The Bluffer's Guide to Xbox Cult Classics
Top of the Flops, if you like. [updated!]
'Cult Classic' is such a dirty term. People's association with them normally extends to something really obscure that a few beardy hardcore followers insist is the Best Thing Ever, but is usually a bit too quirky, too left-field and simply not accessible to the mainstream for very solid reasons.
What it should mean is 'here's a bunch of stuff that didn't sell for one reason or another, but, trust us, it's really really good.' And you know what? The Xbox software graveyard is absolutely littered with great games that didn't sell. For one reason or another.
What reasons might they be then, hmm? Well, sometimes the games were released with very little promotion or marketing. For a long while, you might recall, no-one was really sure if the Xbox was going to succeed or not, and as a result some of its very best games got released into shops with no big PR push, or in limited quantities. Other games got saddled with small publishers, or released at a busy time and got pushed aside by the inevitable FIFA, Bond, Need For Speed and Medal of Honor bulldozer.
And of course, some of the games were just plain weird and yet still great.
So now the Xbox is five years old, we thought it was about time we compiled a 'Top of the Flops' rundown to assist you completists with building up the ultimate Xbox games collection. The great thing is, most of these are now available in second hand stores the world over at pocket money prices. The main issue, right now, is that most of them don't yet work on the 360, but hopefully Microsoft will do the decent thing soon...
Psychonauts
Psychonauts is the kind of game that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning.
Released earlier this year in Europe, and already regarded as one of the finest, wittiest, most memorable games of the entire generation. Originally intended to be a Microsoft-published Xbox exclusive, it was dumped for reasons that would probably hurt our brain. But Majesco picked it up and funded the game's development - largely in vain thanks to the game's disastrous commercial failure. Originally released in April 2005, an apathetic US audience ignored it, and it was hardly a great shock when the exact same thing happened in Europe - despite it scooping the Eurogamer Game of the Year award last year. The reasons for its failure are sure to rage for years to come, but it certainly didn't help that its European PR and marketing push was literally non-existent, and that its presence at retail was minimal. It perhaps didn't help that it was a platformer, either - a genre littered with commericial flops in recent years - but those that did see beyond its rather quirky first impressions found probably the most charming, well written, and above all hilarious games around. Pick this one up and feel proud that you did.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Sadly not.
You'll like it if: You have a sense of humour.
A word of warning: The circus level near the very end is ridiculously hard.
Beyond Good & Evil
BG&E - Worthy of Miyamoto.
A true overlooked classic on Xbox that deserved a very different fate. Released on Xbox (largely identical to the original, but that's no bad thing) about five months after the game had already flopped disastrously on PS2, there was hope that the game would somehow get a second wind, but it fared even worse second time around. Bizarrely pigeonholed by some as "too niche", it was nothing of the sort, and was a game that's beautiful on so many levels that even the most hardened Nintendophile was left gasping in admiration. So what kind of game is it? Well, it's basically a third-person action-adventure where you take pictures of weird wildlife. Sounds rubbish on paper, and the box art didn't help either - but the storytelling is so brilliantly emotive that anyone with a soul will struggle not to love everything about the game. Quite brilliant.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Not yet.
You'll like it if: You want great storytelling, compelling gameplay, well crafted puzzles and supreme characterisation. It's here in spades. The art style is charming too.
A word of warning: It's not the most 'macho' game ever. If it's instant action you're after, steer clear.
Panzer Dragoon Orta
PDO - Just a gorgeous looking shooter.
Let's face it. No matter how beautiful the game looked at the time, this was always destined to be a cult classic - it's practically the dictionary definition of one. Saddled with a somewhat inaccessible control system and quirky Rez-style shooting mechanics, this on-rails shooter was one of those games that was notoriously difficult to do something as simple as pick up and play - but with a bit of patience it grew into an intense, beautiful experience that showcased the kind of jaw droppingly gorgeous visuals that were all-too rare. It gave a mere glimpse of what talented Japanese developers could have done with the system if the machine had succeeded over there, but, frankly, this is still a good enough tribute.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Nope.
You'll like it if: You're a fan of old school scrolling shooters and glorious visuals.
A word of warning: It's a tough nut to crack with a steep learning curve.
Kung Fu Chaos
Kung Fu Chaos - a true lost treasure.
If we told you that Ninja Theory (formerly Just Add Monsters), the guys and gals that are making Heavenly Sword, also made this, would that pique your interest any more? Well, it should do, because this Powerstone-inspired slapstick beat 'em up was an absolutely superb game that was "miles better than it has any right to be". Published by Microsoft, it was the classic example of a game that the publisher seemed to lose interest in, and as such it limped into stores with barely a flicker of interest, and sold dismally on the back of half-hearted promotion. You can hardly blame Microsoft, though. On paper, a comedy beat 'em up sounds like a rubbish idea, but the execution could hardly be better, tasking you with trying to perform the perfect 'take' on various movie sets. With cracking insults and simple, refined controls backed up by brilliant visuals that had a style of their own. Definitely one to track down.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Sorry...
You'll like it if: You warm to well designed, amusing concepts executed with care and attention. Brilliant in multiplayer, too.
A word of warning: Hardcore beat 'em up fans might find it a little simple for their tastes.
MechAssault
MechAssault - The first online title on Xbox.
It's not often Tom's moved to chuck 9/10s at Xbox games as long-term readers will ruefully testify, but the release of Day 1 Studios' superb Mech shooter in late 2002 had the then-teenage Bramwell all afroth with delight, celebrating all facets of the game - especially the novelty value of Xbox Live support, which this title showcased for the very first time and impressed immensely. Even lone players can look forward to a lengthy and challenging solo campaign, so it's no surprise that people still refer to this with great fondness. Sadly neither this, nor its accomplished sequel sold - failing to drag the PC audience over to the Xbox as Microsoft had hoped. Will we ever see another MechAssault title? Doubtful.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Nope.
You'll like it if: Mech shooters with great online modes sound appealing.
A word of warning: The visuals weren't that special then, and four years on are even less appealing.
Quantum Redshift
Quantum Redshift - the best WipeOut style game around.
Another first party Microsoft title that was strangely overlooked considering how good it was. Microsoft had done the hard part by securing the talented Curly Monsters team (comprised of the original talent behind WipEout) and getting them to produce the most incredible looking futuristic racer ever, but the genre's star had long since fallen. Emerging at a time of public indifference to the tired notion of 'futuristic' racing, it wasn't alone in its failure to sell - WipeOut Fusion, F-Zero and Xtreme G3 also flopped around this time. But looking back, it was possibly best of that bunch (though F-Zero is an amazing game too), and certainly a great showcase for what the Xbox was capable of back in the dim distant past of 2002.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes (and still looks great).
You'll like it if: You're looking for the natural successor to WipEout and the best looking game of its type, with smooth widescreen visuals.
A word of warning: It's futuristic racing, and as such it's not exactly groundbreaking. For diehard fans of the genre.
The House Of The Dead III
HOTD3 - One of the only lightgun shooters on the Xbox.
One of many SEGA exclusives for the Xbox, and one of many that failed to sell in any significant quantities. Much like Quantum Redshift, the timing of the release of the Xbox's first lightgun shooter was all off - by early 2003, the public just weren't all that interested in lightgun titles, and they especially didn't see the point of investing in a lightgun just to play this - essentially a direct port of an arcade title that was already getting stale. The case for the defence, though, was strong - here was an arcade perfect port of the best looking light gun shooter ever seen, and a great uncomplicated blast at that. With HotD 2 also included as an unlockable, it's definitely worth hunting down if you're a big fan of these - and plays really well on the joypad, so don't worry too much about the lack of gun.
