"The "X" really marks the spot!"

INTRODUCTION
Ah, well, I use to be biased against the X-Box, I admit. I don't know why I was. But I was. As more X-Box games were coming out, last year, I decided to not be like that and actually show interest in the X-Box. So, I did just that. I got enough money to buy one back in April, and I went and got it. And I now love my X-Box. It's not my favorite system of all time, but I still like it a lot. So, let's break the system down!

FEATURES (10/10)
The X-Box has a lot of really cool features. Such as the soundtrack deal. Because on some games, you can put in your own music instead of the music that's already offered in the game. This is indeed an AWESOME feature because some of these games have a lot of stupid music, so it's better when you have your own music in it. Most of the games that offer the soundtrack feature is racing games. Some action games have this feature, but not many. Another feature that the X-Box has, and is probably indeed the most popular thing the X-Box does, is the X-Box Live. Which is where you can take some X-Box games and play it online against other people. Most X-Box games that are coming out now a days is using the X-Box Live. I have never used the X-Box Live because I don't have cable internet. If you use dial up for your internet, then you won't be able to use the X-Box Live. Also, the X-Box can play DVDs! The downside to this is though, you'll have to buy a DVD thing that allows you to play it on the X-Box. I think it runs for $40. The X-Box also has a harddrive. Which is indeed, awesome. Because you don't have to buy memory cards anymore. The X-Box has over 50,000+ memory blocks to it. And I have over ten games on there, five soundtracks, and I STILL have 50,000+ memory blocks to run. Ah, I love it. Well, I'm going to give the features a perfect score!

CONTROLLER (8/10)
Ah, the controller. This use to be my argument of why I didn't like the X-Box. Which I find that really stupid. But I do like the controller. My girlfriend says that the X-Box controller looks like the PS2 controller, but it's bigger. Which I agree somewhat, because the X-Box S controller (the smaller controller), does look like the PS2 controller but it's bigger. You see, there's two different kinds of the controllers. The first one, which was launched with the system, is a really big, fat controller. I've never used one before, because my X-Box came with the S controller. The second controller is the one I was just talking about, which is the S controller. If you buy an X-Box brand new, you'll get this controller. Most of the hardcore fans of the X-Box prefer the bigger controller. Which I can see that, because the layout of the S controller is kind of weird. Because the start button is on the far left of the controller. And trust me on one thing, it will take you a while to get use to the controls of any game the first time you'll play the system. Don't get me wrong now, I like the controller, but it took me a while to get use to the controls. I'm going to give the controller a 8 out of 10.

GAME LIBRARY (10/10)
Well, the X-Box picked up the award for best showing at E3. Which I can see definitely, because these games that are coming out for the X-Box is amazing. Such as Half-Life 2, the already well hyped Halo 2, Fable, etc. The gaming library is becoming grand. For the wrestling fans (I for one am a wrestling fan), you'll be getting treated to WWE Raw 2: Ruthless Aggression in September. Then the RPG fans, you'll be getting Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic sometime this year. Also be getting Fable, which looks to be one of the best games in a very long time. Those two games right there look to be just amazing. Also, the amazing The Elders Scroll III: Morrowind, there going to take it and fix it up. There going to take out all the bugs, so that right there will be grand. Then you got the category that the X-Box is the most strong in, which is the shooters. Brute Force, a 3rd person shooter, was just released and I heard it's really great so far. But the future of the shooters looks to be just awesome. Because you'll be getting: Halo 2, Doom 3, Deus Ex 2, Half-Life 2, etc. Also, the fighter category is looking to be great as well. You'll be getting: Dead or Alive Online, Dead or Alive 4, Soul Calibur 2, etc. Just awesome, man. And the gaming library from the past, well, I happen to really like it. A lot of people say that there isn't much to look for on the X-Box, but I strongly disagree. I like all the games I have for my X-Box. And there's tons more that I want from the games that have been released for months now. So don't listen to the people that say that the library sucks. Because it really doesn't. So the game library picks up a well deserved perfect score!

THE LOOK (10/10)
Well, some say that the X-Box is big enough to kill a cat. The system is pretty big, but the look of it is enough to kill you. The system is wide, and it's black. Has a black X going across the top of it. And in the middle, it has a green circle that says X-Box. It is indeed cool looking. I'm sure most of you have seen it, but for some that is now looking into an X-Box, and want to get one, I'm describing the look for you. Like I said, the X-Box is very cool looking. Some say it looks like a VCR, but I can't really see that to keep repeating it. I kind somewhat, but I just can't see that. I'm going to give the look a perfect score!

GRAPHICS (10/10)
Ah, every fanboy's argument. ''The X-Box looks better than that old prehistoric PS2!!!'' Well, the X-Box games does indeed look beautiful. And anyone that denies this, well, they're just lying. Some of these graphics on the X-Box are just beautiful. Especially these pictures and trailers of games like Halo 2 and Doom 3. Heck, when Halo came out, it looked just awesome. And now look where we are, a year and a half later from the launch of the X-Box, and it looks ten times better now than what it did then. Games that really look amazing on the X-Box are: Halo, Rallisport Challenge, Dead or Alive games (not just because of the women, the environments are just gorgeous), Panzer Dragoon Orta, Splinter Cell, and some others. The graphics are just awesome on these games, and we're not even to the big games of the year, yet. So the graphics pick up a well deserved perfect score!

CONCLUSION on SCORES
Features - 10/10
Controller - 8/10
Game Library - 10/10
The Look - 10/10
Graphics - 10/10
AVERAGE: 9.6
FINAL SCORE: 10/10

THE FINAL VERDICT
Okay, I'm not a fanboy of this system. I own all three major systems now a days, which is the PS2, X-Box (of course), and the Gamecube. I don't prefer a system over any other system, I might be that way with the games though. If a game looks better on another system, I'll get that game. But it's not any other way. If you have been following the crowd for a while now of hating the X-Box, jump off of that bandwagon. Because owning all three systems just rocks. There's basically something for everyone on the X-Box. If you're a FPS (First Person Shooter) fan, trust me, get this system. Because it is definitely the FPS system. Well, that's basically all I have to say.

That's my review and I'm sticking to it!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/29/03, Updated 05/29/03