The console wars were still raging when I was in high school, and while I was onteam GameCube, a good friend of mine was on team Xbox. Maybe not firmly team Xbox, as he wasn’t as close-minded as I was. He loved the short-lived Dreamcast and even managed to introduce me to some PS2 titles that stuck with me. However, his enthusiasm for Microsoft’s first foray into the console market has left me with a lasting affection towards the massive brick of hardware.
With just short of 1000 games, it had a larger library than Nintendo’s GameCube, but a much smaller one than the PS2. It soldan estimated24 million, which gave it a small lead over the Gamecube’s estimated 22 million. Most importantly, it solidified Microsoft as a big player in the console market that endures to this day.
Today, I mostly know it as the era’s console with the best third-party ports. If a game was released on the three major consoles of the generation, you may bet that the best version was on Xbox. However, while that’s a terrific strength to have, the console’s beefy hardware attracted a large number of exclusive titles. Selecting from such a large pool was no easy task, and for all those that I name below, I’ve left out some other great titles.
15.The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay(2004)
Listen, I know absolutely nothing aboutPitch Black, aside from the fact that it has Vin Diesel in it and he plays a character called Riddick. And the only reason I know this is because ofThe Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.
When it came out,Chronicles of Riddickfelt like something that came back in time from the next console generation. It was surprising in its first-person cinematic qualities and its impactful combat. Plus, it was a great-looking game, even when it was first released on Xbox. My only warning is that you’re going to have to be ready to do some stealth.
By 2004, licensed games had a reputation for being garbage, disappointing at best, and shovelware at worst.Chronicles of Riddickwasn’t even based on a very spectacular property, and yet it blew away expectations.
14.Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller(2002)
I’m going to wind up sounding like a Sega fangirl by the end of this list, but I swear that’s not accurate. Sega just rebounded off the failure of the Dreamcast in a pretty spectacular way before their merger with Sammy. During that rebound, we got a thirdCrazy Taxi, this time completely exclusive to Xbox (and later, Arcade).
Crazy Taxi 3: High Rollerdoesn’t just add a new map, new drivers, and new crazy maneuvers, it also compiles in levels from the first two games, but edits them to balance them with the new abilities. It’s still the same fast and frantic pick-up and drop-off against-the-clock gameplay, but it’s at its peak. Heck, it even brings in the classic tracks from Offspring and Bad Religion, and to top it off, all the bizarre, turn-of-the-millenium product placement is there, too.
The only thing that would be better is if it included all the levels from across the series alongside the soundtracks and product placement. Alas, it seems like that just will never happen. Especially not when it seems that Sega is taking an online multiplayer live service model for their upcoming revival.
13.Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X(2001)
Around 2000 was the height of theTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterseries’ popularity. Activision was capitalizing on Neversoft’s golden goose, so the tendrils were being spread in all directions to every platform. 2001 was the same year thatTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3was released… on the PS2 and GameCube (and PS1), but the Xbox wouldn’t get it until the next year. Perhaps to keep early Xbox adopters hungry, they released the exclusiveTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X.
2X is mostly a port ofTHPS2, but also sort of a compilation of the first two games in the series with updated graphics. While you can tell it’s built on the bones of the PS1 classics and the level geometry is pretty much the same in a lot of areas, it manages to look pretty good. It starts only allowing you to play theTHPS2levels, but after you complete it, you’re then given a set of all-new levels to kick around in.Then, once those are completed, you unlock all the levels of the first game, which allows you to use the added arsenal of moves introduced inTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2in the first game.On top of that, you can unlock a few more levels that are more or less objectiveless multiplayer stages.
The existence of2Xmade 2012’sTony Hawk’s Pro Skater HDall the more disappointing since that game didn’t have all the levels, nor did it have the music. 2020’sTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2is a much better effort but still lacked2X’sfive exclusive levels. This means that2Xstill has something to offer all these decades later.
12.The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind(2002)
I loveThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindso much that the only reason it isn’t higher on the list is because the PC version is so much better. Nonetheless, fitting the game on the OG Xbox was a big task, and Bethesda did a great job. One might even say that the console’s limitations informed how Bethesda went about building the game.
