Xbox: Microsoft turns on the power after early slip
By Jon M. Gibson 11/29/2001
NOV. 29 | Seven months ago at E3, Microsoft and its infant Xbox were shunned. Every demo shown, every game played--absolutely everything was a dilapidated, embarrassing, adolescent mess. Constant glitches plagued the Microsoft booth; choppy graphics cursed the company's official news conference. There were no excuses for such a catastrophe.
But that has all changed.
The Xbox, like the endless chain of TV spots during the World Series professed, allows "sweat to drip like real sweat." If the player bleeds--well, the player really bleeds. Basically, Microsoft's first foray into the console market--after applying what it learned at E3--is the most advanced console ever unleashed. It is a powerhouse.
Tecmo's Dead or Alive 3 is the perfect showcase piece, crammed with photo-realistic characters and bare-knuckle action. But besides featuring stunning, lifelike detail, DOA3 catapults the fighting genre into a new dimension, offering players completely interactive environments as combat arenas. One level allows the player to pummel an opponent through a massive window (with tiny shards of glass thrashed about) and through a gigantic neon sign (with electric shocks bursting) to the sidewalk below.
Unfortunately, the $299 price tag has caused some hesitation from consumers. At $100 less, GameCube advertises equal, if not greater, thrills. Wisely, Microsoft targets the college-aged gamer, a primed, mature player that dreams of more than just Mario. Munch's Oddysee, Project Gotham Racing and the ultra-violent, extreme intensity of Halo offer gamers a well-rounded experience. Realistic textures (most presented in high-definition) and profound Dolby Digital audio are also installed in each game, topping off the excitement.
Relaxing with an Xbox is like playing an interactive movie--it's astounding. Just one complaint: the American controller is too bulky; the smaller Japanese model is already long overdue.
BACK TO TOP |