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This subject appears in Serious Sam: The First Encounter.  This subject appears in Serious Sam: The Second Encounter.  This subject appears in Serious Sam Advance. This subject appears in Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter.  This subject appears in Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter.  This subject appears in Serious Sam: The Random Encounter.  This subject appears in Serious Sam 3: BFE. This subject appears in Serious Sam's Bogus Detour.  This subject appears in Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope.  This subject appears in Serious Sam 4.  This subject appears in Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem.  This subject is from the Mental War era. 

 
"Rocket launcher. Accepts no substitutes."
Sam Stone[src]
 

The XPML21 Rocket Launcher, or just Rocket Launcher, is a powerful weapon and the standard-issue rocket launcher of the Earth Defense Force. It fires slow, unguided rockets at a decent rate of fire without having to be reloaded. These rockets are very effective against armored opponents or large groups of weak enemies.

Overview[]

The XPML21 is the first of a new generation of portable missile launchers, designed to provide infantry forces with a fast firing rate of armor-penetrating rockets.[1][2] The weapon's advanced loading mechanism is capable of firing up to 85 missiles per minute.[1] The XPML21 uses 150 mm Inferno missiles as ammunition. While the XPML21 is currently in the early stages of field testing and has only been issued to select Earth Defense Force personnel, it is already surpassing all expectations and is scheduled to go into full production in the near future.[2]

The rocket launcher is an extremely effective weapon against armored opponents or masses of weak enemies. It is important to note, however, that the player should not fire the weapon at close quarters or directly against obstacles due to the large blast radius of the projectiles. Also, the rockets do not track the target and take time to reach a target from a distance, so the rocket launcher is most effective when firing at the target from medium or close range and if the target is directly in front of the player.

In Serious Sam Advance, the rocket launcher fires chemically powered rockets. The rockets themselves can deal a lot of damage if they hit a target, and the explosion it makes can harm any enemy near the impact site, even if the rocket hits an enemy. It has a fairly high rate of fire and its projectiles are somewhat fast, which allows the user to quickly bombard a target with multiple rockets.

In Serious Sam 3: BFE, the rocket launcher has been given a new design, and uses different firing sounds. The firing and loading mechanism has also changed, but still retains the same fire rate from the previous games. The rocket launcher also has heavy recoil, which is seen when firing the weapon.

In Serious Sam 4, the rocket launcher retains a similar design to that of the Serious Sam 3 version, but has a different loading mechanism. The weapon also has been given new sounds.

Alternate firing mode[]

In Serious Sam 4 and Siberian Mayhem, the rocket launcher can be upgraded with a secondary fire mode, called 'multirocket'. This upgrade allows the player to load several rockets at once, and the rockets gain tracking capabilities which allows them to take down both ground and air targets.[2] Once two rockets have been loaded, the rocket launcher will lock onto a target that the player is aiming at with their crosshair. The player can load up to 5 rockets at once. Rockets are loaded with the secondary fire key.

Appearances[]

In its appearances, the rocket launcher is normally acquired in the early or middle portions of the game it appears in, which is usually when tougher enemies start to appear or if the player is about to encounter a boss. The weapon can, however, be obtained earlier in the first level in the titles as a secret. This can prove useful to the player during boss fights or when playing on higher difficulty settings. The rocket launcher becomes essential when gameplay gets challenging and weaker weapons start becoming more obsolete.

Serious Sam 1[]

In Serious Sam: The First Encounter, the rocket launcher first appears in Valley of the Kings, but can be obtained earlier in Temple of Hatshepsut as a secret, along with rockets. In Serious Sam: The Second Encounter, there are 3 rocket launchers that appear in Sierra de Chiapas, two of which can be found as secrets. It appears on the first levels on both Mesopotamia and Medieval eras.

Legend of the Beast[]

The rocket launcher is obtained normally in The Grand Obelisk, but can be found earlier in a temple as a secret in Holy Spirits.

Serious Sam Advance[]

The rocket launcher is first obtained in Slave Quarters.

Serious Sam 3: BFE[]

The rocket launcher is first obtained in No Place to Hide, either normally or via secrets. It is used at this point to take down the pursuing Technopolyp that initially appears in this level. In Serious Sam Fusion, the rocket launcher can be found even earlier in the first level, Summer in Cairo, in the same building where the player obtains the Sledgehammer. The player needs to find a secret key to unlock the door before they can get the rocket launcher.

Jewel of the Nile[]

Two rocket launchers appear on the first level, Gathering of the Gods. One is found as a secret in the lake, and another in a locked shed that requires a key to open.

Serious Sam 4[]

The rocket launcher is first acquired in Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but can be found earlier in Death from Above as a secret. It then later reappears in From Earth With Love at an EDF outpost.

The multirocket upgrade can only be obtained if the player completes the optional side quest in Gates of Hell. The upgrade is received automatically when the player loads the next level.

Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem[]

The rocket launcher is found near the very start of Siberiade as the player leaves the refinery, but can be found earlier in A Smell of Petroleum Prevails as a secret. Rocket ammo on levels before it is actually found will spawn on certain areas after picking up the secret weapon.

The rocket launcher's multirocket upgrade is found in an equipment case near an old church just before the player gets to the Octanian-occupied bridge.

Upgrades[]

Serious Sam 4/Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem[]

Multirocket SS4 icon Multirocket
This upgrade allows the rocket launcher to be loaded with up to 5 rockets, which can be launched using its primary fire mode. When more than two rockets are loaded, a targeting mode is activated that allows the user to lock the rockets onto specific targets, towards which they will then be automatically guided. It is possible to target as many hostiles as rockets are currently loaded.

Tactics[]

General[]

  • The rockets fired by the rocket launcher are slow, which makes it impractical to use the weapon at long range. However, if a target is too far away for a charged MK III Grenade Launcher shot to reach it, a volley of rockets will work, but it will take some time for the rockets to reach their destination.
  • The rocket launcher is not recommended against fast enemies that move left and right often, such as zig-zagging Kleers. The rocket's rather slow speed makes it very possible for the fast enemy to go past the rocket before it hits.
  • This weapon can be dangerous to use against enemies that try to get close to the player, such as Beheaded Kamikazes, if the player isn't careful. If an enemy gets close to the player while the player is firing or just after a rocket has been fired, the player will suffer significant damage because of the splash damage from the rocket. The resulting explosion from the Kamikaze plus the damage from the rocket can severely deplete the player's health and/or armor. It can also be considered a waste of ammo as rockets are not a very common ammo type, and Kamikazes can easily be taken out with rapid-firing weapons like the 12 Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun, Schofield .45 or SOP38 Pistol without needing to waste rockets.
  • Like the minigun and grenade launcher, the rocket launcher is one of the best weapons to use against Major Bio-mechanoids.

Serious Sam 1[]

  • The rocket launcher is very useful against strong enemies, such as Major Bio-mechanoids; it usually takes around five or so rockets to kill them (two for juvenile Arachnoids), and because it has a fairly fast rate of fire, getting that amount of rockets into the air quickly is easy.
  • The rocket launcher is also useful against Arachnoids, especially the adults.
  • Groups of weak enemies, such as the Beheaded Rocketeer, can easily be destroyed with this weapon. A rocket that targets the center of the group usually does the most damage because the splash damage from the rocket hits everybody around the victim, which is usually the rest of the group.

Serious Sam Advance[]

  • The rocket launcher is a great weapon against stronger enemies, such as the Cyclops or the Gunrilla. Two to three shots are needed to take out anything but a boss. This makes it very useful later in the game, where strong enemies make up most of the opposition the player faces.
  • It also works very well against groups of enemies. One rocket can harm multiple enemies thanks to it's explosion. A few rockets can completely clear out a group of enemies. The Rocket Launcher's firing speed allows the player to fire off multiple rockets quickly, which lets them clear out a group of enemies even faster than the minigun if the enemies are right next to each other.
  • The explosion from a rocket can kill enemies even if the player doesn't see them. This is useful for killing enemies around corners or when the player's health is low and they need to avoid direct confrontations with enemies.
  • One downside with the rocket launcher is that, if it hits an enemy projectile, it will explode. Therefore, the player should try to time it so that a rocket is fired between an enemy's attack. This is more useful against groups of enemies because of the amount of projectiles fired by a group.
  • Do not use the rocket launcher in close-quarters situations, such as in buildings. The rockets have a large blast radius and can easily rip through the player's health and/or armor if they fire too close to an enemy or obstacle.

Serious Sam 3: BFE[]

  • The rocket launcher is useful for clearing out groups of weak enemies quickly, such as hordes of Kleer Skeletons and Hatchling Antaresian Spiders. The explosion radius damage can kill multiple weak enemies in one shot. To maximize its effect, a rocket should be aimed at an enemy towards the middle of the group if possible. The explosion from the rocket hitting the enemy will hit all of his buddies around him, doing more damage than a rocket to the first enemy in the group would do.
  • It is also handy against larger enemies, such as the Adult Arachnoid and Scrapjack. It does enough damage that it can kill them after a few hits, and its decent rate of fire and, as these enemies don't usually strafe, (with the exception of Adult Arachnoids) this ensures that it'll consistently hit enemies at any range.
  • The rocket launcher is an ideal weapon against Hatchling Arachnoids; one rocket will instantly gib it, making it a good choice for clearing out groups of them.
  • It is very useful for taking out small to medium-sized groups of Juvenile Antaresian Spiders; a single rocket will instantly kill one and they do not strafe around compared to faster enemies like Kleers.
  • It is a good jack-of-all-trades weapon later in the game. It does a high amount of damage per shot (especially if the rocket makes a direct impact), has a good rate of fire, and most importantly, its ammo is common thanks to Ammo Crates. These make it very effective against any enemy the game throws at the player in the last few levels.
  • It is the "weakest" out of all the weapons that can damage certain bosses, such as the Technopolyp or the Khnum. It has a slower projectile speed than the A-24 Devastator and does less damage than the C-4 Demolition Charge. However, it has a consistent rate of fire, which lets the player constantly damage the enemy without needing to be reloaded, although the player also runs the risk of enemies attempting to dodge the rockets (with the Khnum even quickly throwing a fireball at the player in retaliation).

