Consoles: Year in Review

Sam Hart

2007-12-19 18:00:17

Last year I gave praise to both the Wii and the 360 while pointing out the PS3's lackluster performance. Has any of that changed this year?

• 
  

  Microsoft 360

  
  Once again, Microsoft had an amazing year. The 360 was, hands down, the best console of 2007.
  
  Incredible first party games coupled with stellar second party titles and many third party exclusives made the 360 really shine in '07. Halo 3, Bioshock, Mass Effect, The Orange Box (a month before the PS3), Command and Conquer 3, the list of incredible 360 games goes on and on.
  
  Plus, the 360 still has the best downloadable game content on the market. The Wii Store has been lame and lacking any original content. The PS3's "Home" service has been pushed off to 2008 (and still looks kind of stupid). The competing systems aren't even in the same league as the 360 in terms of downloadable online content.
  
  And then there's Live itself. The way that Live permeates every 360 game is stunning. From the addicting achievements, to the useful voice and video chat, to the friend tracking, to the multiplayer game making, Live offers you the most comprehensive and seemless online experience on the planet.
  


• 
  

  Nintendo Wii

  
  Wow... after such an amazing launch in 2006 the Wii sure has been disappointing.
  
  While there's been a few legendary games for the system (including Super Mario Galaxy which is on my Best of the Best list), the vast majority of the Wii's 2007 lineup has been mediocre at best, and terrible at worst.
  
  Then you have the controls which, frankly, are starting to seem too gimmicky. Even in games like Super Mario Galaxy which have moderately fluid control schemes, the Wiimote is still a sub-par way to interface. In nearly every game for the Wii the lack of precision of the Wiimote will make you pine for a good old-fashioned controller.
  
  But the real clincher that the Wii hasn't had the best year is its pathetic offerings in the online Wii Store. Sure, you have over a hundred classic NES, SNES, and Genesis games. Yes it's cool that they are paying fan service by including Turbographix-16 and Neo Geo games. And it's nice that there are some fun Japanese imports in there. But really, where's the new and original content?
  
  You have the Opera browser (which is awesome, I'll grant you that), but what else? Stupid crap like "Jerk Mii Off"... erm, I mean "Check Mii Out", and the "Everybody Poops"... excuse me, I mean "Everybody Votes" channel. Where's the original downloadable games?
  
  I know the Wii doesn't have the storage capacity of the PS3 or the 360, but, hell, you don't need that much! Give me an original cartridge-sized game using the polygon count of an N64-game with the resolution of the Wii and I'd be thrilled to death. Or create a new Genesis or SNES game and run it in the virtual console. I don't care if it doesn't look as good as Undertow on the 360, as long as it's new and fun I'll dig it.
  


• 
  

  Sony Playstation 3

  
  The PS3 in 2007? One word: yawn.
  
  Yes you've had some good titles, but thus far the PS3 is yet to have a killer app. Sure Warhawk was addicting and fun, and yes you have a new Ratchet and Clank game. But these are not reasons to go out and buy a PS3 if you don't already have one.
  
  Additionally, most of the cross-platform titles available for the PS3 are better on competing systems. The F.E.A.R. games are woefully broken on the PS3 yet crazy fun on the 360. Oblivion lacks the downloadable content that you can find on the 360. The Orange Box came out a month late on the PS3 and lacked all the fun and exciting achievements (Go! Go! Rocket-Gnome!).
  
  Finally, I have very little to say about PS3's online offerings... Mainly because Sony doesn't either. The PS3 "Home" service has been delayed, and looks like Second Life with even more corporate e-vertising. No real friend tracking or integrated voice chat (the impotently added Xfire support in games like Untold Legends doesn't quite cut it), scant little downloadable content, and online-as-an-afterthought multiplayer offerings make the PS3 feel decidedly last generation.
  
  I do have high hopes for 2008, however. The PS3 has finally become price competitive with the 360, which means one of my big gripes is now gone. LittleBigPlanet looks to be the PS3's first killer app (and what a killer app!). And, who knows? "Home" may surprise me yet.
  
  LittleBigPlanet: The PS3's first Killer App?
  


• 
  

  Nintendo DS

  
  Once again, Nintendo has a rock solid year with their portable. The DS has simply had hit after hit ever since its birth. If you game on the go, you must own a DS. There's really not much more to say.
  


• 
  

  Sony PSP

  
  The PSP makes me sad. It's a brilliant piece of hardware and has the best online integration of the two major portables on the market. It has excellent controls and has large capacity media for its games. Really, by all rights it should be the top portable. Alas, it isn't.
  
  There have been a few great PSP games this year, but for the most part the PSP library is lackluster. Great hardware doesn't mean jack unless there's a great library to back it up.
  

Conclusions

The 360 is the strong winner in 2007, and its outlook is great in 2008. If you buy one of the three main consoles, you should get the 360. Hands down, it's the best with the most impressive library and features.

The Wii kind of petered out, but is still a solid choice considering the few legendary titles it has. 2008 looks to be a good year for it as well with games like the new Smash Bros. Melee iteration.

The PS3 bombed in the most boring and tedious way in 2007. Maybe it can redeem itself in 2008, maybe not. We'll have to wait and see.