Xbox 360 UK launch review

Conclusions

Is Xbox 360 really the next-generation of gaming? Is it worth spending your money on? Are the launch titles worth buying? And where do we go from here?

The hardware: The console itself is a gorgeous, desirable bit of kit. It looks good, feels good, and the hardware inside plays,err, good. Currently, the raw power of the console allows for a gaming experience that is as rich as a top-end PC. We think that when developers have enough time to get to grips with the hardware - harnessing the power of the triple-core CPU and the unified graphics - that games are going to look far better. Look at the difference in graphical quality between Halo 2 and the original game - we think that the same is going to be true here.

Undoubtedly, by the time the GeForce 8 or 9 Series comes out, along with DirectX 10 and Shader Model 4.0, games on the 360 may start to look a bit behind the times, just as a GeForce 7 and a copy of F.E.A.R. makes Xbox 1 titles look pants. However, this is where Xbox 360 has an advantage - it basically has top-end graphics installed as standard. Where we see developers making compromises on the PC to cater for the low-specced majority, there's no such need here. This is why a game like Kameo, although do-able on the PC, is on the 360 - because it will look that good on everyone's hardware, every time.

The connectivity and media functionality of the console is great. Being able to plug in a USB device with some MP3s on it and play them in a Xbox 360 game is absolutely brilliant, and totally seamless. The ease of use is right there. You can even hook up a standard USB WiFi adaptor to get network access, which is a boon. The inclusion of a high-def cable in the Premium bundle means that you can enjoy awesome gaming out of the box, providing you own the right kind of TV. We only wish there was a DVI output available for a pure, digital connection to a display.

Oh, and the wireless controller. Sublime.

The launch line up: There is no one stand-out game in the launch lineup; there is no Halo for this generation of Xbox. Project Gotham Racing 3 comes very close, but ultimately is let down by the hype it generated for itself beforehand, and the fact that there's very little new in terms of gameplay; it is but Gotham 2 with nicer graphics. However, what you do have in the launch lineup is a range of games that are all brilliant, if not exceptional. Buy PDZ, PGR and Kameo and you won't need to do anything else for a couple of months at least - there's certainly nothing better out on the PC at the moment.

Geometry Wars is excellent, and we're expecting more cool games like this to hit the Marketplace. Being able to download a trial, like a shareware app, is a great thing and we look forward to seeing what else becomes available.

Xbox Live In some ways, this is the highlight of the console launch. Online gaming is the future, and Microsoft is dragging gamers into the future kicking and screaming. By giving away the online functionality to everybody that owns the console, they make access ubiquitous - in fact, it's nigh-on compulsory - and this allows them to do things that would otherwise not be possible.

Since all 360 owners access to the Marketplace, they ensure there is a big enough market to attract premium content to the service, guaranteeing its quality and popularity. The potential and the infrastructure is there to offer all kinds of premium downloads, and the payment system - Microsoft points, which are bought in bulk and then used in small quantities - basically amounts to micropayments done right, the Holy Grail of online services. We can't wait to see what Microsoft does with this service.

Final Thoughts

Of course, none of this is any good if you can't actually buy the product, and we have a fair bet that a few of you will be disappointed come Christmas. Availability is incredibly tight, especially for the Premium bundle.

We're a little puzzled that Microsoft have split the 360 into Core and Premium bundles this early. Sure - the Core is a great value system for those that want to save money. But in the initial few weeks of selling, it's only going to be hardcore gamers that are going to be queueing and stumping up the cash for the system anyway, and none of them want the core system. Why not release the core a little closer to Christmas, and make the Premium more available for the initial rush of hardcore gamers?

If you're a hardened PC man, then the 360 is never going to replace your rig. However, it offers an awesome gaming experience with a lot of finesse. It's well thought out, and incredibly well executed. The 360 delivers awesomeness right now - in the future, it could really change the way we game.



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