The Next-Gen Race Part 1 of 3
The X-Box 360
This month I'll be writing a review of each of the next-gen consoles. First up...Microsoft's X-Box 360.
Graphics:
The 360 was launched a year early, however the graphics are simply superb. Gears of War is currently the poster child of HD, and it diserves it too. The upcoming Halo 3 might rival the pre rendered Killzone 2 trailer, one that was quite impressive to start with. A minor issue is that the low end of the 360's graphical capabilities are about high PS2 standards, leading budget titles to look not as sharp as the front runners. And because of the early launch, more often than not, the average 360 game doesn't look as nice as the Playstation 3.
Controller:
It's simple and has many different buttons in quite confortable locations. Standard wireless is a very nice feature and there is virtually no lag from controller to game. Not much really to say after that, no real cons to speak of.
Game selection / Gameplay:
Here, the 360 really shines. A wide array of different games are available for the gradual social deprivation of the gamer. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, boasts an amazing 200 gameplay hours. And because of backwards compatability, the 600 hour long prequel, Morrowind, is playable as well. Dead Rising, while it has its flaws, provides an interesting twist on the zombie genre placing you inside a shopping mall crawling with tens of thousands of zombies where anything is a weapon. The Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and it's sequel, is another great (Not perfect), game in the 360 library, introducing a new near-future take on strategy. And finally the newley released Crackdown, put you in the oversized boots of a super-cop giving you the ability to fight crime with upgradable super powers, allowing the player to throw cars at gang members or almost fly from building to building. And almost all of the games for the 360 are infintecimally enhanced by near flawless online play (My only gripe? Monthly fees)
In conlusion:
Nice graphics, addicting online play, and a large library of instant classics. A con here or there but otherwise great.
Score:
85/100
