Xbox Core Console USM Reviews

• Best system I've owned

  
  By A2MZA46CPSA4II on 2004-10-19
  For those of you considering a PS2 or a Gamecube, allow me to throw out my two cents. A short while ago, disappointed with my Gamecube, I decided to invest in an XBox, and since then I've bought NBA Live 2005, Madden NFL 2005, MVP Baseball 2004, Splinter Cell, and Hitman:2.
  
  Having played the PS2 extensively I decided that XBox was the way to go because of the superior, in my opinion, graphics as well as the fact that you can upload your own music into the system and you also eliminate the need for memory cards, which became a huge expense as I played more and more sports games. Without the need for memory cards, it also allows me to save things like replays, Bios, save games on rentals (previously unheard of), among other perks.
  
  At the price, it's a tremendous value, because if you never buy another system, this one will certainly suit your needs until the unfortunate day that you meet your demise. When that day comes you may very well wish you hadn't spent so much time on video game systems, but what are you going to do, really? You're dying!
  
  In summation, buy this system. I've been very happy with the game quality and every other aspect of the system. My DVD Player broke and having the XBox on hand has saved me from having to go out and buy another one, which is also big.
  
  

• Fantastic Console, Just Not Portable

  
  By A1517476XFOC7A on 2004-10-19
  I own a GameCube, a PlayStation2, and an XBox. I bought my XBox to play Knights of the Old Republic, which was one of the first XBox exclusives that really caught my eye.
  
  The XBox has amazing graphics processing, sound, and the built-in hard drive saves you from having to spend money on a memory card. Although the "network adapter" is built-in, you need to pay a monthly fee in order to connect to XBox Live.
  
  The XBox library of games is fantastic (Splinter Cell, Ninja Gaiden, EA Sports, Fable, KOTOR, Burnout 3, etc.), though where it does best is in how much better it interprets multi-platform games. Games like Red Dead Revolver, Grand Theft Auto, Prince of Persia, and others just play much better on XBox than on PS2 or GameCube. I initally bought all multi-platform games on PS2, but now I usually buy them on XBox.
  
  I'm really quite happy with my XBox, and enjoy a lot of my games on it. I just wish that the controllers were a little more ergonomic.
  
  

• Let me give you my own, unbiased opinion.

  
  By on 2004-05-30
  I am a hardcore gamer. I have owned PS2 and Gamecube and Xbox (I sold my PS2 - not getting any use.) All systems have they're stengths. Anyone who denies that is NOT a good reviewer and just makes things up based on they're personal bias. So why IS Xbox, in my opinon, the best choice for a video game console?

  Firstly, the graphics. I know you've heard this one before, but they truely are superb. The xbox is technically superior to both the other systems, no one can deny that. (Xbox has a 733 Mhz CPU, PS2 is 200 Mhz). Obviously, graphics do NOT make a great games, but they are something to be noted.

  Secondly, the games. Believe it or not, Xbox has good games besides Halo. In action games, there are Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Rainbow Six 3, amd Ghost Recon, MGS:2, Mech Assault, Ninja Gaiden, Prince of Persia, etc. Good sports games too, including EA sports series, XSN sports series, and ESPN sports series. Racing games are excellent, with Project Gotham Racing 2 and Rallisport Challange 2. There are RPG's like Bauldors gate and Morrowind.

  So the games are good, but is there anything else?

  Yes. Online gaming. Microsoft made a system that I truely believe is superior to even online gaming on the PC. The gaming is on one serivice. This has more benifits than you may think. Say your plaing Ninja Gaiden, but your friend wants youto join his Splinter Cell game. No problem, he just sends you a message telling you to join his game. Microsoft's online gaming (Xbox Live!) also includes tournaments, rankings, lists of your friends, and of course, voice communication.

  But why choose Xbox over the other systems? The gamecube is for people who want high quality single player games that are not online. If you are a solitary gamer, go for gamecube. PS2 has a hell of a lot of games, but most of it's exclusives are RPGs. If you MUST have RPGs, PS2 is worth having, but besides that it has few great games. If you don't fall into these two previous catagories, I recommend Xbox to you.
  
  

• A Great Overall Console!

  
  By on 2004-12-24
  Let me just start off by saying that I own all three popular consoles (gamecube, ps2, and xbox), so I know what I am talking about. Every console has its plusses and minus's. Even Xbox. I am very tired of reading online reviews about consoles where they say "xbox rocks" or "ps2 is the best" or "gamecube is the king of consoles". Its very immature and you would be suprised how many people depend on reviews like that to choose which console they want for christmas, or their birthday. So let me tell you that this is not a console bashing at all. I am just going to state all the plusses and minus's of each console, and let people decide on which one to choose.
  
  Gamecube pros:
  
  1.Has some of the best multiplayer games around (mario power tennis, mario party 6, super smash brothers melee, etc.)
  2.Has four controller ports
  3.Has decent graphics and sound
  4.the lightest out of all 3 consoles
  5.Has some great rpg's
  
  Gamecube cons:
  
  1.Controller layout isn't so great (for example, I don't like how the "C" button controls from the n64 have been changed into a analog stick)
  2.1st and 3rd person shooters suck ass
  3.Not a very good library of games
  4.No online gaming
  
  ps2 pros (only the first and second generation ps2's, not the new design, I think those things are a pieces of sh*t):
  
  1.Not the lightest of the three, but way lighter that the xbox (I would know, I weighed them. I know, I have way too much time on my hands)
  2.Has the largest selection of games out of all three
  3.Has the best 1st and 3rd person titles out of all three (grand theft auto series, metal gear solid series, etc. Sure, it doesn't have halo 2, but that's only one game, compared to how many the playstation2 has?)
  4.This is only my opinion, but I think the ps2 has the best layout of buttons on the controllers, and the controllers are just the right size
  5.Free online gaming
  6.built-in dvd player
  
  ps2 cons:
  
  1.Only two controller ports, which means you'll have to pay an extra $30 for a multitap to play multitap compatible games, which there aren't too many of
  2.No built-in memory storage, which to me, isn't a huge deal, because $20 is not that expensive
  3.Has the worst graphics of the three
  4.Gets those really annoying disk read errors, which I have not had a problem with with the other consoles. But if it does happen to you, just complain to sony, and they will fix it up for you for free. I did that to mine, and I haven't experienced the problem ever again.
  
