When I bought this Amazon was sold out so I bought it at a local store (BB) which meant I had to pay sales tax on it. ($24.50) They did give me a $20 gift card so that made up for having to pay sales tax. If you're in a state that has to pay sales tax regardless I would probably just buy it local and try to rule out possible shipping defects. These are selling out fast. It is possible they may go on sale for Black Friday but typically Black Friday deals rarely include anything super popular and expensive. When you consider the XBox 360 is now a 7 year old system and a new one is coming the rate at which these are selling is pretty astonishing. (I talked with some store sales reps)
I can't say this is a smart buy for everyone, but I will say that I would like to see theme based consoles of this quality earlier in the lifecycle. I'm surprised they still don't offer an HDMI cable in their package. They know people want it because they don't even offer Component Cables (RBG) anymore so they just give you a cheap Composite Cable. In addition to those small complaints the only other thing I can pick on is the fact they interrupted the logo on the front of the console for the USB Input Door. They should have continued the paint pattern on the door as well. You can tell the doors are produced elsewhere and then assembled in one place. It's not horrible but it does ruin the overall consistency the rest of the console has, which is sleek.
PROS:
+ Looks (It's gorgeous!)
+ Price ($350 $60 game $50 extra controller = $240 just for the console)
+ Build Quality (Despite the cracks some have found, console looks solid to me)
+ Avatar Codes (if you care for that sort of thing)
+ Unique Sounds (Not awesome but a nice touch none the less)
+ Unique Controllers (The ones sold seperately are different than these)
CONS:
Next XBox will release soon
They interrupted the logo on the front for USB input door
Still ships with composite cable
Not going to spend much time on the game since this is about the console itself but I am liking the game. I'm new to the Halo universe and the game doesn't do anything to introduce new people to the game but I'm still enjoying it. Best looking 360 title to date. Nice to see they can still push the limits of the 360. The gameplay is fun too. Overall I'm enjoying the whole package. Microsoft took my money and I'm not crying about it.
If you are buying this for someone then don't forget to buy a HDMI cable while you are at it. Any will do. I bought these when they were $5 Mediabridge Ultra Series High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet 6 Feet Category 2 Certified Supports 3D and Audio Return Channel. But if I was to buy an HDMI cable now I would probably go with this since it is cheaper and longer Cheetah Mounts High Speed 3D compatible HDMI Cable with Ethernet and Audio Return (Newest HDMI Version) (10 feet).
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This is my first Elite console but my second 360. I have a launch 360 that is still kicking and I'll be using it for comparison.If you've seen any of the youtube videos then you know about the sounds and the gorgeous looks, so I'll skip that and go into what they don't show off. The first thing I noticed after a short period is the noise, or the complete lack there of.My old Xbox sounds like a jet, kind of like a Dreamcast if you remember those. This new elite console ONLY makes the noises that it's supposed to which are the Halo 4 sounds programmed in. It is, however, slightly brighter than the old 360 since it is a translucent case. Nothing intrusive by far, but subtle if you occasionally glance at it's beauty. It will not get in the way of playing but may be noticeable watching movies on a smaller TV.
Now as for the controllers, they are the much improved wireless with the new rotating D-pads. The best way to describe the feel is a slick plastic top and a slightly gritty lower half. Grip is fantastic where it needs to be. Even the joysticks have a gritty feel and even after playing 16 hours straight after launch, sweaty thumbs were never a problem.
I have to mention the Fotus armor you receive for download. It may or may not suit your particular taste, but as of now it's selling on Ebay for upwards $100. I've received offers of $100 myself before I received my console through Amazon (Best Buy midnight launch party I attended with friends). When adding up the value of the console you need to put that into the equation. If your spending $350 on this you get two $50 controllers, $100 armor skin, $20 headset, $60 game, $200 console, and $80 320gb HDD. That's $560 if you bought it all separate. Sell a controller and the armor skin, and you've payed $200. That's one heck of a deal either way.
Now if your looking for a review of the game from me you wont find it here. Too much can be said and I would sound completely biased towards Halo. Is this the best one? well to me it is by far, but if your looking at a Halo Xbox I doubt you haven't decided to get the game yet. If you want a review that sums up my feelings perfectly go to IGN and watch their video review.
So to sum up my feelings about the console this isn't something Microsoft threw together for the holidays so people could spend their money on a rehashed Xbox with new stickers. This IS the Halo xbox and the best value for anyone looking to either buy their first Xbox console or replace an older model. To parents who read this and are trying to decide whether or not this is for their child or children , you get two IDENTICAL controllers(believe me I come from a large family with twins and have dozens of nephews so I feel you on this) and WIFI built in so no cords to the router. It's just a huge plus that it's so quiet that they don't have to yell over the console or turn up the volume on the TV, or both. You only get the one headset but it IS a standard Xbox headset you can by anywhere. Hope this helps you decide either way but I'm enjoying mine and have no doubts any Halo fan would.
