Xbox 360 Game Buying Guide
Overview
Microsoft's Xbox 360  is a video game console with a number of fantastic first and third party titles. Though some may prefer the Playstation 3 's Blu-Ray capability or Wii 's innovative motion sensitive control scheme, the Xbox 360 has continued to excel with sheer entertainment value, especially in the first-person-shooter category. Rather than leave you to guess which games to run out and purchase and which to save for a rental, we've compiled a list of console must-haves for your viewing pleasure.
Current Best-Sellers
|
|
|
|
Fast cars, big crashes and blistering speed; sound like fun? Thought so. Welcome to the world of Burnout Paradise, the latest instalment in the best-selling arcade racing series. In addition to everything you loved about the prequel titles, Burnout 3: Takedown and Burnout: Revenge, Paradise offers a brand-new open world to explore. Multiple event types allow players to race, crash and eliminate opponents to their hearts content while the robust multiplayer mode (via Xbox Live ) enables friends to link up and duke it out. Best of all, each component is built into the seamless open world environment, meaning no load times. |
Finish the fight for humanity's survival in the latest chapter of the critically acclaimed Halo saga. Picking up where Halo 2 's notorious cliffhanger ending left off, the single player campaign focuses on the legendary Master Chief as he tries to combat the invasion of Earth by the alien Covenant.
Sporting brand new graphics and physics engines and over 40,000 pieces of recorded NPC dialogue, the campaign offers an immersive, if slightly short, experience. The meat of the game, however, lies in the Xbox Live multiplayer component. With numerous games modes, including deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture-the-flag and other objective based types, players are sure to lose hours fighting it out online.
Halo 3 also supports online and offline cooperative gameplay, allowing friends to complete the campaign mode together. |
One part survival horror, one part role playing game and one part dystopian mystery, Bioshock doesn't just break the mould established by similar genre titles - it shatters it. Set in an alternate history 1960, players assume the role of Jack, a plane crash survivor lucky enough to stumble upon Rapture, a seemingly abandoned underwater city. Forced to fight his way through the city's horrific, mutated denizens, Jack must unravel the mystery of the city's fate in order survive.
Bioshock is a deep, immersive gaming experience that is aided by top-notch graphics and an original visual design. Players will find themselves both awestruck and unsettled as they wander Rapture's abandoned halls picking up weapons and "plasmids," DNA-altering injections that imbue the player with special powers such as telekinesis, electrification and combustion. Combined with a unique, morality-based events, Bioshock is an experience that nobody should miss. |
Rockstar's latest entry into the Grand Theft Auto franchise brings the series' patented free-form gameplay to a whole new level of realism. The game's central protagonist is Niko Bellic, a Bosnian war veteran and recent immigrant to the fictional Liberty City (itself an deceptively authentic recreation of New York City). The plot quickly unfolds as Niko (you) handles the dirty work contracted from his, ahem, "employers." You'll be able to run, drive, shoot, maim and cause all kinds of mayhem around the richly detailed, sprawling metropolis.
The proprietary RAGE graphics engine, coupled with the thousands of motion-captured animation sequences, truly makes you feel as if you're in an a living, breathing city. Once you've wrapped up the 40-50 hour single player campaign, you can hook up to Xbox Live and choose from 15 different 16-player game modes. The most interesting of these is the Freeplay Mode, which allows for a completely free roaming multiplayer experience; steal a helicopter with your friends, rob a poor old lady with your friends... rob your friends! GTA4 allows you to live out your robber-baron desires, and so much more. |
|
|
|
|
So, you want to be a rock 'n' roll god? Well now you can in Rock Band, the latest and greatest in plastic instrument-based rhythm games. Choose from three different instruments (guitar, bass, drums ) or the karaoke style microphone and strum, hit or sing to the beats of your favourite songs.
While the single-player game offers tier-type progressive gameplay for each separate instrument, the heart of Rock Band lies in the Band World Tour mode. You and up to three of your friends can "get the band back together," so to speak, designing everything from the look of your would-be rock star, to the clothes, to the band name and logo (for instance, I'm the fake-drummer, Isaac Stallyn in my fake-band, Venti Chai Latte).