  Xbox pros:
  
  1.has also the best 1st and 3rd person shooters, but not as many as the ps2
  2.Has 4 controller ports, and better multiplayer gamest than the ps2 to top it off
  3.Has built-in hard drive for memory storage right out of the box so you don't have to pay for memory cards. However, there is a con mixed up in this, the built-in memory storage does not last forever, so then you still have to buy memory cards, which cost more than the ps2's and the gamecube's
  4.has the best racing titles
  5.Has a built-in dvd player, just like the ps2's. When I found this out, I really did start to think that microsoft was really biting off of sony, but whatever, no big deal.
  
  Xbox cons:
  
  1.Built-in memory storage does not last forever
  2.While I do agree the xbox controller layout is decent, it still is harder to get used to than ps2's or gamecube's
  3.The heaviest out of the three, which isn't a huge deal, especially if you don't travel a lot.
  4.You have to pay a monthly fee for online gaming, which sucks because the console costs enough anyway.
  
  I really hope my review helped you in making the right decision over which console to choose. I love each console because all three have provided me hours and hours of endless gaming. Merry Christmas and happy gaming!
  
  

• Excellent system - Over 400 games to choose from!

  
  By AQUHQFTQFB63R on 2004-04-01
  This is an excellent system with great graphics and a huge amount of great games to choose from. In my family there are four of us. Two adults and two teenagers. We have found many games that interest all of us and have invested many hours playing. We have yet to dent the memory on this thing even though we have dozens of games saved on the hard drive. You don't need to buy extra memory at all.

  We also have Dance Dance Revolution and Music Mixer which is a Karoke game and it's like having your own Karoke machine which inspired us to copy and save many music cds and still it hasn't even touched the memory on this.

  Some of the games we love are Halo, Splinter Cell, Star Wars Knights of the Republic, Buffy 1 and 2, Munch's Oddysee, Gunvalkyrie, Indiana Jones, Morrowind, Prince of Persia, Genma Onimushi etc..I could go on and on because we have many games and have enjoyed playing them time and again. There is something for everybody.

  Xbox currently has over 400 games available and many more are in the works so the argument that they don't have many games just isn't plausible. You can go to Xbox.com to see for yourself what they have.
  
  

• THE BEST SYSTEM OUT THERE!
  By A2GNDQS5VHNID8 on 2004-09-21
  If you still have not figured out which system is better (XBox, PS2 or Game Cube) let me give you a run down of why the XBox is far superior to the other systems. First off, I have owned all the systems (sold back my GameCube). GameCube is so lacking I have not used it for comparison here. Still play the PS2, but not very much. Here are the reasons XBox is superior:
  
  1. Better graphics. Games on PS2 have slower frame rates and you cannot view scenery off in the distance as well as games modified for the Xbox. This is due to the fact the XBox has a 733mhz processor.
  
  2. Online gaming better. Both Xbox and PS2 have online gaming, but PS2 games you pay each game independently. That gets expensive. Xbox, you pay monthly or yearly and can play all the games you have that are Live. You also have tons of downloadable content and so many other online tools.
  
  3. Data storage. I cannot believe the PS2 still requires you to purchase a load of data cards to save games. No storage on unit. XBox, I have owned mine for 3 years now and still have not made a dent in my hard drive... has said 50,000+ blocks since I bought it.
  
  4. Music. The large harddrive on the Xbox allows you to store you favorite music on the unit and play from you custom catalogs when you are not playing the system. A lot of games for the XBox allow you to customize the game music from your personal catalog.
  
  5. Xbox has Halo. Nuff said. If you have not played it you have no idea what you are missing. If you have, you wouldn't need to be reading this review.
  
  6. Games just keep getting better. Halo 2, Fable, Sudeki to name a few major new releases. What does PS2 have as a blockbuster release?
  
  Both systems are similar in play, both are stable platforms (assuming you clean the eye on the unit). One problem a lot of people complain about is the "disk is not playable" error on the XBox. A friend of mine told me the simple fix is to use a Q-tip wiht alcohol and lightly clean off the laser eye. I did it and not more errors. XBox gives you more for the large amount of money you have to shell out for a system.
  
  
• The best console machine on the market at the moment.
  By A1GWLHT83J98FN on 2005-02-20
  I have been playing video games since the Atari 2600 and Intellivision days. I also owned the first Nintendo, a Sega Genesis, and a Dreamcast (which is still one of my favorite console video game machines I ever purchased. Unfortunately you cannot purchase a new Dreamcast machine or new games in the stores). I have owned an XBox for about two months now. This is a very complete video game machine with all the bells and whistles like a hard drive, ethernet, Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound, support for High Definition TV, etc.
  
  Pros: XBox has the best graphics, sound, and the most features of all the consoles. It supports up to four controllers unlike the PS2 which has only two built in ports. If you really want to get into online console gaming and you have a high speed internet connection then XBox is the one to get. As of the last year or two most of the games for the other consoles are now being released on the XBox.
  
  Cons: The XBox is much larger and heavier than the others which makes it more difficult to transport. In addition to you having a high speed broadband internet connection an annual "XBox Live" subscription (currently costs about $50) must be purchased before you can use the system's online gaming features. PS2 has many more games ( including the older PS1 games if you own any of those) and although the graphics on the PS2 are not quite as good as XBox it is still a fun and popular console. Your PS2 games will be supported by the future PS3 machine which protects your PS2 and PS1 game investment while the XBox2 may not support the older XBox games.
  
