Finally, it has arrived. Basically a brand new Grand Theft Auto game, The Lost and Damned is now available for download on the XBox 360.

Even after playing the first couple missions, I'm finding it easier to get into than GTA IV. Perhaps it's because the main character doesn't have a heavy accent. It's more likely because it's something new and everyone likes something new.

This story features Johnny Klebitz, a member of Liberty City's biker gang The Lost. The gang is featured in several missions throughout the course of GTA IV, so you should be familiar enough for me to jump right into things. Read more on Johnny here.

You start the game by helping gang leader Billy Grey get his beloved chopper back. Billy is just out of prison and is taking the reins of The Lost back from Johnny. While Billy was in prison, Johnny tried to clean up the gang scene through civility and thought. Immediately, Billy back, the swearing and violence begins.

The first noticeable change for L&D is a new array of weapons. You start off with a sawed-off shotgun, which you can shoot from your motorcycle. Very neat. Other new weapons include pipe bombs and a grenade launcher.

The game also features these online games:

Multiplayer Modes:

* Witness Protection – Bikers try to eliminate a bus while the cops try to protect it.
* Race – Racing on bikes with racers carrying bats.
* Lone Wolf Biker – Kill the Carrier on bikes.
* Own the City – Try to gain control of the city section by section.
* Club Business – Like the original Mafia game in GTA IV, but with more tasks.
* Chopper vs. Chopper – Helicopter vs bike. Bike rider tries to get through checkpoint while helicopter tries to stop the biker.

Just like every Grand Theft Auto game (and the copycats it has spawned), this one is for mature gamers only. The violence and language is heavy, as would be expected. But there's also a scene in the game featuring full-frontal male nudity.

The game is nothing short of a breakthrough in downloadble gaming. For 1,600 XBox points, it's completely worth it. There are plans for a second downloadable GTA "episode," and I already can't wait.

The Lost and Damned currently has a composite score of 90 on Metacritic.

This is a continuing look at some of the games I look forward to playing in 2009.

Maker: Rockstar Games
Expected release date: Feb. 17

The skinny: In The Lost and Damned, you play as Johnny Klebitz, a member of Liberty City biker gang The Lost. The story reportedly doesn't have much to do with GTA IV star Niko Bellic, but exists in the same world. Considered as "episodic" content, game makers expect this download to cost between $15 and $20, but you have to have GTA IV to download it. The game will feature new weapons, vehicles and much more.

Why I'm excited for it: It's a new GTA game. Do you really need any other reason to be excited?