With the arrival of the Sony PlayStation 3 (Friday) and Nintendo Wii (Saturday) later this week, it's the biggest time for video games since… well, since last fall when Microsoft's Xbox 360 arrived. But this year is actually more reminiscent of November 2001, when the Nintendo GameCube arrived just days following the original Xbox. But unlike five years ago, when the two systems were separated by only $100 (the GameCube was $200, while the Xbox was $300), we're looking at some major differences in price as well as system power and capabilities this time around. So how do the consoles stack up?

Last Friday two boxes arrived on my doorstep, and I spent the weekend immersed in some head-to-head playtime… er, testing. Check out my thoughts on both systems after the jump.

This box was much bigger and heavier than the Wii's. There are two versions of the PS3 available, and I was privileged to receive the premium version, which arrives this Friday for $600. This model features HDMI outputs, a 60-GB hard drive and numerous card slots that allow the PS3 to be the center of digital media world.

For that hefty price you get one wireless controller and a copy of the Blu-ray movie Talladega Nights starring Will Ferrell. It's been three days and the shrink-wrap remains on that movie, and will likely remain that way for a while. Of all the Blu-ray movies that could have been included, one must ponder the question, "Why this one?" What Sony didn't include (besides a second controller) was a game. So if you're lucky enough to get a PS3, be sure to grab a game or two, and then plan on picking up an HDMI cable, as Sony cheaped out in that department, too.

The system hooks up quickly, and the interface is similar to the one used on Sony's PlayStation Portable, which makes sharing of music, photos, and other files fairly simple. Clearly this is meant to be a machine that can do much more than run games. But before you can play the first game you need to — wait for it — upgrade the firmware. This requires a broadband connection, and it took me about 20 minutes total. Keep that in mind before you call over your buddies to play.

As a console the system is solid. Resistance: The Fall of Man was one of a few games I was able to play this weekend, and it delivered the goods. This game supports Dolby Digital surround sound and 720p resolution, easily making it the must-have killer app for the system. But while Sony could have thrown together a shooter just to show off the technical power, it actually crafted a game that could become a new franchise (much like Halo has become for the Xbox).

When it comes to Blu-ray you can't go wrong at $600. The PS3 is a much better Blu-ray player than the PS2 was a DVD player, and clearly this is what Sony was thinking when it delayed the release of the console to accommodate the Blu-ray drive. Now only if it could have included a better Blu-ray movie to show off the format!

The box was smaller and lighter than the PS3's, but out of the box the Wii is even smaller than it seems. Next to the PS3 (or even the Xbox 360), this seems like the kid brother. And maybe it is, but it's also akin to a gifted child, and it does a lot more than you'd expect. But it also struggles in some areas, too.

The graphics on the Wii top out at 480p. When everyone else is looking to 1080p, this seems like an oversight. Worse still, there was no Wii-specific component-video cable provided, and with the release scheduled for Saturday the stores don't have them yet either. So I was stuck with 480i resolution for the weekend. This was tolerable but a little disappointing, too. Even when set to widescreen mode, many of the games still have the squarish 4:3 aspect ratio. Clearly someone is missing the point that consumers are actually adopting HDTVs.

The major innovation with the Wii is the motion-sensing controller. This two-piece device actually takes a bit of patience, and even then it can be a bit frustrating. The most annoying aspect of it is that you need to have a sensor bar located above or below your TV screen to track its movement. Hmm, suddenly the innovative controller seems a little less innovative. But gameplay-wise, the controller, once mastered, does put a new spin on the games. It remains a novelty, but does immerse you into what you're playing a little bit more than just lying on the couch all day. And maybe that's what this nation of sedentary gamers needs the most right now.

The most notable change with the Wii is that Nintendo is finally beginning to embrace the idea of an online community. The Nintendo Channels will let you download classic games. But it remains to be seen when Nintendo will enable online multiplayer gaming with the Wii.

The boys at Sony had said this round of the console war wasn't going to start until they said so. Well, they've spoken. They've come out with a powerful but very expensive console. And they're facing shortages at retail. That could give the holiday season to Microsoft, but time will tell whether Sony has played their best cards too early.

Last week the HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 arrived, and the system's big holiday game, Gears of War, has also made its debut. This one-two punch seems to have taken a bit of steam out of the Sony juggernaut. But we won't rule out Nintendo. Every time it looks like Mario has met his match, he manages to come back one more time! — Peter Suciu

Still want to play more? Come Check out our first takes on the specific games
for the Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3