GENERATION IN VIEW: XBOX 360 (X360)
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Manufacturer: Microsoft. Generation: 7th.
Released: November 2005 (US); December 2005 (Europe). Preceeded by: Xbox (2001). Succeeded by: Xbox One (2013). Posted 22nd November 2013. By Shane Battams © 2013 |
LAUNCH: FIRST OUT THE GATE
Microsoft gained an advantage by releasing the first 7th gen console, Xbox 360, in December of 2005. It launched for £279.99, which isn’t a hugely steep price, but one which kept me from buying it immediately. Their launch line-up summarised the approach MS would take to games throughout the next eight years. Out of fifteen retail titles, five were exclusives. The rest were third-party titles, mostly ports of older games such as GUN and American Wasteland. Concern was raised over these ports in particular, which looked rushed, grainy and not representative of the system’s potential. However, games like Project Gotham Racing 3 and Perfect Dark Zero proved the graphical potential, even if their gameplay was safe. Condemned was easily the standout title, offering some intense psychological horror and great melee combat.
The controller has been regarded as one of the best in the business, though truth be told, I felt it had some issues. Mainly, a poor D-Pad which made fighting games more difficult and awkward bumpers. However, the analog sticks, buttons, triggers and overall feel of the controller were great. Microsoft did attempt to capture the movie market by tapping into HD DVDs, a la BluRay on PS3, going so far as to release their own HD DVD player. However, it was discontinued less than a year after release. The 360 has seen several versions over the years, culminating in a black Slim model, which is sleek, sexy and has other benefits such as better HDMI output.
Microsoft gained an advantage by releasing the first 7th gen console, Xbox 360, in December of 2005. It launched for £279.99, which isn’t a hugely steep price, but one which kept me from buying it immediately. Their launch line-up summarised the approach MS would take to games throughout the next eight years. Out of fifteen retail titles, five were exclusives. The rest were third-party titles, mostly ports of older games such as GUN and American Wasteland. Concern was raised over these ports in particular, which looked rushed, grainy and not representative of the system’s potential. However, games like Project Gotham Racing 3 and Perfect Dark Zero proved the graphical potential, even if their gameplay was safe. Condemned was easily the standout title, offering some intense psychological horror and great melee combat.
The controller has been regarded as one of the best in the business, though truth be told, I felt it had some issues. Mainly, a poor D-Pad which made fighting games more difficult and awkward bumpers. However, the analog sticks, buttons, triggers and overall feel of the controller were great. Microsoft did attempt to capture the movie market by tapping into HD DVDs, a la BluRay on PS3, going so far as to release their own HD DVD player. However, it was discontinued less than a year after release. The 360 has seen several versions over the years, culminating in a black Slim model, which is sleek, sexy and has other benefits such as better HDMI output.
Forza Motorsport 3
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Halo 4
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GAMES: THIRD-PARTY FIRST, FIRST-PARTY SECOND
Rumours spread that third-party games were being primarily developed for Xbox 360, meaning they were optimised for this system at the expense of its major competitor PS3. Microsoft showed a strong relationship with third-party devs, seeing superior versions of games like Bayonetta and timed-exclusive DLC such as Grand Theft Auto IV’s two expansions. Though these perks dwindled during the later years of Xbox 360, it helped establish a great relationship between MS and third-party developers.
However, this consequently affected the first-party exclusives Microsoft would produce, which in my opinion were too limited in range and quantity. Microsoft started off stronger in 2006-7, with top exclusives such as Mass Effect, BioShock, Gears of War and Halo 3 coming out. However, the number of Microsoft-published games dwindled, and other hits such as BioShock and Mass Effect became multi-platform franchises. Microsoft would see strong exclusives in the form of indie-developed Xbox Arcade games like Super Meat Boy, but some have cited a strained relationship between MS and Indie devs, with practices such as the prevention of self-publishing and charging for patches causing friction. That being said, all this is certainly a step up from the mediocre-to-awful exclusives that graced the original Xbox, bar the standard-setting Halo and Forza.