What did we think? 3/10 - or 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes. Hurrah!
You'll like it if: You're a fan of good old fashioned on-rails zombie shooters with buckets of gore and unintentionally amusing dialogue.
A word of warning: It's not a particularly long game, and incredibly unsophisticated - but isn't that the point?
The publishers of The Bluffer's Guides have granted permission for our use of the trade mark 'bluffer's guide' and would encourage readers to visit their site: http://www.ovalbooks.com
Fahrenheit
Rated by us as "far and away the best adventure game of modern times" it's a fantastically enjoyable - if flawed - tale of one man's battle to avoid being locked up for a murder that he did commit but wasn't responsible for. Sure, the storyline goes completely bonkers at the end (spoiling it irredeemably for some) but on balance it was a game that dared to shake up convention and introduced some truly brilliant concepts such as the rubber band narrative which had wonderfully subtle effects on the storyline depending on your actions. Whether it worked...well, that's not a clear cut issue, but aside from the ludicrous button hammering sections it was easily one of the most daring games to emerge on the Xbox and certainly one of its most enjoyable. Of course, it didn't sell a great deal, which is why we implore anyone who missed out on it to give it a try.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No.
You'll like it if: You enjoy narrative-rich adventure games.
A word of warning: Track and Field button mashing for the lose.
Secret Weapons Over Normandy
SWON - A combat flight game to die for.
A typical example of a game that was released at completely the wrong time of year (i,e, in mid November, 2003), and one that consequently got utterly ignored in a way that made me cry inside. A lot. What a travesty! By far the best version of the game ended up on the Xbox, and as such, Totally Games' WW2 combat flight classic went completely under most gamer's radars, blissfully unaware that they missed out on possibly the best flight combat game in a generation. Ok, there were some savage difficulty spikes to overcome, but any game that can consume an entire Christmas when I'm supposed to be taking time off playing games has to be celebrated. It was also one of the first games to deliver free downloadable content, which was lovely of them.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Not yet.
You'll like it if: You have any interest in flight combat games. Truly, some of the most memorable levels ever made.
A word of warning: Did I mention the difficulty spikes? You'll scream and curse, but somehow it's all worth it.
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Stranger's Wrath: Yet another astounding looking game only on Xbox.
A bit of revisionism here, but actually I changed my mind about Stranger's Wrath not long after reviewing it - showing how fluid opinions can be when you're pressed into making a call about a game's worth. There was never any question about how incredible the game looked, and even now it's a stunning example of what the Xbox was capable. To all intents, Oddworld Inhabitants did a grand job of skilfully combining third person action adventure (with fast-paced platforming elements) with an amusing take on the first person shooter genre. In a sense it's very much a one of a kind game that feels ahead of its time, but poor promotion of the game contributed to its rather dismal sales performance. A real shame. Definitely one to pick up on the cheap.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No
You'll like it if: You admire the unique humour of the Oddworld titles and fancy a fresh take on the shooter genre.
A word of warning: The quirky style might hold you back, but it's effortlessly charming.
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Munch's Oddysee - not the big hit Microsoft hoped it would be.
And while we're talking about Oddworld, we shouldn't forget this once highly anticipated launch title. At the time, Microsoft saw the scooping of Munch's Oddysee as real proof that it had arrived - after all the two previous Oddworld titles on PSone had sold by the bucket load. Translated into rather gorgeous 3D for the launch of the Xbox, it was everyone's fourth choice for what to buy - and got a bit left behind by the more conventional charms of Halo and Gotham. That's a shame, because it's basically a puzzle game that dares to be different - and for the most part does a decent job of being both fun and unusual during a period of gaming history where convention has been embraced arguably more than ever by a cautious buying public. For those that did take the plunge, many - myself included, rather warmed to its charms, and I have no hesitation in adding it to the list of interesting 'cult' titles that came to Xbox.
What did we think? 6/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No.
You'll like it if: The goofy charm of Oddworld's characters doesn't annoy you.
A word of warning: It's a puzzle game at heart - platform fans can move along.
Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge
Crimson Skies - another PC hit that didn't hit big - but why?
Microsoft assumed that many of its prime PC brands would be just as big on its powerful new console, but it rarely worked out that way. Despite being a great flight combat title that reviewed well across the board, the console owning public shrugged their shoulders at it - despite the allure of online play, lavish production values and excellent visuals. Set in an alternative 1930s where the US no longer exists and the Zeppelin is the de-facto transport standard, you play a swashbuckling hero tasked with cleaning up the skies of the filthy bandits that keep robbing everyone. It wasn't the most groundbreaking title ever, but exceptionally polished and well worth the attention of anyone who like a bit of flight combat now and then.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes siree Bob.
You'll like it if: You can't get enough flight combat - especially really polished ones.
A word of warning: It follows a well established design template, but mostly in a good sense.
Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters - IO's other game won a lot of fans.
The makers of Hitman briefly dabbled with squad-based combat a few years back, and did a pretty good job, as Tom was happy to point out back in the late summer of 2003. Taking a determinedly arcade approach to squad based antics, you could argue it was a little ahead of its time in spotting that gamers might prefer less, rather than more complexity. Amusingly, the premise was to fight back against a Russian invasion of America, determined to liberate the country from their corrupt capitalist rulers - and despite watering down the tactical side of the game, it made for a solid, fun experience where you essentially waded through endless commies, backed by reliable trigger men. Where this might provide extra interest is finding out where IO is going with its next title, Kane & Lynch - supposedly a combination of Hitman and Freedom Fighter in many respects. Let's hope it's as good as Blood Money...
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Nyet.
You'll like it if: Accessible squad-based shooters with savvy squad mates are your thing.
A word of warning: Multiplayer isn't that great.
Metal Arms: A Glitch In The System
Metal Arms - Halo meets Ratchet.
This is probably one of those "7s that should have been an 8" with the benefit of hindsight - Swingin' Ape turned out a great looking game that sat somewhere in between Halo and Ratchet & Clank, which is to say it has all the ingrediants of two of our favourites from this generation. It was all third person shooting and massive metallic explosions, and plenty of platform combat and weapons upgrades. Great stuff that deserved not to be released - like SWON and BG&E - in the midst of the 2003 Christmas rush. The developer, like so many of the teams behind the games on this list, went out of business not long after. Cruel, considering the quality of its game.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes. Glitch free.
You'll like it if: You want a technically polished shooter with oodles of charm.
A word of warning: Pretty savage difficulty spike kicks in after a few hours.
Enclave
Enclave - Starbreeze established itself well with this one.
The makers of Riddick haven't had the best of luck over the years, managing to produce not one but two great games that didn't sell on Xbox. Will it be third time lucky with The Darkness next year? Way back in the summer of 2002 the ill-fated Swing brought this to market, but like many of its other games, Enclave failed to get much attention. And that's a great shame, because it remains one of the best fantasy adventures on the Xbox, and is certainly (still) one of the best looking. For what it's worth, I spied this in my local games exchange for about £4 and snapped it up, having never once seen it on a shop shelf. If you're one of those oddballs like me that collects games, I suggest you do the same soon...
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Is it hell.
