It's not been a bad end to the week... a brief update about APB the other day was closely followed by a glimpse of some new Crackdown 2 screenshots (pics courtesy of Videogamer.com)...

...and just when you think things couldn't get any better, then Joystiq goes and shows off some actual gameplay footage - a deathmatch to be precise. It's still very much a work in progress but it's certainly enough to whet the appetite!

First impressions suggest Crackdown 2 is largely going to be more of the same - with not too much changed aesthetically and nothing particularly revolutionary in content. I even read somewhere that the city will remain pretty much as before...

On paper, at least, it seems more like an update than a proper sequel.

There appear to be the usual orbs, explosions and super agile agents... but who would bet against Ruffian making this even more of a must-have title than the cult original? As the video footage shows, multiplayer mode makes a welcome return but promises to be even bigger and better.

Cartoony-looking Crackdown was the first game I completed after getting my Xbox all those years back and I've spent many an hour since then looking for all those orbs and racking up the achievements. Even today, amidst the latest blockbuster titles, it still manages to hold its own.

Sandbox gaming is certainly looking promising in the year ahead!