Video Game Buyer's Guide 2001

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page created: 11/29/01

Video Game Buyer's Guide 2001

compiled by Greg Suarez of The Digital Bits

Introduction

Never in the 20-year history of home video gaming has it been a better - or more confusing - time to be a gamer. Entering the Christmas 2001 shopping season we are faced with three next generation video game consoles to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages; strengths and weaknesses; and set of exclusive games. Sony's PlayStation 2 (PS2) has been on the market over a year now, and is bursting at the seams with a library of spectacular games. Microsoft's Xbox is the most graphically robust of the three, but is brought to you by a company untested in the world of video games. And Nintendo, the company synonymous with "video gaming," enters the 20th century by (finally) introducing their first disc-based gaming system, GameCube (GC). In case you haven't heard by now, Sega's Dreamcast is dead. Earlier in the year the company announced that it would be exiting the video game hardware business as soon as its existing inventory of Dreamcasts was depleted. So, for the purposes of this story, the Dreamcast is not a contender.

So now that you know the names, knowing what sets each console apart, and which would be the best purchase for your individual gaming preferences can be a daunting task. For the hardest of hardcore gamers, the choice is easy: buy all three. But for those of us with other things to spend our hard earned cash on (like supporting an unhealthy DVD habit), and for the parents out there who know their children's shoe size, but have no idea if little Johnny or Jeanie prefers a RPG to a FPS, I'm here to help.

One point that I'd like to make clear up front is that pitting these consoles against each other simply on the basis of graphics is not an easy task. The Xbox comes out the winner by a small margin for its Schwarzenegger-like processing power (for a video game console, at least), but the overall differences detected in actual in-game graphics between the three systems is slight. In fact, the variations in graphic performance between the Xbox and the PS2 (which is the least graphically detailed of the three) are not even as pronounced as the differences between a PS2 and a Sega Dreamcast, which can be quite distinct. To put this into terms of The Digital Bits' rating scale, a top-shelf Xbox game would get an A+ from me for its graphics, while the same title's graphics on the PS2 would get an A or maybe A-... that's how slight the differences are. When comparing these systems, where the rubber hits the road, so to speak, is in their features and game selection.

To make your decision a bit less cumbersome, know these facts up front: Each system comes with one controller, a power cord, and a set of composite A/V cables. If your TV has the capability, make sure to upgrade to S-video or component video cables for optimum picture quality. Also, when it comes to new game pricing, each system is on a level playing field, as new titles for each system will cost about $50 each. Since the PS2 has been around longer, you're likely to find some bargains on a few good PS2 games, but given time, Xbox and GC software prices should eventually fall as specific titles age.

In the pages of this guide, you'll find summaries of each system's specs, features, pros and cons, and a round-up discussion of whether or not that particular console is right for you. I've also included a list of games that have been widely considered by fans and industry publications to be the best of the best of that particular system, and what titles to pay attention to in the next year or so. Since my taste in games might differ from yours, I haven't included any discussions about the games in general, but if a title sounds like it might appeal to you, check out that game's coverage at IGN.com.

So, let the fun begin! Click the link below to learn about the first system we'll look at - the Microsoft Xbox. Good luck in your decision, and as always, I'm more than happy to hear your opinions and answer your questions to the best of my ability.

Greg Suarez
gregsuarez@thedigitalbits.com

On to the Microsoft Xbox