Number One:

This should be your first pick always, you hear, always. The X360 may not be the fastest or best in graphics, but what it lacks for in those departments, it more than pays for in an extensive back catalogue and impressive online experience. The elite is Microsoft’s reply to consumer response for a larger Hard-Drive (120GB) and HDMI cable.

Pros: Great price, amazing back catalogue.

Cons: Not as powerful as the PS3 and no Blu-Ray player.

Number Two:

Nintendo has always had the “Top Handheld Gaming” title in its court since…well since always pretty much. This handheld is cheap, has an extensive battery life, a RIDICULOUSLY HUGE gaming catalogue and great design. For med students, it is probably the best choice, out of the five, because it is portable and with those rotations and clinical placements and times spent in the library, one may need something that is light and fun, at the same time!

Pros: Tonnes of games, cheap, portable

Cons: No “real” 3D games like is cousin the PSP 3000

Number Three:

The PS3 would have been number one if it wasn’t for A) Its price B) Lack of triple A games C) Not so great online experience. Granted, Sony is working on fixing the latter of the issues. If you have enough extra money then this can go into your gaming stead and allow you to woo your friends with your Blu-Ray player slash gaming machine. get it if you have the funds or love Sony. This year should see Sony return to the number one spot if they can work on A and B listed earlier.

Pros: Blu-Ray player, powerful beast of machine

Cons: Not cheap, lacking in a large amount of triple A games

Number Four:

Nintendo Wii

This machine is for the casual gamer, pure and simple. Do you spend hours on end trying to finish games like GTA 4, Gran Tarismo, Prince of Persia or Fallout 3? If not then you need this. The games are simple and allow you and ANY (even the gamer virgins out there) a chance to just pick up and begin play. Wii Sports and Wii Music are huge groupl pleasers, but you can definitely have fun with games like Mario Galaxy or Zelda. This console has a big pull with the female population will allow for both boys and girls to get their gaming on together while on a study break.

Pros: Great games to get your friends (male or female) into, whether they have gaming experience or not.

Cons: Most games involve waving of the damn pad – may irritate some. Watch out that you don’t break your TV.

Number Five:

This is also another system you should buy if you have money because the selection of games, while okay, look more like watered down versions of their older brother the PS3. If you don’t mind that and want realist looking games then this is the model for you. The battery life is moderate and it doesn’t look terrible either. Furthermore, you cna watch movies on this as well, but if you have an ipod I don’t see why you would want to do this.

Pros: 3D games, a lot of accessories, can watch movies

Cons: Battery life, not enough variety in games

Also See:

MOST ESSENTIAL USMLE Step 1 Preparation Textbooks

Supplementary USMLE Book List

Top Cardiology Books

Best 5 Anatomy Books

EKG/ECG Books

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Portal [PC Edition

Publisher: Valve Corporation

This has to be one of your new found past times. It’s probably one of the most accessible, and innovative, puzzle adventure first person shooters out there. It fills all the needs of a medical student, which are:

a) Being short to play.

b) Being able to use your brain without breaking it.

c) Affordable.

You start the story as Chell, the female protagonist, waking up in a stasis chamber – which is part of the Aperture Science Facility – and then being lead from room to room (called chambers) by the female voice of GlaDOS, the AI that is running the facility. What starts off as a set of puzzle chambers eventually comes full circle when you reach the last chamber and things then become more clear and sinister. I won’t spoil the story, but you should be prepared for a very satisfying story as well as game play.

The story and the game mechanics will have you scratching your head hours after you have finished the actual games. The various expansion packs that can be downloaded keep the game fresh and entertaining which adds to its replay value.

Portal Wikipedia Entry

Rating: 5/5

Buy Now [PC Edition]:

Fallout 3

Fallout 3

Platforms: PC, X360, PS3

Publisher: Bethesda Game Studios

Prepare to lose countless hours of your free time because this game reduces your life span quicker than smoking does. I normally don’t put up games that are this long in scope and can take up to 100hrs to see most of the game, but I have to make an exception because: This Game Is Amazing!

Fallout 3 is a Role Playing Game (RPG) from Bathesda Game Studios, which sets your custom made character in a post apocalytic Washington DC in search of his (or her) father, who has left the safety of their bomb shelter named Vault 101. After the initial tutorial level which also works as a back story piece, you are left free to wonder the game world and start doing whatever you want. Whether you want to just carryout the main story or any of the other side quests, the option is left up to you.

The side quests, instead of main quest, are where the money is at for this series because most med students don’t have time for anything that takes up too much of their time. I recommend playing the side quests in periods where you have nothing to do or between study sessions. That way the game doesn’t hog up much of your time and you still manage to progress with it, hopefully, until completion.

For more info on the specifics of the game just check out Wikipedia (click me)

Rating: 5/5

Metacritic Ratings: X360 PS3 PC