Review: Microsoft Xbox One

XBOX ONE DESIGN

There's no escaping it; the Xbox One is huge. It dwarfs the PlayStation 4, as well as both previous-generation systems, and could rival some AV amplifiers for the space it will take up underneath your TV. The angular lines, lack of physical buttons and combination of glossy and matt plastics give it an imposing, almost monolithic appearance.

Simple. Understated. Massive.

The design leaves plenty of room for the internal components to breathe; after the notorious Xbox 360 Red Ring of Death, Microsoft has taken no chances when it comes to heat with the Xbox One. An oversized CPU heatsink and fan, positioned directly below a massive exhaust vent, should ensure the console doesn't overheat even after hours of continuous gaming. It was barely audible when setting up the console for the first time and we struggled to hear it even after a full day of testing. Temperatures never exceed more than 50 degrees centigrade, whether you're watching TV or playing games.

XBOX ONE PORTS

In order to avoid spoiling its minimal front face, Microsoft has moved all the ports to the rear and left-hand side of the Xbox One. It has dropped analogue outputs altogether, opting only for HDMI plus a digital optical S/PDIF for hooking up older AV amplifiers. There are actually two HDMI ports; one to output video to your TV and a second to receive pictures from an external source - most likely a TV set-top box. At the time of writing, the digital optical output could only manage stereo audio, although Microsoft has promised to add surround sound in a future firmware update. For now, the only way to get 5.1 audio is to use HDMI.

The HDMI input is perfect for your Sky or TiVo box, but is too laggy to feed a PC or other games console into

There are two USB3 ports on the rear, as well as a third on the side of the console. This isn't as convenient as the front-facing ports on the Xbox 360, especially if you plan on putting the console in a compact TV cabinet. You'll also find the proprietary Kinect port and an IR blaster input at the back. The Xbox One will be able to control your set top box, to change channels and the like; this will usually be done with the Kinect, which has its own powerful IR emitter, the IR blaster is simple a backup for those whose setups don't make this practical.

You have the choice between wired Ethernet and wireless 802.11n Wi-Fi for getting online; you'll need to pick one, as the console is useless without a day one update from Microsoft's servers.

XBOX ONE GAMES

Dead Rising 3

The original Dead Rising made its debut on the Xbox 360 so it's fitting the third entry in the series appears on the Xbox One in time for launch. The story might be a little less tongue in cheek than its predecessors, but the crazy combination weapons and huge number of shuffling undead onscreen at once will please fans

Forza Motorsport 5
In our opinion, the best Xbox One exclusive available today. Forza 5 isn't perfect; there aren't enough tracks and there's too big a focus on micro-transactions, but the detailed force feedback system is a revelation. You can feel your rear tyres lose grip, brakes lock up and traction control kick in through the controller's Impulse Triggers, bringing you closer to the driving seat than ever before.

Killer Instinct
Microsoft resurrected this combo-heavy fighting gamer series, which was last seen on the Nintendo 64, to test a new free-to-play payment model for the Xbox One. Everyone can download the free demo and try a single character, either offline against AI or online against human opponents, then decide whether to buy the remaining 7 cast members. The screen-filling particle effects look stunning and the combos might be flashy, but it’s surprisingly easy for newcomers to pick up and play.

Ryse: Son of Rome
Developer Crytek turned its attention from futuristic sci-fi to ancient history with Ryse, a brutal hack and slash adventure through the Roman empire. It might play fast and loose with the facts, but Ryse looks stunning and is arguably the best looking launch title. Just keep in mind it isn't for the squeamish; limbs get lopped off in surprising numbers.

Zoo Tycoon
The most family friendly launch game, Zoo Tycoon is cutesy and easy to pick up. The usual top-down management view is available if you want it, but it's much more immersive to walk around your creation in third person mode, getting close and interacting with the animals using Kinect.

Multi-platform
Multi-platform games are spilling over from one generation to the next. Although the launch line-up appears large, it includes titles you could have already played on the PC or current generation systems.

FIFA 14
Anyone picking up a Day One console bundle in the UK should have received a digital copy of FIFA 14, but everyone else should still think about picking it up; the graphics are significantly improved over the current generation console versions and ball physics have been tweaked. There's a huge amount of content too, so you'll still be playing well after the World Cup has come and gone.

Call of Duty: Ghosts
Another year, another Call of Duty, but Ghosts is already one of the most popular games on Xbox One. You can always be sure to get into a multiplayer lobby, with the familiar fast-paced gunplay being easy to pick up and impossible to forget.

Need for Speed: Rivals
If Forza is stuffy simulation, Need for Speed is the arcade antidote. Rivals dumps you in an open world as either a racer or a cop, letting you run wild at incredible speeds as other players try to take you down. Always-on multiplayer means other racers can drop in and out at any time, upping the challenge as you unlock faster cars and equipment upgrades that can give you the edge in pursuits.

Battlefield 4
The Xbox One version of Battlefield brings consoles in line with the PC, introducing 64-player matches filled with vehicles, dynamic "levolution" effects that drastically change each map mid-game and some of the most addictive first person action we've experienced in years. It's so good we're still playing it months after release.

It's worth keeping in mind that there's no backwards compatibility. This shouldn't come as a surprise given the major differences in hardware between the Xbox One and Xbox 360, but it's another reason to hold onto your old console rather than trade it in for a new model.