Morrowindwas where the lore ofThe Elder Scrollsseries really got its depth. A lot of things that were introduced in previous games were defined in greater detail here. So much so, that later games in the series have continued to coast by on what was written here without adding all that much of their own. Despite only taking place on the part of a single province in Tamriel, you get to see a clash of cultures and political powers, including the separation of Dunmeri religion and Imperial. It’s an insane amount of depth that you just don’t see in video games.
It also has the best, most unconventional story in the series. You play as a nameless prisoner who was hand-selected by the Emperor to fit the description of a historical figure in Morrowind’s history. However, by following the prophecy, it becomes likely that you actually are that person, the resurrected Nerevar. It’s an alien and unconventional game that has you gaining loyalty from political groups and other factions as you try and defeat an existential threat to the world.
11.OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast(2006)
I love Sega’s 1986 classicOutRunso damned much. Seeing it move from its pseudo-3D raster effect graphics to polygonal 3D filled me with doubt. How could you possibly live up to the original without just turning it into another generic racing game? I was afraid it would just beGran Turismowith Ferraris.
As it turns out, you do it by not changing much at all. 2003’sOut Run 2basically just uses 3D graphics to depict the same basic gameplay as its 2D predecessor. You drive non-stop across a branching map, trying to reach the finish line before you can be defeated by the timer.
Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coastnot only contains the standard continental (?) sprint of the arcade titles, but a slew of side modes. These range from simple races against computer-controlled opponents to weird activities based around trying to impress your possibly sociopathic girlfriend. It’s a terrific version of an already great game and one of the best driving titles on the system. It really demonstrates the creativity pushed by Sega in the wake of the Dreamcast’s failure.
10.Godzilla: Save the Earth(2004)
Okay, I know a lot of people aren’t going to agree with me here, but I was a huge fan ofGodzilla: Destroy All Monsters Meleeon GameCube. However, it was really easy to burn through every scrap of content in that game during a short rental period.Godzilla: Save the Earthis the sequel to that, only it brings with it more content, more kaiju, and more fun.
Yes, I’ll admit that it’s a dumb game about giant monsters throwing skyscrapers at each other, but just saying that out loud reminds me of how awesome that is.Godzillahashad it pretty roughwhen it comes to video games, but Pipeworks Studios did the license proud. It’s clear that their titles wereGodzillafans trying to make their dream game, and I happen to share in that dream.
I cannot imagine it’s possible to translate tokusatsu kaiju movies better. It’s just a massively wild showdown that is even more fun when you’ve got friends to play it with.
9.Jet Set Radio Future(2002)
The biggest win for Microsoft’s Xbox was probably the failure of Sega’s Dreamcast. While Sega went multiplatform after pulling out of the console market, they seemed to favor the Xbox, at least in the beginning, perhaps feeling soured from their rivalries with Nintendo and Sony. If the Dreamcast’s lifespan was cut short, its library lived on through the Xbox. Games likeCrazy Taxi,Panzer Dragoon, andShenmueall found their way to Microsoft’s console.
2002’sJet Set Radio Futureis a good example of this, being a sequel to 2000’sJet Grind Radio.Well, technically, it’snota sequel; it exists in its own timeline.It could be called a do-over, as it carries over a similar plot, the same characters, and the same fast and addicting gameplay. The biggest difference is thatJet Set Radio Futurehas a more open structure and drops the time limit of the original.
It didn’t sell well, unfortunately, which might be why we haven’t received a sequel to this day. It hasn’t even been ported, meaning the only way to really play it today is on the original console. Playing it now gives a real “they don’t make ‘em like this anymore” vibe.
8.Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory(2005)
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cellis a series about a grumbly man who sasses his way through terrorists. Or around terrorists, I guess. It’s a stealth game, so not being seen is more important than a body count. Although the series was multi-platform, the PS2 and Gamecube always wound up with oddly stripped-down versions compared to Xbox and PC.Splinter Cell: Chaos Theoryis the best the series ever got while potentially being the worst on the less powerful consoles.