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Received it today on launch and immediately took it out of the box. It's a thing of beauty. For what would cost you 450+ dollars separately, you get for 350. 2 limited edition controllers that look awesome, are translucent(see-thru) and have blue LEDs instead of green. Because they're translucent, when they light up in the dark the entire controller sorta lights up. These controllers aren't sold separately. Just with the LE console. Now the console itself is also translucent with blue LEDs. Can't tell you how cool it looks. Pictures dont do it justice. When the blue leds spin, the entire front of the console lights up as well. The console makes special sounds when you power on/off/eject. The sounds aren't familiar to me, so I will assume they're based off the Prometheans. Also ships with the game and a card with a bunch of avatar codes and a code that gives you the unicorn Emblem. Great console, and great service from Amazon as usual.Honest reviews on Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 4 Bundle
When I ordered my Limited Edition Halo 4 Xbox, I must say I didn't much attention to any of the consumer reviews. What was the point? I know what an Xbox 360 is, and it was pretty clear I was getting. Little did I know that wasn't entirely true. Had I looked at reviews, I would've seen that multiple people were having ongoing problems with cracks in the casing of the console. Would that have stopped me from making my purchase? Of course not, as it can never happen to me right? It took a week for me to receive, as it was on backorder from the manufacturer due to high demand and low quantity. Upon getting it, you can imagine my excitement considering I paid for 1 day shipping (I really wanted it and wanted it FAST). I received it today and opened it upon delivery. Unfortunately, I also have the same problem as many others have already reported: A CRACK IN THE CASING OF THE CONSOLE. As you can imagine, I was completely and utterly disappointed in this fact, as I waited for a week only to receive a damaged product. This was not up to my standards, as when I buy something brand new, I expect it to be in brand new condition. After noticing this problem, I immediately contacted Amazon customer service via Chat to report the problem. After only a short time, I was compensated for my troubles and will be keeping this system that includes the crack in it. That's something I've never had a problem with, as Amazon is second to none in customer service. The crack isn't huge, and infact it's only noticeable when it's pointed out to others. I suspect the reasoning why this is becoming such a problem is because of it's material that it's made from, as it a thinner plastic in order for it to be transparent. My overall guess is this will continue to be a problem for anyone that is interested in this system for the reasons aforementioned. I will need to baby this system and take extreme care of it if I don't want more cracks in it. To many, this will be a deal breaker.THE GOOD:
+ The system is sincerely beautiful
+ A one of a kind collector item for any Xbox or Halo fan
+ Great value for your dollar in comparison to some other Xbox 360 Bundles
THE BAD:
The ongoing cracked case issues. This will push a lot of people away (and should)
The price point will never go on sale for less than $350, which is too expensive for some.
BOTTOM LINE:
I'll be honest, if Amazon didn't hook me up with such a fantastic deal for my troubles, I would be VERY UPSET. I would be outraged to say the least. When you pay $350, you expect something to be flawless. This isn't Amazon's fault, as they didn't create or manufacture this product. If you want this system badly, you will get it and probably enjoy it. As I said before, it truly is as beautiful as it looks in any pictures or videos you may have seen. But be warned, there is a fair chance you get this delivered with a crack in it. If you're lucky enough to not get a crack in it upon delivery, keep it in mind for the future, as you'll need to be extra careful to maintain its condition.
If I'm reviewing the product alone based on what you get in the box, it's 5 stars.
If I'm reviewing Amazon's customer service alone, it's 5 stars.
If I'm reviewing the entirety of this experience, including the cracked case issue, it's something like 1-2 stars.
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I had been a PC gamer (and I still am) for the past many years. I always thought consoles are weaker from the performance perspective, and of-course, they still are. But there are many things special about this Halo 4 console, that prompted me to buy. First off, its a beautiful looking console, with nice Halo 4 theme paint job. The main unit is aesthetically appealing. The controllers are also very good and easily the best looking.I played the first game of this franchise halo combat evolved on PC and was very impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the universe of Halo because I have been a big sci-fi fan since my childhood. In-fact, it was my very first sci-fi game. But with the release of Halo 2, which was Vista only game, I became annoyed and didn't play it. When the Halo franchise became Xbox exclusive, I saw myself completely aloof from the franchise, until couple of weeks back, when I saw this beautiful Halo 4 console while searching for games in Amazon. It was a love at first sight. After looking at the contents that come for an affordable price of $350, I placed the order without any hesitation. And now, I find myself loving it every time when I look at it and every time when I turn it on.
The bundle comes with a Xbox console, two wireless controllers along with AA batteries, a cheap use and throw headset, RCA connectors for audio and video, a power adapter and a standard edition of Halo 4 game. One thing that really annoyed me was that M$ wants me to buy a HDMI cable separately and included rca connectors. In this age of digital technology, who would be still using analog rca connectors?
The setup was quick and easy. The user interface of the new xbox looks a lot like the Metro UI of Windows 8. About the Halo 4 game itself, I had very little first hand experience playing with a controller and so I thought FPS was going to be sloppy but I was wrong. The character was easily maneuverable. Being a hardcore FPS gamer, I started playing Halo 4 in legendary difficulty level on the first go. I was easily able to play through, which was a bit of a surprise to me. But in the end, it was a unique FPS experience. I especially loved looking though the transparent controller, the vibration motors spinning while I fired. The graphics are ok could have been very good looking if the console had the latest GPU. The cutscenes are CG movies but well made. The character animations and facial expressions are very good. Gameplay is smooth and fluid. I cannot say anything about the story as I am yet to complete the game (I don't find too much leisure of late), but it has been good so far.
At the end of the day, I felt that this Halo 4 Xbox is more than just a regular console. It is a product of elegant design and beauty to commemorate one of the best sci-fi gaming franchises. I have to admit that the Xbox experience is nice, and also the other entertainment stuff apart from gaming. The custom sounds while ejecting the DVD ROM and powering the console on, also adds to the uniqueness. I highly recommend to buy this, especially the folks who are buying xbox for the first time. And for those who are thinking about Xbox 720, I am pretty sure that Microsoft will not introduce it for at-least one and half or may be two years. But why waste that much time of your life, expecting? Enjoy what you have in hand now.
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