http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/games/1302265/xbox-one-review-hands-on
We recently got our first hands-on session with the new console at its first UK outing. Seeing the hardware in the flesh and playing some of the launch titles with the new controller quick showed us that Microsoft has got an awful lot right with its new console.
In this hands-on article we'll be covering everything we saw on the day, which includes a lot of what the next-gen Xbox has to offer. However there are still elements of the console, such as the interface, that we haven't yet been allowed to get to grips with. Plus we can't yet compare cross-platform titles on the Xbox One and PS4.
For a full round-up of everything Xbox One related, including rumour and conjecture, see our Xbox One release date, price, DRM, controller & specs newsand for details of the PS4 try our PS4 release date, price, controller, PS Vita TV & specs news.
CONSOLE HARDWARE
All the games we played on the day appeared to be running on Xbox One hardware, with one console firmly bolted into place beneath each LCD TV. We're presuming that these were pre-production models and we couldn't get round the back to poke at the ports, but we did get our ears down onto the box and were impressed by the how quiet it is, though not surprised.
The Xbox One is quite large, bigger than its main competitor and predecessors. Half the top of the console is a huge air vent positioned just where you want it, which is directly the key hardware and a huge fan (that should push a lot of air even at low speeds). In fact Microsoft has been so confident of its thermal design that it has upped the processor speed (from 1.6GHz to 1.75GHz) and GPU speed (from 800MHz to 853MHz).
We'd take big and quiet over slim and loud any day, and our gut tells us the Xbox One will be ninja-like; but we'll have to get the competing consoles together to really judge whether the Xbox is quieter
Despite this, the Xbox One still looks to be behind the PS4 in terms of raw horsepower, with a GPU of 12 compute units, compared to 18 on the PS4. Some have argued that Microsoft may hit the ground running thanks to its excellent history of development tools for x86 platforms (both the Xbox One and PS4 use the same eight-core, 64-bit, X86 AMD processor). =Such conjecture aside, the PS4 has the more powerful hardware despite the recent tweaks.
The other big talking point on the Xbox One is its HDMI input. However, although Microsoft has demoed it onstage, there was no further demo or hands on of this functionality at the event (or at any other event to our knowledge). It should allow you to flick from Live TV to Xbox gaming in an instant, and also use functions such as Skype and a web browser in a sidebar while watching TV in a large window.
It could be a game-changer (excuse the pun) but we really need to get an Xbox One bedded in beside our TV (alongside the numerous other devices that fight to provide it with content) for a week or two before we can decide that.
Another big feature that we can't judge yet is Microsoft's commitment to a huge number of cloud computing servers to support the console. This will support new features and should mean that all big multiplayer titles will run on dedicated servers for a slicker and fairer experience.
NEW CONTROLLER
One area where the Xbox One does look to have an edge is its excellent controller. The Xbox 360 controller was a brilliant piece of design and we're still amazed that Sony hasn't also moved to a pad with asymmetrical stick positions. The new controller is simply an evolution of the current pad, a good thing in our book, but there are some great improvements still.
The pads we used felt a lot lighter than the current Xbox pads, but then these were harnessed to the consoles by cables and so didn't contain any kind of battery pack. The new pad is smooth on the rear and though it will accept AA batteries still, there will also be a play-and-charge pack with a rechargeable nimh battery pack. It charges over Micro USB, so smartphone chargers should work fine too.
The controller is brilliant, an all-round refinement of the 360 pad
The controls themselves are sublime. The sticks have just the right amount of resistance for precision and have a fine texture around the edges to help keep your thumbs on the sticks. The d-pad feels good too, with smooth circular motions easier than ever. The bumpers and triggers are more integrated into the shape of the controller, making it more comfortable to hold and use.
The triggers now have their own rumble system. Giving you micro feedback in the individual triggers. This allows you to feel the rumble of the road, individual gunshots and other highly located rumble effects. It's impressively tactile stuff, really adding to the experience in Forza 5.
NEW KINECT
The original Kinect didn't impress us, having failed in its original stated aim of being tightly integrated with, and enhancing of, traditional game experiences. Yes, there was some fun to be had from dedicated Kinect titles, mainly dancing titles, but it never became a must-have for most game genres.
You'll have to find space for this under your TV
The new Kinect looks to be a huge step up technically. We didn't get to play any actual games using it, but the technology demos are fantastic. It has 3x the resolution of the first Kinect, with the depth-based sensor picking up details as small as creases in clothing and individual fingers. This is combined with a 1080p HD colour picture, plus an IR sensor that helps filter out visible light sources, so changing lighting conditions shouldn't throw it off.
The sensor creates a virtual skeleton with more joints than before, such as joints in the hand, spine and hips, helping it track your motion and stance more precisely. It uses this additional data to help it predict the force inherent in your movements and where your centre of balance of lies. The new sensor can even pick up your heart rate through fluctuations in your face colour and read basic expressions on your face and tell if you're engaged with the game or looking elsewhere in the room.
It picks up an impressive level of detail, note the open mouth
It's all very, very clever, however we're not yet convinced that it will be key to playing traditional games, or being more open minded that it will create new genres of games that are played while sitting down, as opposed the relative niche of standing up and jumping about games.
Microsoft have given it the best possible chance of success by bundling it with every console, giving developers a huge motivation to support it, and we really hope that it proves us wrong and becomes truly groundbreaking.
Take that shyt somewhere else.
