StarSoldier1's Full Review: Microsoft Xbox 360 Premium (20 GB) White Console
Xbox 360 (Microsoft, November 23, 2005)
The original Xbox game console proved to the world (sans Japan I guess since it didn't do too well over there) that Microsoft does know how to compete with Nintendo and Sony at the console wars. Sadly, the biggest weaknesses of consoles themselves in general is that they will age very quickly and it only takes a few years before they become obsolete (like my NES and Sega Genesis systems). Although the Xbox was technically more powerful then it's closest rivals (the Sony Playstation and Nintendo GameCube), Microsoft wanted to get the jump on the competition by jumping in the next generation first. Now here we have the big sequel to the Xbox simply called the Xbox 360. The 360 not only comes with more processing power then any other past console on the market but the system comes with a bunch of new features as well. Will the Xbox 360 be the next big thing or was this thing released way too early?
In case you haven't already seen it yet the design of the second more supped up edition of the Xbox is a slightly smaller yet goofy white concave unit that can stand up or lay flat much like the original Playstation2. Also like the original PS2 (see a pattern here?) you can add on or remove the system's Hard Drive so you can either save your games through a memory cart or just get the Hard Drive so it's more like the original Xbox. The new white and sleek controller is light and durable like the old Xbox S pad. If you know that controller it had two analog sticks and 10 buttons for today's more advance 3D titles. The only difference now is the black and white buttons have been replaced with additional shoulder buttons and there is a new giant 'X' button that can turn on or turn off the system believe it or not. This is perfect for a lazy guy like me!
So far you have two options if you decide to buy a 360. You can either get the green box Xbox 360 Core System with the standard options like the system itself, cords, and standard 360 controller all for 399.99 Canadian. For a extra hundred bucks though you can get the white box deluxe set instead. The Xbox 360 Premium Package will feature the system with all the necessary hook ups plus a bonus 360 wireless controller and 360 Hard Drive. Although the Core system itself sounds kind of lame you can easily buy the Hard Drive ($100 Canadian) or Wireless controller ($60 Canadian) separately so it's no big deal. The choice is yours and I like that.
Each 360 lets you use a cool silver menu system once you turn it on. There you can select from System or the new Xbox Live online service options before you start a game. Like the previous Xbox you can use Custom Soundtracks by down loading your CD to the Hard Drive but now you can even listen to your MP3's songs or see your Digital camera photos as well thanks to the new USB ports. All these down loading features are nice but I brought this thing to play games of course your system is only as good as your titles.
Like the previous Xbox, the system seems catered made for the more mature market because there are plenty of violence First Person Shooters and serious Sports already available. The only game that I see is kind of kid friendly is Rare's Kameo and in it you can easily see up her short skirt when she's flying around. I'm not complaining though (it's great actually) but I'm just saying the 360 may not be the ideal machine for younger kids.
The graphics for some of these games can be either absolutely jaw dropping to down right mediocre. Games like Project Gotham Racing 3 do such a good job with camera angles and look so realistic that it could easily be mistaking for a real TV event. Other games like Perfect Dark Zero and Call of Duty 2 also have a massive amount of detail in the environments yet they run on a high frame rate which would be impossible a few years ago. Sadly, some of these 360 games are definitely not as good in terms of graphics to say the least (the pop up in Ridge Racer 6 and the bland Tony Hawk American Wasteland are good examples of averageness) but that can be blamed for programmers not fully utilizing the new technology yet.
The big problem with the new 360 graphics is that the original Xbox itself was already more powerful then the competition already so some gamers may not be too impressed and say: 'That's it!' It was smart that Microsoft got the jump on Nintendo and Sony but you may be one of those gamers that's fine with the current generation especially with the prices coming down, eh? Just look at the big games released in 2005 like Resident Evil 4 (GameCube) God of War (Playstation2) and the console version of Half Life 2 (Xbox), they all look amazing even though they are on the 'so called' older systems now. Although there have been some good to great so far but it's a shame that's no game like a Halo 3 or New Knights of the Old Republic at launch because they were some of the biggest franchises for the old Xbox. If you have the Xbox 360 with the Hard Drive you can also play a selection of hundred or more standard Xbox titles as well. Remember you can't play everyone of them though because the 360 won't recognize them all (BBOOOO!) but it will play some of the bigger hits like Halo 1 or 2.
When it is all said and done the Xbox 360 is definitely an improvement over the last system. I love being able to turn off and on the system from the controller and its great to see these high definition graphics in only the year 2005. Speaking of the system's early 2005 launch it was a wild success with Xbox 360 shortages reported everywhere and it even sold up in the thousands on online auction sites. It just goes to show you gamers wanted next generation even if the prices were outrageous. Because of this the future looks very bright for the 360. It's not all good news though. First off how are you going to tell your wife, girlfriend, (or both), husband, boyfriend (or both) that you are going to drop close to a thousand bucks just to get a new system with accessories and games? Another problem some may have is the new graphics are great here and everything, but some may not be impressed has others and what's the deal with the lack of full backward compatibles of all the original Xbox games? If you are unsure about the system (or you happen to live in Japan were everybody seems to hate it) it may be a good idea to wait and see what the Playstation3 and Nintendo Revolution have to offer first before you invest in the Xbox 360. The system is still off to a great start and it looks like the best is yet to come.
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