You'll like it if: You want to see what Starbreeze got up to before Riddick and admire good game design.
A word of warning: The progression system is a mite unforgiving. Even though Tom loved it, his pad suffered severe punishment at times.
Voodoo Vince
=Voodoo Vince - torture your enemies!
Even three years on I can still hear the charming "Viiiince the Voooodoooo Dooooll" theme music, if that tells you how much of a lasting impression this charming little platformer had on me. At the time, I think I'd been absolutely saturated by about a dozen character platform games that all arrived pretty much at the same time (think Ratchet, Jak 2, Sly, et al), but the review still managed to exude warmth even in the face of genre burnout. The best thing about the game was its Day of the Tentacle style atmosphere, great graphical style (Vince, himself is exceptional) and some genuinely brilliant levels. It falls down a little in the consistency stakes - a little like our cult poster child Psychonauts. In fact, the best thing I can say to perk up your interest is if you dug Double Fine's hilarious game, this exudes the same happy, comical vibe.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No. Curses.
You'll like it if: Platform gaming isn't a dirty word to you. It's funny, looks great and has brilliant music.
A word of warning: It follows a lot of well worn platform convention. Long-ish load times.
Indiana Jones & The Emperor's Tomb
Indiana Jones - outdid Lara with this effort.
No one believes me when I rave on about how much I like The Collective's overlooked gem, maybe because the PS2 version was so atrocious. But on Xbox it was a lovely combination of Tomb Raider style third person adventuring and fisticuff brawling that suited Indy's gruff personality perfectly - it also came out during a period when there was a serious dearth of decent action adventures. At the time I had a bit of an issue with its unapologetic mass market design, but I'm over that now, it's a fine game once you get over the fact that, no, it's not The Fate of Atlantis. Pick it up on the cheap and enjoy some dumb action adventure fun.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Sorry, Dr. Jones.
You'll like it if: You want Indiana Jones to do what Lara Croft does, but with a whip, without the poncey voice and more hilarious fisticuff violence than your average pub brawl.
A word of warning: Pretty linear stuff, and simple puzzles - don't expect LucasArts to pander to your 90s adventure fetish.
The publishers of The Bluffer's Guides have granted permission for our use of the trade mark 'bluffer's guide' and would encourage readers to visit their site: http://www.ovalbooks.com
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Set to be remembered as one of the scariest game on Xbox, but few people seem to realise it thanks to an unheralded release and a complete absence of a marketing or PR push. In fact, dig a little deeper into the story behind the game's developer Headfirst, and it's a tragic tale of a troubled developer eventually put out of business in tortured circumstances. But now's not the time to lament that - instead, fans of survival horror games should do their level best to pick up what is an - at times - astonishing experience. Uneven difficulty makes it tough going, but the inspired atmosphere that oozes out of every part of the game drags you through. And when you reach your destination, it's always worth it to find out what happens next. Brilliant.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? It's your lucky day.
You'll like it if: You want to be immersed in one of the most sinister gaming scenarios ever - serious fans of survival horror and Lovecraft in particular will wonder why the game slipped under the radar.
A word of warning: It's tough. Some sections are nightmarish to get through, but in a way that's part of its charm.
Jet Set Radio Future
JSRF - A great game, but another Sega Xbox exclusive that flopped.
It always seemed a bit of a shame that both JSR games (the original being a Dreamcast game, remember) flopped rather alarmingly, but it's a game that people who actually bought it loved a great deal. Smilebit was - yet again - pressed into Xbox exclusive action with a quickfire follow-up to the game that had you racing around levels on skates tagging for fun - with delightfully in-vogue cel shading adding an appreciable degree of charm to the game. After making a too-hard original, the sequel was regarded as a "great game" but ultimately slapped down by our Tom for some slowdown and being way too easy - though you'll note he complains about it taking "only" 12 hours to finish - something that's pretty normal these days...
What did we think? 6/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Invalid command.
You'll like it if: You wanted a Jet Radio that was actually playable by mortals.
A word of warning: Deemed a little on the easy side, and some slowdown.
Midtown Madness 3
MM3 - DICE made great games for Xbox but never had the hit it deserved.
Can you guess the score that DICE's long-forgotten arcade racer was awarded in the long hot summer of 2003? Tom rated it as "staggeringly entertaining" and slapped a big fat nine on the game. Sadly not that many of you were motivated to go out and buy it, and it has become one of a long line of half-remembered Xbox titles that warrants revisiting. On the surface, at least, it wasn't the visual tour-de-force that would have got more admiring glances, but the gameplay won Tom over with a great deal of variety - especially online where it got a particularly enthusiastic response.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No dice. Madness.
You'll like it if: You want one of the Xbox's best arcade driving games - and enjoy online gaming.
A word of warning: The visuals might be initially offputting - especially given it's an Xbox exclusive.
Shenmue 2
Shenmue 2 - arguably needed the first game with it to make sense, but the bundled DVD helped.
Ok, it's an Xbox port of a late period Dreamcast title, but given that particular machine died a death around the time of the 'handover' period between DC and Xbox, we thought we'd give this one a little plug to remind people. At the time, Shenmue was undoubtedly a groundbreaking title at a point when the very concept of wandering around a living breathing urban environment seemed amazing, and it's follow-up was a direct continuation of the story. Handily, Sega sidestepped the issue by making sure the entire story was recapped for the benefit of Xbox owners via an accopanying DVD, but it's arguably worth experiencing the original game if you've got any real intention of experiencing AM2's big budget action adventure. At times it erred more on the side of adventure than action, and the beginning of part two can seem painfully slow going - but it's a quest that's well worth investing time in, and an absolutely enormous one that has built up a loyal following for good reason. One day AM2 may be persuaded to make a sequel, but until then, hunt this down and enjoy one of the most ambitious game series ever attempted.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Nope.
You'll like it if: You're into deep, involving RPG adventures with incredible depth.
A word of warning: It's a serious undertaking.
Otogi: Myth of Demons
Otogi - a delightful example of the Xbox's visual capabilities.
Sega racked up an impressive list of commercial flops on the Xbox that most of us have long forgotten about - but From Software's Otogi was undoubtedly a truly outstanding use of the hardware, and a firm favourite with many fans of hack and slash titles steeped in Japanese mythology. Admittedly our review wasn't completely sold on the button mashing involved, the slightly drunken camera system and having to repeat levels over and over, but it definitely did have a memorable charm and atmosphere that went a long way to overlooking some of its technical hitches. Definitely one for the Onimusha/Devil May Cry mob to check out if they missed out - and the sequel.
What did we think? 6/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No. Demonic.
GunValkyrie
GunValkyrie - a love or hate affair.
A game you either loved or hated, depending on your willingness to tolerate an unweildy control system that had many gamers throwing their pads across the room in despair - but given how many people rated Sega's Xbox exclusive (yep, another one) as an absolutely must-have title, who are we to kick it off the list? Like Panzer Dragoon Orta (another beautiful looking game with slightly wonky controls), it was developed by Smilebit and demands that you shoot rather a lot of insect-like aliens. This one, though, had a slightly odd Victorian setting where space travel has been invented - thus explaining why you're "rocket hopping around like a crazed gazelle" according to our Tom (back in the olden days of summer 2002). The old school shooter ethos certainly works, the story's great, and the visuals are typically spectacular - but unless you're prepared to invest a lot of hours in working out how the thing controls you might be best off looking at the pretty pictures.