  I like the XBox console and most of the games are great. If you are really into video games then for $150 I would recommend an XBox purchase. If you have a PS2 or Gamecube then XBox is still a good addition. If you don't own another console then XBox might be the best way to go since it is the most advanced console and you can always buy a PS2 or Gamecube later if you want. I plan on purchasing a PS2 in the near future just to have it for a few of those older PS1 and PS2 games that were not released for XBox.
  
  If you are into PC based gaming don't expect the XBox to be better than your $1500 Windows XP computer with a good graphics card. The PC CPU power, graphics, and internet gaming is going to be superior to any of the current gaming consoles. XBox is simply the the best console you can hook up to your TV. Consoles are much better for relaxing on the couch or with multiple game players. If you want to best your PC machine then wait for XBox2 or PS3.
  
  The best XBox sports games are ESPN NFL2K5 , ESPN NHL2K5 and Madden NFL 2005. Halo 1 and 2 are fantastic theme based shooter games as I am sure you have already heard. I personally like some of the older retro-games like Sonic for XBox and Atari Anthology, as well as the newer retros available for XBox like the Crash Bandicoot, the Silent Hill horror series, and the Metal Gear Solid and Tom Clancy theme spy games.
  
  The bottom line: If you don't mind spending the money now for this four year old technology then an XBox is highly recommended and it is the best choice of all the current consoles. If you don't mind waiting then look forward to the state of the art PS3 and XBox2 to be released in late 2005 or early 2006.
  
  
• BEST. SYSTEM. EVER.
  By AE2V7CXQIRDJL on 2004-08-14
  Here are my top five reasons for owning an Xbox:
  
  1) Better games than both PS2 or GameCube. For example, if you take a look at most of Gamecube's exclusive games, you'll find that they all have to do with either Mario, Zelda or the other classic Nintendo characters. Which, in most cases would be fine, if not for the fact that these characters have been "re-created" and "evolved", meaning that the games you used to love so much seem superior to these next gen ports. As for the PS2, yes, although Sony does have a rather large library, most of those games are crappy games that never sell more than a few copies. As for their good games (GTA, anyone?), most of them have been ported to the XBox annd are just plain better. For the best total gaming experience, XBox is the way to go.
  
  2) Graphics. XBox has better graphics than both the GameCube and the PS2. No offense, but the PS2's graphics just look like crap besides for the Final Fantasy series, which, quite possibly, will be coming out for the XBox in a few months (hopefully). Although the GameCube has much better graphics than PS2, it still just doesn't measure up to the XBox's standards.
  
  3) The line-up of games coming soon. Halo 2, Doom 3, Rainbow Six 3, Fable...I think I've made my point.
  
  4) Xbox Live. Its more organized, faster, more occupied and just more fun than the PS2's online capabilities.
  
  5) And, last but not least, mulitplayer action. With the PS2, for some unknown reason you can only play 2 player without shelling out an aditional $30 for more ports. And as for GameCube, what self respecting teenagers or adults would play Kirby's air Ride, Mario Kart or Smash Bros. when you can play Halo or Rainbow Six 3 or Doom 3?
  
  
• Best gaming system of the three current ones! Great buy!
  By A1NJ7WIL0SPJF8 on 2004-06-13
  The Xbox is a great product. Take note that I am not a diehard Xbox fan, as I used to own a PS2. I traded it in for the Xbox because of: 1) the Xbox's new lower price 2) the Xbox's better selection of games 3) the Xbox's many features that the PS2 and Gamecube lack. I was going to trade in my PS2 for a Gamecube and the cashier looked at me as if I were crazy and said (and I quote), "You want to trade your PS2 for a Gamecube? Are you sure?" She told me that the Xbox has 10 times the DVD capabilites of the PS2 (and I know from personal experience than the PLayStation 2 is not all that great a DVD player, & the Gamecube can't play DVDs at all), it DOES NOT require a memory card but it does allow for one if you need additional space, and it has a huge 8 GB hard drive for storage of music, saved games, and other data. The Xbox has unbeatable graphics and the loading time is almost zero. I always used to have to find something to do while my PS2 games (namely Vice City) loaded. On the Xbox, this is a non-issue because the loading time of any game is extremely small. You rarely have to wait over five seconds for data to load. The hard drive is quite loud, however, and the system is a bit big, but who cares? Unless you are extremely tight on space, it won't matter that the Xbox is big. Also, there is no need to reset the games to load them, it automatically assumes that if you put a game into the tray, you want to play it (what will Microsoft think of next?) Even though Nintendo has more experience with gaming consoles than either Sony or Microsoft (espeically), they made the most inferior system of the three. The Xbox's processor is actually more than twice as fast as the Gamecube's (if you don't believe me look up the stats). Unless you are an absolute Nintendo maniac, which I was, don't limit yourself to the Gamecube with its selection of expensive games that require you to purchase a memory card. Hey, there's a hidden cost for the Gamecube & PS2, a memory card! The Xbox is wonderful in almost every possible way, and I will have mine for a very long time to come! Besides, this new low price will drive you out of the BOX! In short, if you're looking for a powerful gaming system and don't want to wait for Xbox 2, buy the Xbox! You'll be glad you did.
  
  
• Microsoft takes a large leap forward with the xbox console
  By on 2004-09-28
  Some people say that the Xbox console is based for age groups 15-20...but i am only 11 and I'm having more fun with it than anyone would've dreamed of.
  Basicly the Xbox is almost perfect in every way,
  
  gameplay: every game I've ever played on Xbox is perfect and as you probobaly allready know, Xbox has Halo... the ultimate gaming expirience...Halo is a must get game with up to 4 players and nonstop fun!
  
  Graphics: the only way I can tell you about the graphics is by saying that if they got any better then it would look like you were looking at real life movement.
  
