i only bought the xbox for halo and dead or alive beach vollyball. it's a meaty, chunky brick of a console with meaty, chunky games. i liked it. for a bit. then i sold it.
the gamecube had a lot of great action adventure titles, all very varied and interesting. it's always a sign of a good console when there is quality, and variety. however, people complain that it didn't any RPGs/racing games/shooters etc. (i.e. lack of 3rd party support).
the GC had a lot of new nintendo stuff on it as well: pikmin, luigi's mansion, etc. but i always remember capcom's support and the great variety of new games they brought to the console: killer7, p.n.03, viewtiful joe, RE:0, resident evil remake, resident evil 4. it was kind of a vital relationship, due to rare splitting from nintendo. and the second party stuff sealed the deal (in addition to zelda, mario etc.), with 2 metroid primes from retro, and eternal darkness and metal gear solid: twin snakes from silicon knights.
the GC was the console for rich and innovative action adventure games. it's the console you own to play nintendo games.
PS2 had vast 3rd party support, games that appealed to small children, all the way up to adults. they also had some quite avant-guarde stuff in addition to the mega-franchises. i think PS2 is strong in all genres of games. i can't really find a specific weakness....anyway, best console for a variety of experiences, and also quality rivaling nintendo. but also a lot of shovelware crap as well.
the Wii era feels very similar to the GC era at the moment - strong nintendo titles, but weak third party support. but the wii is relying on its 2nd parties to bring exclusives in. hopefully it will become the new PS2. i'd hate to see it end like the GC.
and the 360 and PS3, games-wise, are very similar. the increase of multi-platform titles makes it hard to justify purchases of both. we're seeing a rise in the western-developed game that is now rivaling japan in terms of design; developers who formely made games for the PC. other than that it is mostly beefed-up versions of old PS2 and XBOX franchises.
i salute the sony for their continuing broad demographic, reaching out into more 'artistic' waters with noby noby boy, the new ICO game, echocrome, every extended extra, valkyria chronicles etc. but perhaps aside from noby noby boy, these aren't just offbeat experiments, but substantial and deep experiences.
the 360 is the 'gamers' console. i don't know what i mean by that, but it sounds right. the Wii...well, it's nintendo! it's like the GC, but has a lot of stuff for people who wouldn't normally play games. i think eventually the wii will be the home for simple, fun games for everyone - but no more.
just my opinions.
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