Xbox 360 at X05: The Full Verdict

Not only does Xbox 360 actually exist, it also has games to die for. The real theme of X05 was tangibility, as our hugely detailed verdict report explains.

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There's Moore Where That Came From

A brief trailer for Tomb Raider Legend looked cute, but was nothing to write home about unless you're a big Lara fan since she now has proper bouncy breasts and gave wink at the end of the trailer. Next, maybe the most welcome new sequel trailer was that of Splinter Cell 4, a newly announced game at the event. The smooth 60fps trailer saw a drip of sweat fall from Fisher's life-like skin, and although the subsequent action was brief, it obviously goes without saying that this will be one to watch.

Moore then welcomed to the stage Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, who exclusively revealed that the next chapter in the legendary Wolfenstein series, which first created the FPS genre ahead of Doom 15 years ago, will debut on Xbox 360. While the game will also come to the PC, Xbox 360 is described as the primary host platform for the as-yet untitled sequel. Like Quake IV, the game is a collaboration between id Software, Raven Software and Activision. As id Software's development guru John Carmack explained in the video that followed, "the Xbox 360 is the first console that I've ever worked with that actually has development tools that are better for games than what we have on the PC." Carmack doesn't lie.

Peter went on to focus on the impressive range of software coming to Xbox 360 from Electronic Arts. The "most prolific publisher on Xbox 360" has over "4000 men and women", spanning "ten studios around the world" working on games for Xbox 360 - impressive numbers. The subsequent demonstration from EA's European boss, Gerhard Florin, focused on titles like Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Madden NFL and NBA Live. But the star of the line-up, in light of the imminent FIFA Interactive World Cup, was probably FIFA 06. A joke about who will win between England and France in a real match (or something) later, and Florin went on to discuss EA Games franchises like The Godfather, Burnout and Battlefield. But his biggest announcement was Superman Returns, the official game of the movie, to be released mid 2006 in collaboration with Warner Brothers Interactive and DC Comics.

A seemingly genuine and heartfelt message from Florin ended with a thank you to Microsoft, from both a European industry and European consumer point-of-view, to thank the company for treating Europe as an equal to America (and Japan) with the 360 launch, for the first time in modern console history.

Time for Beer

Lewis came back to close the conference, and then we all got drunk at a party that included a nice tight-rope acrobatics sort of performance thing from a real-life, big-breasted Joanna Dark, which was exactly what the doctor ordered. As our photos show, it was, um, cool!

The evening included a whole range of playable demo areas for all the major publishers and firstparty titles, and these games all made their way onto the showfloor on day two of the show (albeit in a slightly more work-friendly, less boozy atmosphere).

Video Coverage of Justice

Putting shattering hangovers aside, Kikizo staff made their way around the titles that matter, to bring impressions and, as you've come to expect, the very best, most extensive video coverage of the biggest titles you want to see the most - including a range of direct-feed and HD goodness.

You really must look forward to the best quality gameplay videos of Project Gotham 3, Perfect Dark Zero and, easily the best from a visual point of view, Dead or Alive 4, in-game, 60fps. We know it will be worth the short wait, because we checked the other sites and as usual, you'll just have to rely on Kikizo for the video detail that matters on the BIG games.

The Playable Highlights

It was certainly a nice surprise that Dead or Alive 4 was playable at the event. Looking utterly spectacular and playing with some noticeable improvements, the fighting game was arguably more visually impressive than any other game at the show, owing to its wonderfully smooth anti-aliasing, flawless sixty frames per second frame rate, massively detailed backdrops and brilliantly designed and animated characters. We have masses of high-quality 60fps gameplay coming to this site very shortly, so we'll let those do the talking.

Project Gotham Racing 3 was our other most favouritest title on show. We loved PGR2 and although it seems PGR3 will not make it to 60fps in time for release (this build was apparently a month newer than the one we played behind closed doors at TGS - see our huge upcoming video feature/interview - and still at around the 30fps mark), and despite some aliasing issues that give the game a slightly jaggy appearance when compared to the sheer perfection of DOA4, PGR3 is nonetheless a visually highly arresting title that, predictably, offers game structure, immediacy and near endless appeal. As with DOA4, our videos will show you everything you really need to see in-game, once we've gone though the hours of high-quality source footage we have.

Although Perfect Dark Zero was a tad underwheling at its live demonstration the night before, actual hands-on revealed an FPS which many have commented as their favourite playable title of X05. Offering two playable levels, PDZ won't blow anyone away in the "OMG best graphicz ever" department (although it's still luscious), but is unquestionably delivering some fresh ideas and solid grass-roots design, in a game that has been in development so long at Rare it really shouldn't fail to be a high quality end product. See our upcoming, very extensive video coverage and video interview.

So 360 - Any Good Then?

You couldn't really expect a stronger showing from Microsoft at this stage of launch for Xbox 360. It ticks all the boxes, and conjures up all the right feelings. We want this system and would kill for each of its strongest launch titles - that's a good handful of dead people, then.

There are some minor niggles people are going to have about software, particularly among the hardcore who want perfect frame rates in every title. But even though it doesn't seem like that will happen in the first wave of 360 software, it really doesn't matter. Xbox 360 delivers more than enough cool new features out of the box, the launch window line-up is arguably the best that a console has ever seen in any territory, and the delicate matters of pricing, brand positioning, and slick marketing, are all exemplary.

We can't wait for our Xbox 360s to arrive to make some final judgements. This Christmas, it seems that 360 is all that really matters in the land of videogaming, and that is as significant for you as it is for Microsoft.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com

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