Not to be outdone by legions of angry, bloodthirsty critters, Sega also announced Condemned 2: Bloodshot as its follow-up to Criminal Origins, the junkie-slaying Xbox 360 launch title that had early adopters crying themselves to sleep. The sequel promises a revamped combat engine and a brand new online multiplayer setup, allowing gamers for the first time to pull a variety of random objects out of walls and beat the snot out of each other in the dark via Xbox Live. From the horse's mouth:

Players will assume the identity of Ethan Thomas, the former Serial Crimes Unit investigator, who’s been called back to duty to track down his missing partner. As Ethan, players will engage in visceral combat using a variety of firearms, blunt instruments and an all-new fighting system complete with defensive and offensive combo chains. To help track the killer and solve the mysteries behind Condemned 2: Bloodshot, players will crack open an all-new set of high-tech forensic tools. Using wits and brute strength, murders can be solved in a number of different ways to keep players guessing throughout each suspenseful investigation.

In all honesty, I'm the wrong dude to write this post. I've only played the original game once, and that was this morning, and it was the demo. Between my experiences and this press release, I can certainly say that the combat system was in dire need of an overhaul, so that's good news.

But does a game like this, despite its FPS roots, really warrant multiplayer gameplay? My brief romance with Condemned seemed to emphasize mood and crap-yer-pants jump-scares over action. How's the rest of the game play out?

Hit the jump for the release, and let me know what I'm missing in the comments.

SEGA REINVENTS THE FIRST PERSON ACTION EXPERIENCE WITH CONDEMNED 2: BLOODSHOT

All-New Psychological Terror Featuring Revolutionary Combat, Chilling Serial Killer Crime Scenes and Online Multiplayer

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (May 10, 2007) – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe, Ltd. today announced Condemned 2: Bloodshot™ the next chapter in the terrifying series that began with the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Condemned™. Featuring an all-new fighting mechanic and online multiplayer functionality, Condemned 2: Bloodshot is a first-person action thriller which immerses players in a world of psychological terror. Following a string of gruesome murders, players must use their deductive skills and brute force to track down sadistic serial killers.

Developed by the renowned Monolith Productions, creators of the original Condemned, Condemned 2: Bloodshot is due for release across Europe in early 2008 for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Players will assume the identity of Ethan Thomas, the former Serial Crimes Unit investigator, who’s been called back to duty to track down his missing partner. As Ethan, players will engage in visceral combat using a variety of firearms, blunt instruments and an all-new fighting system complete with defensive and offensive combo chains. To help track the killer and solve the mysteries behind Condemned 2: Bloodshot, players will crack open an all-new set of high-tech forensic tools. Using wits and brute strength, murders can be solved in a number of different ways to keep players guessing throughout each suspenseful investigation.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot takes the series to a whole new level by introducing a variety of thrilling online multiplayer modes including deathmatch, which promises to deliver the most brutal hand-to-hand combat experience the first person genre has ever seen.

“The original, Condemned, was a game which truly shocked and scared its players with its subtle details, gripping story and eerie tension throughout,” said Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe. “Condemned 2: Bloodshot takes these three key elements to heightened new levels, providing a superb mature gaming experience that will constantly surprise its players and keep them gripped from start to finish.”

The disturbing events from Ethan’s past have left him a broken man – a desperate burnout, drifting aimlessly through a society in inexplicable decline. Fighting inner demons throughout his one-man investigation into a sinister conspiracy, Ethan will need to use anything and everything in the environment to survive as he unravels the mysteries shrouding the city in darkness.

For more information on Condemned 2: Bloodshot and all other SEGA titles please visit www.sega-europe.com.