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"FM is officially 'Blown Away'"

First of all I'd like to thank Wookiee Monster for telling me everything I needed to know about getting a cable modem (hi-speed internet access, in other words). I've now got access to some lovely streaming web content.

And one of these streams has just literally blown me away.

It's only a 2m 35s clip, but it feels like 20 seconds, it's really that good. If you've got broadband/cable I really do urge you to have looksee.

http://www.xbox.com and click on Games, then Halo E3 Video (High Bandwidth), and enjoy.

The thing I noticed at first was the foggy background, and I thought Ah! They've gotten around popup in the backgrounds using the same fogging techniques as used on the 128-bit Dreamcast, but then later on you see the same area without the fog, and your jaw drops, because even a PC would struggle with this kind of graphical presentation. The arenas are HUGE.

Then there's the video content, Halo is basically a FPS futuristic warfare/combat shoot 'em up, but it just OOZES gameplay, you'll be twitching your trigger fingers at this one, it's really that good. You too will want to be jumping onto the back of that jeep and manning the rotating machinegun, taking out the aliens trying to bushwhack you from behind. And you'll be cheering this guy on as he shows you how to take out the nasties whilst running with his comrades through the woodland sections, fragging left right and centre with whatever that hi-powered assault rifle he's using is called.

Then there's the background music, perfect, gets the blood boiling with anticipation and really gets you into the action.

So that's decided it for me then, I was kinda wondering what my first X-Box title was going to be if I bought one, and now I know for sure. The PS2 and the Gamecube aren't going to get another lookin now, my course is set, and I'll be sailing that course with Halo come early next year when the X-Box comes out in the UK.

YIPPEE!!!!

but i think your making a mistake by turning a blind eye to the GC. One game will cost you £350 is it worth the gamble? think and then deside closer to the lanuch date. I am getting a Gamecube, but i close eye is on the X-box for me. (PS2, red faction...)

Hallo is the 'make-or-break' game for the box, and it is a good one at that

Hmm, he has a point. The thing is, will all the best X-Box games be converted to PC? Still, even if they are you wont be able to have multiplayer on one machine for them unless you do get the X-Box. Ah the eternal dilemma. Still, it's good to see that people are at least considering the X-Box. What worries me is if the Windows is bad, or some other problem with errors or patch necessity. Down with the rushing of games!

Well I'm quite excited about Azurik: Rise of Perathia, (Medieval style RPG/Adventure), and Project Gotham Racing (MSR clone, the screenshots even include 'Kudos' scores just as MSR does), Gunvalkyrie, Malice, Dragon's Lair, etc., plus there are still rumours about that Metal Gear may have an outing on the X-Box, and that Codemasters will develop a TOCA game for it.

Aside from the rumours, the fact that 6 confirmed games have already got me drooling, especially Halo, is enough to make the X-Box my most wanted console of all time. I've seen all 8 of the currently posted Gamecube vids from Spaceworld, and only 2 of those had me interested, as well as the Zelda series, but that's not enough.

Plus, imho, the X-Box will be better value for money considering its upgradability and potential in the future. Not to mention its specs.

FM, are you sure you want to make this big decision on the basis of one game? Halo will finish, and if there are no other games that appeal to you you're left with a £350 doorstop.

Every game is an adventure, FPS is a genre title based entirely on the camera perspective. Anyway, Jedi Knight was classed as a FPS but when you got that lightsaber you could quadruple your fun by going into third person view. It doesn't really matter what genre Metroid is, as long as it is good and worth buying. Though to be honest, it will be done in First person mostly I expect and I wouldn't think there would be no shooting in Metroid.

gronti_v wrote:
I
> hope that Metroid will bring something original to the FPS genre, I
> wouldn't like to see a good idea go down the unoriginal chute to the
> dump.


Metroid isn't really a FPS, it just assumes that view, the game is still an Adventure at heart, and a 3rd person view will be used when necessary, like when rolled into that little ball thing.

Its an FPS, so it doesnt appeal to me.

Amped liiks nice, but for me to get another console its going to have to be really good. And seeing as its Microsoft, its going to have to be even better.

And unless it comes with a free house extension, I havent the space anyway :)

Metroid and Halo are quite different styles, sure they are both going to be first person, but I think that's the biggest similarity (okay, they'll both have guns, and no doubt a rocket launcher each). Halo has squad based combat does it not? Also vehicles and so forth, whereas Metroid is a one woman on a mission only she can complete... Or a giant fleet of ships could, but where's the fun in that? What I want to know is, how will the rolling bomb things work? and smart bombs, will they be gone? Well I suppose you would get a BFG type gun, but now it's just starting to sound like Metroid has been done before (and it has, but that's not what I meant). I hope that Metroid will bring something original to the FPS genre, I wouldn't like to see a good idea go down the unoriginal chute to the dump.

*Throws 50p at Ant...*