@sins_of_mosin: I think you have to start fresh according to the gametrailers review. It shouldn't be that big of a deal since all you really need is the assault rifle (especially for hardest)

" I'm having fun on normal but if all my upgrades and such can carry over to a new game, I would try hard or hardest.  Does anyone know if the game supports that or does it make you start fresh each time?     "

There is no new game plus, just go to Act 1, Chapter 1 and set the difficulty to whatever you want. I haven't actually done this, so I don't know if you just have/carry all of the weapons you had when you finished the game, or if you have the same loadout from that chapter. I know the tutorial doesn't allow you to have more than the Carbine, I think.

you can still play echo mode. it's not like dead space game or mass effect. just pure blast shooting game.

" There is no new game plus, just go to Act 1, Chapter 1 and set the difficulty to whatever you want. I haven't actually done this, so I don't know if you just have/carry all of the weapons you had when you finished the game, or if you have the same loadout from that chapter. I know the tutorial doesn't allow you to have more than the Carbine, I think. "

" @The_Laughing_Man: That actually sours the replayability of the campaign a bit, considering a charge shot or two never unlocked, or if it did, it happened right at the end when I wasn't using that weapon anyway. "

" @The_Laughing_Man: I'm talking about charge shots, not skillshots. "