When in Rome is the seventh level of Serious Sam 4, taking place in Rome on May 22, 2112. Sam’s main objective is to reach the Vatican Library and find a sacred text that could reveal the location of the Holy Grail. The chapter contains 11 secrets, along with two optional side objectives: Gabriella’s Knight and Worm’s Armageddon.

Throughout this chapter, you can find L.I.F.E. gadgets, an Ammo Depot, a Rage Serum, a Companion Orb and a secret Kamikaze trap. There is also one S.A.M. location at an EDF outpost.

Reach the River

At the beginning of the chapter, follow the path through the tunnels. Once you exit the tunnel, turn left and head underneath the bridge.

Secret #1 – L.I.F.E. Gadget

Immediately after leaving the tunnel, turn left and go underneath the bridge. Follow the ledge along the riverbank to find a L.I.F.E. gadget tucked underneath the bridge.

Continue along the river and deal with the enemies along the way.

Secret #2 – L.I.F.E. Gadget

As you continue down the riverbank, you will reach another bridge. Stay along the ledge and go underneath the bridge to find another L.I.F.E. gadget.

Keep following the river until you reach the next bridge and the staircase leading away from the water.

Secret #3 – Secret Trap

Do not immediately take the stairs. Continue along the riverbank until you reach the barricades at the end.

There is a health pickup sitting there. Pick it up to activate the secret trap, which summons a large group of Beheaded Kamikazes.

One easy way to deal with them is to use a Portable Black Hole. You can also jump into the water; doing so causes the Kamikazes to stop moving, making them much easier to handle.

Once the secret encounter is finished, return to the staircase and continue forward.

Find the EDF Resistance

Go up the stairs and continue into the streets. There is a small kiosk ahead.

Secret #4 – Ammo Depot

After climbing the stairs, turn left and look for the small kiosk. Jump onto the low wall and then onto the roof of the kiosk to find an Ammo Depot.

Secret #5 – L.I.F.E. Gadget

From the kiosk, look for the nearby yellow truck. Use the rubble behind it to climb onto the truck.

Follow the truck’s trailer and jump onto the ledge of the nearby building. From there, make a running jump toward the flower pots to reach another L.I.F.E. gadget.

Return to the main street and continue toward the objective.

Side Mission – Gabriella’s Knight

After the first fights and once you are moving through the streets, you will encounter an elderly Italian man named Garibaldi. He is worried about his daughter Gabriella and asks Sam to check whether she is safe.

This starts the optional side objective Gabriella’s Knight.

Follow the objective marker to Gabriella’s laboratory and fight through the enemies inside. Eventually you will find Gabriella and complete the objective.

Completing Gabriella’s Knight rewards you with a Rage Serum and unlocks the achievement Where’s That Girl.

Secret #6 – Rage Serum

While following Gabriella’s Knight, you will reach an area where you fight a Witch-Bride and several processed enemies.

Look behind the concrete block in this area. There is a small breakable wooden section hiding a Rage Serum. Destroy the obstruction and collect it to register the secret.

After finishing the side objective, return to the main route.

Return to the Main Street

Go back toward the staircase area where you found the earlier secrets.

Secret #7 – Companion Orb

Near the stairs, you will find the route toward the next large combat area. To the right of the gate is a dark corridor.

Enter the corridor and look for a glowing lantern. Shoot it to reveal a Companion Orb, then shoot the orb to register the secret.

Continue through the streets and prepare for another large battle.

Fight Through the Park

You will eventually reach a large park containing a major enemy encounter. Clear the area and continue toward the exit.

Secret #8 – L.I.F.E. Gadget

After clearing the park, check the upper-left side of the area. Look for a pile of wrecked cars.

Go behind the cars to find a hidden L.I.F.E. gadget.

Continue toward the bridge.

Cross the Bridge

Fight your way across the bridge. You will encounter Technopolyps during this section.

Secret #9 – L.I.F.E. Gadget

When you reach the end of the bridge, turn left. Look behind the sandbags near the edge of the area to find another L.I.F.E. gadget.

Continue toward the ruins.

Optional Pickup

After crossing the Technopolyp bridge, you can also head down toward the riverbank. At the end near the concrete barriers, there is a Large Armor pickup. Taking it triggers an additional encounter with several Kleer Skeletons, so be ready for a fight.

Side Mission – Worm’s Armageddon

Continue along the main path and you will eventually encounter Dr. Vermetti. He asks Sam for help with his research and explains that he needs hypermebendazole from his pharmacy.

This begins the optional side objective Worm’s Armageddon.

Follow the marker to the pharmacy and retrieve the medicine. Once you return it to Dr. Vermetti, the side objective is completed.

The reward is three Psychotropic Grenades, and you unlock the You Have Been Wormed achievement. These grenades cause enemies caught in the gas to attack each other, making them especially useful against large groups.

Find the Vatican

Continue along the main road after completing or passing the side objective.

You will eventually enter another ruined area. Fight through the enemies and continue following the objective marker toward the Vatican.

Secret #10 – Ammo Depot

When you enter the ruins, look for the remains of a building with a tree growing inside it.

Use the low wall behind the nearby bush to climb up and jump over the wall. Inside you will find an Ammo Depot.

Continue through the ruins toward the final area.

Secret #11 – L.I.F.E. Gadget

In the final area, look for the ruined building with the tree growing out of it.

On the building immediately next to it on the left is another L.I.F.E. gadget. Climb up to collect it and register the final secret.

With all 11 secrets collected, continue toward the objective.

Reach the Vatican Library

Keep fighting through the remaining enemies as you make your way toward the Vatican. Sam eventually encounters Nonna, a heavily armed elderly woman who helps point him in the right direction.

The chapter’s story then leads Sam toward the Vatican Library, where he must obtain the sacred text. Completing the level unlocks the story achievement La Nonna é Mobile.

S.A.M. Location

There is one S.A.M. location in “When in Rome.”

After the large fight in the park, look for the Earth Defense Force outpost. The S.A.M. is located at this outpost.

Collecting it gives you a skill point that can be spent on the game’s skill upgrades.

When in Rome – Secrets Checklist

For a 100% completion run, make sure you collect all 11 secrets:

1. L.I.F.E. Gadget – Under the first bridge after leaving the tunnel.
2. L.I.F.E. Gadget – Under the second bridge along the river.
3. Secret Trap – Health pickup at the end of the riverbank near the third bridge.
4. Ammo Depot – On top of the kiosk after leaving the river.
5. L.I.F.E. Gadget – On the ledge near the yellow truck and flower pots.
6. Rage Serum – In the Gabriella’s Knight side-objective area.
7. Companion Orb – Hidden behind the glowing lantern near the main gate.
8. L.I.F.E. Gadget – Behind wrecked cars in the park.
9. L.I.F.E. Gadget – Behind sandbags after crossing the Technopolyp bridge.
10. Ammo Depot – Inside the ruined building with the tree.
11. L.I.F.E. Gadget – On the building beside the ruined building with the tree.

Side Objectives Checklist

Gabriella’s Knight

• Check on Gabriella.
• Reward: Rage Serum
• Achievement: Where’s That Girl

Worm’s Armageddon

• Retrieve Dr. Vermetti’s medicine.
• Return the hypermebendazole.
• Reward: 3 Psychotropic Grenades
• Achievement: You Have Been Wormed

Chapter 7 Completion

Once you have finished the Vatican section, the chapter comes to an end and the story moves on to Chapter 8 – “Machina Ex Deus.”

For the most complete run through “When in Rome,” collect all 11 secrets, activate the S.A.M. at the EDF outpost, and complete both optional objectives before finishing the chapter.