My review of all three next-gen systems and my recommendation for whic you should buy - ODogg's Blog

ODogg's Blog

My review of all three next-gen systems and my recommendation for whic you should buy

Posted on January 10, 2014 at 03:55 PM.

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Sorry about the formatting, will fix later...

Wii U - I got the Wii U about a month or so after it came out along with my fiance Stefanie and we decided to give it as a Christmas present to ourselves. Connecting it up was very easy, it very nicely re-uses the bar that sits on top of your TV from your Wii so you don't even have to do anything but plug it in and not even use the Wii U one it comes with if you have a Wii still in place. It also plays Wii games and uses all the Wii controllers, something I wish Sony and Microsoft would take note of! The Wii U uses an HDMI (finally) so hooking it up is pretty painless and fast in regards to hardware. It took me about 2 minutes and we were up and running.

The software install is painless but takes a little longer. The guide walks you through the setup using both the TV and the handheld gamer screen that is on the large, tablet-like pad that is the item that sets the Wii U apart from the Wii and really all the other gaming systems out there. This took a little longer, entering the WEP key for wi-fi, setting up Mii's and all that but it was quite clearly quite simply and easy to follow, as it needs to be considering the Nintendo market probably has the largest number of casual gamers of the three camps of consoles. The UI, or user interface, is pretty straightforward but you may find yourself digging around for some options that should be easier to find.

The game-tablet itself works great and is used in innovative ways in the games I've played but sucks up battery power much too quickly and needs recharged more than it should, although you can charge while you play if you're near an outlet. Obviously the first party Nintendo games are the allure of the Wii but the system was also launched with some other third party titles that were really good. However since then the great titles has cleared up significantly.

The Wii U has three main advantages in my view. First, it�s economical in both initial investment and subsequent investments in regards to the old games/controllers working on the new system. Second, it�s very non-intimidating to non-gamers unlike Sony and MS� systems. And third, it, by far, encourages the largest amount of local co-op games among 2-4 users than any other console. If you�re looking for a system to play with your significant other and/or kids from the couch then this is your best bet of the big three.

The Wii U has some disadvantages of course. First, it�s underpowered in regards to graphics and animations compared to the MS Xbox One and Playstation 4. This is not hugely noticeable when comparing Wii U to the previous generation of consoles but it is greatly noticeable comparing the Wii U to the next-gen systems that just arrived. Second , and most importantly, it has a dearth of large titles to keep the fan base excited about the future. And lastly, despite Nintendo understanding the importance of local co-op, unlike MS and Sony it seems, they really don�t get how to do online play. Their system of not having a friends list, using number codes and no party chat quite frankly is baffling. While online pay is free here the old adage �you get what you pay for� certainly applies.

Pros: Price, Backwards compatibility, casual gamers welcome, lots of local co-op possibilities
Cons: Underpowered system, lack of third party software development, lacking greatly in online play.

Playstation 4 � I did a lot of research as to which system to purchase initially between the Xbox One and the PS4. It seemed fairly clear to me that my best bet would be the PS4. Debuting at $100 lower price than the Xbox One I also figured it�d be more wise to purchase the One later on due to Microsofts tendency for bugginess out of the gate. I had an Xbox One however on order so I decided to try to �flip� that for a bit more money to help offset the cost of the PS4. I bet on the wrong horse though so ended up with both. Because of this I feel especially qualified to fairly and objectively review both.

My PS4 arrived on day one and I eagerly unboxed it. It was packaged much like the PS3, pretty pedestrian and I found it was pretty straightforward with how to set it up hardware wise. Everything went quite well initially but I had some problems getting a picture. Turns out a wrong HDMI cord is what I was using and once that was realized I was up and running. The software walkthrough was very fast and easy after downloading a firmware update. I was up and running and in a game in under 10 minutes.

The PS4 interface is very clean, for right now anyways, and very fast. It�s also very intuitive in where to go to find what you need. The controller is superb, and I like it much, much more than I did the PS3 controller. Battery life is a non-issue, I have gamed nearly 10 hours straight without charging. However maybe I am just lucky, I�ve heard others with problems of getting much less time. My hands never hurt even during long sessions and I particularly like the controller light-glow (although I agree with people it should be able to be disabled if desired) and how it can interact with games in unique and innovate ways (such as in games where your health bar is full it will be green and then yellow as you take damage and red right when you�re nearly dead). I got a good amount of games at launch (7) and all played quite well (save perhaps the buggy Battlefield) and felt next-gen, some more than others.

The PS4�s main advantage is that it is the most powerful of the three system for the for the medium price tag ($100 less than Xbox One and about $100 more than Wii U). However, when comparing to Xbox One few will notice much of a difference in graphics, animation and sound. Another issue that some could view as an advantage is that it is, without question, a clear cut gaming system. Because of this it will not have some of the issues that the Xbox One may have since the Xbox One is more of a multimedia entertainment hub and must interact with many peripherals and apps that the PS4 will not. Because it is focused like a laser on gaming, its interface, apps and games all run fast, are very easy to navigate and are, for the most part, stable. I have had a few issues with launch titles but none whatsoever with the UI or the system itself. Bottom line is that the system gives you confidence that if you simply want to game then you will not have issues and have a very enjoyable next-gen experience.

