360% Awesome (Microsoft Xbox 360)

Member Name: rhyrhy1

Product:	Microsoft Xbox 360
Date:	16/10/07 (113 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Graphics, the lot

Disadvantages: Crashes occasionally, doesn't save the time

I have been thinking about buying an Xbox 360 since it came out and a few weeks ago, I bought one from Game station. I paid £199.99 for the Core Console and a game, this game being Call of Duty 3 , I thought that this was a very good deal so went for it.
If you are thinking of waiting for the price to go down, don't bother because Microsoft are already losing money on them but are getting the money back by charging high prices for the games.

The basic (CORE) package gets you a XBOX 360 with one pad and the AV connection cables, and a white disc drive
The Premium XBOX 360 package gets you a Multi-AV cable (High Definition component cables), Hard drive (20gb), Wireless Game pad, Communication headset (plugs into the pad) and a silver DVD Drive.

Both of these come with an external power brick that's at least a 3rd of the size of the main box, and both of these emit a loud fan noise from the cooling system.
Everything about this console, from the concave case to the removable face plates, to the wireless pads suggests Microsoft have spent a long time refining the correct formula for success.

Of course, you can't just sit staring at a box, it has to do something!
When you turn your console on you're treated to the Xbox Dashboard and then you begin to create your profile which you use in gaming. There are many other features other than gaming, with the 360 being a multimedia console it can connect to the computer using Vista Premium to send files and E.T.C.

The graphics are the best thing about the 360, they are incredible, usually in 720 ip. There is now 1080ip beginning, one of these games being Virtua tennis 3, putting the graphics on a par with the PS3 but it is also £200 cheaper to buy a 360.
As soon as I began to play the game I realised how refined the graphics were and how I felt in complete control of the game, not it controlling me. The graphics were good on the Xbox they are 360% better on the 360. (An awful lot)

There are loads of titles available on 360, and these show off the graphics even more, Oblivion, this has a vast land for you to explore and with the graphics being so refined you can see for miles ahead. On Call of Duty 3 you can tell the colour of peoples eyes form distance using binoculars and it is now so defined that everyone looks completely different.
With many more brilliant release titles coming up like Halo 3, only available on Xbox 360, and GTA ( The next one) The Xbox 360 looks certain to get much better as the games flow in.

Xbox Live is better on the 360, this is because you can now download arcade games straight to your hard drive and pay around £3. You can also download add-ons for the console and its games like multiplayer maps and new players.
There are many add-ons available from high street stores, like a memory card to transport your games and your profile where ever you go. You can also introduce yourself to Xbox live vision which puts you in the game. Wireless controllers are also available along with plug and charge kits.

The PS3 isn't worth £2 more than the 360 let alone £225 more expensive as they are pretty much on a par, the only thing better on the PS3 is the Blu-Ray drive, but surely if you buy a games console you should be playing games on it...
I would definitely recommend getting a HDTV cable as this doubles the graphics power.

I am also looking forward to seeing what the next sleeker version of the 360 will be like as this is due out very soon.
With a wide range of titles compared to the minimalist title of the PS3 the 360 is still the greatest console in the world today. If anyone says that the Wii is better, they are completely different and it would be like comparing a hover and a kettle.

My last thing that I wish to mention is how user friendly and suitable for all ages the 360 is, my grandparents ( 68 and 73) were playing on this last night and thoroughly enjoyed it and are now getting used to Battle stations Midway and how there are other game like Viva Piñata aimed at younger users. Well done Microsoft for producing such a wide genre of games.
Thank you for reading this review and I hope it has helped you

Regards

Rhys

Summary: Excellent, better than the PS3