  Memory: the memory on the Xbox is litteraly unbelivible, there is 500,00 MB on the xbox and I havent used up one MB even though I've downloaded two games and two music CD's!
  
  An added xtra isthat you can download music onto the hard drive of the xbox and therefore you can the play the music without needing the disk.
  
  Overall I recomend this more than PS2 or gamecube becaus the gameplay is much better and it dos'nt take long at all to loadsaved games.
  
  
• best system out there
  By A2MW233LFID2B1 on 2004-11-01
  gamecube, ps2, and xbox are all great systems and they all have their good points and their bad. ps2 has the most games but lacks in power. gamecube has only medium power and only medium amount of games. and xbox has not as many games but is a power house.
  i have all 3 but i like xbox the best because it has the best online comuninity and capability, it has great graphics(look at halo 2), and the 400+ games it does have are mostly good ones(halo, halo2, rainbow six 3, star wars KOTOR, fable, unreal championship 1 and 2, burnout 1, 2, and 3, chronicles of ridick, ninja gaiden, ghost recon, and splinter cell, just to name a few.
  plus most good games like mortal kombat deception or need for speed underground come out for both the xbox and the other systems and there are a ton of great xbox exclusives. dont get me wrong ps2 and gamecube have great games too but xbox realy is the complete package, it has great games, its powerful, best controller design, and fantastic online play. and that is why xbox in my opinion is the best of the 3, plus if your like me and love tom clancy and first person shooter games then your gonna find the bes on xbox. so go buy an xbox.
  
  
• great graphics but as you all know bad games...
  By A221E1INCN7CE on 2004-11-10
  The xbox itself is the greatest system ever created, graphics wise. The games though.. do not quite match up to the system. All of you that put things like "it has great games like splinter cell and Ghost recon", are sadly...retarded, ALL OF THE NEXT GENERATION CONSOLES HAVE THOSE!!! And for the few exclusive titles that the xbox does have are mainly fps games, and those can get repetitive very easily. Ps2 on the other hand has some fun games like the Jak series, the racket and clank series, and the SOCOM games. The gamecube in my opinion the best of the three systems. It has decent graphics and great games. Now I know that most of you think that nintendo games are childish but if you play them they are actually quite fun, and while most xbox owners its childish, do you mean that they are easy, because I can beat halo in a couple of days, where as Paper Mario would take several weeks if not months... LOL i just got done reading "monkeeone"s review and I guess that it is true that all xbox owners are geeks...........what kind of loser has three xbox's and wastes their time with that lan crap. [...]
  
  
• Simply the best
  By A39UOW16JPYP01 on 2004-04-17
  I am really sick and tired of people dissing the way the xbox looks and how much it weighs. Explain to me how this matters. It doens't. What does matter is that this system completely and utterly destroys all other consoles.

  The xbox is basically and easy to use PC that has been redirected to only play games. This means awesome graphics. Period. No, not the cartoonish graphics of games like super smash or Zelda: windwaker. I mean graphics that feel like they take you to where the game is set. Only the highest quality realism.

  The games for xbox are awesome. Being a microsoft product, it gets huge titles that are usually reserved only for pc's. One thing I hear people complain about is the lack of RPG games. That is a lie. Ever heard of Morrowind: Elder Scrolls 3? It is a game that has over 250+ hours of game play the first time you play it through. I don't see any other RPG's that can claim that. The only thing xbox lacks is kiddie games. Aww, shucks. Now I can't play Bob the Builder and Scooby Doo. Darn.

  Xbox is for the serious gamer. If you are not a serious gamer, or want something for children, then don't get. It was NOT designed for children. What people don't understand is that this is an asset, not a liability. It means more games that you actually want to play. Like a said, only for the serious people, not the sunday gamer.
  
  

• PS2, GameCube, Or XBox?
  By A3PLZ1HBMJPUW3 on 2004-04-28
  This review is to help everyone on making a good decision while buying a system. First let me start by saying that I have all 3 systems and all have their ups and downs. Not one is perfect!
  .
  .
  Lets start with the PS2.
  Ups!
  It haves allot of variety when it comes to games, The controllers are good, the system is easy to take to your friends house, Plays online games (with 56k) and plays Music/DVDs.

  Downs!
  Loads very slow, haves OK! graphics (but should of been better), only up to two players can play non-online multiplayer games, Sensitive system that can be damaged easily, needs memory cards, and its prizy.
  .
  .
  The GameCube
  Ups!
  Nice Graphics, good controller, can be transported easily, up to 4 players can play non-online multiplayer games, low pize, can chose from many colors, can use your gameboy on some games, And very durable.

  Downs!
  Not enought games for it (variety), cannot play games online, needs memory cards, does not play Music/DVDs.
  .
  .
  Xbox
  Ups!

  Awsome graphics, allot of games for it, nice controller, will not get damaged easily, DOES not need memory cards, can play CDs aswell as store your favorite tracks, can play DVDs (with seperate kit, but dosent cost much), and now haves a lower prize.

  Downs!
  Plays online games but you need a good connection (i have one but not everyone does) and you need to buy Xbox live in order to play online.
  .
  .
  Bottom LINE!
  The PS2 haves allot of games, and you can play online games easily. Its a good system but not good enough for its prize.

  The GameCube is for games and only games. The Gamecube is better than the PS2 when it comes to graphics, prize and duravility, but it lacks at games. It is now avious to me that NINTENDO wants to attrack the younger public I would still not consider it a "Kidish" system since it is very powerfull. But if Nintendo wants to become the god of Systems once again like old times it needs to get more games, and make the system diverce by also atrackting older gamers.

  And finally XBOX, the XBox is for a little bit of a everything CDs/DVDs and for allot of gaming. The XBox haves raised the bar when it comes to gaiming. It has attracked the older croud and haves the best graphics of all. I will defenetly recommend this system, even if you have a low budget because as you can see the prizes have gone down and is now more afordable then ever.

