Crackdown is ready to roll out to Xbox 360s next week, completely intact with all of the unique crime fighting mechanics players have been toying with since the release of its demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Developed by Real Time Worlds, the new title implements sandbox elements most predominately featured in other action-driving hybrid games but goes a step further by introducing unique features. At the helm of the developer is, in fact, Dave Jones, whose creative juices led to the release of Grand Theft Auto.

Unlike most titles in the genre, Crackdown puts players on the justice side of the law, asking them to bring down criminals by any means necessary. Thanks to RPG-type level building elements and the officers' superhuman capabilities, players will be able to accomplish this feat through unconventional means in single or cooperative modes.

Through the course of play, characters will increase in genetic tendencies as they rise toward their full criminal-busting potential. By taking out baddies with melee or weaponry, strength and firearm orbs raise the experience of the player. Scanning the rooftops and crevices of buildings yield power-ups for agility and accomplishing driving challenges raise the driving experience of the character.

Players can level up characters multiple times in a number of different categories and by beefing up a character, players will be able to run at dizzying speeds, take leaps that would make Superman jealous, control advanced weaponry and, perhaps everyone's favorite, lift and throw multi-ton objects.

In a world where enforcement allows for any strategy or tactic, just because a gun is out of bullets doesn't mean a player doesn't have any ammo. With appropriate strength levels, characters will be able to lift vehicles, even as they drive, and launch them at the opposition. A number of explosive items litter the environment, allowing players to lift and chuck them toward enemies with fiery results. Need some cover from enemy fire? Lift up any number of items in the environment and set up a blockade for much-needed safety.

Vehicles not only serve as darts for players to toss, however, as a number of high-performance law enforcement vehicles are at one's disposal and, of course, civilian vehicles are up for commandeering as well. Not only will vehicles serve as a method of quickly reaching goals in the city, but players can also take part in a number of optional race-the-clock side quests. Players with a high level of agility can opt to take to the rooftops instead, making for even quicker navigation in crowded sections of the urban jungle.

Crackdown will make use of the 360s hardware, presenting a massively-scaled metropolis stylized as a "living graphic novel." With 5.1 surround sound, music and sound effects will give audible identities and locations of enemies among the more than 100 licensed music tracks in the game.

A surprisingly liberal taste of the game is available in demo form for Crackdown, which has already gone gold. The title will be released Feb. 20 and will be yet another ticket for players looking to get into the Halo 3 beta. However, if the demo is any indication of Crackdown's quality, don't be quick to dismiss the title as a mere excuse to get into the beta and an attempt by Microsoft to push copies of the game.