Now, a common practice is HD remasters, most of which created by third-party developers. Hitman, Rayman and Zone of the Enders have all seen this treatment, some better than others. It’s possible that you could argue it’s lazy, as developers rely on cheap nostalgia to make money, but it’s also a good chance to experience some of the last gen’s finer games without having to hunt down a copy (and earn some achievements at the same time!). Microsoft too is readying to dip their toe into this realm of gaming, with Fable Anniversary coming out next year.
Perhaps the biggest issue you could hold against the 360’s library is the narrower selection of genres. Genres such as platformers, Japanese RPGs and survival horror have all suffered this generation, either dying out completely or becoming a shadow of their former self. On a more positive note, fighting games seem to have made a resurgence – particularly last year – and the once-dead Adventure genre has come back to life through the Xbox Arcade. However, shooters have become the dominant genre this generation, and while they can be fun, the sheer amount of gun games in the past few years has caused a bit of genre stagnation.
One positive trend is the Achievement system. Every game contains achievements – little tasks which reward you gamerscore upon completion. There’s a sense of constant improvement and progression, as an overall gamerscore tallies up through all your games. I’m at over 200,000 GS after 6 years, and it has helped me get more out of my games. Collectibles are worthwhile even if you only gain more GS, and achievements often encourage you to finish and explore your games, even if said game sucks. Some go as far as to “boost” multiplayer achievements, letting others kill and be killed in the name of achievements. Though some question the value of achievements, I say what’s wrong with getting more out of your game?
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
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Mark of the Ninja
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SHANE'S FAVOURITE FIVE X360 EXCLUSIVES (ALPHABETICAL ORDER): Crackdown Forza Motorsport 3 Gears of War 2 Mark of the Ninja Project Gotham Racing 4 |
SHANE'S FAVOURITE FIVE 7TH GEN NEW IPs (ALPHABETICAL ORDER): BioShock Gears of War Left 4 Dead Mass Effect Portal |
MOTION CONTROL: FAILING TO KINECT
In an attempt to combat Wii’s popularity, Microsoft delivered their own brand of motion control with Kinect (previously dubbed Natal, which sounds like a nose cavity to me). A horizontal sensor which you plugged into your console, it allowed you to use your body to play. Excitement was high, as games like Kinect Star Wars and Fable: The Journey built anticipation. Sadly, critical response has been mixed, as responsiveness remains an issue throughout its games, and in general Kinect games seem ultra-simplified to ensure it functions. Most importantly, perhaps, was the quite high price point of over £120, which many have felt is huge for a technology peripheral. That being said, some games have seen critical success, such as Dance Central and Child of Eden. And Kinect 2.0 sounds like a huge step up, as it captures in 1080p, records skeletal movement and consistently tracks audio, so you can even turn your Xbox One on with it.
In an attempt to combat Wii’s popularity, Microsoft delivered their own brand of motion control with Kinect (previously dubbed Natal, which sounds like a nose cavity to me). A horizontal sensor which you plugged into your console, it allowed you to use your body to play. Excitement was high, as games like Kinect Star Wars and Fable: The Journey built anticipation. Sadly, critical response has been mixed, as responsiveness remains an issue throughout its games, and in general Kinect games seem ultra-simplified to ensure it functions. Most importantly, perhaps, was the quite high price point of over £120, which many have felt is huge for a technology peripheral. That being said, some games have seen critical success, such as Dance Central and Child of Eden. And Kinect 2.0 sounds like a huge step up, as it captures in 1080p, records skeletal movement and consistently tracks audio, so you can even turn your Xbox One on with it.
Ninja Gaiden II
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Gears of War
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Far Cry 3
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ONLINE: A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE
The advancement of online functionality is perhaps the biggest change of this generation. While the PS2 and Xbox featured online play, it now has become interconnected with almost all games.
For me at least, it has changed the way I play. Features such as Achievements and Leaderboards have upped my game, forcing me to improve my skills to avoid looking like an underachiever. And online functionality brings plenty of great features. Parties allow you to communicate with up to seven people, meaning you can chat with all your buddies while muting game chat. Co-op games have become far more prominent this generation, as games like Gears of War, Splinter Cell and even Resident Evil let you grab a friend and fight the hordes together. Though some argue it kills Couch Playing, now I can play with my friends over Xbox Live any day of the week. It’s far more social than the lonesome experience of the previous generation. The only negative, perhaps, is the prospect of random players, who can have a tendency to become hostile towards you.
