> The player chooses from one of several player characters, starting with Sam "Serious" Stone and unlocking further characters during gameplay.<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square" /><ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special" /> They traverse procedurally generated rooms within multiple thematic stages. Each room contains enemies that need to be defeated before the player can progress. These enemies use either melee or projectiles, both of which inflict damage on the player character.<ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special" /> The character can simultaneously use two weapons: a primary weapon with highly available ammunition and a "serious" weapon with high power and limited bullets. The primary weapon can be enhanced through "mods" either found in chests or purchased at shops that appear within stages. Chests provide three random upgrades to choose from, while shops require the spending of the currency obtained by defeating enemies. Upgrades include bullets that ignite enemies and a rate of fire increase in exchange for a lowered damage per bullet.<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square" /><ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special" />
To evade enemies and projectiles, the player character can perform a dodge roll. Large enemies with low health may be defeated with such a roll, which grants better rewards than a regular kill.<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square" /><ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special" /> The player can also activate bombs placed in rooms, which inflict damage on both the character and enemies.<ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special" /> Between rooms, characters can be freed using previously collected golden keys to make them selectable at the start of the game.<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square" /> Each character has a unique special ability, such as Sam, who can jump over hazards.<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square" /><ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special" /> A boss occurs at the end of each stage.<ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special" /> When the player character's health is depleted, gameplay pauses and the player is reset to the start of the game with all weapons and upgrades revoked.<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square" /> Over time, the player collects thirty-two black keys used to unlock power-ups in the vault that occurs after completing all stages once. These power-ups become permanently available to find during regular gameplay. After the vault, the stages loop and the player returns to the first stage with an increased difficulty.<ref name="The Escapist: Review" /> The game can be played cooperatively with a second local player.<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square" />
== Development and release == ''Serious Sam: Tormental'' was developed by Gungrounds, a Croatian indie game studio.<ref name="Jutarnji list: Reboot Develop" /><ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> It was the studio's second game after ''Rocking Pilot'', which was co-developed and published by Mad Head Games in May 2017.<ref name="4Gamer: Early access" /><ref name="Gamasutra: Rocking Pilot" /> Kristian Macanga and Guy Unger initially developed a game titled ''Spitfire'' or ''Spitfire Inferno'', which they modelled after ''Geometry Wars''.<ref name="Jutarnji list: Reboot Develop" /><ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> They had previously collaborated on a game for the "Indies VS PewDiePie" game jam held in November 2014.<ref name="GGhr: Interview" /><ref name="IndieGames.com: PewDiePie" /> While exhibiting ''Spitfire Inferno'' at the Reboot InfoGamer conference in Croatia, it was acknowledged by members of Croteam, who tracked the team's progress across further events—Reboot Develop, the Slovenian Games Conference, and the Central European Games Conference—and eventually invited them to Croteam's business incubator programme.<ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> The Gungrounds team grew over time, adding programmers Ivan Gabriel Juričić and Goran Tomašić, as well as artist Ana Marija Lončar, who the team had met at Reboot InfoGamer 2018. Additionally, Croteam's Roman Ribarić, Andrej Smoljan and Damjan Mravunac acted as producer, sound effects artist and composer, respectively.<ref name="Credits" /><ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> Gungrounds used the Unity game engine since the team members were already familiar with it and because it supported multiple platforms.<ref name="GGhr: Interview" />
