Spielberg's Monster House creeps towards DS and GBA

Halloween has long been a game of inter-generational chicken. In more innocent times, kids got sweets as a reward for their scary ghost costumes, and stingy adults risked an egg splattered on the side of the house. Today, heavily-armed hoodies confront shotgun-wielding tabloid heroes and cellar-owning perverts. Less 'trick or treat', more 'your money or your life'.

Thank goodness then for Steven Spielberg. In his upcoming Monster House movie – out later this month in the US – one particular house is a haunted one that swallows children whole, and three local kids try to outwit it, as well a scarily-talented cast of grown-ups including Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Kathleen Turner.

Something for both sides then, including, doubtless, tooth decay from all the Spielbergian sweetness.

Of course, no movie is complete these days without the obligatory game; THQ's DS and GBA Monster House titles are currently slated to arrive in the UK late next month. You'll be able to explore the eponymous monstrous house a room at time, recreating moments from the movie and undergoing new adventures, and taking on the role of one of three playable characters – presumably, the three heroic kids.

We haven't seen the movie yet, so we can't say if you'll be armed with water pistols, catapults, or nunchakus. Click 'Track It!' to come back and sort it out later.