What did we think? 4/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Access denied.
You'll like it if: You like old school shooters with great storylines and beautiful visuals.
A word of warning: The controls are almost unforgivably tough to get used to - and tracking it down these days might prove tough.
Armed & Dangerous
A&D - another cult game from from the makers of MDK.
Planet Moon had a happy knack of making interesting, off the wall third person shooters (MDK and Giants: Citizen Kabuto being the other ones) that don't take themselves too seriously, but a sorry habit of making games that few people actually wanted to go out and spend money on. Shame, because this LucasArts published game deserved much better. Released at the tail end of 2003, it distinguished itself with its crude humour and the fact that you're accompanied by a Scottish mole miner with a tiny penis and a tea loving robot. Seriously, who couldn't warm to that? Sure, it didn't exactly cover itself in glory in the AI department - but somehow managed to be impossibly fun in the process and is worth checking out for the warped story and demented action. And because it's so bizarre. It reminds us of the (weeps) good old days.
What did we think? Not reviewed! Oddly.
Compatible with Xbox 360? No danger.
You'll like it if: You have a warped sense of humour and like your shooters to be slightly mental.
A word of warning: The buddy AI is beyond dim.
Deathrow: Underground Team Combat
Deathrow - someone should remake Speedball again. This is as close as anyone's come so far.
Arguably one of the most acclaimed Xbox games we never got around to reviewing for whatever reason, scooping 9s and 8s pretty much across the board in late 2002. Ubisoft basically conjured a super-violent future team sport (think Speedball), where you must throw a 'Blitz' disc through an opponent's goal, beat competitors to a bloody pulp with kicks, punches, stomps all considered fair game. And, if that's not enough you can curse their mother for good measure. It sounds absolutely ace, and looks rather pretty too. We're on our way to tracking down a copy right now, in fact.
What did we think? We didn't. (Steady.)
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes.
You'll like it if: Speedball was your thing, and super violent team disc throwing sounds up your alley.
A word of warning: It's really tough to track down.
Yager
Yager - look set for bit things, but this futuristic flight combat game fell by the wayside.
The last time we did an Xbox Bluffer's guide over two years ago, we managed to miss this forgotten gem out - but not this time. Scoring a highly respectable 7/10, this flight combat game pits you as some sort of airborne Duke Nukem, flying around absolutely gorgeous futuristic environments shooting the crap out of everything and being cocky about it. In summer 2003 it really did show off what the Xbox was capable in technical terms, and had a great "futuristic airborne GTA" feel about it. But it ultimately fell just short of true greatness thanks to some perilously tricky missions later on in the game that had poor Martin spitting fury amongst the praise. A flawed gem, if you will.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360?
You'll like it if: You had a soft spot for Jedi Starfighter and admire pretty visuals.
A word of warning: Difficulty spike ahoy! Gets needlessly frustrating later on.
Galleon
Galleon - another game that looked set to be huge but delays cost it dear.
Not - by any definition - a classic, but certainly a real cult curiosity for anyone interested in what Toby Gard (the original Tomb Raider designer, no less) and Confounding Factor did for seven whole years of their lives between 1997 and 2004. The result is - at times - thrilling, and for fans of action adventures it can be a treat to play. The characterisation is superb, the puzzles intelligent, and the lavishness of the unique visual style are well worth checking out: you'll really want it to be good. But then the bonkers one stick control system sabotages the game's playability, while the action element of the game knocks it down several notches. If Galleon had have emerged in 2000, we'd have been raving about it, but in 2004 it was charming but flawed. Well worth a few quid, anyway - and remember, this was eventually only released on Xbox.
What did we think? 6/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No.
You'll like it if: You're tolerant and like games with a rich emphasis on puzzling and style.
A word of warning: The experimental one stick control system that maps movement and camera control to the same stick is bizarre. Jeepers.
The publishers of The Bluffer's Guides have granted permission for our use of the trade mark 'bluffer's guide' and would encourage readers to visit their site: http://www.ovalbooks.com
Arx Fatalis
Described by Ronan back in early 2004 as "a very enjoyable dungeon crawler" with solid atmosphere, character and gameplay encouraging him to suggest that fans of Morrowind should definitely take the plunge. It never ignited his passion with startling visuals (in fact , slowdown was mentioned), but he was definitely sold on the attention to detail and its balance between freedom and a structured plot. RPGs were definitely at a premium on the big black box, but this was a solid, dependable title that genre fans might consider tracking down on the cheap.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Nope.
You'll like it if: You're all out of western RPGs to play.
A word of warning: Slowdown drags it down a touch.
Fuzion Frenzy
Fuzion Frenzy - a great reason to own four Xbox joypads.
Famously, this was Bill Gates' favourite Xbox game which is an instant kiss of death. It was also slammed by bewildered critics who didn't have time to mess around with a party game when there were so many sexier Xbox games out for launch. But actually, it was a far better compendium of four-player multiplayer games than most people were prepared to give it credit for, and it's no surprise that Microsoft has decided to follow it up on 360. Perhaps apart from the Super Monkey Ball Deluxe port (with all its various glorious party games) this is the best game of its type on the console - just saddled with a deeply unfashionable reputation. Dig it out and play the Sumo game or the Water Rafting game with some mates and dare not to smile.
What did we think? Not reviewed.
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes.
You'll like it if: You don't take gaming too seriously - and have a few mates.
A word of warning: It's frivolous uncomplicated fun.
Red Card
Red Card - the silliest footy title ever.
Actually, I reviewed this for the Official Xbox Magazine back in the summer of 2002 and enjoyed it far more than I expected to. Dishing out a respectable 7.0 at the time, it just felt like a game you could always have fun with. What other footy game lets you play as Dolphins, Apes or Penguins? Midway's brutal interpretation of football was, of course, a massive flop to an audience far more interested in the likes of FIFA to bother with some extreme version of the beautiful game. But seek and you shall find an great arcade action take, full of hilarious tricks and cartwheels that make your players push the goalie right into the net with stupendously powerful shots.
What did we think? Not reviewed.
Compatible with Xbox 360? Incredibly, yes. I've got it right here - fancy a game?
You'll like it if: You're fed up of football games taking themselves far too seriously.
A word of warning: It's strictly a novelty.
Crimson Sea
Crimson Sea - good luck tracking this one down.
A truly rare title to track down these days, this KOEI-published title is among the worst selling in the history of the Xbox, but you have to wonder quite how such a polished, technically impressive title managed that feat. Tom noted, during his review in April 2003, that "if a historian looks back in 100 years and wants a good example of the third-person action title, this one has everything in abundance", but also pointed out it wasn't doing much new. It's also better than Unreal 2, if that's anything to gauge it by.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? A likely story.
You'll like it if: You like to own the most obscure shooters on Xbox.
A word of warning: It's really tough to find.
Battle Engine Aquila
BEA - one of Rob's favourite stompy Mech titles.
A gloriously chaotic mech warfare game on the Xbox that limped onto the market in early 2003. Our Rob was a big supporter of this one, and still has nice things to say about it almost four years on, especially the bits about how well it renders scenes of massed battle. Sadly for Brit developer Lost Toys, they went bust shortly after and rued the rather limp launch the game 'enjoyed'.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes, amazingly.
You'll like it if: Ambitious British takes on Mech combat sound up your alley.
A word of warning: A nasty learning curve.
Racing Evoluzione
Racing Evoluzione - the great lost Xbox racing game.
