My trek through Shenmue II continues. I'm having a blast with it...for the most part, the aimless wandering and part-time work that bogged down the first game is completely gone here. The subtle additions, like being able to "wait" for something (instead of coming back in twelve hours) and being able to save anywhere really go a long way. The core gameplay is the same, but it's much more refined this time around.

• GameSpot has posted a news item that contains new details on Superman: Shadow of Apokolips for the PS2, including word that the game's graphics use the cell-shading technique that's become popular of late.
• It may seem like an eternity from now, but Nintendo has announced that Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet, Eternal Darkness and their wireless Wavebird controller will all be released in June.
• Speaking of Eternal Darkness, the newly redesigned Cube.IGN has a new teaser movie online.
• Core Magazine has posted a report from Microsoft's Xbox Experience event in Japan, complete with photos from the show floor.
• If you're considering importing a game, this article at Dreamcast.IGN may be of interest...it's a report on several import shops (none of which are Dreamcast-specific, of course). I've used NCS for several years, and can happily recommend them to others.
• The actual image link seems to be fudged at the moment, but supposedly you can find new shots from Tomb Raider Next Generation at this page on PS2.IGN.

Console Game of the Evening: Phantasy Star for the Sega Master System. I can't believe I waited this long to spotlight this game, one of my favorites of all-time, and the best reason to own a SMS. While it's nothing like the most recent game in the series, it's still a wonderful 8-bit RPG, and worth checking out if you're curious about the series' heritage (or just looking for a great game).