Xbox One Impressions

Photos by Luis Bolaños

I had the opportunity to play with the Xbox One, Microsoft’s “next-gen” video game console, but it didn’t feel like the next generation of the gaming.

Microsoft brought some Xbox One consoles in an SUV to Sunset Place during a tour intended to let gamers try out the new console.

They had multiple consoles available to play with demos of “Killer Instinct” and “Forza Motorsport 5.”

“Killer Instinct” is a return to the fighting game franchise made by developer Rare in the ‘90s. Having been in hiatus for nearly 17 years, the franchise returns to the Xbox One appealing to those older gamers that remember characters like Sabrewulf, Galcius and Jago, along with new gamers familiar with games like “Street Fighter IV.”

Some gamers try out the Xbox One demo stations.

Those that aren’t familiar with the franchise or characters unfortunately might not understand some of the mechanics in “Killer Instinct” such as the fighting system’s heavy reliance on combos.

The fighting system has been updated to stand along fellow fighting titles such as Capcom’s “Street Fighter” and Namco Bandai’s “Tekken.” There’s a focus attack called Instinct Mode that functions as a special move that can be executed if a certain amount of damage has been received.

The game flows significantly faster and the characters have weight to them due to their presence on the screen. For example, Glacius makes the ground shake as he moves and his ice moves nearly fill up his side of the screen.

The combat is fast, and has an arcade feel to it thanks to the combo (combination) counter and the announcer who excitedly shouts what kind of combo you’ve achieved. Examples include “ULTRA COMBO,” “MONSTER COMBO” and “COMBO BREAKER” (if you manage to break free from a high count combo).

While I enjoyed the fighting mechanics, “Killer Instinct” didn’t sell the impression of the next generation of games Microsoft and the Xbox One hails.

Alongside “Killer Instinct,” a short demo of “Forza Motorsport 5” was also available to play.

Continuing developer Turn 10’s legacy with the “Forza” franchise, “Forza 5” continues the racing simulator series on the Xbox One. If the idea of a racing simulator with extraordinary graphics and physics sounds appealing, then “Forza 5” should be on your radar if you’re in the market for a next-gen racing title.

I raced only one lap on a course that I recall racing on “Forza 2” with obvious changes to the graphics and physics. While I’m not a fan of “Forza’s” hyper realism, it’s executed well. Again, I don’t particularly enjoy “Forza’s” system, it’s still impressive to see and experience.

One key aspect that I noticed with both titles was the Xbox One controller, which is a great improvement on the Xbox 360 controller. It felt great in my hands, and having rumble in the triggers was something that works really well. I would like to try it with action titles like “Battlefield 4” and “Titanfall,” and see how developers can utilize the rumble for future games.

The controller impressed me more than the games on hand. “Killer Instinct” and “Forza” fans might enjoy the new titles in each franchise, but I didn’t see anything “next-gen” in each title that might appeal to someone interested in the “next-gen” consoles.

While the new Kinect was on display, there were no games that utilized the new Kinect. Other exclusive titles such as “Dead Rising 3” and “Ryse: Son of Rome” were not on hand, however the Microsoft staff on hand were quick to mention those titles repeatedly to anyone that tried out the Xbox One.

Overall, I wasn’t sold on the Xbox One as a system to purchase at launch after having spent time with the system. Having seen the power of a powerhouse PC on titles like the “Witcher 2,” “Battlefield 3” and “Crysis 3,” I believe that the idea of “next-gen” already exists on the PC platform in terms of graphics and power.

The fact that titles like “Watch_Dogs,” “Assassin’s Creed IV,” “Call of Duty: Ghosts” and “Battlefield 4” are bound to be graphically impressive on PC than on the “next-gen” systems, the PC platform takes away some of the luster from the launch of the new systems for me personally.

Time will tell if the Xbox One is truly a next-gen console with its features and upcoming titles. Right now, the Xbox One feels like a minor step up from the Xbox 360, compared to the jump from the Xbox to the Xbox 360.