Games consoles group test
October 7, 2008 by Insider Staff
Looking for a new games machine and don’t want to shell out the big bucks for monster PC rig? Sounds like you need a next-gen games console, and the first thing you need to decide is whether you want a full-blown living room console (PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii flavoured) or a hot handheld pocket playboy in the guise of the PSP Slim & Lite or Nintendo DS Lite.
Once that’s settled, you’ll have to decide whether you need a machine that’s capable of handling all your digital media needs as well as games – are you looking for just a gaming device or do you want it to also act as a hub for music, movies, photos and possibly web surfing?
We’ve assembled and tested the five most popular games consoles, both handheld and traditional – so whatever your requirements, you should find the right fun-box right here…
Sony PlayStation 3
Despite the disappointing scarcity of truly killer games two years into its lifespan, the PlayStation 3 should be a tempting purchase for any fan of digital entertainment. Hi-def movie fans will love the fact that it’s one of the finest, most affordable and most easily upgradeable Blu-ray Disc players around, while its built-in Wi-Fi means it’s a dab hand at wirelessly grabbing digital movies, photos and music from your home PC. Throw in factors like the web browser, superb build quality and likelihood of better games coming in the near future – and well, it’s a great machine.
Click to read the full review>>
Go to the PlayStation 3 product page >>
Microsoft Xbox 360
While the Xbox 360 obviously has some hardware reliability issues, you’d still be very unlucky to have yours die on you – and on the flip side the cheap prices, eye-popping graphics and superb selection of killer games makes it a much more tempting prospect for the old school gaming enthusiast than the PS3. Its media streaming talents shouldn’t be overlooked either, and Xbox Live is the best online gaming service hands down, delivering demos, extra content, high definition movie rentals and a top class multiplayer match-up service.
Click to read the full review>>
Go to the Xbox 360 product page >>
Nintendo Wii
While the Wii doesn’t offer the graphical eye candy and ear-nibbling surround sound delivered by the PS3 and Xbox 360, it’s arguably catering to a completely different market: almost anyone, old or young, can pick up the Wii Remote controller and get involved with a Wii game – and many of these people wouldn’t have the first idea about how to use an Xbox 360 joypad. That said, the console has a glut of this kind of accessible, simple game, while there are far too few single player classics like Super Mario Galaxy. Also, now that the Xbox 360 Premium is cheaper, the Wii’s price tag is starting to look a tad steep.
Click to read the full review>>
Go to the Nintendo Wii product page >>
Nintendo DS Lite
Despite its advancing years and outmoded low resolution graphics, the DS Lite is still the better of the two main handheld consoles from a gaming point of view: there are hundreds of brilliant titles out there, from good old-fashioned platformers to brain-honing puzzlers and high involving, plot-driven roleplaying games. If content truly is king, the DS has got to be the handheld gaming device of choice.
Click to read the full review>>
Go to the Nintendo DS Lite product page >>
Sony PSP Slim & Lite
As technically brilliantly and well built as it is, the PSP has never really fulfilled its potential as a portable games machine. You can almost count the number of truly great titles on one hand, which means that the media functionality – ostensibly a sideline to the main attraction of gaming – should be a vital consideration for any potential buyer. Are you looking for a top pocket gaming machine or something that’s equally at home showing off a downloaded movie or your latest digital photos? If you fall into the latter camp, the PSP might just be for you.
Click to read the full review>>
Go to the Sony PSP Slim & Lite product page >>
It goes without saying that there have to be two winners in this gaming group test – the best home console, and the ultimate pocket play thing…
Pricerunner Recommended
(Best home console)
Microsoft Xbox 360
Click to read full review >>
Go to the Xbox 360 product page >>
Pricerunner Recommended
(Best handheld)
Nintendo DS Lite
Click to read full review >>
Go to the Nintendo DS Lite product page >>
Related Articles:
- Ask the expert: Game consolesQ. I’m keen on downloading cheaper console games, rather than buying them off the shelf. Out of PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii which machine is best for downloadable games? A. All three games consoles on sale today can download games. However, the Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 all approach the task differently. We’ve summed up [...]...
- Gaming laptops group testOnce upon a time you’d need a fully blown desktop the size of a desk and an epic CRT monitor to run the latest games. How times have changed. Nowadays, you can get top notch graphic cards, multi-core processors and high def screens all tucked away inside a machine that only needs one plug. Let’s be [...]...
- Hi-Def projector group testHi–def projectors are the kings of home cinema gadgets. If you’ve got a dedicated room for watching the latest Blu–Rays, then you’ll need one. We’ve pitched five of the best HD projectors in the listings against each other to see which one is the best pick for you. As well as crisp clear pictures, with [...]...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Rate this article
(1 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
[...] an attempt to drum up more PlayStation 3 sales. The move comes after a disappointing 2008 for the console in the face of the Nintendo Wii’s success and an aggressive Xbox 360promotional campaign in the [...]
[...] Nintendo DSi – Ninty’s all-singing, all-dancing handheld console – has finally got its UK release date, and we can tell you, for once, we’re getting something [...]