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To buy a 360 or not?

I've never been a fan of Microsoft's Xbox console or library of games. In the past i've purchased Nintendo Gamecube / Sony Playstation2 but always avoid the Xbox console. For many reasons; bulky-console/controller, it could be simply because its lack of innovation (First-Person Shooters, Sport titles, ect).

But recently I've been keeping track of a few good fighters making its way to next-generation consoles, more specifically Xbox360 - Tekken 6, King of Fighter 12, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, and of course Street Fighter 4.

So today I walked into a GameStop, and I just couldn't make that step in purchasing a Xbox360.

It could be because glancing at the library of boring Ubisoft titles, or repetitive FPS-clones, or just the simple view of new 'sport games' released by 3rd-parties. Perhaps its the lack of innovation in the game selection- more specifically quirky-Japanese titles that i'm missing. Besides the classic Platform titles, and Shumps really distance me from buying it.

So far - to ask my fellow retro-gamers your point of view on the 'next-generation' consoles / gaming. Which console do you enjoy the most? and what titles are noteworthy of a fresh take on 'retroness'? (im not talking about the classic downloadable games that you can purchase in the menu - since I already own actual copies of most)

This has been honestly the first time I've been reluctant in buying a new 'next-generation' console.

From a retro gamer's point of view, I know that Ikaruga is available as a download on XBLA. That's at least one point in the 360's favor I guess.

I had this same dilemma. You really just have too look, because there definitely there.

The Xbox 360 has a great selection of great classic retro games on it's arcade section in marketplace...

I personally think the 360 is the most "arcadey" of any of the new consoles. I don't really play first person shooters either but the gears of war games are pretty good. There's a lot of games that have that retro feel to them though. Lost planet, ninja gaiden 2, and a number of racing games. It's also got the live arcade, so depending on how you feel about spending money on digital downloads, there's a lot of retro styled games there. More than the ps3 anyway. Pacman Championship edition is great, and I think there's a live arcade compilation you can buy for $20 bucks that has that and some other games on it. The availability of demos of nearly every game that comes out for it is great too, I'm not sure how good PS3 is on demos, but I don't think the wii does it at all.

You've also got the library of original xbox games available, and since you didn't have one, there are probably a lot of games you missed out on. Plus used xbox games are dirt cheap. There's Psychonauts (i thought it was ok but some people love it), ninja gaiden, panzer dragoon orta, jet grind radio future, and more.

exactly - buy a regular x-box and play all the good x-box exclusive games. leave the 360 alone for another 3 years.

Does the 360 have any good titles that aren't from the arcade/sports/fps?

Putting the cheap build quality aside, the 360 is a great system. It has a awesome selection of games both in disc and downloadable form.

You'd be surprised about what the original Xbox has to offer. I originally bought one because SEGA, in the wake of halting DC production earlier that year, was bringing many of their retro-style games and franchises to the system. Ultimately, these included Panzer Dragoon Orta, Otogi: Myth of Demons and Otogi 2, GunValkyrie, Outrun 2, and Jet Set Radio Future.

Plus, the Xbox has a lot of good non-retroesque games, as well. Some of my favorites are Shenmue II, Crimson Skies, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Star Wars: KotOR, Jade Empire, Chronicles of Riddick: EFBB, Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Project Gotham Racing 2, Max Payne, and Half Life 2.

Anyway, if you're not sold on the 360, like Chupon said, just keep waiting. Outside of LIVE downloads, I don't think it caters particularly well to old school fans, either. Still, it at least has a lot of great non-FPS/sports games. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Mass Effect, Fable II, Virtua Fighter 5 Online, Project Gotham Racing 3/4, Dead Rising, Lost Planet, Ace Combat 6, Sega Rally Revo, and Earth Defense Force 2019 are all pretty fun. Also, it's a FPS (and a very unorthodox one) but I'd also recommend Condemned: Criminal Origins.

In terms of quirkiness in the 360 library there is Castle Crashers, Dead Rising, Viva Pinata, Rockstar Table Tennis. Since you like fighters then the 360 might be a better choice for its match making online play.