Takes Gaming to The Next Level (Microsoft Xbox)

Member Name: hackersuprciao

Product:	Microsoft Xbox
Date:	03/02/08 (147 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good graphics, built in HD, 4 controller ports as standard

Disadvantages: Big, not that pretty.

Microsoft was not really associated with games but now that has come to be a thing of the past with the launch of their games console the Microsoft Xbox and more recently the Xbox 360.

In The Box:
In the box you will get. An Xbox console, power leads, video cables, scart adaptor, instructions and a controller. The controller you get will depend on how old the Xbox you are buying is if you are getting an older Xbox you will get a large control pad if the Xbox is more modern you will get the controller S which was originally designed for the Japanese market.

Setting it up:
Setting up the Xbox for the very first time is simple, all you have to do is plug the console into to a standard plug socket, connecting the console to your TV can be done in many ways, using the standard cables all you have to do is plug it into the red white and yellow sockets on the TV, if you are using a scart socket you will need to plug the cables into the scart adaptor then into your TV. When thats done press the small power button and follow the instructions, thats it your ready to go :D

Design:
The console itself is huge, you could fit around four of Nintendos Gamecubes into it !! You can get a variety of different colours of Xbox, the standard black, crystal or green. The Xbox is grilled around the edges and in the center of eachg console is a green Xbox logo, on the front of the console there are two buttons, the large transparent button is the eject button which glows green when the console is operational and will glow red or orange if there is a problem. The second button is the silver power button located directly beneath the eject button. Its not much of a looker but its not so ugly you'll want to hide it away in a cupboard.

Features:
The console has a vast array of standard features, firstly it has four controller ports which eliminates the need for a multitap for four player action. It also comes equipped with an 8GB hard drive which gets rid of the need for memory cards and can also be used to rip music from your CD collection and play them back to you in games that make use of custom soundtracks. It also has a built in DVD player but it will not play any DVDs until you purchase the remote for it which will set you back £20 (this isnt really a problem as you probably already have a DVD player). Lastly the console comes with a built in ethernet port ready for online gaming (Xbox Live) this service will cost you around £30 a year but is well worth it. Even if you dont like gaming with others you will still be able to download extra content for certain games.

The Games:
This is what makes or breaks a console. The Xbox has a strong lineup of exclusive games, like Halo, Far Cry Instincts, Jade Empire, Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic, Forza Motorsport and many more. There arent as many games out as for the PlayStation 2 but there are plenty of fantastic titles to sink your teeth into. Multiplatform games are enhanced by the Xboxs graphical power and the ones that are equipped with Xbox Live are a cut above there PlayStation 2 and Gamecube brothers offering a superior online experience.

Performance:
When Microsoft were making the Xbox they certainly designed it to be head and shoulders above the rest, the teamed up with Intel to put in a 733MHZ Pentium 3 processor which is twice the speed of the PlayStation 2. Nvidia provided the graphics chip which is basically a souped up GeForce3 although now dated this is still the most powerful graphics chip in any of the three last gen consoles. The Xbox is also the only console to fully support Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound in every game. For those of you in the PC market the Xbox should sound like very familiar.

Price:
The Xbox is really a steal, I got mine for only £89.99 with a game (a while ago and prices have since come down). You should be able to find similar prices from Game and GameStation or an online retailer such as amazon.co.uk or play.com. You may have a hard time finding a new Xbox now as they are out of production, but preowned consoles are readily available from Game and eBay. With the Xbox 360 out you may think an Xbox is not a smart buy but it is, the 360 isnt fully backwards compatible, costs many times as much and hasnt got a huge library of top quality games at low prices to choose from.

The Verdict:
I think my Xbox is great and urge anyone who likes or would like to get into games to get themselves one. Its truly a cut above the rest. If you owned a PS2 and/or Gamecube but skipped the Xbox, now is the time to get one. With its library of exclusive titles going for as little as £5 you owe it to yourself to check them out. I own a PS2 and a Gamecube and enjoy them both but the Xbox will provide you with such a rich gaming experience that you'll find it hard to settle with your other consoles. If you have set your sights on an Xbox 360 and still want to play Xbox games dont worry to much as many top games such as Halo are backwards compatible. Dont let the Microsoft badge put you off the Xbox is great. 4/5.

Summary: Cheap as chips nowadays and has a load of games not to be missed!