VGC Special: Top 10 Xbox Games - News
by Daniel Share-Strom , posted on 20 April 2009 / 37,064 Views
By Daniel Share-Strom
dsharestrom@vgchartz.com
When Microsoft entered the console scene with the Xbox, they put an absolute beast of a machine on the market. Basically a specialized computer, this machine was a monster—in addition to being far more powerful, technically, than its chief competitors, it was also the first to introduce internal storage and the first to make online gaming a viable option on consoles. However, it’s not the hardware that defines a system, but the software. Did Microsoft’s big black box have it where it really counted—the games? Take a gander at VGChartz’ top ten Xbox games of all time, and you’ll find that the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’
10. Steel Battalion
Starting off our top 10 list is this Mech-themed action game from Capcom. Mecha enthusiasts and peripheral collectors take note—this one comes with a MASSIVE 40-button controller with dual joysticks. These buttons perform a variety of tasks, from firing missiles to wiping soot off the windshield to... well, the eject button. The game really attempts to put you in the cockpit and feel the intensity--when you start up the game you must hit a series of buttons and switches just to turn your ‘Vertical Tank’ on. And if you should fail to hit the eject button before your Tank explodes? Say goodbye to your save file—you’re dead for good! Unfortunately, the difficult-to-manufacture controller meant that only around 2000 copies were produced, and the $200 price tag makes it strictly a collector’s item.
9. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Oddworld Inhabitants’ final farewell to the game industry was a dramatic departure from the wild antics of Abe the Mudokon. Stranger, the titular bounty hunter, is definitely not some altruistic nice guy out to save his species from slavery! The basis of the game revolves around hunting bounties and collecting Moolah (the in-game currency). The game combines well-executed platforming, weapons that fire live ammo (yay for exploding slugs!), and a heaping helping of attitude and humor for a unique experience that was truly crafted as a labour of love.
8. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The first attempt at a console version of the Elder Scrolls series, Morrowind was seen by a lot of gamers as revolutionary. The player had this MASSIVE open world to explore, with many unique characters and species to to interact with. Sure the game had some kind of story to follow, but really, you know you played this game because it was one of the best examples of true ‘role playing’ on any game system. Over the hundreds of hours you were engrossed in the game, you could do anything you wanted. Be a nobleman fighting for justice (BOOORING!), an evil scoundrel that pillages towns and murders people (that’s more like it!), or just a rogue who does whatever he or she wants. Citizens reacted amazingly differently depending on their opinions of you, adding to the feeling that this world was truly alive. As you keep travelling up this list, and find that the VGChartz staff has taken a liking to RPGs with a morality system, keep in mind that most of them probably wouldn’t have existed without Morrowind.
7. Forza MotorSport
If the Xbox ever had a racer to challenge the PS2’s Gran Turismo 4 in turns of graphics, accuracy, and sheer fun, it was Forza Motorsport. 231 cars, from the Honda Civic to the Ferrari, all controlled realistically and fluidly. There was fantastic vehicle damage, as well, making it all the more fun when you smashed into your buddies on Xbox Live and totalled both your rides! All in all, the gameplay was varied, with licensed, street, point to point and original circuits, and it was just a very fun game.
6. Halo 2
Halo 2 improved on its predecessor in nearly every way. While the campaign mode was a let-down, the number of games still being played on Xbox Live after the third game’s release is a testament to its quality. As its forebear made the Xbox a household name, Halo 2 helped bring online console gaming to maturity as a poster-child for the new Xbox Live service. It introduced vehicle damage and the ability to hijack moving vehicles, as well as letting players pilot the Covenant Wraith Tank and Banshee for the first time. The pistol may have been nerfed from the original game, but Bungie made up for it by including the indestructible, game-breakingly awesome Energy Sword!
5. Ninja Gaiden/Ninja Gaiden Black
Any gamer who says 3D games can’t be as difficult as their 2D counterparts need look no further than Ninja Gaiden. Here, Ryu Hayabusa runs along walls and lops off heads with the all the ease and fluidity of his NES counterpart. Wait, did I just say ‘ease’? This game is tougher than a pack of rampaging bulls. Ryu is often confronted by a dozen or so enemies with skills at least as sharp as his own, and they’re keen on putting an end to his quest for the legendary Dark Dragon Blade. Let’s not even start on the bosses, most of whom are so sadistically difficult that their only purpose seems to be to let you know how it feels to be one of the insignificant foot soldiers you’ve been indiscriminately picking off. On top of all that, there are sexy female ninjas in latex—what more could you ask for?
