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New PAL Releases Roundup

Bayonetta! Darksiders! Matt Hazard.

They must have thought they were so clever! 8th January isn't the most coveted time of the year to release games (apparently that's 10th November), but with everything fleeing from Call of Duty they must have calculated there were still coins rattling around in pockets, and that after a lengthy Christmas break gamers would have finished all their favourites and be ready for more.

And they were probably right. Unfortunately, at least in the case of the United Kingdom, they didn't count on the elements, and people being rubbish in the face of them. Even the internet is suffering, with volumes of pointless emails in my inbox dwindling as people can't get into work (although Twitter continues to benefit from trends including #moaningaboutsnow and #moaningaboutsnowmoaners).

It's a shame, because anyone who is capable of getting to a games shop today can choose between the excellent Bayonetta and the very good Darksiders. The former is the latest from PlatinumGames and SEGA, and moved our unflappable Simon Parkin to call it as "blast of creative brilliance", while yours truly had a merry old time killing people and solving puzzles in the latter.

Beyond that, even if you do find yourself snowbound, you might want to forgo most of the "delights" of the download services this week (er, full Matt Hazard review on Monday), although PS3 owners might want to remember that the MAG open beta is still running over the weekend. Whatever you do though: two pairs of socks, two duvets, hot chocolate.

This week in shops:

  • Bayonetta (PS3, Xbox 360)
  • Darksiders (PS3, Xbox 360)

This week online:

  • Art Academy: Second Semester (DSiWare)
  • Guilty Gear (PSone for PSN)
  • Extreme Pinball (PSone for PSN)
  • Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond (PSN, XBLA)
  • Military Madness: Nectaris (PSN)
  • Monsters Inc: Scared Island (PSone for PSN)
  • Mots Croisés (PSP/PS3 Minis)
  • Move your Brain - Rollway Puzzle (DSiWare)
  • Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (Wii Virtual Console - Mega Drive)
  • Sokomania (DSiWare)
  • Stop Street: Day of Fury (WiiWare)
  • Stunt Cars (WiiWare)
  • Tank Battles (PSN)
  • This is Football Management (PSP/PS3 Minis)
  • TV Show King (PSN)