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[GashPrex]

If Microsoft were a race horse (let's call it "JallardBox" or "PinkBunny" for kicks), it would have suffered through three bad legs of a major cup race, only to catch up in the last leg for a photo finish win. Looking back at X05, Microsoft caught up to the high expectations it set forth and produced high-quality games for the critics and enthusiasts who will either help or hinder Microsoft at launch. Instead of looking like bad imitations or next-generation games, for the most part, these 25 games were the real deal.

Kameo: Elements of Power was the most surprising game of X05 to me. It plays with the simplicity and depth of a Nintendo game, and it's easily one of the most beautiful titles on the launch lineup. You have to give this game a chance, about one-half hour and after that time, if you're not into it, you'll know. Me? It felt like next-generation Nintendo had arrived…on my 360. What a strange, wonderful feeling.

EA's five launch games show EA's inability to deal with such a high volume of games simultaneously on a new system, coupled with very late final dev kits, which is a common and very real complaint among all developers. Additionally, EA has admitted their games are building blocks for the future, meaning the next iterations will be significantly better. Guess that means Madden 07 on 360 and PS3? Sure doesn't seem like that monopoly on the NFL franchise is working out so hot in its first year.

Put things in perspective: Launches aren't traditionally the place where publishers or developers are able to knock you out in the first round. If that were the case, a lot of consoles -- the PS2, GameCube, perhaps even the Xbox -- wouldn't exist today. The fact is, there are several rounds to win -- and if these consoles last five years, that's at least five rounds -- this is just round one. Come next fall? Round 2 is where developers will really have had time to learn, understand, and exploit the complex architecture of the Xbox and make it work to do things you've never seen before.

Second, Xbox Live Arcade. I know, I know. You're thinking, "Who the F**K cares about a bunch of crappy 2D games that have been around for 20 years???!!!" I didn't before I saw Microsoft's plans for this one simple aspect of the system. But guess what? Xbox Live is a marketplace waiting to explode with old games, recent games, and new 2D games. The simple fact that you can download these games and have them forever on your system doesn't seem revolutionary. But when all of a sudden, they're not on discs, but on your hard drive, in their original form, or in HD, and playable on Live, for gamer points? Kind of interesting.

When you think of all the developers and gamers who want more 2D shooters, fighters, action games, puzzlers, and low-budget games, but that you can't play anymore because the arcade down the street closed three years ago, Xbox Live Arcade, you'll realize, becomes that new arcade. Dozens of developers can publish their own games on Xbox Live arcade, hundreds of them will in the next few years, and all of a sudden, you'll come home and be playing poker, Streets of Rage, Hexic, and Joust more than you ever have before -- against friends, recent players, who knows.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/658/658313p1.html

thought it was a good look at the state of things

 

[PhatSaqs]

One of the best write ups IGN has done in a long while. They pretty much nail it and I agree 100%.

 

[Optimistic]

It felt like next-generation Nintendo had arrived…on my 360.

Cue the Kameo detractors in 5, 4, 3...

 

[Tenacious-V]

They really sugar coated the EA situation.....

 

[radrelic]

Perfect Dark Zero looked rock solid, with good co-op, single-player action, and unwavering multiplayer modes. It's not the killer app that Halo is, nor is there much next-generation stuff about it, but that's OK. Rare's FPS has legs, it's pretty, and the Rare fans will be happy. In all honesty, Perfect Dark Zero is a game people will either love or hate.

What.

 

[GeoramA]

The fact is, none of the Xbox 360 games really blast out of the door with 100% knock-you off your feet next-generation games. They're all just good. Some are even very good.

Put things in perspective: Launches aren't traditionally the place where publishers or developers are able to knock you out in the first round. If that were the case, a lot of consoles -- the PS2, GameCube, perhaps even the Xbox -- wouldn't exist today. The fact is, there are several rounds to win -- and if these consoles last five years, that's at least five rounds -- this is just round one. Come next fall? Round 2 is where developers will really have had time to learn, understand, and exploit the complex architecture of the Xbox and make it work to do things you've never seen before.

Seems like IGN is making excuses, but it is somewhat the truth. I hope PS3 breaks this trend.

 

[Wollan]

Cue the Kameo detractors in 5, 4, 3...

Why is this game continously in slow-mo? I mean, it REALLY moves at slow mo speed in every movie I have seen(I even have that 1.5gb movie). Im looking at the movies and Im feeling my head is about to explode.

 

[Optimistic]

Launches aren't traditionally the place where publishers or developers are able to knock you out in the first round.

