Between the arrival of one survival game and another in Early Access, this beginning of 2024 has allowed us to try other exponents of the genre thanks to the Steam Next Fest, the now traditional event organized by Valve which gives space to developers eager to make try their titles to gamers from all over the world. Among the numerous games on test there was also Serum, a production we have already told you about in the past (have you already read our interview with the Serum developers?) and which we were finally able to test first hand.
After spending about an hour in a world made of serums, mutated animals and poisonous gases, we are ready to talk to you in detail about the Game Island title (speaking of Steam Next Fest, here is Indika's test).
Race against time
Unlike many other survival games, Serum does not place the player in the role of a character created through an editor, but puts Adam, a man who finds himself in a nightmare, at the center of the frame. The introductory film allows us to discover that the protagonist has moved away from his family to play the role of volunteer in the testing of a mysterious serum, which should allow humanity to survive the advance of a mysterious toxic gas.
Just when Adam's work seems to be coming to an end, before the man has the chance to reunite with his wife and daughter, the unexpected happens: what should be a simple operation ends with the abrupt awakening of the protagonist – now infected – inside an area heavily affected by the gas and with a timer on his wrist that tells him how much time remains before his demise. Luckily for us we are not thrown into hell without a lifeline, which is represented by Richard: he is a mysterious figure who communicates with us through a portable radio found next to a corpse and who, thanks to his perfect knowledge of area, guides us to the various checkpoints and tries to help us all get out in one piece.
Crafting e combat system
Once the introductory phase is concluded, we are immediately faced with the crafting of serums, which are the object that gives the title its name. The peculiarity of the proposal lies in the possibility of creating substances to be injected not only for
extend the timer, but also to alter Adam's abilities with bonuses and penalties that affect the build. It is precisely on the occasion of the creation of the first green fluid that the resource collection system is explained to us, which is far removed from what we are used to seeing in other titles of the genre. In Serum there are no tools with which to collect wood, metal or rock and everything revolves around collecting some plants around the map, opening some containers and looting the bodies of enemies. The various objects obtained must then be destroyed to obtain materials useful for crafting, including those for making rudimentary weapons such as axes and spears. There is also a system through which it is possible to upgrade weapons with various modifiers, but the resources available in the initial areas did not allow us to put this game mechanic to the test.
If collecting resources is not a particularly stimulating activity, we certainly cannot say that the combat system reaches particularly high heights of fun. The reasons why it is not fun to face the mutants around the map are attributable both to the woodenness of the attacks and to the lack of intelligence of the enemies, who tend to move in an unbelievable way and every now and then remain still for a few seconds before returning on the attack. Whether it's cockroaches, wolves or other creatures, the situation doesn't change and it's never pleasant to face them in melee combat, the only one available in the demo.
As far as progress is concerned, Serum is a rather linear game and is based on quests complete with an indicator to follow towards the current objective. From what you can imagine by playing the demo, the game is structured so that the initial area acts as a central hub, connected via a cable car and huge metal doors to the various biomes which will be explored in a very specific order and which will therefore mark the progression . Each of these peripheral areas leads the protagonist to face a mutated scientist carrying a major project, necessary to guarantee access to the next area. From what little we have seen, the feeling is that the open maps that make up the world of Serum are not fully explorable. It often happens that you come across invisible barriers or obstacles that don't allow you to get anywhere, and therefore force the player to follow pre-established paths.
There is also a basic base upgrade system, which grants permanent upgrades for the character and facilitates his survival. The hub also features a small greenhouse in which you can plant various seeds, so that you always have the resources needed to create serums with which to improve the protagonist.
UE5 and optimization problems
In addition to not having convinced us on the gaming front, Serum proved to be a very problematic product also from a technical point of view. We find ourselves faced with yet another production in Unreal Engine 5 that struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even at the lowest settings, despite not boasting a level of visual detail that would justify performance of this type.
Frame rate fluctuations aside, Serum does not surprise either with its graphic performance or its artistic direction. As can also be seen from the promotional images, it is an almost monochromatic game: everything you see on the screen tends towards green/yellow, and the lack of character regarding settings and enemies gives the final blow to a visual system that in itself it doesn't hit the mark.