One of the constantly changing elements is the dashboard, which has gone from a tab-based system into a much more organic, if crowded, Microsoft Metro Design. The introduction of 360 avatars has allowed for more personalisation, though paying for items of clothing seems like a rip-off. This has been remedied by Avatar Awards however, which allow you to gain clothing through playing games. You can see gaming’s shift towards media-hubs, as a whole host of apps can be accessed now such as 4OD and Netflix. It threatens to dilute the gaming side of things, but game downloads are easily separated from the rest. It’s overall an attractive design.
A constant point of contention throughout the 360’s lifespan has been the Xbox Live Gold subscription required to play, which conflicts with Sony’s free online. Though Gold brings many background benefits, such as dedicated servers and extra protection from hacks, many felt cheated when Sony were offering full retail games – some months old – for the same price. Microsoft attempted to counter this with Games with Gold, but their deals ranged from obscure Arcade games to really old retail titles (such as 2006’s Rainbow Six Vegas). Free stuff is good, but it didn’t help remedy the situation for many.
LEGACY:
The Xbox 360 certainly stepped up Microsoft’s game this generation. The Xbox was a modest success, but the 360 stands strong as commercially successful and generally a good console. I’ve certainly enjoyed my six years with it, though some things need ironing out in the next-generation. Particularly, a stronger focus on exclusives, better perks for supporting Xbox Live Gold, and a wider variety of genres. Still, the 360 has dished out some great games, moments and hours of fun, and I look forward to seeing what the next generation has in store.
The advancement of online functionality is perhaps the biggest change of this generation. While the PS2 and Xbox featured online play, it now has become interconnected with almost all games.
For me at least, it has changed the way I play. Features such as Achievements and Leaderboards have upped my game, forcing me to improve my skills to avoid looking like an underachiever. And online functionality brings plenty of great features. Parties allow you to communicate with up to seven people, meaning you can chat with all your buddies while muting game chat. Co-op games have become far more prominent this generation, as games like Gears of War, Splinter Cell and even Resident Evil let you grab a friend and fight the hordes together. Though some argue it kills Couch Playing, now I can play with my friends over Xbox Live any day of the week. It’s far more social than the lonesome experience of the previous generation. The only negative, perhaps, is the prospect of random players, who can have a tendency to become hostile towards you.
One of the constantly changing elements is the dashboard, which has gone from a tab-based system into a much more organic, if crowded, Microsoft Metro Design. The introduction of 360 avatars has allowed for more personalisation, though paying for items of clothing seems like a rip-off. This has been remedied by Avatar Awards however, which allow you to gain clothing through playing games. You can see gaming’s shift towards media-hubs, as a whole host of apps can be accessed now such as 4OD and Netflix. It threatens to dilute the gaming side of things, but game downloads are easily separated from the rest. It’s overall an attractive design.
A constant point of contention throughout the 360’s lifespan has been the Xbox Live Gold subscription required to play, which conflicts with Sony’s free online. Though Gold brings many background benefits, such as dedicated servers and extra protection from hacks, many felt cheated when Sony were offering full retail games – some months old – for the same price. Microsoft attempted to counter this with Games with Gold, but their deals ranged from obscure Arcade games to really old retail titles (such as 2006’s Rainbow Six Vegas). Free stuff is good, but it didn’t help remedy the situation for many.
LEGACY:
The Xbox 360 certainly stepped up Microsoft’s game this generation. The Xbox was a modest success, but the 360 stands strong as commercially successful and generally a good console. I’ve certainly enjoyed my six years with it, though some things need ironing out in the next-generation. Particularly, a stronger focus on exclusives, better perks for supporting Xbox Live Gold, and a wider variety of genres. Still, the 360 has dished out some great games, moments and hours of fun, and I look forward to seeing what the next generation has in store.