After the initial set-up, you and your band can hit the road, playing progressively bigger venues and more difficult songs, earning cash and fans along the way with which you can purchase or unlock new clothes, cities and modes of transportation. Best of all, though, is Rock Bands Xbox Live functionality, which not only let's you hook up with your band no matter where you are (provided everyone has an Xbox 360 and a copy of the game), but also let's you download new songs for an ever-expanding playable library. A great party game, Rock Band is sure to become a centre-piece wherever it's set up. |
The latest game from BioWare, creator of the Baldur's Gate series of PC games and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comes the next step in RPG gaming on the Xbox 360. In Mass Effect, mankind has taken to the stars after discovering the advanced technology of a long-extinct race. Players will assume of the role of Commander Shepard, an officer aboard the experimental research vessel SSV Normandy, in an epic, galaxy spanning sci-fi adventure. Players will travel to numerous planets, moons and asteroids throughout the star system, completing missions, meeting colourful new characters and increasing Shepard's abilities in one of six available character classes (soldier, infiltrator, adept, engineer, sentinel and vanguard).
Shepard's appearance is fully customizable from the start, allowing players to implant themselves into the game or create wholly unique character. Players can also choose Shepard's back story, from an Earth-born thug to a colonial hero, potentially altering some of the game's dialogue sequences. While combat takes place in real-time, there is always an option to pause the action and strategize, assigning orders to your various party members before continuing.
Shooter fans be warned; Mass Effect is not a twitch game by any stretch of the imagination. Progress moves at a comparatively slow pace as the majestic tale unfolds, but fans of well-plotted narratives and deep character development should feel right at home. |
For almost a decade now, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six series has defined the tactical first person shooter genre, and that tradition only continues in RS:V2. Described as "part prequel, part sequel" by its developers, the game takes places both before and after the events of the original Rainbow Six: Vegas.
Players take the role of a veteran Rainbow soldier named Bishop. Unlike the main character from the original, Bishop's appearance is fully up to the player; gender, height, build and hair colour are fully customizable, allowing for a very individualized character. Bishop and his squad-mates will sneak and shoot their way across numerous locations in and around Las Vegas, all richly detailed and beautifully rendered.
As in previous Rainbow Six titles, tactics always trumps brute force when you're one bullet away from a "Game Over." This time around, however, the squad-AI has been vastly improved. No longer will your team-mates charge out of cover in the middle of heavy fire, leaving you pinned behind cover without support.
The game's multiplayer component has been expanded to include 10 new close-quarters maps, two new game modes and an improved player matchmaking system. It also includes some new RPG-like features; for every enemy kill, the player gains experience points which will unlock promotions and new equipment items. Also of note is RS:V2s use of the Xbox Live Vision Camera. Players can take a snapshot of their own face and import it onto a playable multiplayer character. Next time you gun down one of your buddies, they'll be sure to remember your snickering face. |
It is 1191 A.D. The religious Crusades in the Holy Land are reaching their peak. You are Altaïr, a member of the "Assassin's Brotherhood," seeking out an ancient artefact known as the "Piece of Eden." Welcome to the world of Assassin's Creed, the latest action-stealth game by Ubisoft, developers of the award-winning Prince of Persia franchise.
Unlike the linear gameplay found in the Prince of Persia series, Assassin's Creed is a third-person sandbox-type game. While the main game centres around nine different assassination missions, the matter in which these missions are accomplished is free-form. You can choose to scale buildings and race across rooftops to locate your target, stealthily blend in with the city population, pickpocket or eavesdrop for information, or any combination of the above. Be careful, though; as your actions increase in severity (ie, running through a city square bumping into bystanders or brandishing a weapon), your noticeability increases. Eventually, the patrolling guards will be alerted to Altaïr's presence, you will be forced to engage in some pretty fantastic swordplay until you eliminate your pursuers or find a place to hide.