4. Fable
Ah, Peter Molyneux—what are we going to do with you? You promise us gaming euphoria for years, and then when the final product comes out, half the features you’ve promised have been cut. Don’t worry, we still love you because you make some of the most innovative, immersive games in the industry! Fable took a more simplified approach to the world-roaming, quest-taking, life-living genre made popular by Morrowind, and added its own great innovations to make it unique. For instance, your character’s appearance changes depending on your performance in combat. Players who prefer Melee combat will find that their character becomes noticeably buffer as time goes on, and characters who are decidedly evil will find long, ugly horns protruding from their heads. Characters who get tossed around a lot? Well, let’s just say that they don’t emerge unscarred! It’s also possible to get married, buy a house, and really just role play. Fable’s INCREDIBLE charm made it a shoe-in for VGC’s top 10 Xbox games.
3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Obsidian Entertainment did an admirable job with the sequel to Knights of the Old Republic. Set a few years after the original game, this new story of a disgraced Jedi mingles new characters with returning favourites, and delivers a tale worthy of the Star Wars name—much more so than the first two movie prequels. The added ability to influence the alignment of any of your party members really made you feel more like their fate was in your hands than the first game did. Unlike the first game, there is no big choice near the end that completely alters the story—rather, it’s all the little things you do that influence the outcome. Too bad the pacing was uneven and the ending was such a non-event, as everything else was wonderful.
2. Halo: Combat Evolved
Bet you thought this would take the top spot, didn’t you? Halo: Combat Evolved is a game that needs no description. Not only did it help to legitimize the console first-person shooter, but this game basically carried the original Xbox on its back into the spotlight. An epic single-player campaign (with coop!) and a ridiculously-fun, customizable multiplayer mode have set the standard for the genre we know today. The ridiculously-overpowered starting pistol, insta-kill melee attacks if hit from behind, and infinite Plasma grenade matches are the stuff of timeless memories. And if intense shootouts and vehicle chases don’t draw you in, just hop in a couple of physics-defying Warthog jeeps and play some crazy bumper cars!
1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
The original Knights of the Old Republic was a gaming masterpiece. Placing players in the central role of a now-classic Star Wars story, the game contained massive amounts of win for true disciples of the Force. Setting the game 4000 years before the films gave developer Bioware plenty of room to craft their own tale of light vs dark, and it paid off in spades. Heavily-choreographed lightsaber-clash animations, alignment-altering decisions to make, top-notch voice acting with thousands of lines of dialogue, likable party characters whose fate you guide and whose stories you resolve, and a well-conceived plot that fits perfectly within the established lore all contribute to this great package. Some truly shocking plot twists near the end (one of which you decide the outcome of) helped to cement KotOR’s place as VGChartz’s #1 Xbox game of all time.
See also:
More Articles
Various kinds of [url="http://www.ukghdstore.co.uk/"]ghd[/url] hair straightener with superior quality in best ghd UK online store are available at reasonable prices to give your hair best care. We stock all of the latest [url="http://www.ukghdstore.co.uk/"]ghd hair straighteners[/url] and accessories at competitive prices and offer a service that is second to none. GHD MK4 Kiss, [url="http://www.ghdhairsales.co.uk/GHD-IV-MK4-Kiss.html"]GHD MK4 Kiss[/url] Hair Straighteners On Sale. [url="http://www.ghdhairsales.co.uk/GHD-IV-MK4-Kiss.html"]GHD MK4 Kiss[/url] is absolutely great, it leaves your hair so silky smooth and soft and trust me. I was a little worried about [url="http://www.ukghdstore.co.uk/GHD-IV-MK4-Black.html"]GHD MK4 Black[/url] hair straightener bc the price was lower than I expected. When 2009 Christmas day comes, [url="http://www.uschristmasgifts.com" title="christmas gift"]Christmas Gifts[/url] store provide variety christmas gifts for different recipient.
too bad, I thought I'd see some love for Panzer Dragoon Orta here
KotOR was important because it help elevate the Star Wars franchise out of the shitter... you had the Dark Knight series, but seriously you can't just count on an FPS to be the only game that's worth playing for something like 10 years.
