Customer Reviews

Microsoft Xbox - Video Game Console

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I have the very first build of the Xbox, and let me just say that after YEARS of playing it (we preordered it), with hundreds upon hundreds, maybe around 1500 different save files, the damn thing STILL has... you guessed it, "50,000+ Blocks", and is still kickin. I strongly recommend modding it with a media center hack, and turning it into your personal entertainment system for classic games, regular DVDs, and music. Great thing. I freakin wish that Microsoft hadn't been its creator, they are such cheap bastards, and original Xbox live doesn't work anymore, but still a good piece of gaming history. Greatest Xbox original games of all time, that I've played:

-Halo: Combat Evolved
-Halo 2
-Cell Damage
-007: Goldfinger
-Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (I and II)
-Burnout: Revenge
-Need For Speed 3: Hot Pursuit
-Heroes of the Pacific
-Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood
-Call of Duty (the original)
-Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
-Medal of Honor: Frontline
-Tao Feng
-Star Wars: Battlefront (I and II)
-Hitman

But out of all of those, Halo: Combat Evolved is hands down the best, without dispute.
Amen.

The original Xbox was (and though a bit dated, still is) a great video game console. Released in November 2001, the Xbox allowed you to play games (including Popular titles such as Halo: Combat Evolved, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and even the recently released Madden NFL 09), watch DVD's (although you must first purchase an inexpensive Xbox DVD remote), and play and rip tracks from CD's (which can even be used as custom, in-game tracks with some Xbox games). Other features include a built-in hard drive (which has plenty of room for game saves, downloaded Xbox content, and music), four controller ports, and Xbox LIVE (an online gaming service allowing subscribers to play Xbox games online with other subscribers around the world and download new content for their games to the system's hard drive). If your looking for a gaming system that will keep you entertained for a good while, but you can't afford a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, you should give the original Xbox a try.

While this is A big system, it's very powerful, and the built in hard drive makes it more convenient for saving my game progress. The games I've played on it so far are pretty fun after playing the ones that work on the 360. Overall, A good buy.

Early on in your trying out of an Xbox game console, you may wonder if it's really worth bothering with. The Xbox Live functions- which don't exist anymore, thank you very much Microsoft- were clunky and slow, especially compared to those of the 360. The first controller was an oversized mistake, and had that controller stayed as the standard this review would certainly be different. The controllers are almost exclusively wired, if that disappoints anybody, and the graphics are far behind what consoles can do today. On top of it all, too many people don't even seem to know there *was* an Xbox. I keep hearing "Xbox", then ask for clarification and find the person really meant the 360.

The Xbox may in some ways be past its prime. It's no longer the top dog in game consoles- PS2 never was, I prefer a console that *can't* be mistaken for a DVD player. It's been a full decade since it was released in North America.

But...

If you look past its age and the fact that it just ain't all that cool anymore, you'll find that the Xbox, its games, and accessories are a better deal than a post-Soviet AK discount sale. Some of its items are getting a bit rare, sure, but overall, every part and aspect of the console has never been cheaper than it is now. Back in the heyday of the Bawks, you'd pay fifty dollars for each new game or close to that. Today, one of the most famous Xbox games ever, Halo: Combat Evolved, often runs less than ten dollars on Amazon. "Mechassault" can be found on Amazon for a penny plus shipping.

And there isn't just money to consider. The Xbox may be old, but like a vintage Cadillac, it warrants a second look despite not being the newest and shiniest.
There's one thing, most of all, that the Xbox has: it works. The Xbox had its troubles early on, but shook them off and stayed the same model, while the 360 has kept on changing and hasn't fully rid itself of technical woes. That is one reason I truly like the Xbox better than its replacement: there is only one Xbox. There have got to be ten 360's, and I've always had a vague feeling of being cheated since the 360 has constantly been changed and re-released, leaving the first white 360's in the dust as much as their predecessor, the Bawks.

