Machina Ex Deus is the eighth main chapter of Serious Sam 4, where Sam and the EDF team continue their fight against Mental’s forces and battle through enemy-infested areas.
Throughout the chapter, players can discover hidden secrets containing useful supplies and complete the chapter’s objectives while facing increasingly difficult enemy encounters and powerful foes.
Machina Ex Deus is the eighth chapter of Serious Sam 4 and takes place in Vatican City, Rome. Sam is trying to reach the Vatican Library, but first he needs to find a very unusual vehicle: the Pope’s personal mech, the Popemobile.
This chapter contains 7 secrets and one S.A.M. skill point. There are no side missions, so you can concentrate on following the main objective while picking up the collectibles along the way.
Reach the Other Side of the Bridge
After the opening scene, you’ll find yourself near a bridge with Nonna helping Sam from a nearby position. Before crossing the bridge, take the stairs down on the left side.
Follow the path along the riverbank and you’ll find the first secret underneath the bridge.
Secret #1 – Holodecoy
Go down the stairs on the left at the beginning of the chapter and continue underneath the bridge. The Holodecoy is waiting at the end of the path.
Return to the bridge and continue forward. Nonna will help you deal with the enemies as you cross.
You’ll have to fight several waves of Kleers and other enemies. Once the area is clear, a cutscene introduces Nonna properly, and she gives Sam her Minigun.
Continue across the bridge and deal with the enemies blocking your way.
Find a Way to the Vatican
After crossing the bridge, continue forward and look for the path leading down toward the river.
Secret #2 – L.I.F.E. Gadget
From the location of Secret #1, continue along the river instead of returning directly to the main road.
Follow the river until you reach the end of the third bridge. Continue toward the barricades. On the left side of the barricades you’ll find a L.I.F.E. gadget.
Return to the main road and continue toward the next enemy encounter.
S.A.M. Skill Point
After crossing the bridge, look for the Earth Defense Force fortification near the park. The S.A.M. is located nearby.
Collect it to receive another skill point for Sam’s skill tree.
Continue forward and deal with the enemies around the ruined cars.
Secret #3 – L.I.F.E. Gadget
After the S.A.M. location, continue across the bridge and look for several barriers and damaged cars.
Go behind the car on the right to find another L.I.F.E. gadget.
Continue through the streets until you reach the park.
Fight Through the Park
The route now takes you through a large park area filled with enemies. Use the Minigun when large groups start appearing, but save heavier weapons for the tougher enemies.
Keep following the main route through the park.
Eventually, you’ll reach an area with a truck and trailer parked near a building covered in tentacles.
This area contains several secrets, so don’t rush ahead.
Secret #4 – Time Warp
Look for the truck with the trailer and the tentacles coming from the nearby building.
Use the dumpster beside the truck to jump onto its roof. From there, move to the end of the trailer and jump onto the small building.
You’ll see a lantern nearby with the Time Warp gadget inside it.
Jump onto the lantern to collect the Time Warp.
Secret #5 – L.I.F.E. Gadget
From Secret #4, jump over the wall on the left side of the truck.
Make your way toward the bridge on the right. Go around the bridge and look for a ladder.
Climb the ladder to reach the higher area where you’ll find another L.I.F.E. gadget.
Return toward the truck and continue through the park.
Secret #6 – L.I.F.E. Gadget
Near the truck, look for the sandbags beside a No Entry sign.
Jump onto the sandbags and then onto the ledge.
From there, climb onto the air-conditioning unit and jump upward to reach the L.I.F.E. gadget.
Once you’ve collected it, continue following the main path.
Find the Popemobile
Eventually, Sam reaches an area leading toward a warehouse. You’ll encounter more groups of Octanian forces, including Gamma Troopers.
Fight through the enemies and make your way into the warehouse.
Before following the obvious route through the first room, check the right side.
Secret #7 – L.I.F.E. Gadget
Inside the warehouse, enter the first room and stay to the right instead of immediately going left.
Use the nearby objects to jump onto the pile of crates.
At the top of the crates you’ll find the final L.I.F.E. gadget of the chapter.
With all seven secrets collected, continue through the warehouse.
You’ll eventually discover the Popemobile.
Sam climbs inside the giant mech and prepares to fight his way toward the Vatican.
Destroy the Tentacle Barriers
Once you’re inside the Popemobile, the chapter changes completely.
The mech is heavily armed with miniguns, rockets and a grenade launcher, making it much more powerful than Sam’s normal weapons. The Popemobile has 4,000 health and can also use its boost to dodge attacks.
Follow the road toward the Vatican and destroy the enormous tentacle barriers blocking the streets.
You’ll encounter several large enemy groups along the way. Use the mech’s rockets against tougher enemies and the miniguns for groups of weaker enemies.
Keep moving forward and destroy anything standing between you and the Vatican Library.
Reach the Vatican
Continue through the tentacle-covered streets until you finally reach Vatican City.
A cutscene introduces the enormous creature responsible for the tentacles spreading throughout Rome: the Megalopolyp.
The creature blocks Sam’s path to the Vatican Library, forcing him into a massive boss fight.
Boss Fight – Megalopolyp
The Megalopolyp is a gigantic tentacled creature and the final boss of the Rome section of Serious Sam 4.
Its body is heavily protected, so don’t waste your rockets shooting random parts of the creature. The face is its main weak point, and you should concentrate your fire there whenever it is exposed.
The Megalopolyp attacks primarily with its tentacles and can also grab and throw large pieces of debris at the Popemobile.
Keep moving and use the mech’s boost to dodge attacks. Strafe from side to side when you see a tentacle coming toward you.
When the creature covers its face with its tentacles, it becomes temporarily invulnerable. Use this time to deal with the enemies that appear around the arena rather than wasting ammunition on the boss.
Technopolyps can be particularly dangerous because of their missiles, so take them out when they appear.
Once the Megalopolyp exposes its face again, switch your attention back to the boss and use the Popemobile’s rockets.
Keep repeating this process until the Megalopolyp is finally defeated.
Complete the Chapter
After defeating the Megalopolyp, Sam can finally continue toward the Vatican Library.
The chapter ends after the boss encounter, and you’ll unlock the Holy Driver achievement for riding the Popemobile to victory.
Serious Sam 4 Chapter 8 – Collectibles Checklist
- Secrets: 7/7
- S.A.M. Skill Points: 1
- Side Missions: None
- Secret #1: Holodecoy
- Secret #2: L.I.F.E. gadget
- Secret #3: L.I.F.E. gadget
- Secret #4: Time Warp
- Secret #5: L.I.F.E. gadget
- Secret #6: L.I.F.E. gadget
- Secret #7: L.I.F.E. gadget
- Boss: Megalopolyp
- Achievement: Holy Driver
Machina Ex Deus is a relatively short chapter compared with some of the earlier Rome levels, but the Popemobile section and Megalopolyp fight make it one of the more memorable parts of Serious Sam 4.
