The Thompson submachine gun (Tommy gun in some of its appearances, and M1A2 Thompson in Serious Sam: The First Encounter and Serious Sam: The Second Encounter) is a fully automatic submachine gun that appears in many Serious Sam titles.
Overview[]
The Thompson is a replica of the original model invented by General John. T Thompson, which has been modified to accept 5.56×45mm NATO rounds in order to be compatible with other standardized infantry weapons.[1] Its universal drum magazine can be filled using any standard ammo pack.
The Thompson fires one bullet every time the fire key is pressed. The weapon has perfect accuracy, though the weapon does a have a slightly noticeable spread. Despite having a visible magazine, the Thompson does not need to be reloaded in both Serious Sam: The First Encounter and Serious Sam: The Second Encounter, allowing the player to continue firing the weapon until they run out of ammunition. In Serious Sam's Bogus Detour and Serious Sam 4 however, it does have to be reloaded after its magazine has been expended.
In Serious Sam: Double D, once the golden version of the Thompson has been unlocked, it increases the bullet size and damage output of the weapon.
In Serious Sam 4, if the player purchased the Digital Deluxe edition of the game, they can select the Thompson as a skin to replace the M29 Infantry Assault Rifle.[2] This change is purely cosmetic and is identical in terms of performance with the assault rifle, right down to the 80-round magazine that needs periodic reloading. The player can also aim down the sights of the weapon, which offers the same amount of zoom as the M29 while also offering more peripheral vision due to not using a holographic sight. The Thompson is usable in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S ports of the game without needing any additional DLC purchase.
Upgrades[]
The Thompson can receive several upgrades in Serious Sam: Double D: XXL. These upgrades can be purchased from The Trader using Cerebral Controllers. The last upgrade, Turret Tosser, is unlocked after completing the game.
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Reflectinator ($100) |
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| Fires large caliber shots that are able to bounce off the ground and can strike enemies. | |
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Death Adder ($150) |
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| After hitting an enemy each bullet travels through the creature, exiting and splitting into two additional shots. | |
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Death Bringer ($300) |
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| Seeking bullets with a high rate of fire. Can still hit the ground. | |
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Turret Tosser ($450) |
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| Creates turrets that will attack enemies for the player. They use bullets as ammunition. The longer the fire key is held down, the more ammo the turret has. | |
Appearances[]
The Thompson is a common weapon often appearing early in its appearances, often on the second or third levels. It can be obtained earlier in secrets. Ammo for the weapon is also common.
Being a rapid-firing weapon with perfect accuracy, the Thompson comes in handy for the first few levels, especially when the player is in open area or in close-quarters environments such as narrow hallways and corridors. The weapon begins to lose its effectiveness as the player progresses and tougher enemies begin to appear. Nonetheless, the Tommy gun still serves as a versatile weapon when dealing with groups of weak or medium enemies like Beheaded Kamikazes, Gnaars, or Kleer Skeletons.
Serious Sam: The First Encounter[]
The Thompson is first obtained at the end of "Valley of the Kings", but can be found earlier inside the Marsh Hopper room in "Sand Canyon" as a secret. On higher difficulties, it is guarded by a Scythian Witch-Harpy.
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter[]
The Tommy gun's first appearance is in "The City of the Gods", though it can be obtained earlier as a secret in "Sierra de Chiapas" in Serious Sam HD. In the Babylonian era, the Thompson makes a second appearance in "The Elephant Atrium" where it is found inside of a temple. The weapon's final appearance is in the Medieval era, in the level "Land of the Damned".
Serious Sam Advance[]
The Thompson is first found in "Amon Thule, Subterranean Palace of the Pharaohs" normally, or in the level "The Temple of Herkat Lower" as a secret.
Serious Sam: Double D[]
The weapon is first acquired in "Egyptian Assault". Several Thompsons appear throughout the game, which can be used in gunstacks.
Serious Sam's Bogus Detour[]
The Tommy gun is first obtained in Knee Deep in Sand inside an Orc base. It later appears for a second time in "Trouble in Troy".
Serious Sam Classics: Revolution[]
In the Revolution-exclusive campaign Bright Island, the Thompson is found towards the end of the first level, "Timeless Caves". Ammo for it appears on every level afterwards.
Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope[]
The Tommy gun can be purchased in the weapons menu once the player has acquired enough points to purchase it.
Serious Sam 4[]
The weapon is locked behind a paywall and requires the player to purchase the Digital Deluxe edition of the game in order to use the Tommy gun. It only appears when the player chooses to select it to replace the M29 Infantry Assault Rifle in the game settings.
Tactics[]
General[]
- Although the Thompson has perfect accuracy, the player should try to fire in bursts to avoid wasting ammunition.
- The Thompson is an excellent weapon against hordes of small enemies, such as Beheaded Bombers, Beheaded Firecrackers, Beheaded Kamikazes, Beheaded Rocketeers, and Gnaars. Only two bullets are necessary to kill a beheaded soldier, making larger groups little threats.
- The Thompson is decent against small groups of Kleer Skeletons, but larger groups will require the use of more powerful weapons like the XL2 Lasergun, XM214-A Minigun, or XPML21 Rocket Launcher.
Serious Sam: The First Encounter/Serious Sam: The Second Encounter[]
- The Thompson is very effective against Scythian Witch Harpies. Because of its accuracy, it can be used to decimate a flock of Harpies at long range before they get too close to the player. Even at medium or close range, it can take out a flock with little to no ammo wastage. However, when in overwhelming numbers, its rate of fire and damage output rate can be a bit frustrating, so ammo reserves permitting. The minigun or lasergun might be a better choice.