Serious Sam 4/Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem[]

  • The rocket launcher works great for destroying groups of weak enemies clustered together, such as Aludran Microhoppers, beheaded enemies, Octanian Gamma Troopers, Processed Anthropolyps, and Zubenhakrabian Spider Nymphs. It becomes even more useful if the player has acquired the homing rocket upgrade for the weapon.
  • The homing upgrade for the rocket launcher can be used to take out both enemies on the ground and flying enemies, especially ones that move around, such as Adult Arachnoids, Aludran Reptiloids, Major Bio-mechanoids, Scythian Witch-Harpies and Technopolyps, as these enemies are harder to take down in other games.
  • Homing rockets are very useful for taking out mobile flying enemies, such as Combat Drones, Draconian Burners, Draconian Pyromaniacs, and Kalopsies. It only takes around two to three rockets to finish off the aforementioned tough enemies.
  • Due to the Khnum's increased health this time around, the rocket launcher is less effective on it unless the player fires rockets at its head, which deals extra damage. The Khnum is, however, more suspectible to being stunned than in Serious Sam 3, so the player can easily stun him by firing 5 rockets at him at once with the multirocket upgrade, and then either finish him off with more rockets or other strong weapons.
  • When dealing with fast enemies such as Sirian Werebulls, fire at their head when possible; this will instantly kill it without having to a waste another rocket.
  • Dual-wielded rocket launchers are extremely effective at wiping out large swarms of enemies, especially when they are lined up side-by-side.
  • If the player is being overwhelmed by Aurigan Haemovores, this weapon can easily destroy groups of them at once.

Behind the scenes[]

  • In Test 1 and beta screenshots, the rocket launcher and its ammunition had a completely different model, as seen in the gallery.
  • Early Serious Sam 3 concept art shows a completely different version of the rocket launcher, along with a different loading mechanism.
  • In early footage of Serious Sam 4, the rocket launcher had a slightly different model with the words "XPML26" imprinted on it. This suggests that there was going to be a new rocket launcher added to the game at some point, but the developers felt that it would be better to stick with the original weapon.

Related achievements[]

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter[]

Achievement Rocket Jumper SSHDTFE
Rocket Jumper
Perform 100 rocket jumps.

Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter[]

Achievement Rocket Jumper SSHDTSE
Rocket Jumper
Perform 100 rocket jumps.
Achievement Rocket Man
Rocket Man
Get all 3 Rocket launchers in Palenque - Sierra de Chiapas.

Serious Sam VR: The First Encounter[]

Achievement I love my Rocket Launcher SSVRTFE
I love my Rocket Launcher
Kill 150 Enemies with the Rocket Launcher.

Serious Sam Fusion[]

Achievement I love my Rocket Launcher SSF
I love my Rocket Launcher
Kill 150 Enemies with the Rocket Launcher.

Trivia[]

General[]

  • The weapon's initials stand for "personal missile launcher".[1]

Serious Sam 3: BFE[]

  • In Serious Sam 3, the rocket launcher causes knockback at certain angles, even on Tourist difficulty where no damage or knockback is normally expected. This can be exploited to make long-range jumps (for speedruns). This is fixed in Serious Sam Fusion.
  • According to professor Gottlieb Kiesel, he designed the multirocket upgrade for the rocket launcher.[3][4]
  • In Serious Sam HD and from Serious Sam 3 onwards, the rocket launcher will gib a player upon dealing 150 or more damage to them, although this most commonly occurs with a direct hit. In Serious Sam 1, though, 50 or more damage from a rocket can gib the player.

Gallery[]

Artwork[]

Serious Sam 1[]

Pre-release[]

Retail[]

Serious Sam Advance[]

Serious Sam: The Random Encounter[]

Serious Sam 3: BFE[]

Serious Sam's Bogus Detour[]

Serious Sam 4/Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem[]

List of appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Serious Sam 3: BFE NETRICSA description
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Serious Sam 4 NETRICSA description
  3. Serious Sam 4 level: Gates of Hell (conversation between Sam and Professor Kiesel)
  4. Serious Sam 4 level: The Die Is Cast (conversation between Sam and Rodriguez)
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