XBox thread

Picked mine up this morning at Wal Mart. Originally I was planning to go to Target but Wal Mart was just across the street and opened an hour earlier (7 AM). So I got there at around 6:40 I got in line, I was 15th in line when an employee came out and said there were only 14 available, luckily two of the guys there were just there with their friends. The first dude there I hear was there at 12:30. So the doors opened and we were allowed in and in order, one by one, get our machine at the front help desk, later we went to the game area, grabbed our games and extra controllers, and headed back out front to pay, and that was that. Pretty easy, all in all took only about 20 minutes after we went in, it's always exciting to wait around with people for a new console. I'm almost disappointed that I've already got a Gamecube reserved =). After I got my stuff I drove past Target again and there were like 20 people there.

Man this sucker is heavy and big. Aside from that though I like the way it looks. I was surprised that the CD tray pops out off to the left instead of in the center. As for the controller, thus far I don't like it very much at all. It's just too fat, and since my hands aren't that big to begin with it feels like I'm barely gripping it. Also I don't like the diagonal button layout, so far I've been hitting A a lot when I mean to hit B. Buttons also are too small and a bit stiff. I can't wait to try out the Japanese controller. For Halo it works all right if you make some tweaks, but it's a struggle with DoA3.

Like most people I nabbed Halo and DoA3 as my first games. First DoA3, despite what screenshots may lead you believe the graphics are noticeably improved from part 2. Characters are more detailed, but not quite to the level of VF4. Lighting and water effects are also included and are very nice indeed. What I do like are the backgrounds, personally I think the designs are far more interesting than the square arenas of VF4. Overall though I'd still give the graphical edge to VF4. Gameplaywise, it's DoA, so you pretty much know what to expect if you played part 2. Free stepping is sped up a bit so you actually have a chance to use it in combat, but only if you anticipate way in advance. The new character Christie (and possibly others), has some special off axis punches and dodges, ripped directly from Lion. At the very least, I think Jann Lee has a stance switch a la Jacky, though how useful that is remains to be seen. As mentioned in the DoA3 thread, there's no way to change to arcade counters in the game, which kinda sucks. I have noticed that reversal damages this time sometimes change, what the prerequisites are I don't know.

Halo is a fun game too. I haven't been that much into FPSs since Quake II but so far played through what is essentially the prologue and it's great fun, FPS fans should eat it up.

 

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The new character Christie (and possibly others), has some special off axis punches and dodges, ripped directly from Lion. At the very least, I think Jann Lee has a stance switch a la Jacky, though how useful that is remains to be seen. As mentioned in the DoA3 thread, there's no way to change to arcade counters in the game, which kinda sucks. I have noticed that reversal damages this time sometimes change, what the prerequisites are I don't know.

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I looked through Jann Lee's move list last night and he has a sweep and a punch move that move in 3D as well as a taunt that counters mid kick.

The counter damage depends upon your timing like in DOA2. There is regular dmg, counter dmg and hi counter dmg. The wall and falling effects add dmg too.

 

I've held an Japanese XBox controller and can confirm that they're _way_ nicer.

I agree Halo looks pretty cool -- and runs at a decent frame rate (except in multiplayer).

I'm thoroughly bored and underwhelmed by DOA3. I don't even think it looks that good. And the TV commercials are a new low for video game advertising. That crotch shot is borderline pornographic. Thanks M$.

grib.