I've had the system for about 2 weeks now, and I figured I'd do a bit of a review here for anyone that might be looking to pick one up over the Xmas holiday. So far this has been a very interesting experience, and I'll explain why I use the term "interesting" later on...
THE GOOD!...
- This system is extremely fast...in all aspects really. The system (at least in my case) stays on 24/7 (because it is connected to my cable box), but starting games, apps and videos/music is literally a split second effort. And that's just through the manual controls! The system also features hand gesture and vocal controls as well (we'll get to that in a minute). Switching between apps and games is seamless...and honestly, telling the Xbox to switch from a game to TV is pretty cool, especially since it cache's your game point on the Xbox, and you go right back to where you were in the game...no loading, no waiting...instantaneous. Multi-tasking has truly developed into an art form on this console.
- Xbox Live is still Xbox Live. It's still consistent, quick and reliable...and I have noticed that even right off the bat, you have a slew of free games for the Xbox...I've picked up Killer Instinct, a jet ski game for the Kinect and the Fitness program (which is very cool honestly, and completely free unless you want to download specific programs like Hip Hop Abs or any number of those informercials you see late at night/early in the morning). The fact that they improved the service over what it was before and still only charge the same amount is really awesome to me...I'm still just paying around $30-$35/year for a 12 month subscription.
- The games are GORGEOUS. Forza 5 is simply breathtaking. They've really enhanced the driving characteristics of the cars in it (especially the feel of weight transfer), but honestly, visually, that is where you'll really be impressed. These are pictures from my garage...no filters, no special effects, just a straight up pictures, and honestly, how they'll "improve" over these graphics is really beyond me now, this is so close to perfect I can't even imagine a higher level...
...and it's not just details like that, while playing Battlefield 4 the other day, I noticed myself crouched down behind this shed waiting for a group of guys to run out into the open area...all of the sudden, a tropical storm hits the level we're playing on, and I'm being blown up against the side of the structure...at which point, the structure's roof collapses off and the rubble left over was SO DETAILED! I ended up dying because I was sitting there staring at it in awe...and a guy came and cut my throat, lol!
- Integration with my home theater system (including my Comcast HD cable and DVR). It's truly a marvel the way it works with this stuff...you walk into the room, and as creepy as it is, the Kinect will recognize you and initiate from sleep...a simple "Xbox, Watch TV" and bam, you're watching TV...ask it for something specific and there you go. Want to watch Monday Night Football, just ask! And not only can you watch TV, but you can split screen and play your games WHILE watching TV. I was playing Forza the other day while I had a minimal screen with one of the college football games on. It was pretty freakin' cool (though I can tell that this feature will need some polishing over the life of this console). I was apprehensive about this integrated TV thing, but after having it and using it for a couple of weeks, it's definitely a feature I'm glad to have.
- The new controller is awesome. Period. I loved the 360 controller. To me it felt like the perfect ergonomically designed setup for 99% of heavy use playing. They took that design, and they made the controller even more sensitive...this might sound like a downfall to some, but truly, it is a marvel in it's own right. You are used to playing games with the old controllers and this one almost requires you to RE-LEARN how to play, because it is optimized, and allows for a better range of control within the game. I can feel my car's tires breaking traction now through the responsible trigger...I can more precisely control the movement of my weapon or angles of objects thrown with the joysticks...and all the while, it remains comfortable in my hand.
THE GOOD!...
- This system is extremely fast...in all aspects really. The system (at least in my case) stays on 24/7 (because it is connected to my cable box), but starting games, apps and videos/music is literally a split second effort. And that's just through the manual controls! The system also features hand gesture and vocal controls as well (we'll get to that in a minute). Switching between apps and games is seamless...and honestly, telling the Xbox to switch from a game to TV is pretty cool, especially since it cache's your game point on the Xbox, and you go right back to where you were in the game...no loading, no waiting...instantaneous. Multi-tasking has truly developed into an art form on this console.
- Xbox Live is still Xbox Live. It's still consistent, quick and reliable...and I have noticed that even right off the bat, you have a slew of free games for the Xbox...I've picked up Killer Instinct, a jet ski game for the Kinect and the Fitness program (which is very cool honestly, and completely free unless you want to download specific programs like Hip Hop Abs or any number of those informercials you see late at night/early in the morning). The fact that they improved the service over what it was before and still only charge the same amount is really awesome to me...I'm still just paying around $30-$35/year for a 12 month subscription.
- The games are GORGEOUS. Forza 5 is simply breathtaking. They've really enhanced the driving characteristics of the cars in it (especially the feel of weight transfer), but honestly, visually, that is where you'll really be impressed. These are pictures from my garage...no filters, no special effects, just a straight up pictures, and honestly, how they'll "improve" over these graphics is really beyond me now, this is so close to perfect I can't even imagine a higher level...
...and it's not just details like that, while playing Battlefield 4 the other day, I noticed myself crouched down behind this shed waiting for a group of guys to run out into the open area...all of the sudden, a tropical storm hits the level we're playing on, and I'm being blown up against the side of the structure...at which point, the structure's roof collapses off and the rubble left over was SO DETAILED! I ended up dying because I was sitting there staring at it in awe...and a guy came and cut my throat, lol!
- Integration with my home theater system (including my Comcast HD cable and DVR). It's truly a marvel the way it works with this stuff...you walk into the room, and as creepy as it is, the Kinect will recognize you and initiate from sleep...a simple "Xbox, Watch TV" and bam, you're watching TV...ask it for something specific and there you go. Want to watch Monday Night Football, just ask! And not only can you watch TV, but you can split screen and play your games WHILE watching TV. I was playing Forza the other day while I had a minimal screen with one of the college football games on. It was pretty freakin' cool (though I can tell that this feature will need some polishing over the life of this console). I was apprehensive about this integrated TV thing, but after having it and using it for a couple of weeks, it's definitely a feature I'm glad to have.
- The new controller is awesome. Period. I loved the 360 controller. To me it felt like the perfect ergonomically designed setup for 99% of heavy use playing. They took that design, and they made the controller even more sensitive...this might sound like a downfall to some, but truly, it is a marvel in it's own right. You are used to playing games with the old controllers and this one almost requires you to RE-LEARN how to play, because it is optimized, and allows for a better range of control within the game. I can feel my car's tires breaking traction now through the responsible trigger...I can more precisely control the movement of my weapon or angles of objects thrown with the joysticks...and all the while, it remains comfortable in my hand.
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