2008 Advisor
StarSoldier1
Lake In The Hills, IL

Killing gangsters, mutants, and hookers never looked so good.

4 star rating

pretty bad at Dead Rising
Pros

    Hi-def visuals, custom features.

Cons
    It may overheat if not careful.

JUN
5
2007

Microsoft - Xbox 360 Premium Console — 

The original Xbox game console proved to almost everyone that Microsoft does know how to compete with Nintendo and Sony at the console wars. Sadly, the biggest weaknesses of consoles themselves in general is that they will age very quickly and it only takes a few years before they become obsolete (like my NES system). Although the Xbox was technically more powerful then it's closest rivals (the Sony Playstation 2), Microsoft wanted to get the jump on the competition by jumping in the next generation first. Now here we have the big sequel to the Xbox simply called the Xbox 360. The 360 not only comes with more processing power then any other past console on the market but the system comes with a bunch of new features as well. Will the Xbox 360 be the next big thing or was this thing released way too early?

In case you haven't already seen it yet the design of the second more supped up edition of the Xbox is a slightly smaller yet goofy white concave unit that can stand up or lay flat much like the original Playstation2. Also like the original PS2 (see a pattern here?) you can add on or remove the system's Hard Drive so you can either save your games through a memory cart or just get the Hard Drive so it's more like the original Xbox. The new white and sleek controller is light and durable like the old Xbox S pad. If you know that controller it had two analog sticks and 10 buttons for today's more advance 3D titles. The only difference now is the black and white buttons have been replaced with additional shoulder buttons and there is a new giant 'X' button that can turn on or turn off the system believe it or not. This is perfect for a lazy guy like me!

So far you have two options if you decide to buy a 360. You can either get the green box Xbox 360 Core System with the standard options like the system itself, cords, and standard 360 controller all for 399.99 Canadian. For a extra hundred bucks though you can get the white box deluxe set instead. The Xbox 360 Premium Package will feature the system with all the necessary hook ups plus a bonus 360 wireless controller and 360 Hard Drive. Although the Core system itself sounds kind of lame you can easily buy the Hard Drive ($100 Canadian) or Wireless controller ($60 Canadian) separately so it's no big deal. The choice is yours and I like that.

Each 360 lets you use a cool silver menu system once you turn it on. There you can select from System or the new Xbox Live online service options before you start a game. Like the previous Xbox you can use Custom Soundtracks by down loading your CD to the Hard Drive but now you can even listen to your MP3's songs or see your Digital camera photos as well thanks to the new USB ports. All these down loading features are nice but I brought this thing to play games of course your system is only as good as your titles.

The graphics for some of these games can be either absolutely stunnin to down right last gen plain. Games like Forza 2 do such a good job with camera angles and look so realistic that it could easily be mistaking for a real TV event and other games like Gears of War and Call of Duty 3 also have a massive amount of detail in the environments yet they run on a high frame rate which would be impossible a few years ago. Sadly, some of these 360 games are definitely not as good in terms of graphics to say the least (the pop up in Ridge Racer 6 and the bland Bomberman are good examples of averageness) but that can be blamed for programmers not fully utilizing the new technology yet.

If you have the Xbox 360 with the Hard Drive you can also play a selection of hundred or more standard Xbox titles as well. Remember you can't play everyone of them though because the 360 won't recognize them all (#$%@!) but it will play some of the bigger hits like Halo and you can download patches to play others if you have the Live service.

The 360 already has a lot of great games available and the Live service is excellent too so if you loved the original Xbox you'll freak over this upgrade. The serious problem with the 360 is the fact it can over heat if you leave the machine on for too long so if you do decide to get one then you better take care of it.  That being said it's not the best choice for young kids (with their dirty little hands and lacks of tallness) especially since a lot of the better games on the system are rated M.  Other then that there is a lot to like about Xbox 360 here. 

Xbox 360 overall rating: 71/100

This review is also on:
videogames101.com
epinions.com

-StarSoldier1
(Ryan Genno) 2007

Last edited on Jun 15, 2007



I_thumb_up Microsoft - Xbox 360 Premium Console is recommended by StarSoldier1

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StarSoldier1 wrote on May 13, 2008 at 10:47PM

In response to AmyA's comment from May 13, 2008 at 7:30PM:

Hmm... there is a trick where you can try wraping a clean towel around the unplugged console for about 20 minutes which helps to clean it. Sadly it looks like you have to mail the 360 back to Microsoft if it continues to be a problem and I heard that can be pretty costly. Hopefully the warranty is still good on it?

AmyA wrote on May 13, 2008 at 7:30PM

Great reveiw. My step son has the 360 with the hard drive...I come to you with a question. This is his issues on his year and half year old system and I hope you might know the answer: Details:
Have hard time reading the discs I put in it.. so im thinking the eye that reads the disc needs to be cleaned?
If so what is all invovled? Can I do it myself? Cost? Or where can I go to get the info I need?
Thanks in advance Amy

PattyTherre wrote on Jun 7, 2007 at 1:53AM

My kid has one of these and now he wants BOTH the Wii and PS3. I can't keep up. Good review. :)

Jolie wrote on Jun 5, 2007 at 11:15AM

Great review. Thanks for adding www.viewpoints.com to your posting locations.

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