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Xbox 360 Impressions - Page Three

Of course, the game we're really waiting for is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, though both EBGames and GameStop have moved its projected release date back to March 20th, 2006. While this date may not be official, I think it's safe to say that we won't be seeing the highly anticipated RPG on store shelves until winter is coming to a close. If the extra time allows for more polish, though, I'm all for it. This system has a lot of potential and I'd like to see Oblivion take advantage of it. I just wish the console had a role-playing game or two already available to keep me occupied until then.

While I think the Xbox 360 is a fantastic console system, I do have a couple of gripes. For how much the console has been touted as a revolutionary piece of hardware in the world of high-definition widescreen gaming, it amazes me that the best output cables you can currently purchase for it only support Component video and Optical audio. Where's the HDMI support? If you've purchased a widescreen HDTV in the past year or so (maybe even just for the 360), you most likely have at least one HDMI input available for use. Considering such an input combines both audio and video in a single high performance cable, it would be a welcome addition to the Xbox 360, even if sold as only an accessory. I really don't know what Microsoft's plans are for the 360's future, though, so it's certainly possible they might be planning an HDMI cable for the console down the road.

There is also the hitch of backward compatibility. In order for a standard Xbox game to work in the 360, special emulation software must be coded by Microsoft (or the developers themselves) and then downloaded through Xbox Live. This doesn't seem like much of a problem except that many of my personal favorites, including Morrowind, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, and X-Men Legends, are not yet supported. Even if they were, though, this doesn't mean that they will necessarily work. Take, for example, Sniper Elite. This underappreciated title is listed on Microsoft's backward compatibility list, yet it absolutely will not work on our 360. Regardless of whether or not you try to play the game in single player, co-op, or Xbox Live, the 360 will lock up immediately after the first mission loads, making it 100% unplayable. After paying a visit to the community forums on Xbox.com, it seems we're not the only ones with this same problem and the issue extends to other games, as well. I imagine this will eventually be addressed in future Xbox Live updates, but it raises the question of how much time goes into testing the original games and their emulation software before adding them to the backward compatibility list.

Regardless of these two minor issues, I think Microsoft has delivered us one hell of a console system. With its powerful dashboard, integrated multi-channel voice chat support, lightweight wireless controllers, and Xbox Live capabilities, the 360 definitely represents the future of console gaming. I can't wait to see how the system evolves over the next year as games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Mass Effect are released. And if we ever see a Star Wars: KotOR III or Diablo III on the console, I may never leave my living room.