A month and a half after the launch of the Xbox 360, I continue to hear the same question repeated from those friends who’re still bound to the original Xbox; “So, how is it?” The answer I give is simply “It’s great!”, but it’s actually much more complex than that. Many of the games I’ve played on the system are very enjoyable, and those such as Perfect Dark Zero continue to hold my attention. Yet, titles for much less powerful systems, like Mario Kart on the Nintendo DS, have taken center stage at times. So, if the Xbox 360 isn’t completely dominating my gaming as one might expect that a next-gen system should, why am I still so happy that I spent so much money?
I wouldn’t call myself a graphics whore, simply because gameplay is at least equally important to me. That said, however, I do love pretty graphics as much as anyone else, and Perfect Dark Zero is easily the most beautiful game I’ve ever seen. The highly detailed backgrounds stretch off into the distance without any fog or “pop-in”, and despite their cartoon-like appearance, the character models simply astound in the heat of battle. True to the nature of any graphics whore, however, I’ve spent far too much time looking close up at empty weapons and simple bricks with maximum magnification.
Although it may not have the same detail as Perfect Dark Zero, the stunning realism and sheer scope of Call of Duty 2 still amaze. Bungie guru Jason Jones once said that if you can get 5 seconds of gameplay just right, and repeat it over and over again, you’ve got a great game. Call of Duty 2 does this perfectly. Looking down the sights of my rifle, I fire a shot at a Nazi who’s trying to gain position. The recoil of my gun blocks the view of my target for a split second and causes feelings of anticipation and fear, until I see that Nazi literally drop dead out of the corner of my eye. There’s something about the perspective that makes this the most realistic moment in the game, and yet somehow evokes memories of Hollywood movies at the same time. And it simply wouldn’t be the same without the high level of detail and ultra-smooth frame rate made possible by the power of Xbox 360.
What a view
How can a game that was released more than four years ago, and that I played more than any other game ever, still look so damn good? In case you haven’t guessed, I am referring to the original Halo. The work of art that Bungie crafted so long ago stands up very well. The enhanced resolution and anti-aliasing of the game running on an Xbox 360, though, result in one of the first instances of an old favorite living up my fond memories. Halo 2, on the other hand, looks surprisingly like a next-gen title on Xbox 360. It’s so clear that I see details I never suspected were there. How Bungie did it on the original Xbox amazes me now, and also makes me ponder the possible wonders they have in store for Halo 3.
Graphics can’t be the only draw of the Xbox 360, or else I wouldn’t be singing its praises. One of the system’s many other features that I love is its customization options. I’ve downloaded over 200 wallpapers off my PC, and have gotten into the habit of switching them often. I try to keep them relevant, matching theme to my current obsessions or those of my guests, and the reactions I get from friends are priceless. And choosing my own music while playing games is great, especially in instances where no music is provided, such as the multiplayer portions of Perfect Dark Zero and Call of Duty 2. The Xbox 360 of a friend of mine is constantly changing, with a different faceplate every time I’ve seen it. The picture in his gamer profile is changed with even greater frequency.
Another feature of the Xbox 360, which has seen just as much use as the games themselves, is progressive DVD playback. Although I already have a DVD recorder which can adequately play them, my Xbox 360 and it’s VGA adapter allow me to watch DVD’s on the same large PC monitor I use to play games. This provides an extremely clear picture, and an inexpensive alternative to the purchase of a new TV with progressive scan. The movie Serenity, and the TV series Battlestar Galactica, are particularly gorgeous.The ability to play rewritable DVD’s is one of the features I use most, allowing me to watch all my favorite TV shows at my leisure, like a sort of homebrew TiVo. The picture on my monitor is clearer than on any television in my house, truly capturing the quality of digital TV, and once again saving me money.
My favorite movie of the year
One of my favorite things about the Xbox 360 is its controller. It’s the most comfortable controller I’ve ever held in my hands, seriously reducing the cramps I normally associate with extended play. The new shoulder buttons are much more accessible, and the analog sticks are the most responsive I’ve ever felt. All of this combines to make playing original Xbox games more enjoyable as well, and the ability to hook this wonder up to my PC is the perfect cherry on top.The Guide button on the controller has a lot of uses, such as allowing me to effortlessly change songs in the middle of a game. Pressing the Guide button when a friend signs on brings up their profile. Similarly, pressing the guide button brings up a description after earning a new achievement. Swiftly pressing the button when a notification appears on-screen has become it’s own mini-game.
The revamped Xbox Live on Xbox 360 contains a number of new features that add to the console’s appeal. The aforementioned achievements provide extra incentive to replay games which may have been discarded in the past. The record of them provides an aspect which was missing in actual games. My friends and I already compared our single-player gaming achievements with one another, but now we can do it without all the complicated explanations and blank stares. Speaking of my friends, the new Xbox Live fosters even more communication between us. I love being able to see exactly when they were last on, and what they were doing then. It’s also nice to not only see what they are currently playing, but what specifically they are doing in game.The marketplace is another great feature of the new Xbox Live. Not only do I download high-res trailers for upcoming games, but for movies as well.
And even better than that are the free playable demos which now populate my hard drive. Over Christmas vacation, my brother dominated the Kameo demo, and showed exactly why that game is so fun. The ability to play Quake 4 multiplayer on Xbox Live, which reminds me of old Quake 3 and original Unreal Tournament style arena-combat, was a nice surprise. And speaking of surprises, Condemned is really freaky. The number of playable demos from EA is impressive. Titles like NBA Live 06 and Madden NFL 06 wow my friends with their visuals, while Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Fight Night Round 3 have me hooked.
Looks painful, doesn’t it?
In the Janurary issue of OXM, Bill Gates said “Make Xbox 360 a core component of your entertainment center, and it will intensify every aspect of your digital experience.” Although it sounds like a PR line, it’s perfectly accurate. Whether it’s games, TV, movies, music, or just online chat, the Xbox 360 has become the center of my entertainment. Mr. Gates also said “There’s a lot of talk about killer apps, but as far as I’m concerned, Xbox 360 is the killer app for any HDTV setup.” Once again, the man is one hundred percent correct, at least in my case. I’ve used it in one way or another pretty much every single day since launch, and I’m very happy that I’ve had the oppurtunity to do so.
