Well, sorry for another thread of this kind but I finally got the chance to play the system and well I also had something to say 
.
First, let's clarify that my impressions come from about 3 hours of gameplay which isn't a lot but well it's better than nothing. My provider was a fellow that got the system with PGR3, PDZ and COD2 so let's thank him before starting the bashing !
System
I have to say that the system is quite probably a really nice package. Since the DC days that I wasn't so excited on the design of a system. It's really nice. There is the system which has a nice shape and color, coupled with that nice light on the front. But there is also the controller which is pretty comfortable although in my opinion the D-PAD still needs improvement. Right side this time
As a wireless pad I have to admit that it works really well and that button placement is perfect. The XBOX live button at the center is also a nice addition but well, I didn't like the D-PAD.
Entering the system is also a result of a nice job by the MS side. Good interface and easy navigation provide a really good experience. It's good you can travel menus while playing and that you can jump from everywhere to everywhere with just a button. I would be impressed if Sony improved all this. It's possible but here MS showed us what is wise interface design.
Games
Anyways, what makes a system great is the collection of games and here, so far, is where I see the X360 has a great problem.
First of all, I have said several times that my only reason to purchase the system would be RR6 and as some of you know the title is just no-available in Europe. Why ? God knows...
So the first title I wanted to try was PGR3. Drohne, DCharlie, BlimBlim...everybody claimed it looked great... So I wanted to see WHAT was that fucking next-gen that is sending ps2 to the trash in its greatest year I needed to know what was this.
And well, PGR3 tried to show me it.
PGR3 sure looks awesome. The game has tons of effects that improve the experience such as the blur that happens at high speeds. The 30fps thing isn't that bad...I don't see how 60fps could help this game at the speed it runs. I just mean that the game isn't very fast so...the change wouldn't be as smooth as one might thing.
Reflections on cars are genious but well...I would lie if I said that the game looked as good as in the BlimBlim 1080i videos...
I think that the 32" Samsung TV tricked me. I dunno what's wrong with it but this TV and my eyes don't want to marry. I hope that when I receive my JVC with Dyna Pix scaler I see things in a different way...I find everything pretty blurry...dunno why...and no, this isn't related to refresh rates/response time nor the motion blur...It's just like playing with AV against RGB...I guess my friend has fucked with the color controls...otherwise I don't explain myself what happens there.
Anyways the gameplay is PGR2 evolved, arcadish, and that's all you need to know to play it. I also played through live just to hear some yankies saying "modafucka you are drunk" and other things like that I am sure the GAF comunity would never say ( :lol :lol :lol , I would actually like to play with all gaf just to hear the people saying ORLY, MEGATON, I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE, BOMBA, MEEBLE, etc) hahaha just kidding.
Returning to the Live implementation it's really good. The game hardly lags and well, menu navigation is pretty easy.
The music is licensed stuff, I recognized some of them...didn't have the chance to try personal soundtracks...
PGR3 is one of the games to get FOR SURE.
PD seemed like a cruel joke. I was like WTF for the most of the time. PD is the perfect mix of the words: "rushed", "predictable", "bad implementation of a good idea" and similar concepts.
Deffinitelly similar to what Halo 2 was...just that released for a NEXT-GEN system. This time it's hard to deffend it.
Graphically it isn't bad...but I didn't see it as a next gen title. Lots of bump-maps and effects but well...any game in a 6 months time would absolutelly crush it. Looks like an enhanced XBOX title. Actually I believe Riddick looked much better. Anyways I am not a big fan of the genre.
Didn't play a lot of it...gameplay-wise I had problems to control it with the X360 controller...I guess it's natural considering the last FPS I beat was PD on the N64 in the 2000.
Similar ideas plague PD0 now, circa 2005. Anyways, after seeing an alien called Elvis, I promised I would never recover the faith in the Rare name.
I am kinda sad about this title. So much noise for nothing. I would like to try Kameo, seems a lot more interesting but well, first I should try Star Fox Adventures.
COD2 was the last of the bunch I tried. I am not into FPS games but it was nice to play it. It's a pretty immersing title. I liked it. Graphically it's pretty bad. Tons of action, yes but nothing to say WOOOOOW. Anyways it was way more entertaining than PD was and well...if someone is looking for some entertaining on the system I guess he will like it.
Well, that's all. I would have liked to play Kameo and RR6. Actually if it was me I would have purchase both of them along with PGR3 and perhaps Condemned which seems to be very loved here.
