Buzz Breakdown
They were hyped to the max and now they have finally arrived.
We decide if the new consoles live up to their buzz.
Wii
PS3
The Wii hosts cross-platform titles such as Rayman Raving Rabbids and third-party exclusives such as Red Steel, but Nintendo's own games are what we came for — Excite Truck, Wii Sports and the system's first epic Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
The limited launch exclusives include acclaimed but mature-rated Resistance: Fall of Man and Ride Racer 7, as well as the not-acclaimed Genji. Otherwise, the line-up was similar to the 360, led by Madden, Tony Hawk's Project 8, Call of Duty 3 and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
Slim and white, it's like a slightly flashier external computer drive
Quiet, curved and oh-so sexy
600,000 and counting
500,000 and counting
The "Virtual Console" offers paid downloads of classic games including the landmark Super Mario 64, and retro faves from Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx-16. There isn't an online multiplayer yet, but rumor is Pokémon Battle Revolution will kick things off in 2007.
Though still free, Sony's new "Playstation Network" is now centralized and comes with a web browser. It offers a store to download demos and buy PS1 and PS2 games, as well as new arcade titles. More importantly, there's extensive online multiplayer, but that remains a work-in-progress.
Instead of making yet another photorealistic multimedia machine, the Wii stakes out its own territory.
The motion-sensitive Wii-mote and nunchuk controllers really do change the game by getting you off the couch and creating a truly immersive experience. Plus, not only will your parents dig the low price, they'll like playing as well.
The motion-sensitive Wii-mote and nunchuk controllers really do change the game by getting you off the couch and creating a truly immersive experience. Plus, not only will your parents dig the low price, they'll like playing as well.
Smarter than your average next-gen console, the PS3 is "future-proofed" with an amazing array of hi-tech doodads, most notably its Blu-Ray drive, a high-def DVD which plays movies and allows games to be up to five times bigger than regular systems. But the PS3's full potential won't be realized for quite some time.
