Death from Above

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Death from Above
General information
Location	Rome, Italy
Date	May 21, 2112
Objective	Main Find Father Mikhail. Optional Check out the Earth Defense Force storage facility.
Game information
Par time	20 minutes
Secrets	8
Previous level	Man vs. Beast
Next level	Death from Below

 

"Save the rookie. Find the priest. Don't forget to see the sights."

―NETRICSA mission quote

"Death from Above" is the first level of Serious Sam 4.

Plot

An Earth Defense Force convoy escorting members of the Alien Artifact Acquisition team are en route to the Vatican in war-torn Rome to rendezvous with Father Mikhail, a Russian priest and expert in apocryphal texts, who the EDF believe knows the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. Believing that this artifact from myth is in fact of extraterrestrial origin, the EDF hope to harness its powers to benefit mankind and turn the turn the tide in the war, thus giving humanity a fighting chance.

On the way to the Vatican, the convoy comes under attack by Octanian Raiders. Admist the chaos, Sam's car steers out of control and the vehicle lands in some ruins, separating him and Kenny from the rest of his team. With Lord Achriman's air fleet dominating the sky above Italy, Sam and Kenny are now forced to meet up with Father Mikhail on foot.

Data

• Description

The war against Mental is going badly, and humanity needs an edge. The Alien Artifact Acquisition team has been dispatched to Rome to rendezvous with Father Mikhail, an Orthodox priest and expert in apocryphal texts, who may know the location of the Holy Grail. But a fleet of Octanian Raiders is dominating the airspace and the Earth Defense Force convoy has been destroyed. Time to do this the hard way.

Side objectives

"Over the Wall"

When Kenny mentions about an old EDF storage facility, the player should proceed until they reach a radio. Upon reaching the facility, the player can gain access to an equipment case that contains two Holodecoys.

Secrets

1. When you go through the tunnel after encountering a few Beheaded Rocketeers, you will see a barrel on fire next to a wooden cabinet and some debris. Go behind the cabinet to pick up an XPML21 Rocket Launcher.
2. Continue through the level until you come across an open area filled with pillars. From here, head to the right and behind a large bush, you will find a small stone step in the corner. Jump onto the step, then jump to the platform to your left, so the left of the screen is facing the wall. When on the narrow platform, jump to the right and follow the platforms in a square, until you are almost level with the gray platforms above you. When on this level, look behind you, and jump up onto the gray platform, and you'll reach a secret depot containing ammo, health and armor.
3. From the previous secret, keep going until you can see a square wire gate on your right-hand side. Carry on and take the second turn to the right, and you'll come across a massive bush. Go through the bush to find a hidden Medium Armor.
4. Carry on through the level until your waypoint is about 715 meters away from you. You'll head through a mini archway after you exit, look to your right, and you will see an area that you can climb up. Continue until you can climb up a mini set of stairs and hug the wall right to your right until you come to once again another bush. Behind the bush is a gap in the wall that you can fit through. Then hug the wall to your left, and until you go into a mini archway to find a medium armor.
5. Go back to where you previously climbed up to this area, and carry on through the mission and enter the upcoming house. Go through the house and exit; on your right should be a beat-up white car. Carry on down that right path and follow it to find a secret depot containing some health and ammo.
6. On the street where you encounter several Octanian Gamma Troopers, you'll notice an armor on top of a truck and a white van in front of it. Jump onto the white van and then onto the truck to collect a medium armor.
7. From here, you'll see the waypoint is telling you to go to your left. Ignore this and continue going forward towards the bust-up cars against a wall. In the corner of this wall, you'll see a car and a large bush behind it. Go through the bush and look to your right, you'll find a secret depot containing health, armor and ammo.
8. Follow the waypoint through the path to the left and keep to the left, and eventually, you'll come across a bridge. After you cross the bridge, you should come to a metal gate with a sign with a cow on it, saying, "Attention, Secret Project Area, No Visitors". Shoot the sign, and a message will appear saying "The Secret Cow King has been disturbed by your disrespect!", which will spawn the Cow King, a very large Sirian Werebull wearing a crown. He will drop armor shards once killed.

S.A.M. locations

There are no S.A.M. eggs in this level.

Related achievements

	Ecclesiastical Extraction 10
	Save the rookie. Find Father Mikhail. See the sights.

Behind the scenes

• This level was featured in the game's official story trailer. If one looks closely, they can see a Common Aludran Reptiloid patrolling through the ruins where the player first encounters the Processed. The Reptiloid is not actually fought in-game until the third level, "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse", which suggests that the player was going to fight this enemy much earlier than compared to the final version, but was scrapped.

Trivia

• When the game is played during December, a Christmas tree will appear at the beginning of the level. Decorating the tree with 5 Christmas ornaments will unlock a Winter theme and replace the level's music with Christmas-themed music. Skeletons armed with candy canes will also spawn when the player picks up presents that spawn throughout the level.
• The name of this level is a perhaps a reference to the fleets of Octanian Raiders that are seen patrolling the skies and bombing the city as the player progresses through the level.
  • It is also the name of a Canadian rock duo.
• This level takes place a year before the events of Serious Sam 3: BFE, seeing as the first level of that game, "Summer in Cairo", also takes place on Rodriguez's birthday.