If anything, Assassin's Creed is a feast for the eyes. The cities are sprawling and beautifully designed; climbing to the top of any one of the numerous spires will make your jaw drop. Altaïr moves as a professional assassin should; methodical, agile and with purpose. The only problems with the game come from it's seemingly repetitive nature and its length, the former of which is easily solved by the player's own ingenuity. Despite these shortcomings, Assassin's Creed is an adventure that will draw you in and refuse to let go. |
Original Xbox Titles
Ever find yourself feeling a bit nostalgic for a time before widespread online console multiplayer or downloadable content? Yeah, we do too. Thankfully, the Xbox 360 has the ability to play limited selection of original Xbox games, many of them some of the best games ever made for the old black box. Microsoft has also introduced an Xbox Live service called "Xbox Originals," which allows for the purchase and download of original Xbox titles straight to the console. Sure, some of these games may look a bit dated, but the game play remains perfectly serviceable for anyone who considers him or herself a fan of the classics.
|
|
|
|
Released in 2004, Fable was the première RPG experience for the original Xbox console. Taking place in a richly-detailed and open-ended world, players take the role of an unnamed orphan destined to be a legendary hero. The most interesting aspect of Fable is how the moral choices you make affect the game world as well as your character. Murder a town full of innocents and your reputation for being a heartless ne'er-do-well increases (in addition to getting some pretty sweet tattoos). Do well by others and you'll become the golden light of the land (but that's no fun).
With a robust combat system, a fairly lengthy main quest and gobs of side quests, Fable remains a joy to play even after all these years. Both the original game and the updated Fable: The Lost Chapters are compatible with the Xbox 360. The original Fable is also available as a download over Xbox Live. |
Widely considered as one of the most challenging games ever created, Ninja Gaiden resurrected the original NES franchise, updating it for a whole new generation of gamers.
Players once again fill the shoes of Ryu Hayabusa, the legendary ninja from the original Ninja Gaiden trilogy. Ryu is able to draw on a number of body-rending combat techniques; he can run along walls, walk across water and unleash "Ultimate Techniques," used to inflict massive damage. Trust us when we say you'll need all of these and then some, as Ninja Gaiden's notorious difficulty level may best even the most seasoned gamers. As Ryu progresses through his adventure, players will be able to equip him with new weapons, skills and magical items to augment his already fearsome abilities.
Combined with a responsive, fluid control system and spectacular graphics (on par with some Xbox 360 titles), Ninja Gaiden has certainly earned it's mark as one of the best games of the last console generation. Both the original game and the slightly updated Ninja Gaiden: Black are compatible with the Xbox 360. Ninja Gaiden: Black is also available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. |
This is it, the big-daddy of all Star Wars games. Set 4,000 years before the original trilogy, Knights of the Old Republic puts you in the middle of an intergalactic war between the Jedi of the Old Republic and the Sith armada led by Darth Malak. Gameplay is based on the d20 ruleset with the player assigning commands in real-time. If a combat situation becomes overwhelming, however, the player may choose to pause the action in order to strategically re-assign commands to the party.
One of the most interesting aspects of KotOR is the alignment system. During the course of the game, the player, through selected dialogue and character interactions, will either earn "Light Side points" or "Dark Side points." These affect your character's perception and appearance, from a goody-two-shoes Jedi savior to a Force choking, lightning shooting Sith Lord. The original Xbox version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has been certified as compatible with the Xbox 360. |
From the crazed mind of Tim Schafer (Grim Fandango, The Secret of Monkey Island ) comes Pyschonauts, an inventive, colourful and often hilarious action platformer. The game stars Raz (short for Rasputin), a member of a circus family and possessor of vast psychic potential. Against the wishes of his father, Ras leaves the circus for the Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp where he hopes to become a "Psychonaut."
The gameplay sticks to the tried-and-true platformer formula of running, jumping collecting things and obtaining progressively better abilities with which to thwart your enemies. Where the game shines, though, is in it's writing; Pyschonauts is flat-out hysterical. From the character designs to the level construction (many stages taking place inside the brains of the Camp staff) to the scripted dialogue, the game is just wacky. A small sampling of the contents include: "a telekinetic bear, a dentist who harvests brains, a sequence wherein you become a giant Godzilla style monster and terrorize a society of talking fish."
