Video Game Console Reviews

Video Game Console Reviews

Video game systems come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and price points, catering to everyone from the most hardcore fan of first-person shooters to folks looking for more family-friendly fare. The following video game console reviews are meant to provide some basic guidelines, but the ultimate decision is of course up to you, the consumer. Enjoy!

Portable Video Games

At this time, there are two main competitors in the mobile video game arena. This is assuming that we're not including things like Windows Mobile-powered Pocket PC devices, cell phones, and other portable electronics that are capable of playing basic titles like Bejeweled and Monopoly. This is not to say that playing video games on a mobile phone isn't a fun experience -- it is -- but let's stick with the dedicated machines for now.

• Nintendo DS - This is Nintendo's main entry into the portable video game market, an arena that the company has dominated for nearly two decades. When the DS was first released, it was large, somewhat dim, and definitely a touch on the chunky side of things. Thankfully, Nintendo launched the DS Lite, paving the way to a sleeker and more attractive video game experience. The graphics are bright and colorful, but because of the relatively low-resolution and smaller color palette, the DS is not as good for photo realistic games. As such, the best titles here are those that feature more comic or cartoon-style graphics. This is not to say that the Nintendo DS is just for kids, because games like Brain Age, Mario Kart DS, and Trauma Center can appeal to gamers of all ages! Pros include great battery life, innovative touchscreen controls, and lots of recognizable Nintendo franchises (Star Fox, Metroid, Tetris, etc.). Cons include a "kiddie" image, a fingerprint-attracting glossy finish (for the DS Lite), and limited functionality beyond gaming.

• Sony PSP - While this slightly larger portable machine was originally marketed as a pocketable version of the PlayStation 2, it has since gone on to give people a full multimedia experience, complete with mobile movies, music, picture viewing, web surfing, and more. The PSP appeals more to an older, more mature audience, and as such, many of its games are more complex, more adult-oriented, and more violent. Some of the most popular titles include SOCOM, Metal Gear Solid, and Pursuit Force. There are also more family-friendly games like Lumines, Crazy Taxi, and NHL. Pros include plenty of multimedia functionality, a large highly-detailed color screen, and a familiar control scheme. On the downside, battery life can be somewhat poor, the PSP is heavier and larger than the DS Lite, and loading times can be a pain sometimes.

Home Video Game Systems

At this time, there are three different home video game systems for you to choose from, assuming that you're not interested in the previous generation. That said, you can easily save yourself loads of money by opting for a Gamecube, Microsoft Xbox, or a PlayStation 2 instead of the current generation. Games will also be considerably cheaper and just as enjoyable. At the same time, the current gen offers more innovative gameplay, better graphics, and a continually expanding library of games.

• Nintendo Wii - When the current generation rolled out, everyone expected Nintendo to come in as a distant third, largely because they used very similar architecture as the aging Gamecube. Graphics on the Wii are considerably worse than that offered on the other two machines, and hardcore gamers dismissed the Wii (codenamed Revolution during development) as little more than a gimmick. However, Nintendo easily came out on top during the 2006 holiday season, outselling the PS3 by a large margin. This is because the Wii appeals not only to traditional gamers, but also "non-gamers" like grandparents and soccer moms. The motion sensitive controls are intuitive and easy to enjoy. Moms and dads will love the ease of playing, the lower price point is very attractive, and it comes with the backing of a well-respected name like Nintendo. On the downside, you get sub-par graphics, many kid and youth-oriented titles, and no DVD playback capabilities.

• Microsoft Xbox 360 - Released a full year before its two main competitors, you would think that Microsoft would have a huge head start in the marketplace. The system didn't do too well during its first year, but following a year filled with hot titles and considerable price drops, the Xbox 360 performed very well during the 2006 holiday season. The Xbox 360 is best suited to fans of first-person shooters, sports games, and fighting games. You can usually find an excellent "bundle price" that will include a few pack-in games. This makes for a great value and a huge, existing library. One con to consider is that you need to purchase the HD DVD drive separately from the main gaming system to enjoy the high definition movie format.

• Sony PlayStation 3 - Easily the most powerful of the three, Sony's most recent iteration of the PlayStation is catering to the most hardcore of gamers and media junkies. At this time, some have said that there aren't any "must have" titles for this system, and when you add to that to the heavier price tag, you can see why sales haven't been nearly as impressive as they were for the PlayStation 2. That said, if you are interested in purchasing a Blu-ray Disc player, the PS3 offers a great value because it is still cheaper than a standalone player. Down the road, better games will come along and the price will drop.