Milestone, the makers of Screamer, expected to have a huge hit with this one - but in fact had a flop so dramatic we'd be surprised if you've ever heard of it. Tom was sufficiently moved to award a glowing 9/10 at the time, praising its technical excellence to the skies. He also noted: "somewhere between pure arcade racers like Burnout 2 and out and out simulation titles like Gran Turismo 3 lurks a little niche of half-breeds - and nearly all of these titles are exceptional. Ridge Racer Type 4 and Project Gotham Racing are our favourites, and Racing Evoluzione's efforts also fit into this category". For racing fans, this could very well be the very definition of a cult classic.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Nope.
You'll like it if: You're determined to explore the racing genre's path less driven.
A word of warning: No Live play here.
Links 2004
Links 2004 - unexpectedly the last game in the series.
You'd imagine an online golfing game would have been a huge hit with Xbox gamers when it arrived in late 2003, but not so. This sold so badly when it went on sale it barely made the Xbox Top 20 at the time, and sunk embarrassingly without trace despite being a very creditable title that had been a banker on PC for years. Microsoft hasn't released one since and it was yet more evidence that Microsoft's assumption about its PC titles helping to sell the Xbox was a flawed one. Tom was pretty impressed with it, although preferred Tiger Wood's control system.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Course.
You'll like it if: Tiger Woods has managed to bore you over the years.
A word of warning: It's serious stuff.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy - like Indiana Jones, just felt a lot of fun.
An Xbox exclusive that more or less everyone will have long forgotten about, but a rather wonderful action-adventure from The Collective (and nothing to do with the less interesting Chaos Bleeds follow-up. Tom swears it's one of his all-time favourite Xbox games [well, you know, jokingly - Tom], and presumably still stands by his statement about it being the best game of a TV show ever. Basically it's a brawler at heart, but a fine looking one at that with enough mayhem and depth to make it well worth checking out - especially if you've a curious soft spot for the once proud show.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Not this one. The rubbish sequel is though. Fools.
You'll like it if: The TV show means a lot to you and you fancy a cracking action game to go with it.
A word of warning: It's not going to change the world.
Project Zero: The Director's Cut
Project Zero - the best true survival horror game of the generation?
Of the big survival horror games, Tecmo's camera-wielding spookfest arguably tops the lot for genuine scares. Back when it came out in summer 2002, it looked every inch a challenger to the Resident Evil-Silent Hill duopoly with its delightful art style and interesting ghostbusting premise that had you fending off tortured souls with a special camera. But a combination of a false start on the PS2 and zero promotion for its belated Xbox release meant that there was no real buzz around the game at retail. Two sequels and about five publishers later, the same is still true today, and it makes us cry a little bit inside.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes in the US. But not here - despite what the BC list says.
You'll like it if: You're even slightly interested in horror adventure games - pick up the sequel while you're at it. It a no-lose situation. A word of warning: the puzzles aren't especially difficult.
The publishers of The Bluffer's Guides have granted permission for our use of the trade mark 'bluffer's guide' and would encourage readers to visit their site: http://www.ovalbooks.com
Sniper Elite
This completely overlooked gem came out to zero fanfare in the autumn of last year, but when the Christmas rush had died down and we got around to actually playing the thing, it revealed itself to be a charming, tense third person shooter. The development body TIGA was moved enough to rate it their game of 2005, if that tells you anything. It was never a game about startling originality (it's a WW2 game, after all), but the more you played it, the more the degree of choice shone through - your route, style of play, and in which order you tackled objectives. It really is a very solidly designed title and worthy of inclusion here.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with 360? No - despite what the list say. It loads, but that's it.
You'll like it if: you like thoughtful, well-designed shooters.
A word of warning: the visuals aren't all that impressive.
Grabbed by the Ghoulies
GBTG - Rare's debut on Xbox, and not the big Xmas 2003 hit Microsoft was expecting.
It's always been fashionable to bash Rare's comical beat 'em up - mainly because of that price tag, but it's a title I still refuse to trade in - partly because I know I'll get about 20p for it, but partly because I've always had a soft spot for what is a charmingly ill-conceived game. At face value, guiding a young boy through a haunted mansion armed with an inflexible one stick control system sounds terrible, but for some slightly irrational reason it just works far better than it should. It also has a visual style all of its own and a typically Rare polish that makes you want to play it. As with so many Microsoft-published Xbox exclusives, it was released at completely the wrong time (just before Christmas, again 2003....) and bombed never to return. But even now Rare's oddball beat em up is one of the most stylish, loveable games on the Xbox, full of charm, simple but fiendish gameplay, and a progression system that really ramps up once you get into it. Never was worth paying full price for, but as a quirky, charming piece of entertainment, it's well worth a few quid if you can find it.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Ooooooui.
You'll like it if: You give it a chance. It's not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination
A word of warning: The control system really is an odd one.
Toejam & Earl III: Mission to Earth
Toejam & Earl III - pure old fashioned platform thrills didn't cut it with Xbox owners.
Oh look, another Sega Xbox exclusive which absolutely bombed for no good reason. Actually, looking back, no platform game ever sold very well on Xbox, so the fact that this was a solid 7/10 was lost on even most of the fans of the genre, busy feasting themselves silly on the PS2 gobbling up the marginally better fare to be had over there. But if you're an absolute platform junkie, then you might be surprised just how good Toejam & Earl III really is. Sure, it ticks all the generic platform boxes with endless collectable items, but in this case the premise was actually quite a laugh, tasking you with tracking down the 12 sacred albums of funk. Really, my main beef at the time wasn't so much about the game - which was solid - but the £40 price tag, which seemed over the top for a game like this back then. Nowawday, though, you'll easily pick it up for next to nothing, in which case, happy hunting...
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with 360: Not yet.
You'll like it if: you can't get enough collectathons, and you were fond of the original Megadrive titles. It's quite amusing, too.
A word of warning: It's hardly the beacon of innovation.
XIII
XIII - one game that really needs a sequel.
Thirteen was definitely an unlucky number for Ubisoft in winter 2003, as XIII was one of a number of superb titles that got trampled in the Christmas rush that year. Based on a Belgian comic (that I'd never heard of) this stealthy first person shooter stood proud in its own right as something a bit different. Comparable in theme to The Bourne Identity (and others), you find yourself washed up on a beach presumably left for dead, only to spend the remainder of the game piecing together who you are and why everyone wants you killed. Perhaps the cell-shading was a little overcooked for some people's tastes, but it had a charm, atmosphere and style all of its own. Check it out.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yay. Lucky.
You'll like it if: You want an FPS with a decent storyline that wants to do things differently from all the rest.
A word of warning: Some rage-inspiring difficulty kinks. Just ask Tom's joypad.
Breakdown
Breakdown - worth it for the first person vomit at the beginning.
Breakdown was one of the only Namco Xbox exclusives, and in the build-up to its release in summer 2004 it really did look like it had the potential to be a real must-have title. When it came out, however, reviews weren't particularly kind and didn't really take to the whole first person punching thing (Riddick did it much better a couple of months later) or the slightly floppy feeling controls. The visuals, too, didn't really push the Xbox in a way that made it seem like a true Xbox exclusive. But, you know what, I saw this looking lonely in Game Focus the other week for about three quid and I snapped it up because I'm a hoarding kleptomaniac that has to have obscure rarities kicking around my shelves. It's not necessarily a purchase as an example of a great game, but as a curiosity for those interested in the many Xbox oddities, it's well worth the paltry price you'll pay for it these days.
