Well, Nubs, since you don't know where to start with these games consoles, I thought I'd do you a little "Dummy's Guide to Choosing the Right Console", hehehehe. This s going to be difficult, as it's all down to personal taste at the end of the day.
1) Does she prioritize graphics and how the games LOOK over the actual gameplay?
2) Does she prefer a good range of games, not caring what the overall LOOK of each game is because she knows that if she loves how the game plays, the graphics don't really matter so much?
If she would choose question 1, then I think X-Box is your bet bet. Graphically, people boast that this offers up the best visuals. (Personally, I would rather use it as a doorstop, but that's my own personal bias talking). The X-Box really shouldn't fall under the title 'games console' bcause it's more like a fancy juiced up Hard Drive. There's a lot of room to expand and upgrade it just like a PC. If you are new to gaming, and just want something straight-forward that plays games... then I wouldn't recommend this (stupid) X-Box thnig.
Now if she would choose question 2, then give her a big hug from me. She's a true gamer. Two consoles fall into this category of game range and decent graphics:
Playstation 2
GameCube
The GameCube is graphically better than the Playstation, and it is a very small cube with a cute little handle that can be carried around easily. Very lightweight and convenient. I own one of these, but I only bought mine because Sony had announced that they weren't releasing any more Resident Evil games on their PS2, and GameCube had gone and bought the rights.
The range of games, and type of games for the GameCube are okay, but not great. GameCube doesn't really like getting its feet wet, and so only really release the typical games that people would go out and buy... so they don't really offer anything with spice, unlike the Playstation 2.
The Playstation 2 has an incredibly wide range of games. The titles to choose from are vast, and the types of games to choose from are just as great. Playstation has created so many different genres that the other consoles have tried to immitate. They have started to release a lot of PS2 games on the other two consoles also, which kind of shows up the Playstation 2 graphically, as the PS2 has the least impressive graphics if you put all three consoles togeher. However, the graphics tend to vary from game to game, I've found. Some games use the full graphical potential of the PS2, and some don't. It all seems to depend on how much effort the companies are putting into their games when they are making them. Metal gear Solid 2 was years in the making, and the effort shows. Fantastic graphics and gameplay.
They have released two limited edition colors of the PS2 that come with two controllers. One is Satin Silver, and the other is Aqua (a gradient of lovely blues). Not sure if the Aqua one is released yet though. These limited editions have sight modifications -- the best one being that there is 75% less engine noise.
Wit the PS2, you also find very amusing game titles. As I said before, other consoles just don't seem to want to touch these weird and wonderful games. They may consider them to be too maverick. But where else but on the PS2 would you find a game called Mr. Mosquito where the aim is to fly around and stick your proboscis into somebody and drain their blood without getting caught!?! Where else would you find a game called Parappa The Rapper where you are a free-styling rap dog who has to rap through life experiences to get the girl of his dreams?!? Where else would you find a game called Space Channel 5 where you are a news reporter who moves by dancing, and he aim of the game is to out-groove the aliens by copying their dance moves exactly?!?
The PS2 is a budle of fun, but it can also be serious. Even though I own a console with better graphic capabilities (GameCube), the PS2 remains a staunch favorite of mine. And a lot of games are being released across all consoles now, so there's small chance of a game being console-exclusive now. (Except for those cutesy fun games that the PS2 seems to have al to itself)!!!
Hope this helps, Nubs?
~ Cuddle Cuffs.