As the expanded team was unhappy with ''Spitfire Inferno''{{'}}s theme, Ribarić suggested that Gungrounds shift the game to the ''Serious Sam'' universe.<ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> After choosing Mental's mind as the target setting, the game was renamed ''Tormental''.<ref name="Jutarnji list: Reboot Develop" /><ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> It drew further influence from ''Nuclear Throne'', ''The Binding of Isaac'', ''Enter the Gungeon'', and other ''Serious Sam'' games.<ref name="PC Gamer: Early access" /><ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> Croteam's incubator programme was formally announced as Croteam Incubator in March 2018.<ref name="Blue's News: Incubator" /><ref name="Croteam: Incubator" /> At this time, Gungrounds was based in the same Zagreb office as the five other studios in the programme.<ref name="Croteam: Incubator" /> A prototype of ''Tormental'' was exhibited at the April 2018 Reboot Develop conference in Dubrovnik to attract the attention of game designer Rami Ismail, who, after extensively playing the game, gave his detailed impressions to the developers.<ref name="Jutarnji list: Reboot Develop" />
''Tormental'' was due to be launched in Steam Early Access in August 2018 but was delayed to allow for quality assurance and the completion of some existing features.<ref name="Steam: Early access announcement" /><ref name="Steam: Early access delay" /> A prototype was released as freeware via Itch.io in March 2019.<ref name="Hardcore Gamer: Alpha" /> The early access version, now renamed ''Serious Sam: Tormental'', was launched on 2 April 2019 for Windows, with Croteam Incubator acting as the publisher.<ref name="Hardcore Gamer: Early access" /><ref name="Blue's News: Early access" /><ref name="Hardcore Gaming 101: Spin-Offs" /> This version introduced John Dick as the voice actor for Sam.<ref name="Hardcore Gaming 101: Spin-Offs" /><ref name="Itch.io: Devlog" /> The game was initially intended to remain in early access for 6–12 months, depending on player feedback and prospective further features.<ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> Upon the initial release, Gungrounds announced a shortened prospective period of 2–3 months, though noting that it could change based on internal milestones.<ref name="VG247: Early access" /> The studio anticipated bringing the game to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One should the first release be successful.<ref name="GGhr: Interview" /> With the "Fortress Update" released on 8 April 2022, ''Serious Sam: Tormental'' was taken out of early access with Devolver Digital as its publisher.<ref name="Gematsu: Release" /><ref name="Steam: Release" />
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | MC = 66/100<ref name="Metacritic" /> | TGMIt = 7.1/10<ref name="The Games Machine: Review" /> }}
''Serious Sam: Tormental'' received "mixed or average reviews", according to the review aggregator website Metacritic, which calculated a weighted average rating of 66/100 based on five critic reviews.<ref name="Metacritic" /> Daniele Cucchiarelli of ''The Games Machine'' enjoyed the game's humour and found it to fit with the rest of the series. He commended the expansive arsenal and challenge the game poses, as well as the "nice" and distinguishing art style.<ref name="The Games Machine: Review" /> KC Nwosu, in his review for ''The Escapist'', similarly enjoyed the art style, which he believed fit the series better than those found in other entries. He regarded the movement and shooting mechanics as "adequate" but lamented that obtained weapons and upgrades "never reach the necessary level of absurdity to excite players to go another run".<ref name="The Escapist: Review" /> Cucchiarelli faulted several technical issues and saw the game as failing to be inventive, while Nwosu thought that the game was "incredibly small in scope and gives way to tedium much quicker than its replayable structure should allow".<ref name="The Games Machine: Review" /><ref name="The Escapist: Review" />{{Clear}}
== References == {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="4Gamer: Early access">{{cite web |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/455/G045592/20190403100/ |title=Kore mo 1tsu no Samu no katachi. Mioroshi-gata shiten ni natta supin'ofutaitoru "Serious Sam: Tormental" no ārīakusesu-ban ga tōjō |script-title=ja:これも1つのサムの形。見下ろし型視点になったスピンオフタイトル「Serious Sam: Tormental」のアーリーアクセス版が登場 |language=ja |trans-title=This is also 1 in the shape of Sam. An early access version of the spin-off title "Serious Sam: Tormental" with a top-down perspective |first=Kaito |last=Okutani |date=3 April 2019 |website=4Gamer.net |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150833/https://www.4gamer.net/games/455/G045592/20190403100/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="4Gamer: Steam Square">{{cite web |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/282/G028219/20190411068/ |title=Harō! Steam hiroba dai 236-kai: Shiriasu Samu o daizai ni shita uchimakuri-kei rōguraitoshūtingu "Serious Sam: Tormental" |script-title=ja:ハロー！Steam広場 第236回：シリアス・サムを題材にした撃ちまくり系ローグライトシューティング「Serious Sam: Tormental」 |language=ja |trans-title=Hello! Steam Square #236: Serious Sam-theme rogue-lite shooter "Serious Sam: Tormental" |author=YamaChan |date=12 April 2019 |website=4Gamer.net |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150820/https://www.4gamer.net/games/282/G028219/20190411068/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Blue's News: Early access">{{cite web |url=https://www.bluesnews.com/s/198918/serious-sam-tormental-early-access |title=Serious Sam: Tormental Early Access |first=Stephen |last=Heaslip |date=2 April 2019 |website=Blue's News |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150902/https://www.bluesnews.com/s/198918/serious-sam-tormental-early-access |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Blue's News: Incubator">{{cite web |url=https://www.bluesnews.com/s/189101/croteam-incubator-hatches |title=Croteam Incubator Hatches |first=Stephen |last=Heaslip |date=29 March 2018 |website=Blue's News |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830214928/https://www.bluesnews.com/s/189101/croteam-incubator-hatches |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Credits">{{cite video game |title=Serious Sam: Tormental |developer=Gungrounds |publisher=Devolver Digital |date=8 April 2022 |platform=Windows |scene=Credits}}</ref>
