The game's signature mode is to be called Strongarm, according to Destructoid's hands-on with the game. In Strongarm, two teams of four fight for territory and cash in a random mish-mash of activities.

"One minute you can be participating in a race, the next you're killing a pimp to claim a ho in the 'Snatch' activity, causing as much chaos as possible in 'Mayhem,' or smashing into other cars in 'Destruction Derby,'" explains the preview.

Another intriguing mode is Stronghold, a capture-and-hold mode using graffiti "tagging" to show control of a territory. But this being the game sporting Gary Busey as a spokesman, that isn't enough. The twist here is that each territory confers a unique bonus like a stamina boost or police support--AI law enforcement that harasses opponents.

Volition put so much thought into competitive multiplayer that co-operative play may seem a bit blase by comparison. Quoth Destructoid: "The main differences seemed to be the number of enemies, a prompt telling us to stick together, and ... the amount of damage both players and enemies could take." Then again, the ability to play through the game's entire campaign with a friend--unlike that of a certain open-world hijacking simulator--may be enough to garner players' praise.

Excited would-be hooligans need not wait much longer. The Busey-endorsed Saint's Row 2 arrives on October 14 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with a PC version following at a later date.