Xbox 360 Launch Guide - Backwards Compatibility

By: VGGEN Staff

Are you one of the few that never purchased an original Xbox, but plan on getting an Xbox 360? Well, in case you missed our story Microsoft has announced the first wave of original Xbox titles fully playable on any Xbox 360 with a hard drive attached. Out of those 213 games, we've picked ten of the very best that make for excellent purchases should you find yourself out for cash after shelling out $400+ for a Premium system and accessories. Each of these games is better than all but one or two titles (at worst) in the 360's launch lineup, and can be found for pennies on the dollar compared to new Xbox 360 titles. In alphabetical order, they are...

1. Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge

Fasa Interactive delivered one of the best action titles of the last generation with Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. Fly airplanes set in an alternate universe 1930s through a shockingly good single player campaign, or take to the air on one of the best non-FPS Xbox Live titles.

2. Fable: The Lost Chapters

The original Fable didn't quite match developer Lionhead's ambitious goals, but emerged as a worthwhile adventure where moral choices determine how your character ultimately looks, interacts with NPCs, and more. The Lost Chapters gives the game the TLC it needed, with tons of new content including new missions, regions, monsters, and much more.

3. Forza Motorsport

Hands down, Forza Motorsport is the best racing title from the original Xbox's library and possibly the best racing title from the last generation. Using aftermarket parts, tuning settings, and custom paint jobs, you can create a car to use on Xbox Live. Forza Motorsport provides Xbox users who are tired of more arcade-ish titles a game that is closer to a true racing simulation.

4. Halo

The game that launched millions of Xbox consoles, if you haven't played Halo you probably haven't owned a Xbox before. Master Chief's initial adventure endures to this day as one of the top titles on the system.

5. Halo 2

Yeah, the series was influential enough to deserve two spots on our list. Halo 2 took the first game's formula and refined it, adding in some amazing Xbox Live support as icing on the cake. If not for a disappointing ending and some minor glitches, this would probably be the undisputed best game on the system. As it stands, it's merely one of the best FPS titles ever.

6. Jade Empire

Set in a mythical ancient China, Bioware's original RPG utilizes an advanced martial arts system to power its innovative combat. Also, much like Knights of the Old Republic (see #8) the choices you make determine your reputation with NPCs.

7. Ninja Gaiden Black

Ninja Gaiden challenged players with the most intense action on the Xbox, blending beautiful graphics and fast-paced action into one of the most cohesive combat experiences of the generation. Ninja Gaiden Black took the core game and expanded on it, with new enemies, bosses, difficulty levels, costumes, weapons, and a Mission Mode to challenge players who thought the story wasn't tough enough. All this packaged for a bargain bin price makes for a game that's pretty hard to resist.

8. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

After years of mediocre Star Wars games set in the context of the original trilogy or the prequels, BioWare delivered with what was arguably the most faithful Star Wars experience ever put in a game, even though it took place thousands of years before the prequel. Combining excellent RPG gameplay with an excellent story and one of the longest and most replayable quests in recent memory, Knights of the Old Republic went above and beyond the call of duty to give players the choices between Light and Dark, dynamically affecting the universe around them in a way that made sense and, more importantly, was faithful to the spirit of Star Wars.

9. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 took everything gamers loved about the series on the PC, and injected it with amazing graphics, streamlined gameplay including the much-loved gun camera and aerial strikes, top-notch Xbox Live support, and overall just a healthy dose of good old-fashioned fun.

10. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3

This game did for the Rainbow Six series what Ghost Recon 2 did for it's series. As the first console port in the series to truly get the conversion right, this game offered up spectacular visuals, support for voice commands, generous Xbox Live support, and an overall enhanced experience versus the PC originals.

Posted: 11/17/2005