Corona | Coming Attractions

Released today for the Xbox 360 is Crackdown 2, one of the console's eagerly anticipated games of the season, a third-person sandbox shooter and sequel to the first 2007 title. Developed by the Scotland-based Ruffian Games, the sequel brings to the title's fans the ability to play 4-player co-op and 16-player multiplayer modes. It's also amped the danger level for players returning to Pacific City as the mutant-powered Freaks are joined by the nihilistic anarchists called The Cell to cause mayhem in the metropolis.

You play as an Agent, one of Pacific City's officers of the law. Your job is to bring down the rampant levels of crime breaking out and stop the release of a deadly toxin that will ravage the populace. Like other sandbox games, Crackdown 2 lets you make up your own adventure as you go along, chasing after crooks, taking down Freaks and Cell members and rescuing civilians from certain death. As an Agent you can also power your own body up and benefit from an array of superpowers.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so why not show off some of the gameplay of Crackdown 2 to see if it whets your appetite?

Microsoft Game Studios is also tying in its promotion of the game to Facebook. By joining a Facebook game called "Chuck's Ducks 2", Crackdown 2 players can get special weapons available that they can use in multiplayer games.

Crackdown 2 carries a suggested retail price of $49.99 in the US and $59.99 in Canada and has been rated M for mature audiences.