Just shut up and shoot. Oh, and enjoy yourself.
Where Double D XXL really cooks is with its gameplay. It's run-and-gun side-scrolling fun, with strategies galore, including having to shoot switches to activate platforms, and having to shoot enough enemies that fall into a spiked pit so you can safely jump on their bodies without impaling yourself. It's not as smooth as, say, Contra, but it works, and there's carnage aplenty for dedicated Sam fans.
Double D XXL picks up with the addition of gunstacking. Here, you'll pick up new weaponry and have the option of using it in a combined manner, which is excellent for tougher enemies and higher difficulty settings. Granted, you'll run out of ammunition quickly if you aren't careful, though there are helpful shopkeepers to help you refill, and buy extras like the Air Buffer and shotgun enhancement, to keep your performance going strong.
Along with the story mode – which will take a little while to get through, usual side-scrolling shooter length – Serious Sam Double D XXL also comes with some head-to-head multiplayer arenas, which are decent to pass the time with, but hardly on the same substantial level as, say, Call of Duty. And the unlockable challenge arenas are great fun as well, if you feel like letting off some steam against giant monkey lords and other ludicrous enemies. And who doesn't want that?
So in case the title wasn't an indication enough, Serious Sam Double D XXL shouldn't be taken seriously. Not in the least. It's a breezy, humorous shoot-em-up with plenty of potential in its gunstacking and its unlocks, and inhibits the same fiery spirit as previous Sam games. Mommy's Best Games has done commendable work here, and it'll be interesting to see what it cooks up next. And whether it will have rainbow-colored dragons again.
Score: 8 / 10