This is how sites lose credibility. There is no way any game is bigger or better than a Halo game on that console, period!
@Daddo Splat: Amount of people who played it is no measure of quality. ;-) Aren't you one of the Wii Sports haters? :-P
But I agree, the Splinter Cells are great, though I'm more partial to Chaos Theory myself.
@Daddo Splat:
Technically, there were two games (counting Line of Contact). ;)
the mech game could have been bumped by a splinter cell game pandora tomarrow.
Not that the mech game is undeserving just no one played it at $200.00 a pop with a controller that had only one game made for it. It may be great but truly who played it??????
the splinter cell games were great and had great sales.
@zwei No Oddworld game will ever be in a list of worst games...ever. I still play Abe's Exoddus sometimes. And Strangers Wrath was a great requiem.
why all the steel B hate, always wanted that game, but could not justify the cost
MOST GAMES WOULDNT HAVE A MORALITY SYSTEM IT IT WASNT FOR DARK FORCES 2: JEDI KNIGHT. WAY BEFORE MORROWIND.
bEST XBOX 1 GAME IS NINJA GAIDEN.
Steel Battalion & Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath should be between the top 10 worst xbox games. :p
Ah. Well in my defense the sentence "It [Halo 2] introduced vehicle damage and the ability to hijack moving vehicles, as well as letting players pilot the Covenant Wraith Tank and Banshee for the first time." left it a little ambiguous. Thanks for the correction.
You could ride the Banshee in the single-player campaign, or in multiplayer on the PC version. THe Xbox version didn't have the Banshee in multiplayer.
First of Halo:CE is the greatest game, I've ever played. Only RE4 comes close. And I'm pretty sure you could ride a banshee in the Halo:CE as well.
No project gotham and no GTA games!?
There were some great games on the xbox the whole reason i bought an xbox was to play Halo and then Halo 2. BTW Halo should be number 1 for one of the greatest single player modes in the history of gaming- well that's my opinion :-). Enjoying the top 10s brings back some good old memories....now for some Killzone 2 action!
No Splinter Cell game on the list. Where is Dead or Alive 3 and Project Gotham Racing 2?
- Halo: Combat Evolved/Halo 2
- Splinter Cell Series
- Grand Theft Auto: III/ Vice City/San Andreas
- Fable
- Ninja Gaiden Black
- Project Gotham Racing 2
- Dead or Alive 3
- Kotor
- Counter Strike
- Jade empire
Missing Panzer Dragoon Orta, Breakdown and . . . . . Advent Rising!!! Eat it, haters!
For the record, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Breakdown were high on my voting list ;-)
Really none of the splinter cell titles. Are multiplate games not allowed for the top 10 games or something.
I miss you xbox, love that green symbol in the middle of the console, anyway, the origional halo is the best of the three, fun, amazing times playing that game, bungie you are amazing.
I completly disagree with that list too wow...
I think Splinter Cell brought a lot to the table back in the Xbox1 days, Fuzion Frenzy was also a huge hit (not sales wise though), theres way too many other games out there that had good sales, great reviews from all sites out there, and didn't even make that list...
AT least ya got number 1 right. I wouldn't have put KOTOR 2 that high though. And Fable over Morrowind and Jade Empire is a joke haha.
Good list, but it looks over many of the sleeper hits (save Oddworld) that deserve to be on here more than the ridiculously expensive Steel Battalion (its and KOTOR 2s inclusion tells me there are very few votes overall).
Top Xbox Exclusive Games (no order):
-Breakdown
-Panzer Dragoon Orta
-Oddworld: Stranger`s Wrath
-Halo
-Halo 2
-Chronicles of Riddick
-Ninja Gaiden
-KOTOR
-Project Gotham Racing 2
-Jet Set Radio Future
Soriku: The first Halo was called Halo: Combat Evolved. Seemed obvious enough.
needs more mario.
never played kotor2 maybe i should try it, also jade empire is overrated just because it was a beautiful game doesn't make it a top 10 game
@fastyxx: Yeah, actually, I did. I actually pushed for it to be higher than it was.
I really want to try Strangers Wrath and KOTOR, they looked like good games.
KOTOR 2? I didn't hate as much as others, but you HAVE to be kidding. KOTOR as best game is fine - though I'd go Halo.
