Thought I'd pass this along... XBOX 360 GAMES: the Good, Bad and the Ugly link If you've scored an Xbox 360, some actual games are going to be the next logical purchase unless you auctioned it off for thousands of dollars on eBay. We've worn our fingers to the bone the past few weeks (just for you) playing through the 18 titles available when the system launched. While the offering is diverse, many of the games are merely visually tweaked versions from the older consoles. Worse, Xbox 360 games can cost a whopping $60 roughly $10 more than games for older systems. Here's our take, from best to worst. __ "Call of Duty 2" (Rated T, $59.99). Emotional and intense, this World War II epic is the best first-person shooter available so far. In a recurring theme, it costs $10 more than the PC version for no good reason other than it comes in an Xbox 360 lime-green plastic case. But it's an impressive display of the Xbox 360's power: it ran smoother on the $400 console than it did on my $2,500 gaming PC. __ "Condemned: Criminal Origins" (Rated M, $59.99) This unique, thrilling action title shows the true power of Xbox 360 with some incredible, groundbreaking graphics. As FBI investigator Agent Thomas, you spend most of your time cautiously creeping through dank, abandoned subway terminals and other unsavory buildings filled with urban decay and murderous sociopaths who like to lunge at you from dark corners. __ "Kameo: Elements of Power" (Rated T, $49.99). Kid-friendly and graphically rich, this is the platformer Microsoft Corp. should have packaged with every new system. Instead, you get to pay $49.99 for this short but fun action game starring heroine Kameo. She has the nifty ability to transform into dozens of nasty monsters, handy for battling monsters and overcoming obstacles. __ "Perfect Dark Zero" (Rated M, $49.99 for "regular edition," $59.99 for "limited collector's edition"). This futuristic shooter stars gadget savvy secret agent Joanna Dark in a rather confusing tale of corporate espionage. Don't buy this for the solo mode online multiplayer combat with a cool arsenal of weaponry is what makes this game fun. __ "Project Gotham Racing 3" (Rated E, $49.99); "Need For Speed Most Wanted" (Rated T, $59.99); "Ridge Racer 6" (Rated E, $59.99). This trio has some of the best-looking sports cars available for any video-game system, with a slight edge going to the photorealism of "Project Gotham Racing 3." "Need For Speed Most Wanted" has a hackneyed story but uses a cool mix of computer graphics and full-motion video actors. "Ridge Racer 6" will appeal to those seeking a less-than-realistic arcade-game approach to high-speed pursuits. __ "Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie" (Rated T, $59.99). A long-winded title for a good but short game based on director Peter Jackson's new film remake. Films have a sordid history of translating into horrible video games, but this one manages to break the mold and even lets you play as Kong, though not nearly enough. __ "NBA 2K6" (Rated E, $59.99); "NBA Live 06" (Rated E, $59.99). By now you've heard about the gee-whiz special effects on Xbox 360 basketball games, like realistic sweat and characters who look like the real thing. "NBA Live 06" looks a bit better, but gameplay is what matters most in a sports title. By that measure, "NBA 2K6" is the champ while "NBA Live 06" is the last-place loser. __ "Madden NFL 06" (Rated E, $59.99). Visually, it's as if you're controlling a real NFL game on the television screen. But don't let the dazzling graphics fool you: "Madden NFL 06" sacrifices many features found in versions for older-generation consoles, yet costs more. __ "Quake 4" (Rated M, $59.99). The creators of the monster-infested "Doom" games offer a similar blood-soaked, first-person shooter. "Quake 4" looks great, of course, but there's nothing new here. __ "Amped 3" (Rated E, $59.99). "Amped 3" presents snowboarding as a cutting-edge lifestyle instead of a mere sport. The sensation of sliding down steep, powdery slopes is convincing. I just wish the controls weren't so, um, flaky. __ "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland" (Rated T, $59.99). This latest game from skateboarding's superstar looks a bit better on the Xbox 360 than it does on older systems. Otherwise, it's the same game, just costlier. Are you seeing a pattern here yet? __ "NHL 2K6" (Rated E 10+, $59.99). Another pre-existing sports franchise gets a glossy Xbox 360 makeover and not much else. The version for older consoles is only $19.99 and there's nothing here to justify the $40 price hike. __ "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06" (Rated E, $59.99). Great looks again collide with sub-par gameplay. The gorgeous, shimmering water hazards don't make up for the fact that there are only six courses available. __ "Gun" (Rated M, $59.99). If you own an older system, there's really no reason to buy this Western-themed take on "Grand Theft Auto" for the Xbox 360. Beyond some exciting horseback action, "Gun" isn't much fun. __ "FIFA Soccer 06 Road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup" (Rated E, $59.99). A pretty but disappointing and overpriced game that has rush job written all over it.
