Greatness (Still) Awaits |
Power | |
When compared to the PlayStation 4, the XBox One really gets a bad rap. It would be different if the XBox One was significantly underpowered compared to the PlayStation 4, but it's not. The two machines are similar in power and even in their x86 architecture. The comparisons made between the two are usually trivial resolution arguments that most owners of these machines (as entertainment devices) won't even notice. Sure, to developers, these things may matter. To the average person, though, these trivial comparisons will not change what they buy either way. The media makes the graphical differences between the XBox One and PlayStation 4 seem like a vast expanse, when it's actually barely even noticeable (if at all) in the third party titles they cite. It doesn't even take spec comparisons to see that the PS4 isn't that far above the competition; just look at some of the graphical techniques and titles, which are also seen on the Wii U and XBox One, too.They make it seem like back in the day, when there was a noticeable difference between versions. The best examples of true backports or "horrendous" ports are when we'd see titles from completely different generations put on platforms from completely different generations; 32-Bit titles like Street Fighter Alpha from the PlayStation and Saturn put on the GameBoy Color. Killer Instinct was another. The first thing everyone always says about the PlayStation 4 is something about its power. Both the industry and consumer abound have noted this. It's a fact that it is a more powerful machine for specs contained in the console unit itself. The XBox One is no slouch, though, and runs a lot of the same higher-end games. When we look at the big picture, yes, the PS4 is a powerful machine, but how many games really use the PS4's power? Uncharted 4, maybe? Some mention resolution, but those same critics look past the fact that we see quite a few PlayStation 4 games (that aren't on the XBox One) also on the Wii U. The Wii U is half the size of the XBox One and PlayStation 4, yet it runs a lot of the same games. Now, to me, if those same critics are saying that the Wii U is the weakest of the three machines, the PlayStation 4's power could be a bit...embelished. Let's also remember that Sony said the PlayStation 4 would be running games at 4K resolution, yet we have seen only the announcement of a follow-up PlayStation 4 with a spec boost. The media (and everyone else) conveniently forgot that Sony had said that the original PS4 would do 4K. Meanwhile, these same forgetful critics have crucified Microsoft for nearly anything regarding the XBox One. I'm not saying I hate Sony, but I am saying that these critics should at least be fair if they are claiming to be "unbiased." And though it seems like just a marketing ploy, but the XBox One's Cloud is actually very useful...to the developers who have the balls to use it. Only a few games use it, but you can tell the difference in the ones that do. This cannot be understated (even though it always is) It is sad to see developers and the media completely ignore this when comparing the power of both machines. It really brings the XBO closer to the PS4's power, but this view is almost never brought up. Instead, critics use the feature as just the ass-end of bad jokes. To date, only a few games use it (some of which aren't even listed), but just like the Saturn's RAM cart, or the Nintendo 64's Expansion Pak, it's only because developers are just too lazy to make use of it. Time and time again, developers and publishers have proven that they don't like innovation or options. They do not appreciate either. When will hardware manufacturers learn? |
Game$ | |
It's really about the games. Without great exclusives, what is the point in buying the machine? What is the point in buying a powerful machine if there is little to use it for? Power is not a testament to a game machine's worth, and the success of both the Wii and XBox 360 proved that in the last generation. Machines from previous generations (like the PC-FX, Jaguar, and Genesis 32X) have proven that beyond the grave. The Saturn was considered one of the weakest of its generation, but it still had tons of great games. It was going up against a lot of competition; the incredibly-overpriced 3DO, the mid-spec PlayStation and the monster Nintendo 64. Like the XBox 360, the PlayStation was a successful, mid-range machine. Of course, the PlayStation 4 has had more success than these machines, but they still had some wondering where the exclusive games were. Sure, the PS4 has a HD remaster The Last Of Us, and now Uncharted 4, but where are all these killer apps? And by "killer apps," I don't mean dogshit like Angry Flappy Birds. Save for Shenmue III and Uncharted 4, what else will the PS4 be remembered for? Where is Hideo Kojima's new project? How long will it take? For me, it was immediately about Dead Rising 3 and later about Raiden V and Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition. I really hyped for Dead Rising 3 from seeing it on Mountain Dew Game Fuel boxes. The early preview cinematic of the game was impressive, but it succeeded more in reminding me of Honda Civics with "steelies" more than hyping me up. Then, Super Ultra Dead Rising 3' Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha was released, and it was decided; I would get an Xbox One before the PlayStation 4 just for this one game. It's an ode to Capcom games past and present that any fan absolutely must have. To me, this one game is better than every game on the PS4, to date. Killer Instinct and Dead Rising 3 alone are better than any of the exclusives on PS4. And, this isn't even counting the highly-rumored and anticipated Battletoads! Add to that the already stellar Gears Of War 4, which (even in its beta stage) is already shaping up to be a more complete game than Street Fighter V (of the same engine). I love Street Fighter, but the widespread, undeniable illusion that its exclusivity makes it impossible to run on the XBox One is just false. It's on the Unreal Engine 4, which is also used by Gears Of War 4 and several other next-gen games; it could run on the XBox One if Sony hadn't paid for its development. Of course, Sony's hype machine cannot let this become common knowledge. |
Machine Design | |
The design of the PS4 was kept under high secrecy, and when it was revealed, it looked as cool as I'd hoped. The "EggStation" design with Spiderman letters didn't go well together at all, and of the PS3 was disappointing. The design of the XBox One was at first disappointing. It was angled, it was a box, and we were coming off the disappointment of the Wii U's design. In an age where sexy hardware design is no longer (that died with the Nintendo 64), hardware design takes longer to catch on. The PlayStation 4's design is instantly cool. The XBox One's design, however, is like the Wii U's in that it takes a while to really appreciate it. One of the things I thought was cool about the XBox One's design was how it has no controller or USB ports on the front of the machine, but has one on the left side (near the disc slot). While this probably landed the XBox One criticism in the face of Sony's two front ports, I liked it because it reminded me of a similarly espensive piece of mistreated video game hardware - the 3DO. The 3DO also had a single controller port. Of course, four or so controllers can connect wirelessly to the XBox One, but there can really only be one wired and/or charging controller (the rear USB ports really aren't recommended for controllers unless you're sitting directly in front of the machine). Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the XBox One is the emphasis on ventilation in its design. Learning again from customer feedback in regards to overheating, Microsoft went through painstaking effort to design a high-performance machine that wouldn't crumble under its own weight. And they were serious about it; where the PlayStation 4 and Wii U have small groupings of vents, vents compose about a fifth of the XBox One's casing. The specially-angled vents are wide and don't clog easily with dust. They serve a very useful purpose, but actually make the machine look nice. as a side-note, the XBox One's matte/gloss theme was even applied to the machine's power brick and connection cables! I believe that these vents, combined with the angled theme of the machine's corners, are what grow on the owner over time. I really started to appreciate the XBox One's design more and more over time. |
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Controller | |
The XBox One controller is, for the most part, solid. Though its construction doesn't feel as durable as the Wii U's Pro controller, it still feels more durable than the PlayStation 4's controller. Button presses make a healthy, crisp sound, the analog sticks are cross-hatched, and the digital pad is improved ten-fold over its XBox 360 counterpart. Fighting games like Killer Instinct handle with the greatest of ease, and when I botch a move, the controller never really comes into question. The consumer was adamant about Microsoft making changes to the controller, and it didn't fall on deaf ears. Though the Wii U Pro controller beats the both, the XBox One's controller, to me, is better than the PlayStation 4's. The XBox One controller is surprisingly light, as well. Though it didn't seem like anything special at first, I eventually took to the XBox One controller and realized just why it was such a big deal. Microsoft really learned from the control hardware mistakes they made in the previous generation (which takes consideration of consumer feedback), and that's comendable. | |
Features | |
Comparing every single feature isn't the point of this article, but there are some that are worth noting. The best thing about the generation, as a whole, is something that all these machines have - screeshots. All three machines do it, but Microsoft did it best with XBox One. PlayStation 4 saves screenshots directly to the system and can be transferred to USB memory, and Wii U uploads them to Tumblr and the PC-compatible Miiverse, while the XBox One conveniently uploads them directly to your PC through OneDrive. And, let's be honest; screenshots are used for media, and Microsoft knew that players using this feature were probably using them in some way, shape, or form on their computer with some type of media, be it blogs, guides, or videos. For us writers and designers, it's great how they made it so easy to use. All three machines upload to YouTube, though, which is great for preserving feats. Twitch was first on XBox One if I remember correctly, and although it came to PlayStation 4, it just seems better on XBox One. Speaking of which, Microsoft made sure that XBox One connects with Windows 10 and the XBox Android App, which creates a useful ecosystem of options for publishing. As a whole, the Wii U operating system is my favorite, but when comparing the XBox One and PlayStation 4, the XBox One seems better for friend networking. The PS4 does have a good system - it just doesn't feel as streamlined for multi-player functions and social networking as the XBO. It does, however, have a feature similar to the Wii U's Miiverse, which definitely deserves credit. Overall, while Nintendo and Microsoft's machines place an emphasis on social networking and multi-player, Sony's machine this generation still seems to be primarily geared toward single-player just as in previous generations. |
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Community | |
PlayStation Network probably has the better community. Wii U has the best community of the generation. Don't get me wrong, Xbox Live has improved, though. It's not the toxic wasteland it was with the XBox 360. There is still an overwhelming majority of infuriating dicks, though. While it's true that PlayStation Network has its own brand of passive-aggressive assholes, it dosn't seem as bad as Xbox Live. Never before have I witnessed a scene that hates itself so much. Gears Of War Ultimate demonstrates this perfectly; a scene of elitist stalwarts so absorbed in itself, so selfish that Horde Mode or any other positive, long-overdue changes couldn't be made. Had changes been made, these idiots would have undoubtedly risen to prevent any sort of diversity from happening within the Gears Of War scene (be it new co-op modes or anything more than 2-VS-2 or 4-VS-4). Gears Of War Ultimate - like Gears Of War 4 - could have easily made use of more powerful tech to make matches more fair with 5-VS-5 or even more. They will be the undoing of their own respective games. God forbid should this game or any other XBox branded game be open to a scene that transcends the boundaries of Monster and Cheetos... | |
Conclusion |
Copyright BAD'S COMMENTARY PAGE 2017. All games are the property of their respective owners. |