The X-Box, a summary (Microsoft Xbox)

Member Name: mythuk

Product:	Microsoft Xbox
Date:	03/08/02 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Powerful Graphics, Good Price, Quality Games

Disadvantages: DVD Playback is extra, Supplied cables not as good as they could be, A number of poor games emerging

The X-Box is the first video games console to come from Microsoft, one of the world's largest companies. Much time and space has been taken up in both the specialist press and in the wider media about this new contender to the video game crown. I've had my X-Box since its launch on the 14 March 2002 and I'd like to give you my review of it now.

The X-Box comes in at around £200. For this you get one control pad, a composite scart adaptor, power leads and of course the system itself. The console is capable of playing X-Box software, Audio CDs and DVD Videos (although the DVD Playback Kit is required for this, unlike the Playstation 2 which plays DVDs out of the box). The system also has an internal hard disk meaning there is no need for a memory card. These can be purchased if you need to move your save data from one system to another.

Firstly comparisons to other consoles are almost meaningless these days, they are all powerful and they all have great games. However, working for a game retailer I realise people want to know these things. Essentially the X-Box comes out on top in terms of technology, being slightly ahead of the Nintendo GameCube and, at least theoretically, significantly more advanced than the Playstation 2.

The console itself is big. Bigger than the Playstation 2 and certainly bigger than the GameCube. The extra space goes towards housing the cooling needed for the technology inside as well as holding the internal hard disk.

The controller for the X-Box has been a source of much discussion. For me the pad takes some getting used to due to its size, it does become easier to use in time.

If you purchase the DVD Playback kit you'll find that the picture is adequate, quality is lost due to the composite cables supplied with the system. The X-Box is quite a noisy system and during quiet scenes in a film this can become distracting. Generally I do not find it too bad.

Th
ere area a number of stunning games for the system at the moment. However as with any console there are also a selection of very poor titles. Key titles to look for are Halo, Enclave, Rallisport Challenge and Jet Set Radio Future. Key titles to avoid are Shrek, Cel Damage, Azurik: Rise of Perathia and Transworld Surf.

If you are reading this review to try and decide which console to make, I would advise that the X-Box is an excellent choice. The games that are out now, and that are coming out, are stunning and set new boundaries for graphics and playability. This is what you must make your judgement on, which system has the games you're going to enjoy? After all that is what the X-Box is first and foremost, a video games console.

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