As per usual, our keen-eyed rumor mongers were right. Marathon: Durandal is coming. As if the USK retraction could fool us. C'mon people, give us some credit. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. And now that the feline entity has escaped its papery cage we can finally talk details. Let's start with the basics and work our way though everything, shall we? Join me after the break for more words than a post should ever have.

First Point: Marathon: Durandal is indeed a port of the second game in the Marathon Series. However (as our tipster Xyl noted) they have decided to leave the "II" part off the title, likely to avoid consumer confusion over where the first game went. The original Marathon could still arrive under the plain jane name Marathon (shocking, I know). And the third installment could arrive as Marathon: Infinity if they choose to avoid numbering them at all. No word on whether the others will be ported. My spidey sense says that more ports will all depend on how much coin they squeeze out for this one.

Next point: HD graphics. The trend continues with an enhanced mode optimized for HD as an option. You can take a peek at a boatload of screenshots exclusively at Halo.Bungie.Org (aka HBO). And I wasn't kidding when I said boatload. There are 50 shots on the site. In addition to the HD upgrade, the game is apparently locked at 60 fps, so it should play silky smooth. If you want to get an idea of how smooth, check out the trailer on the Freeverse site.

Most awesome and crazy bit of news: Online multiplayer. Marathon: Durandal will support up to 8-player competitive online play and 8-player co-op. That's right. Eight. Player. Co-op. (Don't know if that's online or system link or what, but minimum 4-player online co-op is confirmed.) In addition, the game supports 4-player splitscreen play as well so there are options for the geographically diverse and those living next door.

Much of this multiplayer goodness is thanks to the networking Middleware ReplicaNet. ReplicaNet is precisely what you would imagine -- (in their own words) a "stable and low maintenance middleware solution to networking". Hopefully it lives up to the promise of "stable" because we all know how spotty the netcode for XBLA games has been.

Even more info: The game will also include a new "survival" mode where you will be dropped into a level and face never-ending hoards of baddies in order to attain leaderboard bragging (or should that be fragging) rights.

Any more questions? No? Good. I'm tired from all this typing.

All the links you could need:

• Trailer (Direct video player link)
• Freeverse's Marathon: Durandal page (smaller version of the trailer on the right)
• Boatload of Screenshots
• Official Xbox.com page

[via HBO and Freeverse, thanks Xyl]