<ref name="Croteam: Incubator">{{cite web |url=http://www.croteam.com/croteam-incubator-now-officially-thing/ |title=Croteam Incubator is now officially a thing! |date=29 March 2018 |publisher=Croteam |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830214931/http://www.croteam.com/croteam-incubator-now-officially-thing/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Famitsu: Indie Special">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201905/13176042.html |title="Serious Sam: Tormental" ano "Samu" ga mata kaettekita! "Shiriasu Samu" no supin'ofu-teki akushongēmu ga tōjō [totte oki indī] |script-title=ja:『Serious Sam: Tormental』あの“サム”がまた帰ってきた！『シリアス・サム』のスピンオフ的アクションゲームが登場【とっておきインディー】 |language=ja |trans-title="Serious Sam: Tormental" – That "Sam" is back! A spin-off action game of "Serious Sam" is now available [Indie Special] |first=Bandō |last=Kissa |date=13 May 2019 |magazine=Famitsu |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150822/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201905/13176042.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Gamasutra: Rocking Pilot">{{cite press release |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/298090/Rocking_Pilot__The_Heavy_Metal_Twin_Stick_Shoot_Em_Up_fromMad_Head_Games_is_Out_Now_on_Steam.php |title=Rocking Pilot – The Heavy Metal Twin Stick Shoot 'Em Up from Mad Head Games is Out Now on Steam |publisher=Mad Head Games |date=15 May 2017 |via=Gamasutra |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150836/https://gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/298090/Rocking_Pilot__The_Heavy_Metal_Twin_Stick_Shoot_Em_Up_fromMad_Head_Games_is_Out_Now_on_Steam.php |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="Gematsu: Release">{{cite web |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/04/3d-roguelite-top-down-shooter-serious-sam-tormental-now-available-for-pc |title=3D roguelite top-down shooter Serious Sam: Tormental now available for PC |first=Sal |last=Romano |date=8 April 2022 |website=Gematsu |access-date=9 April 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409091506/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/04/3d-roguelite-top-down-shooter-serious-sam-tormental-now-available-for-pc |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="GGhr: Interview">{{cite web |url=https://www.goodgame.hr/gg-interview-gungrounds-games-tormental/ |title=[GG Interview]: Gungrounds Games – Tormental |language=hr |date=23 December 2018 |website=GoodGame.hr |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150828/https://www.goodgame.hr/gg-interview-gungrounds-games-tormental/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Hardcore Gamer: Alpha">{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/2019/03/22/alpha-of-serious-sam-tormental-set-free-in-advance-of-early-access-release/327457/ |title=Alpha of Serious Sam: Tormental Set Free in Advance of Early Access Release |first=James |last=Cunningham |date=22 March 2019 |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150855/https://hardcoregamer.com/2019/03/22/alpha-of-serious-sam-tormental-set-free-in-advance-of-early-access-release/327457/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="Hardcore Gamer: Early access">{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/2019/04/02/serious-sam-tormental-invades-the-brain-of-early-access/328216/ |title=Serious Sam: Tormental Invades the Brain of Early Access |first=James |last=Cunningham |date=2 April 2019 |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150859/https://hardcoregamer.com/2019/04/02/serious-sam-tormental-invades-the-brain-of-early-access/328216/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="Hardcore Gaming 101: Spin-Offs">{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/serious-sam-spin-offs-after-serious-sam-3/ |title=Serious Sam Spin-Offs After Serious Sam 3 |first=Jonathan |last=Kaharl |date=27 August 2020 |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150905/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/serious-sam-spin-offs-after-serious-sam-3/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="IndieGames.com: PewDiePie">{{cite web |url=http://indiegames.com/2014/11/_indies_vs_pewdiepie_the_game_.html |title=Indies VS PewDiePie: The Game Jam |first=Konstantinos |last=Dimopoulos |date=13 November 2014 |website=IndieGames.com |archive-date=15 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115184638/http://indiegames.com/2014/11/_indies_vs_pewdiepie_the_game_.