Serious Sam HD sequel firing up XBLA Sept. 22

In April, publisher Majesco Entertainment announced that Serious Sam would be back for more digital distribution following the release of Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter. The company made good on that promise in late April when Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter made its way to Steam for PC gamers. The title was also promised for Xbox Live Arcade, and today the run-and-gun renegade sequel received a release date for that system.

Majesco sent word today announcing that Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter will hit XBLA on September 22. Like the HD rerelease of The First Encounter, the game is being made in cooperation with original developer Croteam and Austin, Texas-based production and publishing company Devolver Digital.

Released less than a year after the original, Serious Sam: The Second Encounter debuted to critical acclaim. The game introduced a sniper rifle, a flamethrower, and a chainsaw to Sam's arsenal; five more enemy types; a trio of new bosses; and three diverse regions to explore/blow up. Croteam also packed in a co-op mode for four players to fight through a dozen levels and a handful of multiplayer versus modes.

For more on Majesco's HD remake of the series, check out GameSpot's review of Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter (PC). For more on the original Second Encounter, check out GameSpot's review below.