  Good Gaming!
  
  

• Xbox Sucks,It's all hype.GameCube is way better
  By on 2004-10-17
  Nintendo was courted by a bevy of chip manufacturers hoping to score the GameCube contract, including NEC, the developer of the Nintendo 64's MPU. Nintendo chose IBM due to the company's advances in copper chip technology. IBM's copper chips run faster than Intel's aluminum Pentium chips at the same clock speed (XBOX uses Pentium Chips), feature low power consumption, and run much cooler than their aluminum counterparts. The GameCube's 0.18 Microns copper-based 485MHz MPU, dubbed Gekko, is based on IBM'sPowerPC architecture and is very similar in design to the architecture found in Apple's G3 line of computers. While real-world benchmark tests can vary application-to-application, PowerPC chips that clock at 400MHz can achieve processing results at leastequivalent to an Intel Pentium III line clocked at 700MHz or more (this is equivalent to XBOX). The GameCube includes 24MB of cutting-edge 1T-SRAM for its main memory (fastest memory available), as well as 16MB of the same DRAM used in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
  
  The GameCube's graphics processing unit (GPU) was developed by ArtX and will be produced by NEC. ArtX helped design the Nintendo 64 GPU and was recently bought by ATI, giving the longtime PC video card developer a foothold in the console market.Called Flipper, GameCube's 162MHz GPU includes 3.1MB of embedded MoSys 1T-SRAM for Z-buffers, frame buffers, and texture cache. The embedded memory will let developers keep information close to the graphics chip to decrease latency. Nintendo conservatively estimated the GameCube's polygonal output to be 6 to 12 million polygons per second in complete game environments, but developer leaks have suggested that the real number is more than 20 million polygons per second.
  
  The launch games shown at E3 were already eclipsing Nintendo's conservative figures. Displaying textures should be the GameCube's most potent asset. GameCube will utilize S3's 6-to-1 texture compression, which will let texture data be shrunk to one-sixth its original size, with no appreciable hit on the hardware. In addition to the S3 texture compression, the GameCube will be able to display eight simultaneous textures per object, compared with the Xbox's ability to display just four in hardware. This is a huge advantage for the Gamecube. Graphics can be much more detailed on the Gamecube.
  
  The Gamecube may not have as many games at launch as the XBOX but you can count on many awesome games to come!!
  Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Perfect Dark, etc.
  
  Nintendo has many 3rd party vendors working on games as well. Games such as Resident Evil and many sports titles from EA and Konami.
  
  You can't get a better system for the money!
  
  P.S. If you want to play DVD's get a DVD player, it will have more features to enhance your DVD experience.
  
  
  
• XBOX is not all that great....
  By A1T4AQJW07NSLX on 2004-11-14
  OK,here are the reasons why XBOX can suck it:
  1 Games: Besides Halo,and Halo 2 and Ninja Gaiden,the rest of the games for XBOX suck.XBOX owners usually say "No XBOX is better than PS2 because it's got Halo..." OK,I am not buying a system only over 3 games,even though I am not into Halo because I will not play any of the FPS on the Console Joystick,period.
  So the XBOX does not make any value to me as a console.
  2 XBOX Live: I am not willing to pay (...) to have this online feature running and keep on paying monthly.That is too much of a rip off from Microsoft.
  3 Piss poor controllers: Did you look at the size of this thing and the placement of the buttons?!
  4 PS2 is BETTER: Over the 3 good games that XBOX has,take a look at the PS2's titles.They got GTA series,Ratchet and Clank series,Twisted metal:Black (which is a greatest game of all time),Jak 3,and more and more great PS2 exclusives.Plus i Can connect it for online play with no charge,connect my 7.1 surround speakers to it because it has an optical port,which XBOX doesnt,and a DVD playback without all the XBOX crap of getting DVD kit and Remote..So think about getting XBOX next time,and always keep in mind that PS2 is WAY BETTER! :)
  
  
• I own three now.
  By A1XOJRG7PJL6UG on 2004-11-01
  I owned a Playstation 2, after the second time my son tripped on the wires and brought it crashing to the ground it no longer worked quite so well. It actually didn't work at all anymore. I decided to buy an Xbox, my friend had one and I loved playing Halo with him. The Xbox controllers all have quick disconnects on them to keep them from hitting the ground. I went online with Xbox Live (50 dollars a year) and love it. I play darn near every game that supports live, from shooters to sports to driving games. All Xbox games look and play far smoother on the Xbox than on any competing system (I have replaced my PS2 and bought a gamecube now). Yes there are games on each of those other systems that I have to own, but there is no way I would shell out money to own more than one of them. I own 3 Xbox's and have them networked thru my lan and have a blast playing with friends when they come over. I have three copies of Halo 2 on pre-ordered (fully paid) and will be picking them up at 12:01 a.m. Nov 9th. I have taken a week off work so that I won't be interuppted while slagging and Tea-bagging on Xbox live. You can say all you want about specs and numbers of games and go on and on about which system sells more, but I haven't changed my lifestyle for any other game system. I'd rather have twenty beautiful games that are so much fun that I can't stop playing them even after a year (halo, CS, KOTOR, RS3, Splinter cell, Ninja Gaiden, Crimson Skies, Ghost Recon) than access to thousands of games that are fun for ten hours and then need to be traded in.
  
  (...)
  
