Examining the Xbox 360

Sure, the 360 hardware can walk the tech walk, but it's the games that talk the talk. We examine the best and worst of the Xbox 360 in its first 5 months on the market

It's easy to get lost among the tech spec battle of the next-generation consoles. But let's face it: when all is said and done, all that matters are the games. And regardless of how many polygons a console can churn out, without innovative software, it's destined for mediocrity. So how has the 360 stacked up? As we close in on the first half-year of the Xbox 360, we thought it the ideal time to take a quick look back at the good, the bad, and the yet-to-come on Microsoft's next-gen console.



Off to a Good Start: The Highs

Call of Duty 2
When Activision announced that it would release the sequel to Infinity Ward's acclaimed FPS on the Xbox 360 almost simultaneously alongside its PC launch, many were skeptical that a console system could handle the load of a top-tier PC shooter. But the Xbox 360 pulled it off, proving its PC-like capabilities, and dazzling in HD resolution. But it was Infinity that deserves most of the credit, as Call of Duty 2 is packed with more action than Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan in Wrestlemania 6. And though the Xbox Live multiplayer component has been peppered with bugs, frequent updates are throwing water on the complaint fire.



Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter


Ubisoft kept part three of the Ghost Recon trio to itself for so long that many began to wonder if it would make the first half of 2006. Leaked screens and bootlegs videos left gamers foaming at the mouth in anticipation, leading up to record launch sales in several regions. GRAW is easily the prettiest, most sophisticated console game available; its HUD is unparalleled in advancement, and its over-the-shoulder perspective provides a realistic view that really engages the player in the action. It's a huge jump up for what was arguably the weakest Clancy series, and one of a handful of 360 titles that push the envelope instead of purely pushing another port.

Fight Night Round 3
The third iteration of EA's genre-leading boxing franchise did release beside current-gen versions, but on Xbox 360, Round 3 is an entirely new beast. It takes advantage of the graphical capabilities of the 360, using them to compliment the gameplay instead of merely sugar-coating it. Instead of advancing the Fight Night HUD technology, EA did the opposite of GRAW, removing the HUD entirely to use the body language of the fighters to gauge health and stamina. The result is a sports game that truly embodies the idea of next-gen gaming, apart from simply bumping up the poly count.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Quite possibly the most impressive game on the Xbox 360, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion turns open-world gameplay on its head. Bigger than San Andreas, prettier than Call of Duty 2, Oblivion is the only single-player game that can possibly compete with the ever-growing scourge that is World of Warcraft. If you can afford just one game for your Xbox 360, let that game be Oblivion. Now here's hoping Bethesda can improve the framerate with its upcoming patch.



Dead or Alive 4


Microsoft touted the fact that the next-gen DOA sequel would launch on the Xbox 360, providing launch fodder for Japanese consumers. But its unexpected delay proved fatal for the 360 launch in Japan, leaving gamers across the pacific with little to no interest in Microsoft's heavy white box. When it finally did make it out just a shade before '06, fighting fans rejoiced at the beautiful combat that was packed inside the $60 package.

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