With the two new consoles nearing their release dates, it's about time to make your decision! Which one(s) are you getting? It's no fun buying all three - what fan boys would you hate?! Expensive too... I was going to get an Xbox 360 shortly after it's release, but the only game I was interested in was Project Gotham Racing, and now that doesn't really interest me. So... now I have three new consoles to choose from... I admit, I am biased to Sega, Sonic The Hedgehog games, and prefer Nintendo over Microsoft, definitely over PlayStation, and my interest in Sony and their other products has started to wane a little. Let's get down to business.
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrround wwwwwwwaaaaa... 1... In typical GameSpot review style, here are my predictions on the new console...
Xbox 360 Having been out for a while, the console has a good selection of games, though I'm not yet interested in many. The reason I buy new non-Sega consoles are because of Sonic games. Sonic The Hedgehog on Xbox 360 looks the business, but we will have to wait and see if it holds out compared to the PS3 version. I want one of the versions, but only if the game gets good reviews (which I'm sure it will).
Look of console 6/10 - The console, in my opinion looks fairly nice, but it's big... I'd prefer it to be smaller. It's an improvement on the original Xbox! I hear you can stack it too - bonus!
Name and logo Design 7/10 - It manages to be an Xbox 2, and keep up with the PS3... 2 is lower than 3, and not as good, and all that... 360, full circle, complete. The logo itself is fairly good, however best suited to western countries in my opinion.
Graphics 7/10 - Good graphics. Though I played one flying game which looks ugly, most the games look good. Wont look as good as PS3 though.
Games 6/10 - Sonic The Hedgehog, as previously mentioned is on this console. Need I say more? (Can't think of a single other game I really want other than Sonic - maybe Sega Rally).
Gameplay possibilities 6/10 - It's a games console with a hard drive and a standard controller with online play. Basic stuff. Nothing new.
Console's features 7/10 - Microsoft have the edge on the online play. HD DVD soon, but expensive. No HD games. Though who cares, not me... no HD TV here...
Value 7/10 - The full-featured super version of the console is not cheap, but in comparison to what else is on offer, it isn't a bad deal.
TOTAL: 46 / 70 I reasonable score of 46, puts this console on my wish list, though it's sitting there waiting to be knocked off by something more exhilarating!
Wii Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii... Wii is innovative, though I can't help feeling that I'll look a fool playing half the games... golf?! boxing?! orchestrating?! Waving hands about and pretending you are holding a sword probably has never been so much fun... will this console end up as a gimmick, or will it follow along the success of the DS.
Look of console 8/10 - It looks the business, as does most of Nintendo's recent products. A little of the Apple influence has come through.
Name and logo Design 9/10 - Wii. We play together. One word, easy to remember, works as a symbol, throughout the whole world. Near perfect.
Graphics 6/10 - We probably all hoped for better graphics. It's not all about resolution and polygons, as framerate and design counts just as much. Still... It seems that many successful games on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 wont make it to the Wii... It's a different type of game wii will be playing.
Games 6/10 - Sonic and the Secret Rings. A must have title for sure. At least I hope so. I'm sure Wii will have lots of great Nintendo games. Zelda, Mario, etc. Will it lack the more adult games?
Gameplay possibilities 9/10 - The most innovative games system we have seen since the creation of video game consoles (and then the DS... ). The future holds the answers. Though will Wii just be another style of controlling the games, or will wii see other games that take advantage and challenge the physics of gameplay... ?!
Console's features 7/10 - Invisible box, online play, controllers that react to your movements. The console does lack DVD, HD DVD, HD games...
Value 7/10 - It's cheap as chips. Though you get what you pay for. It is generally going to be cheaper to have a Wii than a PS3 or Xbox 360. The games are cheaper too.
TOTAL: 52 / 70 6 whole points ahead of the Xbox 360. It would have scored more if it had more power.
PS3 Here comes the big boys. PlayStation 1 and 2 were renowned successes...
Look of console 6/10 - It's big, black and just sits there. Looks nice, and powerful, but where do you put it...
Name and logo Design 6/10 - It's called a Pee Ess Free. It's made of horizontal and vertical lines. It doesn't strike me as anything new. As it's not. Though it's a symbol, and symbols are good as they convey messages better than words.
Graphics 9/10 - As I said before, it's the big boys. All powerful and mighty... expensive.
Games 6/10 - I've given all the consoles 6 out of 10 for games... It's a simple fact that most consoles have a fair selection of games. Some exclusive, some not. Sonic The Hedgehog is coming to PS3, and will probably be the best version. Virtua Fighter is exclusive to PS3. Though I prefer the line up of games on the PS3 over the Xbox 360, the Xbox 360 has been out longer, so has more games... The Wii has a great selection too...
Gameplay possibilities 6/10 - It's a standard games console in a similar way to the Xbox 360. Pretty much standard controller stuff.
Console's features 7/10 - It is HD, it has a hard drive, and the online play will come in the end.
Value 5/10 - Have you seen the price tag? You might be getting a powerful beast, but many people wont be able to afford it.
TOTAL: 45 / 70 Scoring almost equally to the Xbox 360, we have a clear winner!!!....
ROUND 1 WINNER Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Quite simply the Wii looks great. It's small and stylish. The branding that is Wii, the logo, is well designed. Gameplay possibilities with Wii's features are almost endless... Check back for Round 2 sometime in the near future, and please comment...
I've played all three already. Brain Training is fun, but I've not figured how to unlock the extra content. 18 Wheeler is great to play, but is short lived, or so it seems so far. Power Stone 2 is soo confusing, I've no idea what I'm doing, and my second hand copy came without the instruction manual. I did have the original years ago, and really liked it... 
(or the PS3 version - still to decide). I've been waiting ever since after 2001, when Sonic Adventure 2 was released on the Dreamcast. I never actually finished that game. *embarrassed* I'm so happy that we finally get an all new proper 3D Sonic game. I already think it is going to be one of my very top games ever. :) 
Check my new(ish) Sonic - only £4.99 :)
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