What did we think? 5/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Broken.
You'll like it if: You haven't got particulary high expectations and you like owning obscure games.
A word of warning: It's flawed in many ways.
OutRun 2 and OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
OutRun 2 - arcade perfect port from Sumo.
Hello. Tom here. Kristan has asked me to pop these on here as he forgot about it. So anyway - wait, what? Oh I know, who could forget OutRun 2 or Coast 2 Coast? It's only the most enjoyable arcade racing game since forever. Yes I do think Kristan's rubbish. Does he eat cats? Yes all the time. It's okay though, because I'm getting my own back slowly. For example, I gave his son a cuddly Tails toy, and took pictures of him holding a sign saying 'Help! They feed me wood!'
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No (both). Perhaps it was too coastly.
You'll like it if: You're human Coast 2 Coast has online play too.
A word of warning: I won't like you if you don't.
Mashed and Mashed: Fully Loaded
Mashed - the best top-down circuit racer bar none.
Probably one of the most overlooked multiplayer racing games in recent years arrived last summer to little fanfare and proceeded to sell very little. It was actually an expanded, cheaper version of the original from the year before, but, sadly, the buying public snubbed it on both occasions. But those who took the plunge discovered one of those rare pick up and play gems that didn't take itself too seriously, and came into its own in four-way multiplayer. Any similarities with Micro Machines were absolutely intentional, especially given that Supersonic developed that one, too...
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with 360? No
You'll like it if: post pub four-player frivolity sounds appealing.
A word of warning: The camera is a bit of a git sometimes.
The publishers of The Bluffer's Guides have granted permission for our use of the trade mark 'bluffer's guide' and would encourage readers to visit their site: http://www.ovalbooks.com
Psi Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
The game that did physics-based gameplay before Half-Life 2 but got about 0.01% of the credit for it, which is a shame. Looking back, I can't believe we left this one off the list, because of all the action adventure games in this expansive rundown of flops, Psi-Ops stands proud as arguably the best of the bunch. Somewhat unfairly written ignored (mainly for being a Midway-published game), the game didn't help itself with a fairly generic look about it, but the excellent controls and mind control gameplay were a revelation. Based around the idea of Psi energy, you gradually unlocked all manner of interesting powers, like the aformentioned Telekinesis, which allowed you to lob things around, while mind control literally let you take full control over your enemies, allowing you to over-ride security and even kill other enemies while in control of them. Excellent stuff and well worth tracking down.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with 360? No.
You'll like it if: you want a true overlooked action adventure in your collection.
A word of warning: The generic visuals are initially off-putting.
Second Sight
Second Sight - Sean Connery wasn't asked to do the advert...
And we can't mention Psi-Ops without also giving the nod to its spiritual brother, Second Sight. Designed by the ever-reliable Free Radical, this shared an uncanny amount of gameplay features as Psi-Ops (and came out at almost the exact same time, unfortunately). For a start it was, again, about telekinetic powers, but Second Sight's storyline, characters and visual style was instantly more engaging than Psi-Ops. Sadly, the gameplay wasn't quite as well-realised as its rival and the use of TK powers was nowhere near as much fun, so you ended up with two games that had much to offer, but not all at the same time. An interesting experiment, nonetheless, and one that emerged almost intact, despite evidently suffering from being passed around various publishers before ending up with Codemasters.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with 360? No.
You'll like it if: you want to see what the makers of TimeSplitters also came up with.
A word of warning: The first missions are awful - it soon improves, though.
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
Hulk - Banner's other alter-ego: The Abomination.
Now, even I foolishly overlooked this one when I was running through the list, but a game with absolutely bags of dumb, unpretentious carnage and fun. Released last summer with fairly low expectations surrounding it (especially after the dreadful previous Hulk title), it was one of the best action games of the year. Developed by the increasingly reliable Radical Entertainment, it managed to pinch elements of GTA's openworld structure and apply it to a game where you're constantly being hunted down by all and sundry - including the military. Cue enormous face-offs with tanks, choppers and a whole army of goons trying their best to bring you down. But being the Hulk, you're able to pretty much smash up the entire universe and get away with it. It all got a bit repetitive after a while, but it was great fun for a while, a good use of the license, and even ran in 720p. Go get it.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with 360? Yes. Hulk happy!
You'll like it if: you like smashing things up and using a bus as a skateboard.
A word of warning: It repeats itself quite quickly.
Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller
Crazy Taxi 3 - stretching the concept to breaking point, but still a great game.
Let's face it, Crazy Taxi was an amazing breath of fresh air when it appeared on Dreamcast all those years ago, but by the time we'd got to No.3, the novelty had worn off a great deal and we really couldn't see the point of shelling out £40 for a game we'd gotten bored of two years before. But let's cut this some slack: it's the only Crazy Taxi game ever to appear on Xbox, it's the only console you can find it on, and it'll be cheap as chips when you find it. Despite my harsh review score (based on what it represented at the time), this is arguably the definitive version of the game, with more cities, more drivers and generally more content. So if you're after yet another great Sega title that bombed, there's definitely a case for picking up one of the most gleeful arcade driving games ever.
What did we think? 4/10
Compatible with 360? No. Crazy.
You'll like it if: you like madcap driving around a dayglo city.
A word of warning: Short-lived, and slowdown in places.
Steel Battalion
Steel Battalion - the most ridiculous controller ever!
Fancy paying £130 for a mech shooter with the most impractical controller ever made? Well, Capcom thought you might like that when it released this insanely ill-advised game in the Spring of 2003. Aside from the fact that the control peripheral needed an entire desk (with pedal attachment) to set it up on, the game itself was just, well....odd. The HUD took up about 60 per cent of the screen, leaving you to squint at the grainy action going on in the middle portion of the screen. The game itself had an initial novelty value, but on a technical level just wasn't all that impressive. But if you absolutely have to own one of the rarest Xbox games ever made, Tom and I still have our copies in the box...in the loft (sob).
What did we think? 6/10
Compatible with 360? Denied.
You'll like it if: you've got a big house and like showing off to your Mech geek friends.
A word of warning: It's the coolest controller ever, but it'll never go back in the box properly. Like, ever.
Serious Sam
Serious Sam - the very definition of run and gun.
You've got to admire Croteam's purist take on the often self-important first person shooter. Stripping it back to its Doom-like origins and amping it up to levels of giggling insanity, such notions of plot or atmosphere are kicked out of the way in favour of massed waves of relentlessly silly enemies that scream and explode like an army of angry lemmings. The first in the series was eventually ported to the Xbox in late 2002, and still managed to charm us with with its simplicity - despite having been out on the PC for ages and lacking Live play. The sequel was a real step up in terms of visuals (and included the all-important Live element), and although lacked the novelty value of the original, it retained that furious craziness that you just don't see anymore. Great stuff, and well worth picking up for a song.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with 360? Yes, but not the sequel.
You'll like it if: You want a crazed first person blaster.
A word of warning: The visuals on the original are a bit shocking these days, but very fast.
Star Wars Republic Commando
SWRC - strangely overlooked, considering how good it is.
Only ever released on Xbox and PC, this rather excellent Star Wars take on squad based tactical shooting has been quickly forgotten about in the blur of cash-in titles, but was memorable for being superbly designed, beautiful looking, and very enjoyable first person title. Ok, it was slightly dumbed down next to the more serious Rainbow Six games that inspired it, but with a context sensitive design, you always knew what to do next and how best to utilise the strengths of your four-man team of Clone Troopers. With a respectable online element adding to the package, it was one of the forgotten gems of the Xbox, and well worth hunting down for the right price.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with 360? No. The force is weak, etc.
You'll like it if: you want a decent Star Wars single player shooter.
A word of warning: The single player campaign is short-lived, but fun while it lasts.
Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes
KUFH - Wyverns, like fantasy pigeons.
Now this is really obscure, but very good indeed. Jim raved about this, enjoying the way the indirect RTS style game switched to full-on melee combat to the strains of hardcore speed metal. You can say what you like about Orcs and Elves, but they have all the best tunes, if this is anything to go by.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with 360? No. My Kingdom for compatibility.
You'll like it if: You like your RTSs grafted onto full-blown action games.
A word of warning: Wobbly camera and some odd bugs.
The publishers of The Bluffer's Guides have granted permission for our use of the trade mark 'bluffer's guide' and would encourage readers to visit their site: http://www.ovalbooks.com
About Kristan Reed
Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.
Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.
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Comments (136) Latest comment 3 years ago
Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!
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Great list. Wonderful to see Beyond Good And Evil get a mention as well... most of these games really badly need to be backwards compatible. Who knows, a few years down the road gamers might actually find out what they were missing...
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Didn't Swinging Ape get bought by Blizzard after being signed up to work on their console version of Starcraft?
Metal Arms is a great game that was sadly overlooked. The Xbox version was by far the best.
Edit: <a href=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/star craftghost/news.html?sid=6124704>Blizzard aquires Swinging Ape</a>
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OutRun 2 and Toejam and Earl 3
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Curse you Kristan!
/shakes fist
erm... on another note, I did buy Psyhconauts on saturday for my PC at GAME for the sum total of £3.49. Nice
/cheers self up
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You are dead to me!
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Great article. Otogi 2 is also rather good.
Saw a copy of Deathrow in Gamestation a couple of weeks ago, and wandered around clutching it for a few mins before putting it back on the shelf, thinking it probably wasn't actually as good as people told me it was years ago. Doh.
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The only game I haven't bought but want to is Psychonauts, I played the demo on the PC and loved it but don't really like playing games my PC (stuffed in the corner of my office, small screen etc) and don't have an XBox anymore, so I'm waiting for it to be backwards compatible on the 360.
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Also, personally, I think the list should include only Xbox exclusives, not multi-format titles.
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I'd love to see updated versions of the PS2 and Cube lists, btw.
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Good call. Though I never finished it I really enjoyed it for a while. Quite atmospheric, some nice set pieces and the combat is satisfying and fun. Might go back to it on a rainy day sometime.
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"XIII" was excellent too, and "Fusion Frenzy" was a great game to play with a bunch of mates (which is why I'm looking forward to its sequel witrh full Live support this time!)... this is where I'd normally start hurling abuse at people for not buying them, but, I never picked up the apparent gems such as "Beyond Good & Evil", "Panzer Dragoon Orta", "Fahrenheit", etc... so I have no right to moan at other people.
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The BC is borked on it... but rumours of a next-gen sequel fill me with hope.
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You are dead to me!"
Sony made them do it!
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I'm filing for divorce. After I finish playing Gears.
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Where are the EA games?
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I agree with you there. It's a great game.
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cromson skies I guess deserved a mention (or did I miss it?) and outrun 2 without doubt did. Even though it seems a little redundant some of those tom clancy games were and are still are astounding, although with their 360 couterparts does anyone really care? GR 1 was the best in the series gameplay wise, shame its one of the ugliest things ever made....
Me and some friends still get together and lan up these old games even though our 360's sit there, those games are still great. amd yes quantum redshift was better than f zero.....jesus I sound like a fan boy now...Nooooooo!
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Only ever met decent people on Live as well. It's criminal that there won't be a 3rd version.
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2 is the better game...
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If I like a game you can almost guarantee it wont sell.
Also this illustrates why next gen hasn't enthused me yet, seems to be all by the numbers games with better graphics and nothing(to my knowledge) with the character of many of the games of this list.
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;o)
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Also, you forgot Blinx! Yes, I'll be damned, it's not really that good a game, but the time manipulation was unique enough - and was also one of the few MS-published titles that actually got a marketing campaign, oddly enough.
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/gets coat.
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And, perhaps worth noting, all this excellence was in glorious 720p as well.
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Fahrenheit had two weeks as the top-selling XBox title in North America before it dropped rather abruptly (dare I say because word of mouth on that ending spread?).
Crimson Skies actually carried a good deal of the Box' sales in those days. It certainly never reached Halo status, but that does not mean it was a failure.
I just find it strange to bemoan games that spawned sequels or scored its developers prestigious contracts (BG&E and King Kong, anyone) as disasters. Sure, none of those games were blockbusters, but logically, there should be some space between the Mt. Olympus and Hades of sales.
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Bunch of my favourite games on there, though...
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I guess I just didn't "get" the "genius" of a game with talking pigs.
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Patience...
There's a joke in there somewhere
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Awesome game, untill I got stuck on 1 messed up jump I tried to take on 3 consecutive nights before I threw the disc into a corner not to be looked at again.
http://www.thq.c om/gamesites/Sphinx/
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Unless I dreamt it.
Well, even if I dreamt it I never touched the game after that
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I hate acronyms for everything, they PMO
Peej
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Quantem Redshift better than F-Zero GX? No no no, I don't think so.... you are mistaken.
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Although I admit I haven't played quantum redshift...but it's hard for me to imagine it being better...
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P.S.: Outrun2 is indeed better than Outrun 2006 C2C. Somehow C2C looked worse on the Xbox than its predecessor.
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Nicely done
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More deserving however is Phantom Crash. Sure, it only had 3 proper levels, and those levels did just play as arena battles against bots, but the mech customisation, quirky style, soundtrack, gameplay, and visuals put it well in my top 10 Xbox games. Sad that they decided the PS2 was a more deserving place for the sequel, though you can't really fault them for that when it is a far more welcoming platform for Japanese mech games.
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Less said about Ten Hammers the better.
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Are you guys going to do an article on the evolution of Live? Might be a good time now that the baby has grown up. You could get Allard pissed (very, very easy to do) and dig up all the dirt? Seriously, an inciteful interview/article into Live's inception, conception and evolution would make for a smashing read.
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Edit: Oh s***, lol, how did I miss that (Panzer Dragoon Orta), well you've still missed these.
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Oh, and Battle Engine Aquila. PC gamers can find that one on Ebay too.
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No Riddick either (or was it actually popular?). Lovely graphics and it's still one of the best movie tie-in's ever - easily the only tie-in that was better that the actual sequel to the film.
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Faranheit is also a good story
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I eventually traded in QR, but FZ still has a prize place in my collection.
\spins on heel, exits forum
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Fahrenheit, a good story? Did you even play it?
It's dreadful, and has an utterly stupid story.
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Maybe you also could do similar articles for the PS2/Cube/GBA/DS/PSP (or even the PS1/DC and Saturn if possible) as a leadup to christmas. I've got some corkers for the PS2 & Cube which would raise some eyebrows. :-D
I'll throw a couple more of my Xbox ones in (no need to add them to the article):
Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller - Great arcade conversion, just like the previous DC versions you just get caught by its craziness and can lose hours playing it (didn't sell well as fair a I could tell).