  
• Simply the best
  By A2VZGQIJI07ZAV on 2004-03-31
  Xbox is, without a doubt, not only the best console current available, but the best console ever created. I also own the GameCube and PlayStation 2, but none of these comes close to Xbox. Microsoft developed the Xbox with gamers in mind, and let's see why. Xbox graphics and sound are simply amazing, even PlayStation 2 fans agree with that; almost all games feature progressive scan and in game dolby digital. The hard drive is a very cool feature; i don't have to buy memory cards and can edit my prefered soundtracks in games like Project Gotham Racing 2 and Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, and download maps and patches for online games. The controller cords are very long, so i don't have to buy extension cables. Talking about the controllers, i can't understand why some people complain about them; honestly, i prefer the Xbox controller over the Playstation 2 Dual Shock 2, as it gets more confortable in my hands. Xbox has four controller ports, no multitaps needed. The Xbox online gaming service (Xbox Live) is, like the system, the best available, with scoreboards and friends list. Ok, and what about the games? Xbox has more than 400 games available, with much more coming (nothing bad for a 2,5 year old system). A lot of good PlayStation 2 games was also released on Xbox in enhanced versions ... i get the Xbox version, because it's almost always the best. When a game is developed exclusively for the Xbox the differences are more clear. If you really like videogames, go get one.
  
  
• One heck of a great system!
  By on 2005-06-22
  The Xbox is the most powerful system of all 3 of them.
  This is a little chart I made to help you out:
  
  Xbox:A really powerful system that has a variety of games.
  
  Pros
  1.Best graphics
  2.Best sound
  3.Halo 1 and 2
  4.Doesn't need a memory card
  5.Loads fast
  6.Four controller ports
  7.Best for First-Person shooter and racing
  8.Plays DVDs and music
  9.Has a hardrive
  10.Can go online
  
  Cons
  1.Too Big
  2.You need a memory unit to play your file somewhere else
  3.Start button hard to reach
  4.Most games are rated M
  5.Controllers are too big for young kids.
  
  PS2:A good system with a large variety of games
  
  Pros
  1.Has the largest variety of games
  2.Can play DVDs and music
  3.Controllers are small
  4.Great for kids and adults
  5.Great for Third-Person shooters and adventure games
  6.Pretty good graphics
  7.Can play PS1 games
  8.Can go online
  
  Cons
  1.Worst graphics of all 3 systems
  2.Needs memory cards
  3.Needs multitap adapter to play with 4 people or more
  4.Freezes sometimes
  
  Gamecube:A system great for young gamers
  
  Pros
  1.Great Graphics
  2.Has games for kids such as Mario and Zelda
  3.4 controller ports
  4.Great for multiplayer games and Third/First person games
  5.Small system
  
  Cons
  1.Most games are childish and babyish
  2.Online is a joke
  3.Can't play DVDs and music
  4.Small CDs
  5.Gamecube is purple
  
  I would buy PS2, then an Xbox, then a gamecube. I hope my review was helpful to you. Thanks for reading!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• NOT FOR YOUNGER KIDS
  By A2EZI27IE2HYLS on 2005-12-12
  There are no games for the Xbox for kids younger than 16 or 18 in my opinion. They are all violent games as far as I've seen. I have only seen 3-4 games I would let my 8 year old play. The PS2 is the way to go. Almost all of the games are for KIDS. I believe the Xbox is really only for adults!
  Thanks for listening!
  
  
• Don't own and won't buy
  By A3MWA4UDNBPCBG on 2004-09-07
  I am looking into buying a video system for my son. So, I logged on to this site to read the different reviews on the game cube, playstation, and xbox. After reading the reviews on the xbox, I know that I am not interested in ever owning one. If the obnoxious, foul languaged, reviews are any sign of what type of people play this game, then I don't want my children anywhere near it. I don't know why it isn't possible to write a clean, factual review without sounding so crude and vulgar. You people are a sad example of what no morals and standards are doing to our country. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves and your language. Go back to school, get an education and a job. Maybe some pride in yourselves will make you better people and nicer people.
  
  
• It is worth every penny and more.....
  By A1PB2W640Z87RJ on 2004-09-29
  PS2 was a certified winner when it was released some time ago. It had the style, it had the games to match its impressive technology, and it had the market base of loyal fans all round the world who swear by it. But it had limited processing power and the use of memory sticks to store save games would always become redundant. Yet PS2 was the console to beat. Beat?...are you joking? Which one?.Arrive...the XBOX!.
  
  With a beautiful yet sturdy exterior design, not to mention the 733Mhz processor with an insane 233Mhz GPU, the XBOX has a built in HDD and Ethernet Port for XBOX Live. Add to that, the console supports 5.1 Dolby Digital and hosts 4 ports for its superbly ergonomic controllers. And this is just the icing. The XBOX can run movies with a DVD kit that can sum up to being a theatre on its own if you have the right TV and Surround sound system. The effect is extremely rich and immersive.
  
  The XBOX is seriously ahead of other console in terms of power. It cranks out so many frames, you'd wonder if a maxed-up high end computer can stand up to it. You'd wonder if any PC, let alone another console, can render Ninja Gaiden like the XBOX. I haven't seen it so far. So rich and seamless. One other great aspect of the console is that its driver (OS) is nothing but a striped down version of the Windows 2000 kernel. It seems to add tremendous flexibility is game design, earning it accolades. The results are there to see. Games like Ninja Gaiden and Halo, that can make a PS2 cry in agonizing pain to render, is a breeze for the XBOX. And every game on PS2, GBA, if ported to the XBOX, would look so much better. But even I will agree with you, what use is a good looking game without good gameplay?. Good question. But only one answer is " That is the job of the developer...not the console......"
  And herein, the XBOX scores again.......
  Adding to its superior technology, the console has some fantastic titles to showcase its graphical prowess. From Halo, Rallisport Challenge 2 to Burnout 3, Splinter Cell etc, the list is pure quality and not just quantity.
  
  Agreed, the console market has got hot and other console manufacturers wont take on the XBOX lying down. Already rumours are spreading that PS3 is launching with some impressive technical and commercial values. But as of now, if you are in the 20-30 age group or higher who likes to play mature games, then XBOX is the one, for you wont find a more complete machine around to run them at photo-realistic levels. Not only that, but you will be treated with the release of pure quality games like Halo 2, Otogi 2 , Call of Duty :Finest Hour etc, this holiday season. Enough reason to buy one right?
  Believe me, you will be proud to own one.
  Happy hunting........
  
