Kotaku just reported that four major Capcom titles—Super Street Fighter IV, Lost Planet 2, Dead Rising 2, and Monster Hunter Tri—have all been delayed, starting from April 1, 2010 and stretching out twelve months. This meshes with the recently rumored rescheduled release of Super Street Fighter IV in early April.

As for the other titles, Capcom isn’t giving any exact dates yet. Instead, Capcom simply stated that the usual rigmarole explaining the delay (competing titles; financial gain; all that jazz). So for the time being, we have no idea when we’ll all be able to shoot giant monsters with co-op partners, run through a Vegas-like city cutting down zombies, or…um, hunt monsters.

The title says it all: EA announced a forthcoming sequel to Dead Space, their popular sci-fi/horror shooter. Details are scarce at this point. We know protagonist Isaac Clarke will return, as will the Necromorphs, but that’s about it.

Check out the official announcement below. Yes, it really is this short.

“We’re thrilled to jump back into the series, making the next chapter in Isaac’s journey,” added Steve Papoutsis, Executive Producer of Dead Space 2. “The infection continues to spread throughout space and our hero Isaac Clarke is the only person able to contain it. There are still loads of Necromorphs that need killing. In Dead Space 2, not everything is exactly as it seems. Expect plot twists that will surprise you and a huge cast of twisted, disgusting monsters that are sure to scare the daylights out of you.”

As usual, we’ll update with more info when it is available. In the meantime, why not check out our first HCG Versus Mode feature, discussing the pros and cons of Dead Space? If you’re still somehow on the fence about it, perhaps our article finally persuade you one way or the other. Oh, one last thing: the image above is the first Dead Space 2 teaser image. The weird writing on the bottom is the Unitarian language, which in this case translates to “the nighmare is over but it will not end.” Weird, right?

Remember the original 2D Sonic the Hedgehog games? Remember how much you loved them when you were younger? Then you no doubt know how much it hurt to play the abominable 3D incarnations of Sega’s once-beloved franchise (with one exception, which I’ll get to later).  With each new 3D game, Sega promised they finally got it right. Lies and fabrications!

But time heals all wounds—especially ten years’ worth of it (today is the tenth anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast, which hosted the last decent Sonic game, Sonic Adventure). Sega announced today that a new 2D high definition Sonic game will burst onto the scene next year. Sega is building the game “from the ground up” with 2D Sonic-style platforming in mind. Say it with me now: woo hoo!

Sega didn’t say which consoles this new Sonic title will grace; but given its HD state, I  suspect it will hit the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. I doubt it will release on the Wii, though perhaps it will in a modified (i.e. not HD) form. Personally, I don’t care what console they put it on—I just want to play a good 2D Sonic game again. Mario got a great 2D platformer in the Nintendo DS title New Super Mario Bros., as well as an upcoming Wii iteration; now it’s Sonic’s turn. Are you folks as excited as me? Give me your thoughts below.

If anybody truly thought Activision-Blizzard’s first release of the three-part StarCraft II, titled Wings of Liberty, would make its original 2009 release date, those folks better get out a few tissues. Yep, Blizzard delayed the game, stating it will be released sometime next year. It’s OK—go ahead, let it out. Cry if you must.

Seriously, can any of you honestly say you’re surprised? Also delayed: Singularity. Honestly, I don’t much care for the look or feel of that one, so that’s not a big deal in my book, but perhaps some of you care. Never let it be said I don’t look out for you kids.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced during a recent company conference call that Splinter Cell Conviction and Red Steel 2 are being pushed back to early 2010 (anywhere from January to March), while I Am Alive and Ghost Recon (which I assume is the next game in the series, or possibly a relaunch) will be pushed further into next year—possibly late spring or early summer.

I’d love to say that I’m happy because I’ll have less new games to worry about this winter; but with so many delays, will there really be much left to play later this year? Oh, I know—there’s always Modern Warfare 2. That alone will probably fill up a lot of gamers’ time this holiday season. Me? I’ll probably be too knee-deep in homework to care.

It seems delaying BioShock 2 until the first half of 2010 wasn’t enough for publisher Take-Two Interactive. We now know that in addition to the aforementioned title, Take-Two has delayed Mafia II, Max Payne 3, and Red Dead Redemption until 2010.

Take-Two wasn’t as specific with these three titles as they were for BioShock 2, so we can’t say if this a delay until fiscal year 2010, or just plain ol’ 2010. If it’s the former, these games could still come out in 2009. If the latter—which is the most likely possibility, given the glut of titles already confirmed for late ‘09—then who knows when we’ll see them.

As some of you folks commented on the previous delay article, this is largely a good thing for gamers. We’ll have far less stacked on our plates so that we can savor every bite. And is anyone really surprised? Take-Two did the same thing in 2007, pushing Grand Theft Auto IV back until an unspecified time in 2008, only giving us a firm date further down the line.

Of the three additional titles being delayed, the only one that bothers me is Red Dead Redemption. I was disappointed by Red Dead Revolver, but the sequel is shaping up quite nicely. It looks like the game the original should have been. What about you folks? Any of these delays got you down?

Earlier today, Take-Two Interactive made the very disappointing announcement that they were pushing the release date for BioShock 2 back until the 2010 fiscal year. For those not in-the-know, said fiscal year will run from November 1, 2009 until October 31, 2010. The original release date was set for November 3 in North America, so this announcement seemed rather vague and random.

Now we have a bit of clarification. Take-Two added that BioShock 2 will definitely not release in 2009, but rather in the first half of 2010. That’s the real 2010—not some fiscal year gobbledygook. Take-Two says the delay will “provide additional development time for the title.” Hopefully, the extra time in the oven will result in more delicious gaming experience.

We’ll let you know about any further changes to the release date as soon as the info is available.

Remember the weird “Mask” teaser on Konami site that many thought indicated a new Metal Gear game? Well, those folks were wrong. The “Mask” project is in fact Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, a full-3D Castlevania adventure for Xbox360 and PlayStation 3. MercurySteam is developing and Konami is publishing, in association with Kojima Productions. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Hideo Kojima is involved with a Castlevania game. Go ahead, pee your pants.

Pants soiled? Now check this out:

Thanks to Giant Bomb for the trailer. Now, you’d better go get cleaned up. Nobody likes a smelly nerd.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow hits retailers in 2010.

Yes indeed, dear readers, Final Fantasy XIV is coming exclusively to the PS3 — so says Sony anyway. And what’s more: it’s coming next year.

But don’t get too excited, as this isn’t the next entry in the main series. FFXIV looks to be an online experience, though whether or not it is a MMORPG remains to be seen. Considering the rumors spreading recently about a Square Enix-produced MMO for the PS3, I’d say that’s precisely what FFXIV is, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Check out the site in the near future for more details.

The article title says pretty much all we know about the latest Metroid adventure. It’s called Metroid: Other M, and is a collaboration between Nintendo and Team Ninja.

Metroid: Other M will be a 3D adventure game with some first-person shooting elements, though to what extent remains to be seen. We saw platforming elements mixed with combat and a few FPS-style shooting sequences.

As for story, the game promises to further explore Samus Aran’s background along with the Metroid universe. As much I liked the Prime games, there wasn’t much in the way of story. Hopefully this one will deliver.

Look for more info from us as it comes.