Video Game Console Reviews: Best Video Game Systems

Best family-friendly game console

*Est. $250 Compare Prices

Critics agree that the Nintendo Wii is addictive, intuitive and fun -- even after the novelty of the innovative Wii Remote has worn off. Nintendo chooses not to compete with Xbox 360 or PS3 when it comes to realistic… graphics. Rather, the focus is on the Wii Remote -- a unique motion-sensitive controller that gets players off the couch, waving the controller around in the air. Reviews agree that hardcore gamers will be disappointed in the Wii, but that's not the Wii's intended audience. Rather, experts say the Nintendo Wii is great for families and groups. If you prefer intense first-person-shooter games or epic fantasy gaming, you'll be happier with an Xbox 360. But reviews agree that the Nintendo is more of a crowd-pleaser.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com has an extensive editorial review of the Nintendo Wii. Author Will Greenwald's thorough analysis ends with his overall ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine includes the Nintendo Wii in its "Ten Techy Gifts for Teens" lineup. Author Jim Louderback describes the Wii's ...

Arstechnica.com: Ars Technica has the longest and most detailed review of the Nintendo Wii. Ben Kuchera takes potential Wii users through the ...

PC World: PC World has a good basic editorial review of the Nintendo Wii, plus a few short user reviews. Like our top expert reviewer, this ...

Amazon.com: The Nintendo Wii gets well over 1,100 user reviews on Amazon.com, and the overwhelming majority gives it a perfect score. Owners ...

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Best high-end gaming console

Microsoft Xbox 360

*Est. $200 to $400 Compare Prices

Reviews agree that the PlayStation 3 is technologically superior to the Xbox 360 -- at least on paper. But graphics and realism are great on both systems and the Xbox 360 continues to hold an edge in must-have game… availability (though the gap is closing). The Xbox also has an advantage in online gaming. Hardware fixes are believed to have repaired the "Red Ring of Death" system failures that plagued earlier models. Other versions available include the Xbox 360 Elite, which ups the removable hard drive to 120 GB (vs. 60 GB) and throws in an HDMI cable. The Xbox 360 Arcade lacks a hard drive altogether, meaning you can't download content or play older Xbox games; most experts consider it to be a poor value.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com has the best of both worlds: a detailed and very recent expert analysis of the Microsoft Xbox 360 plus over 1,000 user ...

Amazon.com: More than 220 owners had posted their reviews at the time of our last visit, with a sizable percentage reporting on the system ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine has a decent but slightly dated write-up on the Microsoft Xbox 360, but much more extensive coverage of the step-up ...

Arstechnica.com: Ars Technica's Ben Kuchera is a professional video game reviewer, and he writes about the Microsoft Xbox 360 from a gamer's ...

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Multimedia game console

Sony PlayStation 3

*Est. $400 to $500 Compare Prices

Analysts say that eventually, the PlayStation 3 will be the game console to beat. For now, some gamers will be disappointed by the fewer high-demand titles and a poorer online gaming experience compared to the Xbox 360.… Where the PS3 shines, however, is in its lineup of high-end features, including one of the best Blu-ray HD disc players available. It also features built-in Wi-Fi, Internet connectivity and a built-in web browser. Some might be fascinated by its ability to double as a Linux computer. Sony is continually developing new features and improving existing ones, and those are available as free downloads for existing owners.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com has good editorial coverage of the Sony PlayStation 3 followed by some interesting user feedback. Author Jeff Bakalar ...

Arstechnica.com: Ben Kuchera reports on the Sony Playstation 3 from an experienced gamer's perspective. He notes that the PS3 still has some room ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine's review of the Sony PlayStation 3 is older, but covers everything from hardware and setup to software and gameplay. ...

DigitalTrends.com: DigitalTrends.com has a good (if slightly dated) editorial review of the Sony PlayStation 3. There's a detailed description of ...

Amazon.com: Amazon.com is our top source of user reviews on the Sony PlayStation 3. Most contributors are enthusiastic users, and ratings ...

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Best handheld game system

Sony PSP 2000

*Est. $170 Compare Prices

Although it costs more than any other handheld system, reviews say the PSP 2000 is a step or more ahead of the competition. The PSP 2000 has a big, high-resolution screen and intuitive controls. It also plays audio and… video on Memory Stick media cards or proprietary UMD discs (movies cost about $20 each). Over 300 games are available, at a cost of $20 to $50 each. Though an updated version is becoming available, some screen problems with the new PSP 3000 (*est. $170) makes the still-available PSP 2000 the preferred choice for now.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com has the best coverage of the Sony PSP 2000. Besides an in-depth and balanced text write-up, there's a video review and a ...

PCMag.com: Brian K. Neal reviews several video game consoles for PC Magazine. His coverage of the Sony PSP 2000 is comprehensive and ...

Arstechnica.com: The Sony PSP 2000 gets a well-balanced write-up at Ars Technica. Especially useful are the photos and the charts comparing the ...

Amazon.com: Amazon.com has a good selection of owner-written reviews for the Sony PSP 2000 video game console. There's a wide range in the ...

ExpoTV.com: ExpoTV.com is a video-based community review site with over 100 entries on the Sony PSP 2000. The quality of these user reviews ...

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Amazon Marketplace

for $280.00

Budget handheld game system

Nintendo DS

*Est. $130 Compare Prices

The Nintendo DS can't play movies or music, but it does have dual 3-inch screens (one of which is a touchscreen). Reviews say the less expensive Nintendo DS is a great game system for kids or anyone else who just wants… something fun for a long commute. There are over 400 games for the Nintendo DS, which can also play the 700+ titles made for the older Game Boy Advance. Games cost between $20 and $35 each.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com has excellent coverage of the Nintendo DS (also known as the DS Lite). The thorough editorial review and more than the ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine gives the thumbs-up to the Nintendo DS in this short review. Author Carol Mangis says the console's bright screen and ...

Arstechnica.com: This article is includes a nice comparison of the latest Nintendo DS with the previous version. The tone is informal, but there's ...

About.com: This brief comparison of two popular handheld gaming consoles, the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP, evaluates the two on measures ...

Amazon.com: Amazon.com is a great spot to find user reviews of the Nintendo DS. At the time of our last visit, there were more than 1,000 ...

ExpoTV.com: Over 170 ExpoTV.com contributors have posted video reviews of the Nintendo DS. There's some interesting content here, and it's ...

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Video Game Consoles: Reviews

Best family-friendly game console

Best high-end gaming console

Multimedia game console

Best handheld game system

Budget handheld game system

Video Game Consoles by Price Range


	PlayStation 2 Console - Black from Amazon.com New: $99.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review: