The Bluffer's Guide to Xbox Cult Classics
Top of the Flops, if you like. [updated!]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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