Did you even PLAY Steel Batallion? Didn't think so.
I call major B.S. on Halo 2 not being higher, either. For what that did for Xbox Live and multiplayer console gaming - you have to be joking.
And Morrowwind is better than Fable. Just saying. Though both have major issues.
@soriku
just because a Tales of Game wasn't on the xbox doesn't mean it sucks.
Soriku says:
Surprised Halo 1 isn't on there...
It's at number 2.
Perhaps the author put extra emphasis on the campaign/single player.
@bkslopper I personally agree that H1 should rank higher than H2. But the writer clearly states that H2 is a huge improvement over H1 yet it ranks lower. Which is a bit bizarre. Perhaps he was listing most "influential" games. That is one issue I always have with lists like this from any site. They are always a mix of best games, and the games that had the biggest impact. Make a choice and do one or the other, not a mix of both.
jade empire is was better than fable i think.
A good list, but Jade Empire is a thousand times better than Fable IMO, and where is Half Life 2?
And who said the xbox didn't have any decent games....
Yeah, we should put Halo at #1 because it's the most popular. That makes perfect sense.
i think you all forgot about jade empire
Morrowind should have topped the list. It was the best Xbox game.
Nice to see Fable on no. 4 thouhgh.
Straight from the horse's mouth.
"Bungie Admits That It "Screwed Up" Halo 2"
http://www.dailytech.com/Bungie+Admits+That+It+Screwed+Up+Halo+2/article5832.htm
Even more harsh words were reserved for Halo 2's multiplayer. "Even the multiplayer experience for Halo 2 is a pale shadow of what it could and should have been if we had gotten the timing of our schedule right. It's astounding to me. I f***ing cannot play Halo 2 multiplayer. I cannot do it. And that's why I know Halo 3 is going to be so much better," adds Butcher.
Also since it came out first, it made a bigger impact on people's minds.
@sonic shuffle
Because it was a better game than number 2. The main improvment H2 had was xbox live support. The first game had better level design in the campaign, satisfying ending, and the multiplayer levels had more variety, despite their simplicity. You had long skinny levels (longest) big levels (sidewinder) little levels (rat race) weird levels (boarding action) close quaters (chiron), tall levels, symetric, asymetric, etc. Plus, there's no gamebreaking sword glitch that lets you fly across a map to worry about.
Why is Halo higher up than Halo 2?
What's the purpose of top 10s? This is subjective and a waste of time, seriously, I'd better stop discrediting VGC like that.
I'm not in agreement with a lot of this list, but major props for Oddworld. That is just a great game.
I am not a fan of Halo but I agree. It should have been #1 simply because is the xbox flagship game
Where the hell is Panzer Dragoon Orta and Otogi series?
Halo 1 and 2 should be the top spots respectivly
No GTA on the Xbox? The PS2 versions had horrible frame rate and draw distance issues.
Where the hell is The Chronicles of Riddick??
wherever xbox series go halo series does too.
Jade Empire should have been on this list instead of KOTOR 2. Jade Empire was such an amazing game (although it was a little short), but KOTOR 2 was mediocrity personified. Played exactly the same as the first game, only with a story that made absolutely no sense and had no ending. Woo-ha!
halo 1 should be #1, or the list fails
I'm sorry but not putting Halo as #1 is kind of a fail...huge fail. KotOR may have been an excellent game...but when people think of xbox, that isn't even in the first 5 games one thinks of.
I know VGchartz is trying to have a niche perspectie but yeah...Xbox = Halo...then everything else.
@Strategyking: Hey, I voted for Breakdown ;-)
Not even a mention for breakdown?
It's ending was better than HL2's!
Well, just as good. Definetly underrated.
STEEL BATTALION OT ON THE LIST?? Wtf??
the Xbox was the only system of the 4 from the previous generation that I didn't own. My brother constantly was telling me about how great some of these games were. Most notably Ninja Gaiden, KOTOR, Halo, and his personal fave Fable.
After I decided to go with the 360 as my primary system this gen I picked up a few original xbox games with the backward compatibility, when I first got it as the 360 game library was relatively weak in year 1 (unitl Gears of war released). One notable game that isn't on this list is GTA: San Andreas, it also has better graphics then the PS2 version. Xbox also had Super Monkey Ball Deluxe which is the best version of the game to date. And xbox also had the best console version of the original incarnation of Lego Star Wars, before they did the original trilogy and complete saga. Other titles that are missing are Splinter Cell or Ghost Recon. I also feel like Shenmue II should be on this list. And all 360 owners if you can find Panzer Dragoon Orta in the used game store buy it the game is amazing.
mmmm....