The PS4�s largest disadvantage is that it�s online system, now pay to play, simply isn�t as good as Xbox Live, at least not yet. Now that Sony has decided to charge for the multiplayer on PS4, much to the chagrin of many (realistically they had to in order to compete though), I think it may eventually get there, but it�s going to take time, something some people may not be patient with.

Pros: most powerful next-gen system, focuses like a laser on gaming, solid and easy to navigate UI
Cons: online play is better than Wii U but not near the same level as Xbox Live

Xbox One � Because I was unable to flip my Xbox One I decided to keep it and present it to myself as a gift from Santa (I know, I�m weird) so despite getting a Day One edition I didn�t open it and set it up until the day after Christmas. Unboxing the Xbox One was a real treat as it seems Microsoft has done something wise, they�ve learned from Apple. The Xbox One is the most expensive of the three systems at $499 and it really gives you the impression when you�re unboxing it that you�re getting just that, a very high quality experience. Setting the hardware up is a little trickier than the other systems, if you choose to reroute your television box through the Xbox One (and in my opinion you should if you want to get your money�s worth from your Xbox One) and requires a bit more time and effort than the other two systems. I completed mine in roughly 30 minutes as I had a lot of cabling to clean up and a lot of cord swapping to do. Nothing was overtly difficult about the process, it just was something that took a little longer. A firmware update went reasonably quick and then it was onto the software. The software setup was also more involved, you need to setup the Kinect, answer some questions about the model number of your television, your cable box and, if used, audio-video receiver. No question that the Xbox One takes much more time but then it promises to do a lot more as well so that�s to be expected.

The Xbox One UI is probably the most difficult of the three to utilize. Options involving multiplayer, multiplayer settings, chat and so forth are scattered about the system. Microsoft is aware of this and working to more efficiently tie everything together. The system UI itself however is very fast and fairly straightforward, until you get into wondering where some specific settings are. Then it can be quite the hunt.

Once everything is setup the system worked great for me for a few days. I was able to use voice commands to turn on and shutdown all of my equipment. It does take a bit to learn how to navigate properly in regards to what commands to use so there�s a certain time investment but if you take the time you are well rewarded. However the start of day 4 my Xbox One had some issues in regards to watching TV no longer working. A rather lengthy call to Microsoft yielded in no real answers other than to do a factory reset and reconfigure. This is not as bad as it sounds as all of your settings and game saves are not affected (think installing Windows again on a PC, it just refreshes the system). You do have to re-download apps but you don�t have to remember what all apps to download, they are there, just the first time you go to use one again after the reset you will be asked to install.

The controller for the Xbox One is a slight improvement over the 360. But then the 360 was arguably the best controller of any system anyways. Considering the PS4 pad was massively improved I think both systems now have excellent controllers (I don�t count the Wii here as their controller is completely apples and oranges). The Xbox one controllers battery life is also quite good and comparable to the PS4s.

When the Xbox One works it�s a thing of beauty to behold. But when it doesn�t work the way you want it to it can be quite maddening. I guess that would make the bi-polar console of this generation eh?

The Xbox Ones primary advantage is, without question, their robust and very evolved Xbox Live online multiplayer system. Their next advantage can also be viewed by some as a disadvantage. Microsoft has a vision of the One as an all-in-one solution to your living room (hence the name eh?). I�m the type of person who loves all-in-one gadgets and tech toys that strive to do more. I know some people want just a gaming system though and consider this a huge negative. I am not one of them however.
Of course obviously the Xbox Ones largest disadvantage is the entry price to get an Xbox One. $499 is pretty steep and will put the system out of many people�s reach. Another disadvantage is that the system UI is certainly far more buggy and hard to configure than either of the other two systems. And lastly I really did not like the fact that when I contacted Microsoft about the TV app no longer working they seemed to want to pawn me off to DirecTV. Nu-uh Microsoft, if you want to be the all-in-one you have to learn that the buck stops at the Xbox One support team.

SUMMARY � I�ve heard quite a bit of bickering and heated arguments about which console is �better�. It�s really a complete waste of time because it�s comparative to arguing which food is better, steak, pizza or cheeseburgers. Ask 100 people and you will get a bunch of different answers. That is because there is no �best console�. The best console is what you want to get out of it and what works best for you.
Thankfully I have all three systems but I know not everyone can, or wants to, go that route so I will try to give you a better answer than a non- answer.

Pros: Best online multiplayer, Swiss Army knife of your entertainment center
Cons: High Price, still a bit buggy, graphics not quite as good as PS4 but will suit most folks

Here are my suggestions on what to buy based on what the systems offer:

If you want to spend less, play a lot of local co-op, are a casual gamer (in time and/or effort), believe the main thing about gaming is to have fun, not the flashiest graphics and have enjoyed Nintendo�s first party games in the past then the Wii U is for you.

If you are willing to pay a bit more, primarily play solo games but occasionally game online, want a straight up gaming system that is fast, easy to use and doesn�t go off on tangents with controlling your tv, etc and want the best bang for your buck (in regards to next-gen graphics and sound) then the Playstation 4 is for you.

If you have the cash to spend, play online frequently, think that having your TV and other apps controlled by your system sounds really, really cool and are willing to put up with a bit more time and effort (and a bit more frustration) into your hobby then the Xbox One is for you.

My ultimate suggestion? Get a second job and buy all three!!