Yet, the results are produced by a console that’s old enough to kick out the family home without guilt. If you’d told me that I was actually swinging around Nightmare’s gnarly sword using an Xbox Series X and backwards compatibility, I would have believed you without question. Therefore, the images in this article shouldn't be used as an example of resolution capabilities, but instead a visual illustration of how the device works in practice.ĭiving first into Soul Calibur 2, a bonafide classic that brought me many hours of joy back in the day, I found the 720p visuals displayed on my TV to be strikingly crispy. However, against all odds, two of my original Xbox consoles ended up with faults just in time for me taking a few setup photos, so I've had to switch in my Crystal edition instead. I’m from sunny Scotland, so to actually experience the adapter and GO Xbox’s full potential, I used an NTSC unit during testing. It’s also worth noting that, if you’re in the UK, you won’t be able to run any of the console’s library at 720p without some sort of soft mod, as PAL region systems didn’t come with support. The XBHD provides a pretty clean digital signal using the Xbox component port, but visual fidelity is dependent on the game you’re playing. I would have made peace with this omission if the device didn’t come in at $190, but since it does, I can’t help but compare it to other upscalers like the OSSC or even smaller mod projects that add this to other retro consoles. I am slightly disappointed by this, as I would have loved it if the adapter had its own OSD menu system with settings and additional quirks like scanline options and other adjustments.
Featuresįor the most part, the XBHD’s abilities are already covered in its hardware, with HDMI output and LAN connectivity being the main draw. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t feel offensively cheap, I just would rather it felt a little bit less hollow, even if that means adding heavier materials that don’t contribute to its overall functionality. That would have been a nice touch, not to mention it’d have helped the adapter feel as premium as its price tag. Better still, additional feet at the bottom ensure that the adapter isn’t hanging off of the video out and LAN ports, helping it feel like even more a part of the original hardware.Īs for materials, the XBHD is made almost entirely of plastic, but sadly not the same kind as the Xbox itself. The fact it looks like a dinky Xbox, complete with ridges and that chonky X on top, is enough to sell the design on its own, but its neat fit into the crevice round back of the console really drives home its pleasing formfactor. The physical XBHD adapter itself manages to strike an impressive balance between charm and practicality.