On a semi-related note, the Xbox 360 only sold about 332K (which is basically what MS shipped) in the US last month. A lot lower than expected (PS2 had like ~400K during its first month IIRC). The tie ratio was really good though (1.3M games sold) fpr the 360.
So, why did we have to have one on day one again? Oh...yeah...the graphics! Big freaking deal! That's a joke.
RC why couldnt M$ pump out more 360s?? I would guess they could sell more if they had more on the shelfs even 400K for the PS2 doesnt sound like that many for a launch month, but what do I know...
Sounds like yield issues: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1827&Itemid=2 It isn't, which is why I brought it up. IIRC, Sony had a big screw up with one of their manufacturing facilities shortly before launch, and that cut down their expected shipments by more than half I believe. I was trying to show how these numbers compare to probably the best known shortage of a launch system in the last 10 years or so. What makes it worse is that MS is trying to do a worldwide launch during the holidays with these types of numbers (I imagine Europe and Japan are getting MUCH smaller numbers), and typically launch shipments for systems increase as the years go by. IOW, records for day 1 system sales usually get broken when a new system comes out basically. In case you're curious, prior to all this mess, most were expecting at least 500K for the US, although 1M seemed like a better figure guess. Imagine what MS could have done with those numbers during the holidays.
Eh...looks like the hardware+software numbers may have been a bit inflated. Instead of being only down 4% from last year, it's more like 14%...a pretty big difference. Not sure if this will affect the software numbers and the hardware, or just mostly the software. FWIW, they had COD2 at like 260K sold, which is pretty staggering considering there's only 332K systems out there (78% have the game???). But like I said, those numbers, along with all the other software and/or hardware, might be off. Might find out more tomorrow. Oh, and I'm talking the whole industry here (handhelds, current-gen, and the 360) in case that wasn't clear. I suppose the 360 software could be accurate, but handheld sales off or something.
Sorry for more off-topic stuff, but I found this funny: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051207/tc_nm/microsoft_ballmer_dc So he's in the same boat as all you guys who didn't get one...only he's got a net worth of like 14 billion dollars...but otherwise, you guys are the same.
I got Call of Duty and Perfect Dark. Haven't tried either one on line, but the single player version is average at best. Call of Duty is a little too realistic for me. Meaning I dont want to sit there for 15 minutes and hope for an enemy soldier to pop up so I can snipe his ass. If I go out into the open I get killed. So you dont really have a choice. Also its the same repetitive thing over and over again. Just set in different stages. I give it a 5 out of 10 on the fun meter. I just started playing Perfect Dark. I am only on the second stage, but even this game aint all that. Graphics are awesome. I have an HDTV so that helps, but I am just talking about the fun factor over here. Hopefully future games are much better.
Hmm. I always thought that was the best thing about Call of Duty. It's intense and a big thrill, just like it should be. You might be doing something wrong, though; I've played the PC versions and I don't think there are times when you just sit in one spot for extended periods where nothing's really going on.
It doesn't matter if it isn't the 22nd yet. I guess I should have worded it differently, but by first month, I mean basically what it sold at launch. edit: I actually might be wrong about those PS2 numbers. From Wiki: Hmm...I don't quite remember that many. I'll look into this some more. edit2: I'm not sure where they got those numbers for WiKi. Might be shipped numbers or something, but the NPD (which is where I'm getting all these numbers) had the PS2 at 391K for October 2000 (launched on 26th).
Oops..Hehe. I was looking for two separate reviews I guess. And yeah, I heard about the Madden problems. My friend picked it up and he loves the graphics, but I'll just wait for next-gen NCAA. I love Call of Duty. I'm working my way slowly through Veteran status, but it's driving me nuts. The Nazis all seem to have ESP and know exactly when I'm coming out of cover or reloading. PDZ is pretty, but enemy AI isn't that great. Kameo is pretty good, although I've only played though a little bit of it. Gun? I'm glad I rented it. It's a good game, but I've done almost everything and I've only been playing for about 8 hours.
I have a problem with this person's short review on "Gun". How can he say it isn't that much fun? That is a bunch of BS. Total crap. It's almost like he is saying "oh...I've played it before on the old console...so it isn't much fun on the new console". He's not giving "Gun" a fair shake IMHO. I wish I knew why. Could it be because he is a total nerd? Possibly.
After reading these reviews I'm starting to think that the regular Xbox is the last console I'm ever going to own. Unless Nintendo Rev or PS3 make some major waves, it's all PC gaming from now on..
