Customer Reviews

Xbox Core Console USM

5 star:		(190)
4 star:		(67)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(43)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yes, the Xbox has to be the best video game system I have ever bought. I own, also, a GameCube, me being a big Mario fan (Sierously, who isnt?). I've had my Xbox for, oh, two years. But recently, it has died. I'm not sure what went wrong. The cords are fine. I've even bought replacement cords, but it just wont come to life. I was thinking of buying an Xbox 360, until I read all the bad reviews. Apperently, the 360 has some kinks in it. So, I plan on buying another Xbox. If I were you, I would purchase an Xbox, not a 360.

Ups:

-Great graphics.
-Sound = awesome.
-Game genre is awesome!
-No need for "memory cards".
-You can use the consol as a DVD player, and a music player!

Downs:
-Controllers are a bit bulkish.
-A bit faulty.


Obviously, more ups than downs!

Having recently purchased this for my nephew, I was very surprised how easy it was to get set up. Generally anything new these days requires my 12 year old nephew to hook it up for me. I don't know if he was more impressed with my gift or my new-found techincal capabilities.

The images and graphics are first-rate, the controls make sense and are easy to get used to. Granted we have two games, and they are both driving so I can't speak to the run/jump/shoot controls, but if they work as well as the rest of this set then I assume they too are excellent.

A great toy for kids and adults.