  
• Great System with Great potential
  By on 2004-11-07
  The Xbox is amazing, possibly the greatest system ever made.
  
  It has great games, including Halo 1&2, Star Wars battlefront, Project Gothem Racing 1&2, Counter Strike, and the list gos on. It lets you put your own custom soundtracks on it, play DVDs, and has Xbox Live.
  
  Id have to say, Xbox is the King of the gaming world, with Game Cube at its side in #2
  
  
• Great system, lousy longevity
  By A32F7XTXROBC6D on 2005-01-26
  We bought the X-box at a toy store last Xmas (one year ago). It was on constantly, being played, and for DVD watching. My kids loved the games available for them on it: Spongebob, The Simpsons, Star Wars, Race Cars, etc.
  
  However, about 10 months after its use began, it started acting strangely. A red light started flashing, alternating with the green light, and it stopped reading a couple of the games, and some DVDs. My husband went online to find out what the problem was -- many of his friends had the X-box, too, and *their* boxes started dying a year after purchase, also.
  
  It seems there's a problem with the motherboard, or chip, inside the game box, and it's a common problem.
  
  Edited to add: Since I wrote this review, we went and bought a new one -- apparently the problem with the insides has been dealt with by the manufacturer, and is no longer an issue. However, if THIS one dies on us, too, X-box can say "bye bye"
  
  
• SHOULD I....
  By on 2006-01-08
  (Reviewer from England)
  
  I just wanna ask should i get an XBox?
  I have got a PlayStation 2 and GameCube but i`m wonderin` should i get an XBox..?
  Can you guys/Girls tell me wether i should bother...?
  
  This is what have heard.
  
  PS2 has more games than XBox but-when it comes to Ports or Multi-platform games the XBox version is MUCH better.
  
  I know XBox has much better Graphics PS2/GC as they are powered by NVIDEO or somit like that...
  
  Currently as i am 13, i have got £70 Christmas/Birthday money and am saving money in the progress..(...)
  I am not interseted in PS3,XBox 360 or the REVOLUTION at the moment i like to enjoy consoles from early release to expiration days(like PS1,N64 and DreamCast are all "dead" consoles)..
  
  Well seeyaa if ya like say "NO" on the "Is this review" helpful"if you think i shouldn`t and "YES" If i should.
  
  A question from a Metal Gear Solid,GTA,SOCOM fangirl
  
  P.S:If i do get an XBox i WILL try HALO 1 and 2,Men Of Valor,Ghost Recon 2 & GR2:Summit Strike,RainBow six 3,R6-3:Black Aerow,And plenty of other games mainly Military based weather it WWI or war from 2013,WWII or VietNam,and even Operation:FlashPoint Elite that is the only game set during The Cold War 1985(well Metal Gear Solid 3:Snake Eater/Subsistence is set during the Cold War -1964 so O:FE is not the only Cold War game)
  
  
• A womens point of view
  By A2JZPBQCSRM92G on 2006-06-15
  I own a PS2 and an Xbox and I could careless about graphic, music or video up loads. To me both systems have great graphic depending on the game you play. And if you're not a big time gaming freak and are shopping for the 1st time for a gaming system I thought I'd list some facts about Xbox and PS2 that might help in your decision.
  
  1. PS2 is thin you can fit it in your briefcase or beach bag when heading on vacation.
  
  1.Xbox is rather large and heavy might not fit on some TV stands thin shelves
  
  2.PS2 requires a memory card --sold separately--to save your games; big deal they cost $14 and I've had one for 3 years now and it's still not full because you can delete game off it to make run for new one.
  
  2.Xbox has a built in memory -Nothing to purchase--to save your games; but it can only hold so much. Where you can buy as many memory cards for PS2 you want.
  
  3.PS2 can play DVD, which is great when you're on vacation at a hotel the kid's get the game and you can watch movies at night
  
  3.Xbox can not, although I think someone said you can buy an adapter for it but why do that if you already own a DVD player??
  
  4.PS2 you can play online as long as you have a broadband connection for FREE
  
  4.Xbox you can play online too with a broadband connection but you also you have to pay a monthly fee to play online
  
  And most of all I am very disappointed in the games Xbox offers. I know all the guys who own Xbox are freaking saying "what are you talking about, you need to play Republic commando and Halo" Xbox only games. I have and all those killing games have wonderful graphics but I guess being a women I really do not care for those games.
  
  I like games where I have to search for something, not just walk forward and kill anything in front of me. Although Battlefront is really fun which is available on PS2 and Xbox. But my favorite games are Sypro where you have to look for hidden treasure, and figure out mazes. Also I enjoy Kingdom Heart where you get to be Disney world characters (I know sounds girly) but you have to fight villains and it's very challenging you have to use your mind to figure out hidden section. But those games are ONLY available on Play station 2 you can not play them on Xbox. I have not been able to find any games that are exclusively for Xbox that I like, it seem the majority of Xbox only games are either sports or require you to kill someone great for guys.
  
  If you're shopping for the 1st time for a gaming system I strongly suggest looking at the games 1st!!! If you find a few games that you really like that are only avaliable on Xbox then that is the system you should get, or maybe do like me and just get both PS2 and xbox. But if you can only get one; and if you can guess by my review, I think PS2 is much better.
  
  
• An ok product.
  By A1NPITV0CZXJZG on 2007-01-24
  This console is basically the same as the PS2 gamewise. However it may boast good qualities about it, it still has it's flaws. This review is unbiased as I have a GameCube, PS2, and an Xbox.
  
  The Pros:
  1. The Xbox has a large library of games to suit any gamer.
  2. This system does have slightly better graphics than the other systems.
  3. The controllers are easy to learn and use.
  4. It has a Hard Drive so you don't have to buy those expensive memory cards.
  5. It can support Dolby Digital for extreme sound quality.
  6. You can play online via Xbox Live.
  
  The Cons:
  1. One of the most feared defects of the Xbox console. The Coma Console. This occurs when the BIOS on the motherboard has gone bad and you cant play games on it anymore. It is irreversible and can only be fixed by replacing your motherboard (which I did myself) This will occur to most systems eventually.
  2. The console is huge! You will have to find a large surface to put it on to prevent overheating.
  3. It is very loud when running.
  4. The console has many other defects that can occur.
  5. Xbox Live costs money while PS2 online is free.
  
  So overall, I can't recommend either PS2 or Xbox over each other. I've had my problems with both. But if your looking for online play, PS2 is the way to go. (Just make sure if your getting a PS2 that it's the slimline model because the original is faulty.)
  
  
• I do not like xbox
  By A1DSTG03GBY1WZ on 2004-04-12
  Where do I start? Ihate the xbox. Not one thing about it appeals to me except a handful of it's games. It's a bulky system that weighs more than the combined weight of the brains of the people who bought the xbox. The controllers themselves are larger than a ps2 or gamecube. It was made by nerds, for nerds. Most of it's games are on at least one other system and just made for the money. Microsnot's plan is to create a device that will net them even more money.ooohh look at me, I'm microsoft, i'm going to mak a big,crappy game system so i can be even more rich. Then I'll buy out all the good game companies and turn them into mainstream crap. I would rather drive a very sharp stick covered in dog doo in my eye than even own an xbox. There's not much more I can say about a system with only 3 different letters in it's name and controller that feels like an iron maiden. Oh yea, and buy the way the only reason that their online is any good is because the system is made by a company that builds computers. Of course writing this review is a waste of time because xbox owners and people who would consider buying an xbox can't read anyway.
  
  
• Don't Judge if your a PS2 OWNER!
  By AW3YNUYWVDBTD on 2004-07-18
  Listen, a lot of people here giving it a 0/5 stars all own PS2s, and probably have never played on an Xbox. Listen, an Xbox will cost about the same as a PS2, with the accessories. You see, the PS2 only has 2 controller ports, so they spend money buying a hookup for four. Xbox has that. On the other hand, Xbox can't play DvDs without the little kit. In the end they both break even. Both systems have the same ammount of buttons (Trust me, I own both) and they both get great games. Some great games for Xbox are Halo, Mech Assault, Riddick. Some great PS2 games are Red Faction (older classic, like Halo...), Jak and Dex, and some others.

  So what makes an Xbox better? Well, Xbox's may not get as many unique games (Which is funny, because a lot of the PS2's unique games SUCK!), but it has a way better graphic engine and a nice onboard memory (NO NEED FOR MEMORY CARDS!!LESS MONEY!). Almost forgot, Online has some nice perks too.

  Now, don't listen to idiots who have never played BOTH, but someone who has both. If you want to spend less money, I would go with this, because there are alot of games that come out for both, but they usually look better on this!

  Don't count Nintendo out, they have some...odd...perks
  
  

• Best of this generation's game platforms
  By A2U28A4CIJI3PP on 2006-06-05
  First of, let me say that i own a PS2 and a Xbox, and i've played the Gamecube multiple times with many games, so i know the pros and cons of this console.
  
  A, Games: The Xbox has some great games, many that are exclusive. Since the Xbox has the most power, many of the last games of this generation became Xbox exclusives. Even its older games are great. Jedi Knights of the Old Republic(RPG), Fable(RPG) Halo 1 and 2(FPS),Elder Scrolls III Morrowind(RPG) , Chronicles of Riddick (FPS), the list goes on and on. Also, most ports to the Xbox are simply better. GTA San Andreas gives new areas, Star Wars starfighter gives a new mode. Also, all ports have better graphics, sound memory, loading times, etc.
  
  For instance, Game Informer states in a review of Red Dead Revolver: " The Xbox version puts the buller right between the eyes of the PS2. It runs at 60Hz(twice the framerate of the PS2), 480p wide screen, and twice the sound memory( the PS2 version can have up to 3 ricochet sounds, the xbox has six to none)"
  
  B, Online capability. The Xbox has done miracles with its XBox Live service, something the PS2 tried to do and failed. Xbox Live gives games great multi player capability. No friends over? You want to play a a big Halo 2 map(like waterworks) No problem! Xbox Live gives you tons of players from all over the world to play with. I've found tons of games being played at 2 in the morning! Also, many Xbox games have free, or very cheap( 2.99$) downloads. These include stuff like new maps and gameplay fixes, new quests, you name it. This is a great feature.
  
  C, Console itself: I wont go over the exact tech specs, you can see them at the top of the page. FOr those who dont know, Xbox is the most powerfull game system of this generation.
  
  Anyways, my favorite part of the Xbox is the 4 controller slots. I remember being anoyed when i had 2 buds over, and having to switch turns with the controller. Yes, you could buy the multitape, but few games support this. Most(like all non RPG games) give full 4 player support. Its great fun having doubles matches on Top Spin, or having 4 player free for alls on Halo 2.
  
  The controller is actualy quite sound(the controller S) and is my favorite of the 3 consoles controllers. The Xbox has great placement of its analog buttons, and the triggers are full ones, not those sissy half ones like the ones on the PS2. It also is a bit larger than the PS2 and Gamecube controllers, so its fine for kids(like my 8 year old brother), adults,(like my 44 year old uncle) and everyhting inbetween.
  
  It ashould bear mentioning that the hardive on the XBox is also a great, it frees you up from those costly memory cards.
  
  All in all, it is THE console to get.
  
  

• Xbox Live Prepaid Subscription Card
• Xbox Extention Cables
• Xbox Pro Mini 2 Controller
• The Official Xbox Magazine [1-year]
• Electronic Gaming Monthly

• Halo 2
• Halo: Combat Evolved
• Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit
• Fable: The Lost Chapters
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic