OT - PS2 vs. Gamecube vs. Xbox

Spoo · #1 December 27th, 2001, 09:41 PM

Now that were past gift-giving season, many of us will have got our hands (or know someone else who has) one of these fine new systems. So which is "best"?

I've heard a lot of silly arguments like "Gamecube is made Nintendo, so it's best" or "Gamecube has a handle, so it's dumb". I'm looking for intelligent responses, that's why I'm asking this group.

Will · #2 December 28th, 2001, 04:38 AM

Well, tomorrow I'm going over to a buddy's house for a 10 hour or so "GameFest". Three TVs, One XBox, One GameCube, One PS2. So I'll give a final answer in two days

Initially, from reviews in gaming magazines and some personal inferences, I would rank them: 1) GameCube, 2) PS2, 3) XBox.

I pick GameCube first because of a game I am really looking forward to (Rogue Leader). Also, the graphics are good (which is pretty much true for all three systems), Nintendo has good depth in their initial games, and they have gone against the "Bigger is Better" attitude in the industry. I've seen their disks, and they're about half the diameter of a standard CD/DVD, yet the space is used well. Big things come in very, very small packages.

PS2 is next simply because it has already been established, and has a very good head start on games you can play on it.

XBox I picked Last, because the game depth is horrible, almost exclusively FPS type games (led by Halo, which certain XBox enthusiasts I know seem to believe will "replace that piece of crap Half-Life". That's a direct quote, based solely on seeing the graphics for 15 seconds

). The fact that it's **** huge, and might as well be a computer is another reason (I wouldn't be suprised if Microsoft releases something to add a keyboard and mouse to it). And from my experience, Microsoft never does anything right the first time around. XBox 2 will probably be great, but XBox is targeted on too small an audience. One of the main advantages it is trying to use against GameCube, the fact that it can play DVDs, is quickly lost in its audience, most of which already have either a PS2 or a DVD player.

Just my $0.02

chewy027 · #3 December 28th, 2001, 04:42 PM

I don't really think you can say wich system is better. I've played all of em, and I have an xbox, but the system really depends on the games. Each one has its own unique games so it really depends on which of the games you like the best.

Instar · #4 December 29th, 2001, 06:35 AM

Well, XBox has undoubtedly the best graphics of the bunch, supposedly it can do up to 125 million polygons a second, which seems waaaaay incredible. It does though, have hardware specs to back that up, but I dunno.
The PS2 has a solid library of games though, much more choice than X-Box, as of yet. I'd buy either the X-Box, or the PS2, or both.
Gamecube is the one I'm least familar with. I dunno, it seems okay, but nothing stands out, at least to me. It can't play DVD's, like the PS2 and X-Box can (though you do have to buy a remote for the X-Box).
The X-Box has an ethernet port, which will allow for greater connectivity, if everything works like it should. I think I'd rather get the X-box, but a PS2 would do nicely (maaaaaaan I want to play some more Siphon Filter...)

Will · #5 December 29th, 2001, 08:40 AM

Ok, I've played all three systems, and seen others play them. I still personally like the GameCube best out of all of them (Rogue Leader is awesome), but they're pretty much equals when you balance everything out.

For the graphics, I can honestly say I noticed no difference between GameCube and XBox. They are both a step above PS2 in graphics, but that is to be expected, as PS2 is using chips that are a year older.

The controllers... GameCube and XBox controllers are an improvement over the PS2 controllers, but they do have their faults. GameCube has a trigger on the right side just above the analog control on the top; I didn't even notice it was there until the end of the night. The 'B' button is also a little awkward, being a lot smaller than the 'A'. Overall, it is a very good design, and a good size. XBox is also very good overall, but it is HUGE, just like everything else with the XBox. The black and white buttons would be better suited as a second set of triggers, as you can't really use them without taking a hand away from something else. The PS2 controller, I didn't really use... from previous uses, it is good, but I find the GameCube and XBox controls more comfortable (and all are an improvement over Atari or NES controllers

).

As for the games, I have to say that I am very impressed with Halo. I still don't agree with certain friend's claims that it will utterly replace HalfLife, as they occupy different niches in the FPS genre. The graphics are awesome, the AI is nearly as good as a human (they hide in corners, cover each other, team up on you, etc.), and it is just as fun to watch as it is to play (especially the Last level). Rogue Leader lived up to expectations, and I had a bLast doing the Death Star trench run, after I figured out that up=down, and down=up, but right=right, and left=left

And those two games took up most of the evening for me, I saw NHL 2k2 for about 30 minutes, Obi-Wan for about 30 minutes, and I was helping bLast the Covenant while others played SSX Tricky, WaveRace, and Madden.

One minor note to add: The XBox froze five times throughout the evening, so there may be some issues to work out there...

DarkStar · #6 December 29th, 2001, 09:13 AM

I have a PS2 but have played them all. I also like the GameCube but my fear with that one is the lack of more mature games. The big 'N' in the past has made mostly games for the younger kids market and other games that are cute. I'm hoping that this will not be the case with the GameCube. The only mature game I have seen for that system is the StarWars one, and later Resident Evil. I hope more mature games are coming.
Halo on the XBox is also alot of fun, Co-Op it's even better. I think it will do well if it can get support from the developers and release more quality games. The fact that not many companies in Japan are supporting the XBox could be a real problem. Best hardware add-ons/support out of the box.
PS2 already a year outdated. I agree that the other machines seem to have better graphics. But the PS2 has the best games currently, and the fact you can play PSOne games on it is a big plus. It's a pain to work with (I should know it's my job to program that stupid thing). Overall I think the PS2 is the best system right now IMHO. It's huge library of games and the PSone games it can play give it a huge advantage.

Instar · #7 December 31st, 2001, 07:07 AM

The rumble packs are fun, if you ask me
the XBox I played had them in the controllers, and the PS1 I remember had them if you paid the money

DirectorTsaarx · #8 January 2nd, 2002, 11:22 PM

Just to add some more info to the debate, Sony is already selling a USB keyboard & mouse for the PS2 in Japan, along with a Linux distribution (I forget which one), so you can turn the PS2 into a Linux computer. ISTR they're also coming out with a network module for the PS2.

I'm biased towards the PS2, because I own both Playstation and PS2, and because I like the Final Fantasy series (even though the movie was disappointing).

My fiancee wants a GameCube, but not until there's a new Kirby game to play on it...

Wardad · #9 January 3rd, 2002, 06:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Will:

For the graphics, I can honestly say I noticed no difference between GameCube and XBox. They are both a step above PS2 in graphics, but that is to be expected, as PS2 is using chips that are a year older.
[/QB]

Sony is not sitting on their hands.

Spoo · #10 January 3rd, 2002, 08:50 PM

quote:
Sony is not sitting on their hands.

Insider information? Please tell us more.