Story & Lore

While Serious Sam: The First Encounter is primarily known for its relentless, over-the-top action, there's a surprisingly rich, albeit often humorous, backstory driving Sam "Serious" Stone's intergalactic rampage. Understanding the core narrative can add an extra layer of enjoyment to your monster-mashing endeavors.

The Premise: Earth's Last Hope

The year is 2142. Humanity has reached the stars, but their expansion has attracted the attention of a malevolent alien entity known as Mental. Mental, a cosmic overlord with an insatiable desire for destruction, has unleashed his vast armies upon Earth, systematically wiping out human civilization. With Earth on the brink of total annihilation, humanity's last desperate gamble is the "Time-Lock" project.

The Time-Lock Project

This experimental device, developed by Earth's remaining scientists, is designed to send a single individual back in time to ancient Egypt. The goal? To assassinate Mental before he can amass his forces and conquer the galaxy. The chosen hero for this seemingly impossible mission is none other than Sam "Serious" Stone, a legendary EDF (Earth Defense Force) soldier known for his unwavering resolve, incredible strength, and penchant for one-liners.

Sam's Arrival in Ancient Egypt

Upon activating the Time-Lock, Sam is transported to ancient Egypt, specifically to the region around the Great Pyramid of Giza. However, Mental, being a cosmic-level threat, was aware of humanity's desperate plan. He has already sent his own forces back in time to ancient Egypt to establish a foothold and prevent Sam from interfering. This explains why you immediately encounter hordes of alien creatures like the iconic Headless Kamikazes and Gnaar from the moment you step out of the Time-Lock portal.

Key Locations and Their Significance

Memphis: Your initial landing zone, a once-thriving ancient city now overrun by Mental's forces. This is where you'll get your first taste of the relentless combat.
Thebes: Another major Egyptian city, featuring impressive temples and monuments that serve as battlegrounds. The Temple of Hatshepsut and the Karnak complex are particularly memorable arenas.
Nubian Desert: Vast, open areas where you'll face some of the largest enemy waves, often involving aerial threats like Harpies and ground-based behemoths like Khnum.
The Great Pyramid of Giza: The ultimate objective in this encounter. Mental's primary base of operations in ancient Egypt is located within or beneath this monumental structure.

Mental's Lieutenants and Forces

Mental doesn't fight fair. He employs a diverse and terrifying array of creatures, each with unique attack patterns and weaknesses. While Mental himself isn't directly confronted in The First Encounter, you'll face his most formidable lieutenants and countless foot soldiers:

Ugh-Zan III: The final boss of The First Encounter, a colossal, heavily armored creature guarding Mental's operations within the Great Pyramid. Defeating him is crucial to completing your mission in this timeline.
Skeletons (Kleer Skeletons): Fast, agile, and deadly melee attackers. Often appear in large groups.
Gnaar: One-eyed, hulking brutes that charge headfirst.
Headless Kamikazes: The screaming, bomb-wielding icons of the series. Prioritize these!
Sirian Werebulls: Charging, horned beasts that can quickly close distances.
Scorpions (Arachnoids): Ranged attackers with plasma cannons.
Major Bio-Mechanoids: Heavily armored, rocket-launching robots.

Your Mission: Stop Mental's Influence

Your primary objective throughout The First Encounter is to fight your way through Mental's forces across ancient Egypt, locate his primary base of operations, and eliminate his most powerful general, Ugh-Zan III. By doing so, you aim to disrupt Mental's plans in the past, hopefully preventing his future conquest of Earth. The game concludes with Sam confronting Ugh-Zan III, setting the stage for future encounters with Mental's empire.

Remember, Sam's journey is just beginning. The First Encounter is merely the initial step in a much larger war against Mental, a war that continues in subsequent titles.