The disc-version of Psychonauts is compatible with the Xbox 360, and it is also available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace as an "Xbox Original." |
Xbox Live Arcade Titles
Not to be forgotten, the Xbox Live Arcade has emerged as viable platform for both small independent game developers looking to break out and larger developers wanting to play around with some new ideas. Even better, a lot of these games are actually fun, and they're cheap too! Games are purchased from and downloaded directly to your Xbox 360. No longer will you be forced to browse Blockbuster's rental rack, sighing with frustration as you finally realize they have absolutely nothing you want to play. Here's a sample of some of the best titles Xbox Live has to offer.
|
|
|
|
"Oooh, look at the pretty colours." This will most likely be your initial reaction when you first play Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2. In this Xbox Live Arcade title, the player takes control of a small roving craft tasked with destroying the waves of enemies that spawn on the board while collecting "geoms," which raise your score multiplier. If you think that sounds simple, well... that's because it is.
Don't be fooled, though, as GW2 is still a highly enjoyable arcade shooter. The action is frenetic; before you know it, the screen will be filled with varying types of enemies, bullets will be flying, sparks will be... sparking. In all, it's a pretty visceral experience. GW2 also includes five other games types, in addition to the standard "Evolved" mode we all know and love. |
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is what you get when you take a turn-based RPG and Bejewled and throw them both in a blender. Puzzle Quest puts the player in the role of an unnamed hero tasked with traveling the magical realm in order to defeat monsters, gather trinkets and vanquish evil. Pretty standard fare, but if you can get past the thin narrative, you will find a deep, addictive game underneath.
Game play takes place on a multi-coloured puzzle board; as you match up lines of like-coloured tiles, you are rewarded with correspondingly coloured mana. Mana is used to cast spells which are primarily used to damage your opponent, but can also be used to enhance your own abilities. The player also earns gold from each battle, which can be spent on new spells and stat-enhancing equipment. Once you've finished the single-player campaign, you and a friend can link up over Xbox Live and have your characters duke it out for glory and bragging rights. |
Originally released on the Sony Playstation, Castlevania: SotN may just be one of the finest action-platformers ever made. Taking the role of Alucard, son of Count Dracula, players must fight their way through the cursed castle in order to prevent the dark lord's resurrection and defeat the evil that wishes to plunge the world into chaos. A departure from previous Castlevania games, SotN plays more like Metroid series. While the castle has identifiable areas, players are free to move in between areas as they wish, provided they have the items needed to remove any impeding barriers.
As players progress, they will encounter newer and more difficult enemies, from easily-bested zombies to towering axe knights. Fortunately, the castle is littered with different weapon and armor types, many with unique special abilities. Additionally, slain enemies will award experience points that will, over time, raise Alucard's character level, imbuing him with greater attack ability, more health and more magical power.
Despite being over a decade old, SotN's sprite-based graphics still look pretty great and its soundtrack is fantastic. Anyone looking for a hack-n-slash fix would be hard pressed to find anything better over Xbox Live. |
Once in a while, a game comes along that sort of transcends the medium it was designed for. A few years ago, that game was Shadow of the Colossus. This year, that game is Braid. Braid stars Tim. We know very little about Tim, except that he is looking for a Princess and that this Princess is often times in another castle. Tim also has the very unique ability to reverse time. Unlike the Prince of Persia series, this ability is unlimited, and thankfully so, as Braid's particular brand of puzzle-induced mania will require you to use it quite often. Tim can attack his enemies by jumping and... that's about it.
What Tim will spend most of his time doing in Braid is solving puzzles in order to collect puzzle pieces, which the player must then put together to form an image that will complete the level. This is easier said than done, however, since the puzzles range from simple to frustratingly complex. While this may seem off-putting at first, most of the puzzles only take a little extra thought and some trial-end-error to successfully overcome.
As these puzzles are completed and more of the game world is unlocked, the player is rewarded with a masterfully written, poignant and deeply philosophical narrative. Braid is game that defies convention and definition, but remains successful because of it, and will assuredly be remembered for years to come. |
Search for Xbox 360 games according to category
Related Guides
External Links- Metacritic.com: Find out which games are worth your hard-earned dollars at this aggregate review website which compiles game reviews from across the internet, from both indidviduals and major publications.
- IGN.com: Round the clock gaming news and reviews for all your favorite consoles.
- Xbox.com: Microsoft's official list of all original Xbox games that are compatible with the Xbox 360.
- Wired.com: Wired's insightful and funny video game blog.
- Xbox360Fanboy: A blog devoted to the 360.
|
|
Shopping Directory