Furious Karting - It's basically the old PC game SuperKarts/ManicKarts meets Mario Kart, nice kart selection/wild circuits and just a crazy racing game all round.
Serious Sam - For some reason I enjoyed this more than the PC version, mouse conversion to Xbox controller worked a charm (another poor seller). (Actually this may be muti platform or was that SS2?)
and as mentioned by others...
Outrun 2 - The original and the best which wasn't dumbed down, but I still love Coast 2 Coast and unfortunately neither sold well.
May just dig out the light gun for some more HOTD3 goodness.
Edit: Tried to fix spelling & grammar at 2 in the morning (not a good idea). Stupid joke GONE! o_O
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I never really got on with F-Zero GX - races ending every time you fell off the track was not a good design decision - so I can easily see why someone might prefer a Wipeout clone to it.
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Fun game, but the story should have been fixed. Quite odd that they didn't improve it since they had such a long development cycle. Or maybe it's because they cut so many sections out, who knows.
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Feck only knows where the second WR got to over here though...
And to the guy asking about SWON, you just have to own it, it's as simple as that really!
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/sarcasm on
Cheers for the spoiler mate. Appreciated...
/doesn't care
/isn't going to buy
/sarcasm off
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Yes it was, it helped to create a very tense atmosphere...
One particular track (don't remember the name, the one with the pipes going through the road) had a nasty turn at the very end...
Playing it on the hardest difficulty blowing all your boost at the final stretch could very easily catapult you off the track...
True gem...
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Excellent.
Despite its many, many flaws, and that white room at the end that had me stuck for over an hour, its probably my favourite Xbox game of all time.
One of the few first-person games that actually made you feel like a -person- rather than just a floating gun.
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YOU DON'T FALL OFF THE TRACK.
If you do, you deserve.... to DIE.
Mhwahha haaaaa haa!
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\ponders then thinks that Mario Sunshine probably ended up selling a few thou'.
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Operation Flashpoint Elite?
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However, despite the slightly flawed camera control, Deathrow tops the lot for me having played it system-linked and I hope one day a sequel will be made.
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The 360's BC is still rubbish, and the machine consumes too much power. I hope all that will change eventually.
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Tell me about it - I just recently had to give up on a study because of the market researchers' prices. I've got to ask where you've got the American numbers from, though. Stockholder report research, or does EG.net buy NPD's reports?
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But where’s Fusion Frenzy? Was that actually a hit? Certainly was round at our place after the club
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Don't know what it was really called but the game we dubbed 'jump & duck' is about the most hilarious thing you can do while fucked and sitting down with three other blokes while remaining hetro.
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Oh, and one of these days I must get around to telling you all the story of how MS kept sending me Xbox controllers too (as part of that "we apologise for fleecing you" campaign). Your sides will split! You'll will never hear a funnier story.
Etc.
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Have it. It's absolutely brilliant for a 'sports' game.
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Not sure if this is on here, but Operation Flashpoint deserves a mention, horrendous graphics, but it was great fun to mess about on. Also Rallisport Challenge 2 has already been mentioned, was one of the best Live games I've ever played and is one of the best racing games I've played. Those were the days, having time trial wars with my uncles see who could get the fastest times. At one point we were in the top 6 for a few tracks.
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I guess I'm biased though, since I tested it
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(Says something about me but I'm not sure what)
I think I may pick up that Deathrow game now
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15-Nov-06 12:53:02
XIII is a Belgian comic, not a French one, and it's quite popular over here.
Edit - Sorry, of course it is - my mistake, edited
Edited 1 times. Most recently by krudster at 12:58 on 15/11/2006
That one deserves a 'LOL' i guess. I remember correcting Kristan about that after reading the original review as well. ;o)
Have they fixed the BC on XIII now then?
Sorry if that's already been answered, but i haven't got through all the comments yet. Last time i popped the game into my 360 all the FMV's would constantly stutter and freeze up. Although you could get into the actual gameplay by skipping the cinematics (which involved hammering at the button to trigger the skip during one of the brief moments when it wasn't frozen), it really ruined the game given the frequency with which cinematics would pop up. Of course it also meant that you couldn't follow the story, which in XIII's case is a big factor in wanting to continue playing. Or not, as the BC situation would have it...
I really don't think MS should be listing games as BC unless it's possible to play the whole way through without constantly coming across game-breaking or intrusive bugs. As it is i just don't trust that a BC game will be completable, and as such find the current BC pointless. Even with games which seem to work fine (Cthulhu from the games mentioned for example), i just can't get away from some nagging doubt that after hours of play there's a high chance i'll hit something which makes further progress impossible. Nevermind something like Thief 3, with it's floating fires which can be seen through walls.
Don't get me wrong, i understand how difficult the BC is to implement. It's just i feel MS painted themselves into a corner with the decisions they made about BC, and it's done nothing but harm the 360's image from day one. Of course if they decided to drop BC support altogether now, it would only cause even worse damage. I think i'd have rather they released some sort of official patch to enable the progressive output/higher resolutions on the original Xbox, but i suppose they would have probably thought that would undermine one of the selling points for the 360.
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But still, HULK frickin' SMASH.
Where in BANNERS NAME is HULK:UD?
One of the most enjoyable fuckin smashers of ALL TIME.
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Chronically under-rated Western Japanese RPG. (May have been multi-platform thought.)
Surprisingly, I don't think EG reviewed this. A 50 - 100 hour monster with the one of the best turned based battle systems that I have had the pleasure to play.
Gamespot:
With its epic storylines, hundreds of combat scenarios, and open-ended structure, Gladius is one of the deepest games of the year. If you play strategy/RPGs because you're an anime fan, Gladius will bore you; if you play them because they're fun, Gladius will obsess you.
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Loved it.
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/lights candle
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I have fond memories of shouting obscenities at Enclave one minute then going Ooooh look at the pretty water effects the next.
GunValkyrie was much better than 4/10 but I agree it was a love hate thing.
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Because CS and MechAssault are completely dumbed down, arcade shite in comparison to their PC ancestors.
The PC original of Crimson Skies was just at the right level of fun light flight sim, the Xbox wasn't. Plus whoever was voicing Nathan was rubbish in the console version!
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Sounds like x-wing/tie fighter without the star wars element, which sound like proper fun to me.
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A quick check shows it got 8/10 here, considerablyhigher tan a load of the games listed. I always thought it was unfairly bashed, and seemed to disappear without a trace in very short order.
I had a lot of fun playing though Brute Force. I think the trick was just to ignore the squad commands, and treat it as a game where you changed character rather than change weapons when you wanted to do something different tactically (or when your chosen character got themselves killed).
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Edit - it was a typo!
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Tough-as-nails, 3rd person arcade shooter with a sense of humour to match. Awesome coop play, and great online modes. Another Majesco bomb though, like Psychonauts.
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It's up there with Beyond Good and Evil on the 'tragically overlooked' scale.
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It had some really inconsistant and/or illogical game design (I ran around in the mansion for ages because you could suddenly jump over a pile of furniture, something that you didn't have to do at any other point. I also remember dying repeatedly because, for some strange reason, you can't crouch and hold on to something at the same time) and possibly the most obtuse boss fight/puzzle ever created.
That said, it was very atmospheric and I loved the graphics. If I was giving out awards, it'd be the Best Worst Game Ever.
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