Shippin' Out Jan. 3-9: Bayonetta, Darksiders

The gaming industry typically hits a wall during the first part of any given new year, after having released games in excess during the holiday window. Not so in 2010, as publishers across the board pushed many of their big-name releases out of the holiday window and into the ostensibly more opportune early-2010 period. Though light on overall quantity, January sports a number of big-name releases, and the month will be led off by Sega's Bayonetta and THQ's Darksiders.

Released to solid sales in Japan last October, Bayonetta is the latest offspring of Sega's partnership with PlatinumGames, a studio that boasts the talent of Capcom's shuttered Clover Studio (Okami). Produced by Hideki Kamiya, who also spearheaded Viewtiful Joe and the original Devil May Cry, Bayonetta features stylized third-person action following the scantily clad titular witch with a proclivity toward foot-borne firearms.

THQ scores the second headline release for the week with its third-person actioner Darksiders. Available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game drops players into the role of War, one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse of biblical fame. Astride his flaming steed Ruin, War triggers the end of days on Earth after falling victim to the foul machinations of a demon known as The Destroyer. He then sets out on a quest to vanquish The Destroyer's minions along with the archdemon itself.

For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and the Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

JANUARY 4, 2010
Dreamer: Zoo Keeper--DS--Dreamcatcher

JANUARY 5, 2010
Bayonetta--X360, PS3--Sega
Darksiders--X360, PS3--THQ
Fast Food Panic--DS--SouthPeak Games
My Fitness Coach 2: Workout & Nutrition--WII--Ubisoft

JANUARY 6, 2010
Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond--X360--D3Publisher

JANUARY 7, 2010
Borderlands: Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot--PS3--2K Games*
Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond--PS3--D3Publisher

JANUARY 8, 2010
No new releases announced.

*=Though initially listed as Jan. 5, the PC version's date has not yet been announced by Gearbox.