Jewel of the Nile is a three mission expansion pack for Serious Sam 3. Alongside those new missions, it also features a fire ax which is just a reskin of the base game’s sledgehammer, and the two secret weapons are made into common additions to your arsenal. These are a Lasergun that is comparable to a Chaingun only with slower projectiles and a Sniper Rifle. It takes place inside the events of the base game as Sam has discovered that the activation of the ancient relics wasn’t enough to get the Time-lock up and running.
We start off on an island containing quite a number of statues to collect, but first and foremost we need to arm ourselves with something more powerful than a pistol. Luckily for us, there are a ton of weapons to be found inside of sheds scattered throughout the level. As fate would have it though, they are all locked, and you can do nothing more than to look longingly inside unless you find the keys. It’s a pretty fun level that doesn’t waste much time on stocking you up with all the guns it has to offer and the ammo needed to make use of them. All three levels are pretty large whose difficulty has been designed around those that have already played the base game and need a bit more challenge.
For the most part, they are set in wide open areas that are well suited for the plethora of enemies thrown your way, though unfortunately everyone’s favorite pitch black underground puzzle sections are back. It is found in the second stage and is particularly bad, even by the base games standards. You’ll have to solve four puzzles in a row, and one includes switch based timers while you frantically try to platform with the limited time you are given, all in the dark. It murders the pace of the game, and even if this wasn’t a Serious Sam title, it wouldn’t have been fun. To add insult to injury the annoying to fight demonic monkeys are also down there, so it’s just a grand time all around.
Aside from that temple bit, the combat here is great and definitely feel more like the older games in the series. Even more so with the “new” enemy that has been reintroduced, the four-armed Reptiloid and his iconic homing projectile attack. Be it across the map or over a mountain, that projectile will find a way to implant itself directly into your face. It can be shot down and is slow enough to be easily dodged while focusing on other enemies to keep it from being cheap. Its purpose is to prevent you from abusing a choke-point and forcing you to stay on the move to hunt down the source. Also is the perfect occasion to use this dlc’s Sniper Rifle.
There are still many secrets to be found for those willing to seek them out. Whether they contain anything useful or simply a deadly trap is something you can only find out by risking it. On the third level, you finally get to use the Jetpack in a situation other than the final boss fight and is a blast to get some payback on those Harpies as you fly after them with your double-barreled shotgun. It is not meant to last, however, and will soon be rendered inoperable. This stage also features quite a boss fight to test your mettle against before the dlc comes to a close. Jewel of the Nile is a pretty solid DLC for those wanting more Sam but is also incredibly short. In total it lasted me just over an hour and considering it’s price, it will be a tough sell for all but the biggest fans. It’s short, won’t win over anyone that didn’t like the base game, and is completely unimportant story-wise, though does offer a fun experience while it lasts.
- El Panadero -The Baker- Review - August 27, 2024
- Awakened Evil Review - July 10, 2024
- Let’s Look At: Anima Flux - July 3, 2024