What rocks on Xbox?

[Vrylakos]

Ok... flipped out and got an Xbox. Not opened yet. I could take it back, spend $50 more and get a PS2.

It came with Jet Set Radio Future. My daughter will dig that. Also some Sega GT thing.

I know I like Halo.

BUT... I also love Armored Core! GAAH! I love building robots!
I'll dig Silent Hill 2. But I really want to give SH 3 a go.

I dig Bloody Roar. No Bloody Roar on Xbox.

So, someone convince me: was I right to get an Xbox?

Vrylakos

 

[Mortaneus]

XBox has Halo...that's about it.

PS2 has pretty much everything else, except for the single best game on the market (Metroid Prime).

Get a PS2 (or GC if you like Metroid, Zelda, and Mario...btw, there's ANOTHER Zelda and Metroid in the works...making this the first console to have more than one of BOTH of them).

 

[John Crichton]

While you can't beat the PS2 for selection of games, I dig the Xbox and it's only going to get better.

It really depends on the kind of games you like. If you like sports games, all the consoles have the major titles. PS2 has the majority of the good RPG's (Xbox has some coming but it will be a few months). Gamecube's originals can't be beat (Metroid, Zelda, SSBM & Animal Crossing are great games).

The only thing I really don't like about the Xbox is the controller (both the S and big one). Otherwise, I think their game selection is good and getting better. Plus, they are the system to have for online console gaming...

 

[Ristamar]

So, someone convince me: was I right to get an Xbox?

Vrylakos

There aren't any wrong choices, just better choices.

In a very vague and general 'nutshell', here are the main strengths of each system:

XBOX: Racing games, first person shooters, XBOX Live, built in hard drive for saving games and custom sound tracks on certain titles

PS2: Very large, diverse library spanning all genres, plays PSX games

GC: Nintendo franchises, party/multi-player games

In terms of third party exclusives, the waters continue to become more and more clouded. Splinter Cell was exclusive to XBOX for a few months, but will be hitting the PS2 and GC in April. The Resident Evil franchise has one more game due on the GC in Q4, then it's theoretically up for grabs. The Grand Theft Auto series will have one more exclusive on a Sony system, then it's also theoretically up for grabs. Final Fantasy is mostly on the PS2, though the series is branching on to the GC. The Metal Gear series was a PS2 exclusive, though MGS2:Substance hit the XBOX, and reportedly there is an exclusive Metal Gear title in the works for the GC.

And that's just scraping the surface...

If any of your friends have a GC and/or a PS2, give them a spin, and check out some review sites to what titles might interest you. As I said, you can't really go wrong with any of them, but one or two may suit you better than the others.

Personal note: I agree with Mort that Metroid Prime is arguably the best title of this generation.... though I haven't beat the new Zelda yet, and it looks as if it could steal the crown.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Most games are cross platform. Exclusive game wise I don't think any platform has the monopoly on cool. PS2 gets GTA series, and most of the final fantasy stuff, tekken and some others. X-Box has dead or alive, halo, and some others. Some X-box excuslives are only console exclusive since they also come out for the PC, but I prefer console gaming.

X-box generaly has better graphics unless the game is a direct port.

X-box has a nice hard drive which helps with annoying load times.

X-box live is the best of the 3 online deals IMO.

I'm a gaming mook and I get multiple systems. Basicaly right now I use the cube and xbox, xbox I'm playing jedi outcast and I'm eagerly awaiting knights of the old republic a rpg made by bioware about some jedis from thousands of years befor any of the movies, with a sith academy none of this only two crap. a little bit ago it was splinter cell which while on all sytems looks better on the box IMO.(though even better on the PC)

Cube its mario sunshine which I just beat, and Zelda which rocks.

PS2 is in its down cycle, I'm sure there are some great new games but none that struck me in away that I felt the need to buy.

 

[Mallus]

For my money, the best all-ages games are on the Gamecube. Zelda is a work of art, and Animal Crossing mesmerized four of my childless adult friends for over a month. Plus, there's a version of Bloody Roar for it, which is kinda fun...

