The Exclusive Games
In Round 1 we already looked at the hardware of each console and determined which one has the most processing power inside. But all this technical muscle means nothing if there are no games to showcase the consoles abilities, and the games that do that best are the console exclusives: The games that are specificly shaped for one console to get the most out of it.
But besides those there are also the "half exclusives", the games that are available on the PC and only one of the two consoles, for example Mass Effect. These games are important to, because not every console owner also has a gaming PC.
Now, without further do, let's brake them down and look at every major exclusive and half exclusive out there for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, upcoming games included.
Game = Xbox 360 Exclusive
Game = Xbox 360 Half Exclusive
Game = PlayStation 3 Exclusive
Game = PlayStation 3 Half Exclusive
First Person Shooters
Call of Duty 2
Call of Juarez
Far Cry Instincts Predator
Halo 3
Halo 3: ODST (upcoming)
Halo Reach (upcoming)
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2 (upcoming)
Perfect Dark Zero
Haze
Killzone 2
M.A.G. (upcoming)
Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance 2
In the First Person Shooter department both Sony and Microsoft have a high quality list to brag with, but at the end of the day the Xbox 360 brings home the cup. Not soley because of Halo, as many of you may think, but because of the half exclusives Left 4 Dead 1/2 and Call of Duty 2.
Third Person Shooters
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
SOCOM US Navy Seals: Confrontation
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (upcoming)
Warhawk
In that category the PS3 is the clear winner. Both sides have one huge francise, Gears of War and Uncharted, but when it comes to the rest Sony has the upper hand, due to two unique multiplayer shooter that can only be experienced on the platform.
Action Adventure Games
Crackdown
Crackdown 2 (upcoming)
Kameo: Elements of Power
Saints Row
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction (upcoming)
Too Human
Genji: Days of the Balde
God of War III (upcoming)
Heavenly Sword
inFamous
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
With the exception of Splinter Cell Conviction, Microsofts list of Action Adventure Titles is really underwhelming. Compared to the srtong titles Sony has to offer the Xbox 360 looks like a little worm. Metal Gear Solid, inFamous and God of War are all big PlayStation francises, ensuring the win in this category.
Role Playing Games
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon 2 (upcoming)
Fable II
Fable III (upcoming)
Lost Odysse
Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2 (upcoming)
Ninty Nine Nights
Star Ocean: Last Hope
Final Fantasy Versus XIII (upcoming)
Folklore
Is there anything left to say? Just look at the list!
Racing Games
Forza Motorsport 2
Forza Motorsport 3 (upcoming)
Project Gotham Racing 3
Project Gotham Racing 4
RACE PRO
Ridge Racer 6
Formula 1: Championship Edition
Gran Turismo 5 (upcoming)
Gran Turismo 5: Prologue
Mod Nation Racers (upcoming)
MotorStorm
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
Ridge Racer 7
Both consoles have a superb lineup of racing games, but Sony has one advantage: Variety. Microsoft only offers racing on race tracks in normal sports cars, while Sony offers Formula 1 racing, offroad racing, kart racing and the simulation aspect with the mighty Gran Turismo 5.
Platformers
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
LitteBigPlanet
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (upcoming)
Sony's the winner, hands down.
Strategy/Building Games
Battlestations: Midway
Battlestations: Pacific
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
Halo Wars
Viva Pinata
Valkyria Chronicles
"ONLY ONE PS3 GAME??" you might ask, but hold on! Although Microsoft obviously has the upper hand here, that one PS3 game is really good. Sometimes quality outlasts quantity. Still, the Xbox 360 wins here.
Fighting Games
Dead or Alive 4
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Tekken 5
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm
Win for the Xbox 360. The PS3 Naruto game is better than the 360 one, but Tekken 5 can't go up against 2 Dead or Alives.
Survival Horror Games
Alan Wake (upcoming)
Condemned: Crime Origins
Heavy Rain (upcoming)
Siren: Blood Curse
Sony's the winner for 2 reasons: Condemned 2 is available on the PS3, and Heavy Rain looks way better than Alan Wake.
Sports Games
Amped 3
Everybody's Golf 5
MLB 07 The Show
MLB 08 The Show
MLB 09 The Show
NBA 07
NBA 08
NBA 09
One Snowboarding game simply can't hold up to Sony's MLB and NBA license, sorry Microsoft.
MMOs
APB
Final Fantasy XI
DC Universe Online
Final Fantasy XIV
The Agency
Final Fantasy XIV looks better than XI and comic book heroes are way cooler than gang members.
Casual Games
Lips
Scene it?
You're in the Movies!
Buzz TV Quizz
EyePet
SingStar
Sony's advantage here, is that it's francises already exsisted one whole generation, while Microsoft is still in the experimenting phase.
THE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY
Don't get me wrong, both consoles have a superb list of exclusives games, but when it comes down to it the PS3 titles may be fewer in numbers, but richer in quality. Sony also has a bigger lineup of big francises with Ratchet & Clank, Resistance, Killzone, LitteBigPLanet, inFamous and many more dominating the competition.
Still, if you're a total Halo buff and don't have much left for all these francises: Go for the 360.
Stay tuned for ROUND 3 - The third party support