The Xbox and its games are reliable, inexpensive, and simple, and even today the 360 cannot match the Xbox on some of these. The 360, with it's never-ending addons of complexity to an already complicated dashboard, frankly gives me way more than I want to work with. The Xbox gives you the essentials, and always with a bit of flair. That's how I like it. I don't need any Avatar or 600 sections to my dashboard, nor do I need my Xbox Live functions tied into the console so heavily as they are on the 360. The Xbox has been abandoned by Microsoft, it seems, and the fact that its Live functions were given their place but not woven into every fabric of its existence has made its transition to a Live-less status easier. Can you imagine if the 360 one day meets the same fate? Those things will be screaming about being unable to connect so much it will make people's heads spin.

Simplicity, reliability, and a low price for pretty much all of its games and accessories. The Xbox may have gotten old, but not all aspects of its aging have been bad. It's never been a better deal than it is today. It's the first game console I ever played, and still is the one I love most. It's one of the greatest game consoles ever made.

It's teh Bawks.

It has been a flawless system for me. It is my favorite system of all. It has the best graphics of it's era, way better than the "prehistoric ps2" or the "gamecube". The controller fits perfectly into my hand, and it's comfortable to use. It has great games, like Halo 1&2, Morrowind, Star Wars Knights of The Old Republic 1&2, Doom 3, and Doom 3 Resurrection of Evil. No technical problems at all for me. It can also play movies and music. The original Xbox in my opinion, is better than the 360. Since it's so cheap, the unit and the games are way more affordable than the 360.
A must buy system for hard core gamers!

This system is perfect if your young teens want to try out gaming for the first time,or if an older person wants to get into it. The system itself is cheap to buy,and is as reliable as a newer PS2,the only issue that you have to be aware of is that some of the older Xbox's DVD drives are prone to partial or full failures,But if your buying a refurbished system then when it is sent in,the DVD drive will be replaced with a newer model one. If your buying one at EB games then it comes with a free 30 day warranty (that's 1/3 of the original 90 day warranty FYI) And for only $4 more you can get a FULL 1 year warranty,if there is anything wrong with the system it gets replaced no questions asked-NICE

Now,the downfall about buying a 'discontinued' system like the Gamecube or Xbox is the peripherals are very hard to find at your local EB games,I lucked out and found 2 Xbox controllers (1 Duke and one 3rd party) for $30 and found the DVD remote for $20 (I should have held off on it,but I was to excited to wait)

Games themselves have hit rock bottom (just like the system) price wise,the MOST one game should cost used at EB/Gamestop would be $20,but most can be had for $14.99 (I'm talking about good ones) And if your lucky you can get some good games for under $10. I will now list the pros/cons of the systems. Just for reference I'll list some games I got:

Ninja Gaiden
Metal Gear Solid 2
Crimson Sea
Otogi
Otogi 2
Beat Down:Fists of Vengeance

Those six I got for $50,you cant beat that!

Pros:

+Cheap to buy
=/=Reliable
+Games are cheap
+Still looks cool
+100's of games still available

Cons:

=/=Older models are less reliable (DVD drives prone to failures)
-Peripherals are hard to find locally (esp. Controllers,witch are getting expensive)
-Game selection will eventually dry up
-Even with a 1 year warranty,your not going to be guaranteed an Xbox further down the road (they haven't been made since 2005 :'( )

Yay. Modded this to play "homebrew" games. Works very well, even after the years. If you can pick one of these up in a sale for around 20, i would do it, as it can become a good tv box with a little easy work.

This original XBOX gaming console preceded the much more advanced and newer version, the XBOX 360 console.
This original console is no longer being produced, and its' compatible games are limited in number, and hard to find. I purchased it knowing this, but some of the games I wanted to play are not formatted in a way that can be run by the newer 360 console.

The handheld controller itself is comfortable, and all of the original games play as I expected. Happy with purchase.

Microsoft, back in 2001, made the Xbox. They only gave it 4 years before they made the 360, which was, and still is, riddled with problems. The Xbox was near perfect, the only problem being that the early ones had problematic disc drives. The four years that Microsoft gave it was a short time frame for game development. The games produced, however, are often quite good, and, now, extremely cheap. You can now put together a system and four to ten games, good games, for less than $100, a third of the current price for just the Xbox 360 these days. Unless there is a specific game you want, the Xbox is just as good as the 360, at a fraction of the price,

The X-Box was a magnificent addition to the video gaming world and, for some years, was the best game box available. Although its manufacturer replaced it with a more advanced model, it remains a source of endless enjoyment at rock-bottom prices.