The lowdown

If you're reading this, chances are you'll have already heard of the Xbox 360. Microsoft's latest assault on the gaming market is the first of the so-called next generation of consoles. The Xbox 360 has an impressive list of technical specs, ranging from three symmetrical processor cores, each running at 3.2Ghz, to a custom 500 MHz ATi graphics card and high definition video output. In terms of games, the Xbox 360 will be able to match and in many cases outperform a cutting edge PC costing ten times the price. The Xbox 360 comes with all sorts of media centre capabilities, ranging from being able to store and stream audio and video from its detachable hard drive wirelessly, to USB connectivity with your iPod. Another major draw of the console is the Xbox live service. For a fee (and you'll have to have broadband internet) you'll be able to play other Xbox users around the world, in an impressively seamless service.

In any case, by now we're sure you'll be itching to know just how the damn thing plays. We were lucky enough to snag ourselves the Xbox 360 Deluxe package which came with an Xbox 360, a detachable 20GB hard drive, a wireless controller, an Xbox Live headset, an Ethernet cable, and a high-def AV cable. In contrast, the core package comes with an Xbox 360 wired controller, a composite TV connection and a SCART adaptor.

What's good?

The Xbox 360 feels like a next-gen console. Plug in any launch game (with the exception of a couple of the crappy previous gen console ports) and prepare to be astounded by scenes of mind-boggling graphical beauty. The system smoothly pumps out obscene numbers of polygons onto the screen. The textures are rather sharp, even in standard definition. The blur effects included in many of the games - Project Gotham Racing 3 and Perfect Dark Zero deserve special mention here - give the whole experience a cinematic look that just hasn't been seen in any game before. Playing the games in high-def (you can buy a VGA cable separately and plug it into your PC monitor if you don't feel like splashing out on a high-def TV) does make a huge difference: the graphics will become up to ten times sharper, depending on what level of high-def you output at.

Xbox Live Gold subscription (the level needed to play online games) costs £49.99 a year or £14.99 for three months. Although many PC gamers might not find the thought of paying for online gaming appealing, the live service is incredibly well integrated into the Xbox, making setup a far less daunting process than on PC. The online experience is pretty lag free, on the whole. Splash out on a wireless adaptor and you can connect to any wi-fi networks you have running.

The media centre capabilities are also fantastic. Not only can you plug in a host of third party accessories via the USB ports, you can also store a host of video and audio on the hard drive. The hard drive will also allow you to download emulators for original Xbox games (for which you don't need an Xbox gold subscription). The good news is that the games that are emulated at the moment look a heck of a lot better on the 360. For instance, you can now return to play Halo 2 in glorious high-definition, with anti-aliasing smoothing out a few of the more jagged edges.

What's bad?

So far, the 360 lacks a really fantastic game for it. The titles released at the moment are, in most cases, very impressive, but none really offer a fantastic next generation experience in terms of gameplay. While Perfect Dark Zero's graphics are stunning, the gameplay doesn't break a whole lot of new ground. Graphics aside, many would argue that you could have played a game like this on the original Xbox.

The Xbox 360's not all that cheap either, especially if you spring for a full package, and then want to buy optional accessories, such as extra wireless controllers, a wireless Ethernet adaptor and extra VGA cables. Also, if you don't have a high-def TV, you will be missing out on a lot of what the Xbox 360 has to offer. Also, the games are pretty expensive at the moment, with most going for a steep £49.99, although Kameo and Project Gotham Racing 3 are a little cheaper at £44.99. In addition to that, due to Microsoft's insidious marketing schemes it's going to be difficult to pick one of these up anytime soon. "Come back in February" was the story told to us by many disappointed retailers, most of whom had failed to fulfil pre-orders. Also, the PS3 and the revolution are just around the corner…

The Xbox 360 is capable of unsurpassed graphical feats and has enough bells and whistles to keep most gadget freaks busy for a good little while. If you're a PC gamer, then you'll probably be pretty damn pleased with what the 360 has to offer. Consoles like the 360 will continue to narrow the gap between PC and console gaming. However, the not-quite-stunning games line-up, as well as the availability and price tag also need to be considered. But don't get us wrong: if you're looking for a next-gen console experience, the 360 will deliver in buckets and spades.

Overview

Useful Links: Zoodex Features: Up to 1080i high definition gaming Three 3.2GHz processors Media streaming and storage Wireless control technology Enhanced Xbox Live! capabilities Verdict: