Box News’ Next Generation Console Comparison Part 2

After a brief hiatus, we return to continue our next generation console comparison. This time, as promised, we compare the three consoles graphic capabilities.

Full DICE 2007 Coverage

GameSpot gives total coverage to the 2007 DICE Summit including awards, game previews and interviews with a few industry executives. Lots of great information on what to expect this year as well as some of the highlights from 2006.

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Review – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

As far as video game franchises go, few, if any, are able to compare to the Legend of Zelda series. From its inception on the NES, The Legend of Zelda has taken players into a world of unparalleled fantasy and adventure; Twilight Princess aims to continue that trend. As most people undoubtedly know, Twilight Princess was originally developed to be a GameCube title scheduled for release last fall. As you probably also already know, this did not happen as Nintendo decided to delay it a year and turn it into a launch title for their new console, the Wii. This upset some gamers (c’mon, who doesn’t hate delays?), but to others, the delay gave hope that perhaps this adventure would become more of a revolution for the series and not simply another evolution.

Since the game was originally developed for the GameCube, and then given less than a year to adapt it for the Wii (while also maintaining a version to be released on the Gamecube), nothing outside of the controls was changed. That means that the GameCube and Wii versions look identical besides the 16×9 widescreen support the Wii gets. This is admittedly slightly disappointing; having a brand new piece of hardware with visuals that do nothing to take advantage of it. That said, the real question is “does this detract from the game?” NO! Yes, it has for the most part last-gen graphics, but they are still stunning. Link, the dungeons, the NPC’s, the field, the buildings, the whole world of Hyrule look so incredible that it is hard to believe you are not really there. And just to kick that immersion level up a notch, you have the Wii’s motion controls.

November Game Industry Sales

NPD Group has just reported November’s Software and Console sales. Sales are up 34% year-over-year thanks to Nintendo’s and Sony’s console launches.

Console Sales (units) -

DS – 918,000

PS2 – 664,000

GBA – 661,000

Xbox 360 – 511,000

Wii – 476,000

PSP – 412,000

PS3 – 197,000

Software Sales (units) -

Gears of War (360) – 1,000,000

Final Fantasy XII (PS2) – 896,000

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) – 412,000

Guitar Hero II (PS2) – 356,000

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Review – Need For Speed: Carbon

IGN.com takes the time to run EA’s street racer through its paces on the Nintendo Wii.

“There’s one thing Wii gamers want to know, and that’s how the controller makes or breaks the Carbon experience. Despite our initial impressions, the final version actually has a solid feel, and we’d go as far as to say the actual steering control trumps analog input after just a few minutes of practice.”

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Xbox 360 Vs. PlayStation 3: Graphics

Now that both consoles have been released and gamers have had a chance to get their greasy hands on them, how do they compare in the graphics department? Since the graphics capabilities are both consoles’ main selling point, this is an important comparison. GameSpot makes a screenshot by screenshot comparison of NFS: Carbon, Madden ’07, Call of Duty 3, NBA 2K7, Fight Night Round 3, Tony Hawk, Tiger Woods and Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Which looked better? Since GameSpot did such a good job putting this comparison together, I am going to tell you to go to them for the answer.

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