It has blockbusters like Halo 3, Gears of War and the Call of Duty series. It also has stellar shooters like GRAW 2, Rainbow Six Vegas and the newest Splinter Cell games.But I wouldn't quite say that the 360 is just for your standard FPS. First off, there are a number of "shooters" that are far more innovative or action-oriented than the standard FPS. BioShock and Mass Effect are pushing gaming forward, trying new things and getting amazing reviews in the process. Others like The Darkness, Lost Planet and Crackdown are taking a different attitude or approach to shooters, adding special powers, bigger boss battles or a GTA-style atmosphere.
Here are some other genres that have received a solid showing on Microsoft’s new system:
Racing:
There is a pack of great racers on the system, both exclusives and non-exclusives. Games like Project Gotham Racing 4 or Forza Motorsport II give 360 owners something to boast about. Others include Burnout Paradise, Ne
ed for Speed: Carbon, Juiced 2 and Dirt.
RPG:
There is a pack of great racers on the system, both exclusives and non-exclusives. Games like Project Gotham Racing 4 or Forza Motorsport II give 360 owners something to boast about. Others include Burnout Paradise, Ne
ed for Speed: Carbon, Juiced 2 and Dirt.RPG:
Sony has historically been the RPG powerhouse, but Microsoft is working to satisfy their RPG fans as well. Current favorites include Elder Scrolls IV, Eternal Sonata and 360-exclusive Blue Dragon.
Survival/Horror:
Capcom has not graced the Xbox or 360 with its glorious Resident Evil games, so Microsoft has helped popularize some new interesting franchises. I would kill for the chance to play Condemned, a creative and brutally realistic game about investigating psychopaths. Dead Rising, which featured a mall as the setting for a survival game, was also quite cr
eative and well-received.
Multiplayer/Music:
eative and well-received.Multiplayer/Music:
These games have made a huge hit in the last few years, and their lack of showing on Nintendo’s system has been a hit. But the 360 is sporting all the latest, including Guitar Hero 2 and 3 and the newest Rock Band.
Real-Time Strategy (RTS):
Real-Time Strategy (RTS):
This is a gen
re with a nasty history on consoles. Without the quick-moving precision of a mouse and wide array of keys on a computer, it’s hard to keep up with the fastest moving RTS games. But once again, Microsoft is out to change things. First, they got the LotR: Battle for Middle-Earth 2 on the 360. Then they made an even bigger leap with the 360 version of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. C&C 3 is one of the most anticipated RTS’s of the year, from the series that has not only rocked the RTS world, but is one of the top 20 gaming IP’s (according to a chart by Game Informer from last summer, before C&C 3 even launched). Reviewers of C&C 3 on the 360 said that it was perhaps the greatest console RTS they had ever seen.
Action
re with a nasty history on consoles. Without the quick-moving precision of a mouse and wide array of keys on a computer, it’s hard to keep up with the fastest moving RTS games. But once again, Microsoft is out to change things. First, they got the LotR: Battle for Middle-Earth 2 on the 360. Then they made an even bigger leap with the 360 version of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. C&C 3 is one of the most anticipated RTS’s of the year, from the series that has not only rocked the RTS world, but is one of the top 20 gaming IP’s (according to a chart by Game Informer from last summer, before C&C 3 even launched). Reviewers of C&C 3 on the 360 said that it was perhaps the greatest console RTS they had ever seen.Action
Many of the afore-mentioned shooters could fall under this category, but there are some other noteworthy pieces that are making a sparkle on the 360. One is the new GTA-style franchise Saints Row, which is yet another example of Microsoft responding successfully to a Sony exclusive (the GTA series in this case). Ace Combat 6, a flight sim that got fantastic reviews, is another action exclusive to add to the 360’s roster. And of course, who can forget Assassin's Creed. The game was one of the most anticipated for all of the next-gen systems, was originally a PS3 exclusive, and has gotten stellar reviews for its innovative and engaging game-play and story.
Fighting
This is one area where the 360 might lag a bit, but not many good fighters have come out yet for any of the next-gen systems. PS3 has a decent Fight Night game and Virtua Fighter 5, and the Wii got a mediocre Mortal Kombat game and a horrible rendition of Soul Calibur. The 360 got Virtua Fighter 5 as well, but from what I've heard it is better than the PS3 version. Which means, once again, Microsoft has bragging rights.
So where does the 360 falter? It obviously isn’t in any of these categories, nor is it in sports games (which I didn’t list because I don’t follow them as closely as other genres). The only place it might be lacking is in platform adventures and puzzle games, but these are often the favorite genres of Nintendo. Rather than try and out-do Nintendo at its specialty, or compete with the Wii for the younger and more casual audience, it is going straight for the core gamers with knockout games.
Contrary to what the cashier may think, the 360 is a well-rounded system.
So where does the 360 falter? It obviously isn’t in any of these categories, nor is it in sports games (which I didn’t list because I don’t follow them as closely as other genres). The only place it might be lacking is in platform adventures and puzzle games, but these are often the favorite genres of Nintendo. Rather than try and out-do Nintendo at its specialty, or compete with the Wii for the younger and more casual audience, it is going straight for the core gamers with knockout games.
Contrary to what the cashier may think, the 360 is a well-rounded system.
~ Lady ~
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