Times have definitely moved on since the days of Pong and Frogger.
Years ago, a character previously had two pixels to help them show emotion while battling through their 2d world. Now, the line between reality and gaming is getting more blurred every year.
With the Xbox One and Playstation 4 now out for over a year and the Wii U out for over two years, it’s easy to compare the three fairly. Each comes with its own individual pros and cons.
A lot of the time when someone decides to buy a console however, it all comes down to their own personal preference. Do you rather playing in the extra-terrestrial world of Halo on Xbox, or the gritty backdrop of Killzone on Playstation.
Then again, maybe you’re a fan of Super Mario and Super Smash Bros. In that case, the Wii U is for you. If you are new to the console wars however and looking to delve into gaming for the first time then there are a few pros and cons of each that should be taken into consideration.
The prices of these consoles are a big contributor when it comes to deciding what console you want. The most affordable of the three consoles is Nintendo’s Wii U starting at €219.99. This is fairly decent for a console which you could get years of use out of. The line-up of games also isn’t bad. It seems as though the Wii U is looking for those who wish to take a trip down nostalgia lane. It has the childhood favourites like Super Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.
These are all examples of games that are family friendly and are a lot of fun no matter what age you are. Wii U also has more adult orientated games such as Zombie U and Bayonetta 2. Wii U uses a pad which is an interesting addition to the console world and adds something else that other consoles can’t currently offer. It does seem like more of a novelty however than anything else and the Wii U could have survived with just a standard controller.
In terms of graphics, it’s not much of a powerhouse compared to the Playstation 4 or Xbox One, yet it does have its moments in the sun, especially in Mario Kart 8 which looks beautiful at its high speeds.
The Playstation 4 and the Xbox One are the heavy weights in this fight and the two are on par in terms of price, both starting at €399.99. In terms of graphical prowess, both look amazing, however, technically Playstation 4 does have a slight edge. Its home screen is also a bit faster than Xbox Ones as Xbox One relies heavily on internet. Therefore, if your connection is poor, you’re going to have a stressful time trying to navigate the console let alone the home screen.
Both consoles look very nice, yet the Playstation 4 is that bit sleeker and will fit more snuggly beside you’re TV. In terms of the controllers, both have wireless and both have been optimised since their predecessors so players feel that bit more comfortable. Playstation 4 has a touch pad in the centre of the controller but as of yet, it has not been taken full advantage of.
Netflix is also on both consoles so you need not worry about finishing up Breaking Bad. In the end, it all depends on your own personal preference and what games you want to play. Both have great exclusives. Xbox has Forza, Playstation has Driveclub. Xbox has the crazy Sunset Overdrive; Playstation will soon have the beautiful looking The Order: 1886. All major titles such as Fifa, Far Cry and Call of Duty go to both consoles so it is really just the exclusives that might sway a lot of people in the end and the strength of your internet connection.
To be honest though, it doesn’t really matter what console you have because if you ever concede a 90th minute goal on fifa, then your console of choice will be going out the window anyway.
By Adrian Holmes