One of our Recent Reviews of the 360 Gameplay Console
I had hoped that having won the HD format war, Sony would get it's act together and lower the price of their next generation console.
Then came the ludicrous withdrawal of support for PS2 games, more console variations than necessary, and the continued absence of killer games.
Worse still, they stuck closely to pricing the PS3 at £300 and over.I began to seriously look at the Xbox 360, and when the prices tumbled along with the cost of it's software, I decided to take the plunge. Buying this 60GB model was a great decision. Here's why:
GRAPHICS:
The Xbox 360 graphics are truly awesome. The Xbox 360 is easy to develop for, and most games run at 1080i/1080p, whereas the equivalent PS3 title typically displays at a 720p maximum. For a more powerful machine that's shocking, and the Xbox 360's superior lighting and pixel shading means that it more than holds its own. Just check out the technology comparisons on sites like www.gamespot.com and you will see that the Xbox 360 typically out-muscles the PS3 in the graphics department. Through the built-in HDMI connection the Xbox 360's graphics simply leap out of the screen, this is the Xbox 360 Revolution.
SOFTWARE:
The Xbox 360 has a huge games back catalogue, and with retailers dropping the price of the games, now is a great time to pick up superb software at prices cheaper than a new PS2 game. When you can pick up innovative, platform specific classics like Gears of War and Bioshock brand new in a '2 for £30' deal, you instantly realise that you can cheaply and easily build a comprehensive next gen gaming library. Factor in the latest software from EA, Namco, and the acquisition of previously Sony-specific games like Devil May Cry, you have a winning combination.
RELIABILITY / BUILD QUALITY:
The Xbox 360 console has been internally redesigned to improve reliability from the ground up. New chipset's are more efficient, and the heat sinks are kept away from the main part of the console helping to control running temperature and minimise failures. The console doesn't emit much more heat than the launch PS2's did. Yes, the fans are still noisy compared to other consoles, but this can be dampened considerably by placing the console horizontally on carpet or another soft surface. The wireless pads work flawlessly and are ergonomically excellent. In fact all of the peripherals feel well designed and sturdy.
ONLINE:
Xbox Live has online gaming and content delivery nailed. Sony's online environment may be more aesthetically pleasing, but Xbox Live has pitched the experience to perfection. The only downside is that online connectivity is required to download console updates that enable certain games (FIFA 09, NHL 09 etc). That assumption is annoying, but the speed and ease of connecting to Xbox Live makes running updates a breeze.
VALUE:
You can't fault this. Quality games, major developer support, affordable software and a wealth of downloadable content. Add a comprehensive warranty into the deal and you have a compelling package. This is exceptional value.PS3 advocates will no doubt point to their console as the one that will mature with age and eventually yield the best gaming experience. But right now the PS3 is an expensive and poorly utilised alternative, with only the integrated Blu-Ray player and marginally superior build quality to recommend it.
By the time it is ready to come into it's own, the PS3 will no doubt face competition from the next creations by Microsoft and Nintendo.
Sony have scored a bit of an own goal with their system, and in an effort to win the console war Microsoft have taken the upper hand with this little beauty.
If you want an affordable next generation gaming experience, with arguably the best support and visuals currently available, then you would be mad to ignore this.
I couldn't let this pass me by, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
Top Games for the Xbox 360