Well Since reviews are coming in a bit now and I have followed all the screenshots, videos, hands on impressions, etc. Here is my take also considering my prior experience with all other launches for what its worth. And feel free to express yours also:
First lets see title by title:
Kameo: Gonna be an excellent title for a wide range of audience, obviously based on scores its a good game. Main character is a girl so it will appeal to girls also (smart move for launch) and theres killing (guys love that shit) shows off the graphics and fills the adventure void Smart buy all around!
PGR 3 : Based on the scores this is gonna be a A++ title and a true showcase of lives capabilities and graphical muscle. No concerns here you know what the others did and you know this one will improve on a already established franchise ( basically a no brainer for launch)
Gun: Again great reviews but to me and most a rental as it shows no 360 specific features, but is probably a fun game to fill the killing desire in all of us. They should have not released the xbox and PS2 versions first. IMO
Madden: Its madden!! Plain and simple if you like football you must get it no matter what or your Madden friends will have no where to come over and smoke, drink, and be merry at. Based on reviews its all good. Except those that nit pick, but you have to remember hey cannot give all games 10 or theres no room for improvement (a bar if you will) such as when improvements come then what 10.5??? So take the reviews you see with a bit of common sense.
NBa2k & NBa Live: Again been there done that only nicer looking. If you want B Ball buy it it will be good
Call of Duty 2: Based on reviews its gods gift to FPS fans, it will indeed be a blast to play but no revolutionary in any sense or a killer app. But a must buy for LIVE no question.
Quake 4: Well the reviews on this have been pissing me off a bit. I have the PC version and I think its a great game, Fun violent scary action. Yes its a port but for the many out there that do not have a great PC this is a perfect way to play it. Do not let it slip under the radar. This in my opinion is beyond a solid choice.
Need for speed and Ridge racer: Need for speed will be fun arcade style racing those that hate racing games that are (hard) to control...or basically take practice and skill. If PGR3 pisses you off then jump on this one. Ridge racer will probably be my last choice in a racer for the 360, it may end up being fun as I enjoyed the others but this one has been done many times before....
And lets see that leaves what will be the "killer app"...hmmm ohh yeah theres one game I forgot and so many others are acting as if they want to forget...
PERFECT DARK 0: Okay this is my choice, and heres why before all you asses start ripping me apart.
#1 history:
I remember back some years ago the original Perfect Dark for N64, before it came out magazines complained about (framerate, AI,Collision Detection. all kinds of things) sure most mags felt it would come together but up untill release noone was sure as everything was so "secret" and early builds were bug ridden... But the game releases and SURPRISE its a rather great game, great story, characters, inventiveness, level design, multiplayer, etc. Basically a sign of the times changing in gamng.
I then remember a little game called Halo... Months...weeks..before release all demos that were reviewed, were buggy at best, slowdown present, graphically not outstanding, basically doubts everywhere. Gamers everywhere sat around waiting for a official review, not some game demo a kid played and screamed "THIS GAME SUX...BLAH BLAH BLAH" But a true deep review. Days before its release SURPRISE the official reviews come "OUTSTANDING...9.5/10...10/10...."
So lets look at why this takes place. It is definetely much harder for a game company to spill the beans and show an amazing game then live up and continu the hype. Eveyone lovesa sleeper hit. Also if they show a polished game day 1 it gives time for people to nit pick and, from a dvelopers standpoint time for the competition to copy or steal their design. Isnt it better to have your hopes down then get a game expecting "nothing much" and then "ohh shit that was sweet I gotta have it"
PD0 has followed the Halo timeline pretty exactly.. game demos are lack luster (halos were), has no official reviews yet (halo didnt), has a large budget (halo did also). Hmmmm MS bought RARE for a reason, and they would ahve dropped them by now if there was not that one piece/ property they had brewing that they knew was a homerun. I feel PD0 will surprise everyone. I bet all the deoms played period wer intentionally "okay" and when the official hits its gonna bea total well..360.. It will bea killer app. There has been too little talk for it not to bea good surprise.
The first one innovated and surprised you throughout the game, with the power of the system this time, the amount of money behind it, the mass of developers working on it, and a systems launch depending on it. I feel this is the one.
Now I could end up completely wrong but again who the hell am I just a gamer that has faith in a classic franchise on a awesome beast of equipment..
