Release Chat : Week Of 7 / 12 / 09

Seasonal eggnog cheer and media figgy goodness from Mr Jollycod's Emporium of Panopticon Smashery. Or Stu's Release Chat if you'd prefer...

I know I said last week that the year was coming to a close and that things were going to start slowing down, but there’s actually some very interesting stuff out this week.

I’ll start with the games. We were treated to a new Mario game last week. Would you believe me if I said there’s a new Zelda game out on Friday too? The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is cut from the same tree as Wind Waker, or its DS equivalent Phantom Hourglass, but moves the action inland, where you ride around in a train as opposed to a steamboat. If you like Zelda games and absolutely must play another one, then you’re sure to like this.

Bayonetta is the fantastic looking new game from the ever impressive Platinum Games (formerly Clover). It’s an uber-violent beat em up about a witch who fights people with martial arts, big guns… and her hair. It looks similar to Devil May Cry, with highly stylized visuals and a tight, well-designed combat system – and since we’re talking about the guys who gave us Viewtiful Joe and Okami, it’s got to be worth checking out. [UPDATE: Now out in JAN 2010]

In cinemas this week is Spike Jonze’s adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. Even if you aren’t familiar with the book (which only had around 50 pages and hardly any text), you’re likely to recognise the characters because they get referenced so often throughout popular culture. You may be cynical about how they’ve managed to pad it out to an hour and a half, but this one was always going to be about the visuals. It’s been under a little fire over the quality of the test footage and rumours of children running screaming from the test screenings, but I personally can’t wait to see what he’s done with it.

– Stew (@chicknstu)