It's not a great launch from what I played but I have seen worse ones...
.First, let's clarify that my impressions come from about 3 hours of gameplay which isn't a lot but well it's better than nothing. My provider was a fellow that got the system with PGR3, PDZ and COD2 so let's thank him before starting the bashing !
System
I have to say that the system is quite probably a really nice package. Since the DC days that I wasn't so excited on the design of a system. It's really nice. There is the system which has a nice shape and color, coupled with that nice light on the front. But there is also the controller which is pretty comfortable although in my opinion the D-PAD still needs improvement. Right side this time
As a wireless pad I have to admit that it works really well and that button placement is perfect. The XBOX live button at the center is also a nice addition but well, I didn't like the D-PAD.Entering the system is also a result of a nice job by the MS side. Good interface and easy navigation provide a really good experience. It's good you can travel menus while playing and that you can jump from everywhere to everywhere with just a button. I would be impressed if Sony improved all this. It's possible but here MS showed us what is wise interface design.
Games
Anyways, what makes a system great is the collection of games and here, so far, is where I see the X360 has a great problem.
First of all, I have said several times that my only reason to purchase the system would be RR6 and as some of you know the title is just no-available in Europe. Why ? God knows...
So the first title I wanted to try was PGR3. Drohne, DCharlie, BlimBlim...everybody claimed it looked great... So I wanted to see WHAT was that fucking next-gen that is sending ps2 to the trash in its greatest year
I needed to know what was this.And well, PGR3 tried to show me it.
PGR3 sure looks awesome. The game has tons of effects that improve the experience such as the blur that happens at high speeds. The 30fps thing isn't that bad...I don't see how 60fps could help this game at the speed it runs. I just mean that the game isn't very fast so...the change wouldn't be as smooth as one might thing.
Reflections on cars are genious but well...I would lie if I said that the game looked as good as in the BlimBlim 1080i videos...
I think that the 32" Samsung TV tricked me. I dunno what's wrong with it but this TV and my eyes don't want to marry. I hope that when I receive my JVC with Dyna Pix scaler I see things in a different way...I find everything pretty blurry...dunno why...and no, this isn't related to refresh rates/response time nor the motion blur...It's just like playing with AV against RGB...I guess my friend has fucked with the color controls...otherwise I don't explain myself what happens there.
Anyways the gameplay is PGR2 evolved, arcadish, and that's all you need to know to play it. I also played through live just to hear some yankies saying "modafucka you are drunk" and other things like that I am sure the GAF comunity would never say ( :lol :lol :lol , I would actually like to play with all gaf just to hear the people saying ORLY, MEGATON, I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE, BOMBA, MEEBLE, etc) hahaha just kidding.
Returning to the Live implementation it's really good. The game hardly lags and well, menu navigation is pretty easy.
The music is licensed stuff, I recognized some of them...didn't have the chance to try personal soundtracks...
PGR3 is one of the games to get FOR SURE.
PD seemed like a cruel joke. I was like WTF for the most of the time. PD is the perfect mix of the words: "rushed", "predictable", "bad implementation of a good idea" and similar concepts.
Deffinitelly similar to what Halo 2 was...just that released for a NEXT-GEN system. This time it's hard to deffend it.
Graphically it isn't bad...but I didn't see it as a next gen title. Lots of bump-maps and effects but well...any game in a 6 months time would absolutelly crush it. Looks like an enhanced XBOX title. Actually I believe Riddick looked much better. Anyways I am not a big fan of the genre.
Didn't play a lot of it...gameplay-wise I had problems to control it with the X360 controller...I guess it's natural considering the last FPS I beat was PD on the N64 in the 2000.
Similar ideas plague PD0 now, circa 2005. Anyways, after seeing an alien called Elvis, I promised I would never recover the faith in the Rare name.
I am kinda sad about this title. So much noise for nothing. I would like to try Kameo, seems a lot more interesting but well, first I should try Star Fox Adventures.
COD2 was the last of the bunch I tried. I am not into FPS games but it was nice to play it. It's a pretty immersing title. I liked it. Graphically it's pretty bad. Tons of action, yes but nothing to say WOOOOOW. Anyways it was way more entertaining than PD was and well...if someone is looking for some entertaining on the system I guess he will like it.
Well, that's all. I would have liked to play Kameo and RR6. Actually if it was me I would have purchase both of them along with PGR3 and perhaps Condemned which seems to be very loved here.
It's not a great launch from what I played but I have seen worse ones...