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="Itch.io: Devlog">{{cite web |url=https://croteam.itch.io/tormental/devlog/72870/early-access-version-brings-much-more-content |title=Early Access version brings much more content! |first=Kristian |last=Macanga |date=22 March 2019 |via=Itch.io |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150907/https://croteam.itch.io/tormental/devlog/72870/early-access-version-brings-much-more-content |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Jutarnji list: Reboot Develop">{{cite web |url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/life/gaming/sto-hrvatskim-stvarateljima-video-igara-znaci-konferencija-reboot-develop-mogucnost-da-igru-pokazu-poznatim-dizajnerima-neprocjenjiva-je-7279776 |title=Što hrvatskim stvarateljima video igara značI konferencija Reboot Develop – Mogućnost da igru pokažu poznatim dizajnerima neprocjenjiva je |language=hr |trans-title=What the Reboot Develop conference means to Croatian video game creators – The ability to show the game to famous designers is invaluable |first=Damjan |last=Raknić |date=24 April 2018 |website=Jutarnji list |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150825/https://www.jutarnji.hr/life/gaming/sto-hrvatskim-stvarateljima-video-igara-znaci-konferencija-reboot-develop-mogucnost-da-igru-pokazu-poznatim-dizajnerima-neprocjenjiva-je-7279776 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/serious-sam-tormental/ |title=Serious Sam: Tormental |website=Metacritic |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914132616/https://www.metacritic.com/game/serious-sam-tormental/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="PC Gamer: Early access">{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/serious-sam-tormental-lets-you-invade-a-demigods-brain/ |title=Serious Sam: Tormental lets you invade a demigod's brain |first=Fraser |last=Brown |date=3 April 2019 |website=PC Gamer |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150816/https://www.pcgamer.com/serious-sam-tormental-lets-you-invade-a-demigods-brain/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Steam: Early access announcement">{{cite web |url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/640340/announcements/detail/2513453641992785759 |title=Tormental is coming to Early Access |date=15 June 2018 |publisher=Gungrounds |via=Steam |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150846/https://steamcommunity.com/games/640340/announcements/detail/2513453641992785759 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Steam: Early access delay">{{cite web |url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/640340/announcements/detail/1710691285931277539 |title=News on Tormental release |date=1 August 2018 |publisher=Gungrounds |via=Steam |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150852/https://steamcommunity.com/games/640340/announcements/detail/1710691285931277539 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Steam: Release">{{cite web |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/640340/view/3225148427585344531 |title=v1.0 is – Fortress Update Available Now! |first=Kristian |last=Macanga |date=8 April 2022 |publisher=Gungrounds |via=Steam |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408155442/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/640340/view/3225148427585344531 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="The Escapist: Review">{{cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/serious-sam-tormental-review-in-3-minutes-solid-yet-repetitive-rogue-lite-shooting/ |title=Serious Sam: Tormental Review in 3 Minutes – Solid Yet Repetitive Rogue-Lite Shooting |first=KC |last=Nwosu |date=15 April 2022 |website=The Escapist |access-date=14 August 2022 |archive-date=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814135344/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/serious-sam-tormental-review-in-3-minutes-solid-yet-repetitive-rogue-lite-shooting/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="The Games Machine: Review">{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamesmachine.it/serious-sam-tormental-pc/serious-sam-tormental-recensione/ |title=Serious Sam: Tormental – Recensione |language=it |trans-title=Serious Sam: Tormental – Review |first=Daniele |last=Cucchiarelli |date=20 April 2022 |website=The Games Machine |access-date=13 May 2022 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513182422/https://www.thegamesmachine.it/serious-sam-tormental-pc/serious-sam-tormental-recensione/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="VG247: Early access">{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2019/04/03/serious-sam-tormental-steam-early-access/ |title=There's a new Serious Sam game out right now on Steam |first=Shabana |last=Arif |date=3 April 2019 |website=VG247 |access-date=12 September 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912150814/https://www.vg247.com/2019/04/03/serious-sam-tormental-steam-early-access/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.tormentalgame.com/}}
{{Serious Sam}}
Category:2022 video games Category:Devolver Digital games Category:Early access video games Category:Indie games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Serious Sam Category:Top-down video games Category:Twin-stick shooters Category:Video game spinoffs Category:Video games developed in Croatia Category:Video games using procedural generation Category:Windows games Category:Windows-only games