But a lot of genres are underrepresented on the Cube, as with the Xbox. It really comes down to what titles you're planning on buying, and for who? How old is your daughter and how interested in gaming is she?

But its very hard to beat the PS2's library of quality titles. All things being equal, unless Halo is enough to justify your purchase, I'd look into a PS2 or a Gamecube.

 

[Vrylakos]

But a lot of genres are underrepresented on the Cube, as with the Xbox. It really comes down to what titles you're planning on buying, and for who? How old is your daughter and how interested in gaming is she?

But its very hard to beat the PS2's library of quality titles. All things being equal, unless Halo is enough to justify your purchase, I'd look into a PS2 or a Gamecube.

Ok, to answer your questions...

Well, I do dig Halo, and Dynasty Warriors looks fun. Buffy for $18 at Costco seems like a good deal. I'll probably play Silent Hill 2 though I heard fairly bleh reviews of it. I'm not sure what fighting game I'll want to get... have to look into it.

My daughter is 11 on Monday. She loves rpgs bigtime, and some fighting games (esp. Bloody Roar). Played a lot of Morrowind on her mom's Xbox, as well as Dynasty Warriors 3.

I'll regret not having access to Armored Core, Bloody Roar, Silent Hill 3.

It was the $215 deal with extra controller, 2 games, and DVD thingy that sold me... since it ended that day, I flipped out and got the Xbox, since Costco has a very laid back return policy.

BUT... still not sure what to do. I'd like to have a system we can both enjoy. Xbox seems to have better hardware, and may yet rise to the occassion. The talk of PS3 makes me slightly leery of PS2.

So, any more thoughts? Thanks for everything thus far!

Vrylakos

 

[Ristamar]

The talk of PS3 makes me slightly leery of PS2...

The next-gen consoles for Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo won't hit shelves until the 2005 holiday (and probably all within a week of each other)... so my best advice to you is to not worry about next-gen systems and concentrate on what you like right now.

 

[John Crichton]

The next-gen consoles for Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo won't hit shelves until the 2005 holiday (and probably all within a week of each other)... so my best advice to you is to not worry about next-gen systems and concentrate on what you like right now.

Agreed. When we start seeing specs of the new systems we won't actually have them available for another year.

Well, I do dig Halo, and Dynasty Warriors looks fun. Buffy for $18 at Costco seems like a good deal. I'll probably play Silent Hill 2 though I heard fairly bleh reviews of it. I'm not sure what fighting game I'll want to get... have to look into it.

As for more Xbox games, I liked Buffy. Just beat it and for the $25 I spent it was well worth it. I have Silent Hill 2 for PS2 (it's good, but not for youngers, IMO) and I'm sure the Xbox version is similar.

For the price you got it at, I would just keep it.

 

[Tsyr]

A few others for the 'box:

Hunter is a fun brawler-type game, if you like those types of games. Hey, it's undead-killin' fun. You can't go wrong with that. The fact that the controls are great (One of the better for games of this type, IMO), and the graphics are good only add to the value. And this is one of the older titles for the 'box... It's down to under 20 in places. Good deal.

DOA: Beach Vollyball. Sure, sure. It's a fanservice game. I'll admit to that. But it's *fun*. It's one of the few games for the 'box I have that I can honestly say I can just load up, sit down, and play till I don't feel like playing anymore... It doesn't require any great investment or, I dunno, *drive*, I guess, to play. I can turn the X-Box on, play for a few, quite, and no biggy. It's sorta the solitare of X-Box, I guess.

Mech Assault... if you have X-Box live, this game is a must. If not... eh, it's probably not a real big priority.

If you can afford it, and if you have the space for it, I whole-heartedly recomend Steel Battalion, if you like mech games. It doesn't get any better than that for the home system, it really doesn't. The price tag turns most people off, though. I can't totaly say I blame them, either, but for me, it was worth it.

Dead or Alive 3: Best fighting game on the 'box thus far. One of the best in general, IMHO.