I don't understand
no Panzer Dragon Orta
no Jade Empire
no JSRF
no Kung fu chaos
no Chornicles of Riddick...
This is a joke, no? what xbox top 10 is this?
I'm not agree with that
Fable better than Morrowind? lol, never. I agree with Oddworld:Stranger being in the Top 10, excellent game.
No Jade Empire makes any Xbox top 10 list inherently flawed...
Hey Chaos Theory was exclusive... that PS2 and Gamecube version wasn't even the real game... shame on you Ubisoft... if you can't give the other console everything don't take away actual parts of a level.
Good list but any top 10 should be 1 game per franchise. I don't think you want 2 halo's and 2 KOTOR's.
JSRF better than Steel Battallion by miles
No Jade Empire? easily one of the top 10 Xbox games
two games that deserve a mention:
Psychonauts
Panzer dragoon Orta
Totally agree with KOTOR on #1... wouldn't have put Halo on the list though...
There's a new Oddworld on the way :) I can't wait!
I'm thinking of buying a pre-owned Xbox some day to pick up a few games I wanted.
no Shenmue?......
Nice List, Ive played each one of those games except for Steel Battalion.
Seems I'm the only one that loved Splinter Cell to death.
Excellent games I feel. Good thing The KOTORs and Morrowind are on PC too.
That Steel Battalion thing must have been epic.
Really Good list, totally agree. I have enjoyed nearly all of these games quite thoroughly : )
Indeed, Famitsu tracked around 15k copies first week, which is close to the numbers VGCHartz has.
Steel Battalion sold, according to VGCHartz, 20 000 copies, not 2 000. I fear you've been had by a Wikipedia hoax. Though I could be wrong, so I will go search for alternative sources.
the best "xbox games" were the hundreds of emulator roms I crammed inside it. But seriously, that and Ninja Gaiden Black made it for me (and XBMC of course).
Beyond putting halo first and the exclusion of panza dragoon orta this is a very good list. I'm very glad oddworld is there.
doom 3 anyone?
Dreamcast, Gamecube, Xbox ... all these systems had awesome games, but let's be honest and say that the lineup was simply smaller making it easier to choose than the obvious next list, PS2.
There will be blood.
Good general list.
Hmm... the lack of Psychonauts is depressing. I would've liked to see some Smilebit in there too, JSRF for sure and perhaps Orta also. Oh, well.
great list ... i've owned all of them and there awesome games
KoToR is an awsome game. I totaly agree with it toping the list.
This is the only good top 10 so far. Needs at least one of the Splinter Cells, though, but that's forgiven for the inclusion of Oddworld.
Man, xbox sucked.
Halo, Halo, Halo! Why is this not #1? This is a travesty! What a load of tosh! How can any best of Xbox list not have Halo in first?
Great list anyways.
Here's my 10:
- Brothers In Arms: Road to Hill 30
- Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood
- Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II
- MechAssault
- Otogi
- Steel Battalion
- Panzer Dragoon Orta
- Robotech: Invasion
- Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
- The Bard's Tale
hell four of those games i had on the computer and are better on the computer
Man whoever got Steel Battalion into that list has impeccable taste.
God writeup!
ha looking at that list its easy to see why I never considered ever getting an xbox
I don't know if I can take a list seriously that doesn't have DOA: extreme beach volleyball.
Fable needs to be #1. Love that game to death. If I buy a 360, it'll be for Fable 3.
Splinter Cell and Panzer Dragoon are missing
Nice list. Especially the top 5. But Steel Batalion? Bleh. Morrowind sucked. The end.
im pretty sure you could pilot the banshee in hale: CE
better than the gamecube list ill give it that
what about panzer dragoon orta? i really love this game.
I agree KotOR as number 1.
Halo 2 should be higher up imo.
I should probably try KOTOR.
I agree with #1, but KOTOR2 was very good.
In the left image of Halo 2 looks as if Master Chief had Navi by his side.
battlefront 2 battlefront 2 battlefront 2 battlefront 2!
