Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance demo coming to PSN and XBL in January 2013

Konami has announced that the demo for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance that is bundled with the Zone of the Enders HD Collection will be seeing a standalone release. According to a tweet on Konami's Twitter account, it's already out in Japan, and will be heading to the rest of the world in January 2013.

"MGR demo is coming to PSN & XBL for all regions next month! Can't wait? Check out the demo now as part of ZOE HD @ http://amzn.to/Uo2Ut5," said the official Konami Twitter account. The demo can be downloaded over PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE.

Earlier this month, Platinum Games had released a new video for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. This video shows more gameplay, but instead of the regular fights we've seen, this one focused more on the stealth side of things. The video focusses on a sewer level where you are encouraged to get by without alerting too many enemies.

Cutting enemies to bits

Judging from the video, it looks like the cardboard box is making a comeback as well. The video also gives us a glimpse of the customisation options that will be present in the game. One of these options includes the ability to wear a poncho and a sombrero.

The company had earlier released a trailer that showed off some of Raiden's new moves. The biggest new gameplay mechanic is the ability to slow down time and pick the direction of your attacks.

Back in November, Konami revealed the pre-order bonuses and the limited edition version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The Limited Edition comes with a 30 cm figurine of the main protagonist of the game—Raiden—in his cyborg ninja form. The pre-order bonus has a steelbook cover and a DLC that unlocks Raiden's Inferno Armour, which increases the number of throwing weapons he can carry.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is set in the near future, where cyborg technology has become commonplace throughout society. Three years have passed since the collapse of the Patriots system that had been secretly controlling the global power balance from the shadows. However, peace remains elusive. The dissemination of cybernetic technology has triggered instability and conflict as those who control the trade gain increasing power. Furthermore, large ‘Private Military Companies’, or PMCs that had been supported and controlled by the Patriots have collapsed, spawning countless rogue entities with origins to larger criminal organisations. These renegade PMCs employing cyborg technology have become increasingly more disruptive, shifting policy and power at will. As a member of the peace-keeping PMC ‘Maverick Security’, Raiden lives by the mantra of protecting and saving lives. But as the world plunges further into asymmetric warfare, the only path that leads him forward is rooted in resolving his past and carving through anything that stands in his way.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is set to release in February 2013.