So, I’m a bit torn about the whole 360 thing. On one hand, there are very few games that I want to play for that system. On the other hand, those very same games, while available on the PC, would require me to buy a brand new PC to play them. In fact, for GTA IV, the specs require a PC that costs almost three times as much as the 360 itself. In the end, it’s quite a bit of savings for what is guaranteed to be somewhere upwards of six months of entertainment.
And then there’s the “why buy consoles if they won’t develop for them properly?” point of view. The PS2 was released March 4, 2000; the best looking game for the system (God of War 2) was released on March 13, 2007; the PS3 was released on November 11, 2006. Similarly, the Xbox was released November 2001; the 360, November 2005.
If it took seven years to fully harness the power of the PS2, what’s in store for the 360 when Microsoft moves on? The PS2 is an odd specimen – it’s the best selling console of all time. When the 360 was released, all titles slated for the xbox were canceled or simply moved over to the 360. We’re a far cry from the NES/Super NES days of a 10 year life cycle.
In that respect, Nintendo did the smart thing by simply sticking to an overclocked Gamecube. While only a third of the speed of the 360, it’s still almost double the power of the PS2. And arguably, we haven’t seen God of War II-esque visuals out of the Wii, yet.
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TMNT (GBA)
While no Alien vs. Predator, it stands as one of, if not the best beat ‘em ups on the gameboy advance. This is a Konami title, which handled the TMNT titles on the NES and the arcade, and this certainly harkens back to the early 90s. This time around, the sprites are gorgeous, there’s an interwoven storyline, and there’s a bit of replay value. Dare I say it, this game is better than Treasure’s Advance Guardian Heroes. The only nit I have, and this is an incredibly minor one, is that you can’t jump and grab onto poles, just ledges. Other than that, it looks, sounds and plays beautifully.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival (GBA)
Long name, but roughly translated means “butchering of a classic”. This game is definitely powered by a different engine than what is found in the original SFII. It’s glitchy as all get-out – and according to reviewers, some glitches can permanently damage the cart itself. Not only that, but sprites have been sharpened but dumbed down – there’s no backward walking sprites. The sound is unbearably bad. And with the engine acting as funny as it is, the game is virtually unplayable if you’re used to the last 20+ years of street fighter goodness. In other words, pick up Street Fighter Alpha 3u, an excellent translation of the same game featured on the PSX and the dreamcast.
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