The Club: Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3

The Club surprised us all last week. We just weren’t expecting its arcade-style gameplay to be so addictive. There’s no question that you should buy the game, no matter which system you own, but what if you have the choice between the Xbox 360 version and PlayStation 3 version? We’re going to compare the two games in four key areas: Graphics, Sound, Gameplay and Multiplayer. Read on for the definitive verdict on which is the best.

Graphics

The Club is an excellent looking game. It might not look like anything too special in screenshots, but Bizarre Creations has managed to make a fluent game that packs in plenty of next-gen effects without making everything shiny. As with many recent multiplatform titles, the differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 games are minimal, but after extensive play we have noticed a few slight blemishes in the PS3 version. At times the PlayStation 3 game will suffer from frame rate issues. It’s not major, but it is noticeable. To our eyes the PS3 game is also rougher in appearance, failing to offer as crisp an image as the Xbox 360 game.

Verdict:

Unless you compare the two games side by side you won’t be disappointed, no matter which version you buy. Seeing as we are comparing the two though, the Xbox 360 game is victorious in the Graphics category. A smoother frame rate and a crisper image make it the version to own if you’re after the best visual quality.

You can see a direct comparison of the two games running side by side in our The Club Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3 video.

Sound

With a soundtrack from video game music supremo Richard Jacques anyone who knows anything about in-game music should know that The Club has an excellent soundtrack. The music fits the tempo of the game perfectly. Other than some solid weapon sound effects there’s little need for anything else, but Bizarre did include a number of voice samples for the goons you shoot – again, these are a great match to the game. As for which version sounds the best, it’s not exactly clear cut. The only notable difference between the two is the ability to use a custom soundtrack while playing the Xbox 360 game. Both consoles pump out the same high quality audio that’s undistinguishable to our ears.

Verdict:

For some games the Xbox 360’s built in ability to offer custom soundtrack support is a great bonus, but here it’s not really necessary. The audio in The Club is part of the experience and shouldn’t be replaced by something else. So it’s only fair that we call this category a tie. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are equal.

Gameplay

This is where things get interesting. Both games play functionally the same, so it comes down to the controller and what’s best for you. On the Xbox 360 the game uses the standard FPS control scheme and it works very well. The analogue sticks give you more than adequate control over your character and the triggers feel perfect for the job at hand. On the PlayStation 3’s Sixaxis the default layout isn’t quite so perfect. We prefer PS3 shooters to map gun fire to R1, not the odd feeling R2. The Club uses R2 and doesn’t give you the option to change this. The Sixaxis’ analogue sticks are also a little loose and make the game feel a little too floaty at times.

Verdict:

If you’ve never held an Xbox 360 controller then the PS3 controls will be fine for you, but anyone who has the option should opt for the superior controls offered by the 360 pad. The game just feels better on the Xbox 360. The consistent frame rate also helps it edge the win in this category.

Multiplayer

The Club is primarily a single-player game, but it includes numerous online and offline game modes to play with friends. Four-player split-screen is offered in both versions of the game, as is the pass the controller around GunPlay mode. Online too, things are very similar, with eight players supported across the game modes for both consoles. Performance online is also remarkably similar, with slight lag being experienced in both – nothing all that different to the majority of online shooters though.

Verdict:

We’re calling this one a tie. As with Burnout Paradise, there’s really not a great deal to pick between the two in terms of multiplayer functionality. If you’ve got an Xbox LIVE subscription and plenty of friends using the service we’d advise you go for that version, but on the other hand the PS3 game allows you to play online at no cost – and if you’ve got friends with PS3s you do get the same online experience.

Final Score

In many areas the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of The Club are exactly the same. You’ll get a truly excellent game no matter which version you buy but, as is the case with many multiplatform titles, the Xbox 360 version just edges out the PS3 game.

It was certainly a close contest, but the 360 wins in two important categories: graphics and gameplay. While the gameplay category is partially down to personal choice, everyone in the VideoGamer.com office prefers to play the game using the 360 controller. Combined with the PS3 version’s ever so slightly erratic frame rate, there’s really only one choice.

For more on The Club head over to our review and head to head video comparison.