I disagree with this, both in terms of graphics and gameplay. I was knocked out by the 32/64 bit generation with N64 and Mario, and I was knocked out by the current generation with the DC and Sonic Adventure/Soul Calibur. I have NOT been knocked out with what's been shown so far for the 360 and to a lesser extent the PS3 (because really, shit all has been shown for the PS3 to really make a judgement...). But then, with the previous two generations I wasn't ont he net watching things unfold - I didn't really see these games until they were running on my tv or store display. Maybe the 360 will wow me when I actually see the games in the flesh.

 

[Littleberu]

Why is this game continously in slow-mo? I mean, it REALLY moves at slow mo speed in every movie I have seen(I even have that 1.5gb movie). Im looking at the movies and Im feeling my head is about to explode.

The game you're talking about is Saint Row.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

I was knocked out by the current generation with the DC and Sonic Adventure/Soul Calibur.

My god, the Dreamcast. That was perhaps the only time in gaming I couldn't believe what I was seeing, everything was just so crisp and clear compared to muddy N64 and PS1 textures.

 

[boredJonathan]

I disagree with this, both in terms of graphics and gameplay. I was knocked out by the 32/64 bit generation with N64 and Mario, and I was knocked out by the current generation with the DC and Sonic Adventure/Soul Calibur. I have NOT been knocked out with what's been shown so far for the 360 and to a lesser extent the PS3 (because really, shit all has been shown for the PS3 to really make a judgement...). But then, with the previous two generations I wasn't ont he net watching things unfold - I didn't really see these games until they were running on my tv or store display. Maybe the 360 will wow me when I actually see the games in the flesh.

My only problem with this is that this generation has shown we can't judge these systems life based on the launch titles. Sure the previous Nintendo systems had a great launch lineup, mainly of Mario titles. (Super Mario World, Mario 64) And the DC launch was also nice as you stated.

This generation however was not the same. The PS2 was largely useless at launch, with very few decent games to play on it. The GameCube had nothing to write home about, (well Pikmin was swell.. but not a system seller). Perhaps the only system that had a great launch title was the XBox with Halo.

In any event, I see no huge problems with this lauch beyond the split pricing structure. The games are most certainly looking like they will be there. No revolution in graphics, but the games will be fun.

 

[shpankey]

The only times where I looked on the screen and couldn't believe what I was seeing was the first time I played a 3do (when it first came out) and I seen Need for Speed.

When I seen Tomb Raider on a Voodoo powered PC.

The other time was with the PGR3 video where he looked out from the Brok. bridge over NYC

The NBA2k6 pics came close, and MGS4 video was quite impressive as well, at least the environments [Snake's face looked shitty to me, even if it was technically great] (also, I always knew Killzone video was cgi so it never impressed me in the slightest).

 

[PG2G]

I disagree with this, both in terms of graphics and gameplay. I was knocked out by the 32/64 bit generation with N64 and Mario, and I was knocked out by the current generation with the DC and Sonic Adventure/Soul Calibur. I have NOT been knocked out with what's been shown so far for the 360 and to a lesser extent the PS3 (because really, shit all has been shown for the PS3 to really make a judgement...). But then, with the previous two generations I wasn't ont he net watching things unfold - I didn't really see these games until they were running on my tv or store display. Maybe the 360 will wow me when I actually see the games in the flesh.

Well obviously the 32/64 bit generation saw differences in gameplay, it was a paradigm shift from 2D to 3D. There were no major gameplay changed between PSone and PS2, just as there weren't between NES and SNES, and there won't be between PS2 and PS3. What are you guys really expecting? Maybe Revolution will satisy those looking for "next generation gameplay," whatever the hell that is.

 

[Prine]

What.

Rollercoster

1up = Awesome
IGN = Good
Gamespot = Not saying anything until launch

 

[Comfort_Eagle]

I want one cheap. Is that what this topic is about?

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Red Mercury
1. Halo Deuce
2. "Yo, we gon' FUCK"
3. ????
4. Profit



:lol

 

[----]

My god, the Dreamcast. That was perhaps the only time in gaming I couldn't believe what I was seeing, everything was just so crisp and clear compared to muddy N64 and PS1 textures.

The Dreamcast came out in 1998, when did you see it sometime in late 1999? The games that launched with the Dreamcast in 1998 weren't that impressive compared to N64/PS1. They took an entire year to work on the games for the system before they released it in North America. That's the only reason why the DC North American/Europe launches were as good as they were. Not the best way to launch a game system though.

 

[Mrbob]

Damn IGN just dragged Madden 360 through the mud.

 

[krypt0nian]

More LIVE ARCADE lovin?

three sitty rules!

 

[123rl]

I just read the highlight quotes but that' probably the best thing IGN has written in years. I'll read the whole article later on

 

[DenogginizerOS]

Damn IGN just dragged Madden 360 through the mud.

And rightfully so. EA is clearly not motivated on getting this game ready. Why in the world are they showing such shitty code this late in the game?