This will be a quick overview of the titles I played so far on the Xbox 360. Full reviews will be coming from various staff members in the coming weeks.
Amped 3: Graphics - Nice graphics and excellent HD quality video. You can see things like cloth physics, snow trails and other various effects. The draw distance is amazing. Sound - Wide variety soundtrack. Decent voice acting. Passable sound effects. Gameplay -Plays a little more arcadey than previous Amped titles. The core of the game is still there. Overall - this game is WEIRD. The game starts out with a 2D arcade game kinda thing and then drops you onto the slopes in a big pink easter bunny outfit. The whole campaign plays out like a Monty Python Episode complete with wacky animations and quirky one liners. Verdict - Rent
NHL2k6 Graphics - Sometimes this game looks really awesome. Other times I wonder what's going on. Weird glow around the players, faces look worse at times than it's predecessor. The ice surface and crowd is amazing though. Sound - They really beefed up the crowd, the whole atmosphere is really immersive. Overall higher quality audio than previous version. Gameplay -nearly identical to the previous version. Lots of bug fixes though and the addition of the goalie control. All around nice polish. Overall - marginal improvement over previous version. Worth the buy for die hard fans only. Verdict - Buy for diehards, otherwise skip.
NBA2k6 Graphics - WOW. Amazing player textures, animations. Cloth physics. Can you say sweat simulation? Even the jersey's get wet from player sweat. All around amazing job. Sound - Adequate. Gameplay -I didn't play this on Xbox, but the gameplay is solid. A few quirks here and there. Overall - If you like basketball, or like basketball video games and need a game to show the system off, this one is for you. Verdict - Buy
Need for Speed: Most Wanted Graphics- This title has come a long way. It looks really polished, the HDR lighting is amazing. The game is very stylized that uses a mix of real video and in game graphics...and it's tough to see the line between. Sound - Great sound on the cars. The destruction sounds are lacking oomph though. Police radio chatter is great. Soundtrack is mostly rap, but fits the motif. Gameplay -The challenge modes are a blast. Campaign is interesting. The cars all handle fairly realistically. Running away from cops is just a blast, especially when you get to drop a 30 foot donut on them! Overall - Good fun game. A little closer to sim in car handling then I would have liked, but lots of fun none the less. Verdict - Buy
Tiger Woods 06 Graphics - At times this title looks amazing, at times it looks recycled. Nice effect here and there. Annoying bug where the left side has a bright white line like the overscan is messed up. Sound - Announcers are funny, weak otherwise. Gameplay -A bit quirky at times, but solid. Not much of an evolution from previous versions. Overall - OK game, it's no Links though. Verdict - Rent
Live Arcade Titles
Hexic HD Graphics - It's a 2d title but the graphics are sharp and colorful. Sound - Pretty decent soundtrack. Gameplay -Fun and addicting. This is a game for anyone. Overall - Unique gameplay from the creator of Tetris. Verdict - It's FREE!
Geometry Wars Evolved Graphics - Gorgeous. The physics of the grid, the colors of the explosions, the swirling black holes. Absolutely beautiful. Sound - I think there's one song...but you can use custom soundtracks. In game effects are decent. Gameplay -Simply the most addicting game on Live Arcade. Dual joystick action shooter. Overall - Play this game now. Verdict - Buy
Joust Graphics - Microsoft did a great job in creating hi-res graphics while still keeping the feel of the game. You can switch these off if you wish. Sound - It sounds like Joust Gameplay -it plays like Joust...but you can play it on LIVE!!! Overall - If you like Joust, you'll like Joust. Get it? Verdict - Buy.
Gauntlet Graphics -Decent job on the hi res graphics. Still keeps the feel of the game. Sound - Sounds like Gauntlet. Gameplay -Plays like Gauntlet Overall - Do you like Gauntlet? If so check this out. Verdict - Try before you buy.
Updated 11/22
Project Gotham Racing 3 Graphics- Top notch graphics and presentation. The in car view is so friggin convincing. Every city can have night and day, realtime reflections, photo realistic textures...the list goes on and on. Sound- Good engine sounds. Especially during the in car view. Good variety of music (you gotta love racing to classical at times). Gameplay - Plays like previous Gotham games, not a bad thing at all. Tons of game modes. Gotham TV for 35,000+ spectators. Car control is simmy, but not TOO simmy. Overall- The track creator is amazing, create any course in any of the games cities you want! Solid racing title, excellent graphics, great multiplayer. Verdict- MUST BUY
Kameo: Elements of Power Graphics - Colorful and cartoony with tons of character. Sound - Great little sound effects everywhere. Excellent music. Voice acting is hit and miss. Lots of sound effects will make you laugh. Gameplay - Solid platform/adventure title. Camera is usually solid. Controls are easy, with lots of nice puzzles. The intermix of characters elements is great. Overall- You gotta love that points are back. Brutal combos for higher points. Huge battles, wild life, npcs give the world a living breathing feel. The game will make you smile. Verdict - Buy for Adventure/RPG fans.
Perfect Dark Zero Graphics - Stylized graphics with nice lighting and solid texturing and bump mapping. Explosions look great. Sound - Sound effects are kind of weak, as well as the voice acting. The music is pretty cool for the most part. Gameplay - A mixed back. Controls are weird, take some getting used to. It's almost like a Rainbow Six console game meets Splinter Cell. Not necessarily a run and gun shooter...it's a bit slower. Overall - I'm not sure about the multiplayer either. I've had a few good matches, but I'll have to wait and see how the crowds get with the launch. The SP expierence is decent, nothing spectacular so far. Verdict - Rent.
Last edited by bapenguin; 11-22-2005 at 07:12 AM..
I really, really want to get co-op Live play going with Gauntlet...
__________________ City of Heroes: Virtue
WoW: Cenarion Circle
Gamertag: Heretic Machine
Currently Playing: Castle Crashers, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Beyond Good & Evil
Sir, that is a Fruitfucker REVOLUTION icon. Which makes it fun on all sorts of levels.
__________________ City of Heroes: Virtue
WoW: Cenarion Circle
Gamertag: Heretic Machine
Currently Playing: Castle Crashers, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Beyond Good & Evil
Indeed I found EvAv via PA. I believe it may have been years ago. I think it may have been a link that came under that "It came from Linksville" banner but I am very hazy on that.
I found EvAv via PA as well. I didn't offically join till this year (I've never been a huge forum fan) but I'm like you Earthworm48. It was probably waaay back in the Linksville days.
I'd say that Kelegacy is Tycho, what with all the wordsmithing and waxing lyrical he does on a regular basis... unfortunately, I don't think Tycho is quite as twisted as Kelegacy...
__________________
"This computer is so slow that I'm having framerate issues with Dwarf Fortress!"
- Me at my in-laws.
I went onto Tycho's gamer card not long ago, and it was odd as someone (probably Gabe if you read his last post) was playing and it was telling me what they were doing at it is gone midnight in the UK and watching that at this time of night especially seemed really weird for some reason. I feel like a creepy internet voyeur.
I'd say that Kelegacy is Tycho, what with all the wordsmithing and waxing lyrical he does on a regular basis... unfortunately, I don't think Tycho is quite as twisted as Kelegacy...
So what you're saying is, Kelegacy is the evil Tycho sent here from the Evil Dimension to destroy J. Allard? I can buy that, but the question here is whether or not he has a goatee...
__________________ City of Heroes: Virtue
WoW: Cenarion Circle
Gamertag: Heretic Machine
Currently Playing: Castle Crashers, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Beyond Good & Evil