- It is a good weapon to use against juvenile Arachnoids, but it is not recommended to be used against adults due to their higher health and the possibility of wasting ammo.
- Minor Bio-mechanoids can also be cut down with the Thompson. Its accuracy allows the player to eliminate them at medium to long range before their lasers can hit the player. At close range, the Thompson is not as effective as other weapons, such as the Double Barrel Coach Gun.
- This weapon is one of the ultimate anti-Marsh Hopper firearms. One bullet from this weapon can kill a Marsh Hopper, including Marsh Hoppers that appear in secrets. With burst fire, the player can destroy hordes without a problem. Sidestepping and firing at hordes of Marsh Hoppers is even more effective, as the player can reduce the risk of being hurt by their jumping attack, and also mow down dozens of them at the same time.
- Ammo for the weapon is fairly common, which can allow the player to use it for extended periods of time.
- Like the Schofield .45, the Thompson can be used to finish off wounded enemies at long range. The Thompson's much higher rate of fire compared to the Schofield is more sufficient, which is useful if the player is being swarmed by other enemies.
- If playing in The Second Encounter and Serious Damage is active, the Thompson becomes a powerful, rapid-firing weapon that can wound or kill even the toughest enemies, such as medium Lava Golems or Major Bio-mechanoids. It can also be be used to wound Highlander Aludran Reptiloids from a distance.
Serious Sam Advance[]
- Classic trench sweeper made famous by Al Capone and his prohibition busting illegal booze antics. Bullets tend to spray everywhere, so not too accurate above medium range. But when Sam is surrounded by bad guys nothing else will do.
- The Thompson is very useful for taking out groups of medium-strength or weak enemies, such as Methug Commanders or Kamikazes. It has a fast enough rate of fire and does enough damage per bullet that it can wipe out a group fast enough.
Serious Sam: Double D[]
- The Thompson is an excellent weapon overall. It does a good amount of damage and has a consistent and good rate of fire. This makes it a great weapon to use with nearly any gunstack combination as either the main focus or as a supplement weapon for more powerful ones. However, the Thompson does too little damage against strong enemies, such as the Caterfighter.
- The Thompson is useful for doing extra damage while using stronger weapons, such as the LM32 Rocket Launcher.
- When upgraded with upgrades such as the Death Adder or Death Bringer, this makes the Thompson much more effective, especially when stacked with other upgraded weapons.
Serious Sam's Bogus Detour[]
- Much like its previous incarnations, the Thompson works well with weak enemies like Kamikazes and groups of Gnaars. It is also effective against Infected Fish, Juvenile Antaresian Spiders, Kleer Skeletons, Minor Bio-mechanoids, Orc Troopers, Orc Snipers and Towers.
- The weapon can also be used against one or two Orc Captains. However, due to their high health, it can be considered a waste of ammo.
Behind the scenes[]
- The Thompson did not appear in Test 1. All its appearances were replaced with the minigun.
- During the Alpha and Beta stages, Sam's arm was visible while holding the Thompson, but was removed in the final version. This was brought back in Serious Sam HD and Serious Sam Classics: Revolution, although Sam's right hand is not visible in the former.
Related achievements[]
Serious Sam VR: The First Encounter[]
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| Kill 200 Enemies with the Thompson Submachine gun. |
Serious Sam Fusion[]
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| Kill 200 Enemies with the Thompson Submachine gun. |
Trivia[]
- The M1A2 Thompson is a fictional weapon, albeit loosely based on an accurate model.
- Despite its name, the Thompson in The First Encounter and The Second Encounter bears a greater resemblance to the M1928, and not the M1A1.
- The Thompson has a different, slightly improved model in the Xbox version of the First Encounter. The HD version is based on the Xbox model, as opposed to the classic First Encounter version.
- The Thompson features a stock in Serious Sam's Bogus Detour and Serious Sam 4, but not in any of its other appearances.
- As stated above, in the First Encounter and Second Encounter, Sam does not hold the front grip in first-person mode.[3] This has been fixed in Serious Sam HD and Serious Sam Classics: Revolution.
- In the First Encounter and Second Encounter, the Thompson uses the same firing sound as the chainguns used by Arachnoids.
- This sound is also reused for the Technopolyp's machine gun in Serious Sam 3.
- In Bogus Detour, the Thompson reuses the M29's firing sound from Serious Sam 3.
- The Thompson uses 5.56 mm ammo (a longer rifle cartridge) in most games despite its model visually having a thin magazine for pistol rounds.
Gallery[]
Serious Sam: The First Encounter/Serious Sam: The Second Encounter[]
Pre-release[]
Retail[]
Serious Sam (Palm OS)[]
Serious Sam Advance[]
Serious Sam: Double D/Serious Sam: Double D: XXL[]
Serious Sam's Bogus Detour[]
Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope[]
Serious Sam 4[]
References[]
List of appearances[]
- Serious Sam: The First Encounter (First appearance)
- Serious Sam (Palm OS) (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
- Serious Sam: Xbox (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam Advance (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter
- Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter
- Serious Sam: Double D (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam: Double D: XXL (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam VR: The First Encounter (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam VR: The Second Encounter (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam's Bogus Detour (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope
- Serious Sam Classics: Revolution (non-canonical appearance)
- Serious Sam 4 (Weapon skin only)