WhileSplinter Cell: Chaos Theorylargely stuck to the classic formula in single-player, it threw in a terrific co-op mode and an asymmetrical competitive mode when asymmetrical multi-player was still an extreme rarity. Both of these multi-player splinters were terrific, while the main campaign is the height of the series. It also looked incredible for its time.
After things transitioned to the next generation,Splinter Cellkind of lost its way. Things became progressively more and more ridiculous, and for some people, that’s probably the way they prefer it. For me, on the other hand, I like my stealth shadowy and my narratives forgettable.
7.Breakdown(2004)
Breakdownfeels like a celebration of the first-person perspective. It’s clear that the developers of Namco wanted to take the immersive and much-beloved camera angle and push it to its limits. You never left the protagonist’s eyeballs. When a friend of mine first told me about it in high school, he excitedly described the protagonist eating a hamburger, and while that sounds ridiculous, it really is awesome.
Japanese first-person shooters are a bit of a rarity, even today.Breakdownfeels like the perfect embodiment of what you get when you combine the genre with the inventiveness of Japanese games in the early-’00s. There’s a lot of jank, and the story is very bizarre, but its approach makes it stand out despite those issues. While first-person shooters were becoming progressively more interchangeable, its immersion-first approach kept it feeling fresh.
LikeChronicles of Riddick, the focus inBreakdownis in its combat, which feels very physical, but also very diverse while working within a first-person perspective. That’s really no small feat in itself.
6.Psychonauts(2005)
Psychonautshas far outlived the console it launched on, to the point where it’s difficult to remember that the Xbox was its primary platform. It did launch on PS2 and PC, but those almost seem like afterthoughts. Regardless,Psychonautswas something of a financial disappointment at a time when new IPs were struggling to be recognized. Despite that, word-of-mouth from its avid fanbase granted it a cult following. Over 15 years later, we’dfinally getPsychonauts 2.
The original is still worth playing, however. Featuring surprisingly deep characters, an excellent soundtrack, and solid platforming. You play as a young boy who breaks into a Summer Camp for psychics and finds mystery afoot. You’re then given the ability to enter other people’s minds, which gives the game its central premise: platforming adventures through various psyches.
Psychonautsis packed with great and memorable moments that will drill into your grey matter and live there. Each mind presents something different, taking you to a battlefield on a board game and a twisted neighborhood packed with conspiracy paranoia. There’s nothing else quite like it on the console.
5.Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic(2003)
Personally, I playedStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicon PC, but it came out a few months earlier on Xbox. Since I missed out on a lot of CRPGs of the era,KotORwas a pretty enlightening experience for me. The companion system was engrossing, and the dark/light-side alignment was an interesting twist that made the experience very personal. Then, of course, there was HK-47, a robot so twisted and evil that I feel rather jealous.
You play as a (seemingly) relative nobody caught up in a war between the Jedi and Sith, set centuries before the events of even the prequel trilogy. In typical CRPG style, you pick up party members along the way, including the aforementioned killer robot. Truly, it was nice to have somethingStarWars-relatedthat didn’t just drool lovingly over the movies.
It was followed up byStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lordsby Obsidian Entertainment, which had higher highs and lower lows. The absolute nadir of these lows was the fact that it was clearly unfinished. So, while there’s lots of fun to be had through most of the game, and some of the twists that it pulls are extremely meaningful, the whole thing starts to vibrate harder and harder until the end, to the point where it essentially shakes itself apart. So for those reasons,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis here instead.
4.Halo: Combat Evolved(2001)
This is here mostly due to peer pressure. I’m not in love with theHalogames in general. Every year or so, I’ll boot one up to play through and reconfirm my apathy toward the series.However!I recognize its impact, and it’s not like I think it’s a stinky game or anything. I was around when it dropped, and it was the biggest, latest thing. It was such a huge success that it became one of the most often imitated formulas, and for a good reason. Its combat was truly revolutionary, tying in a small degree of strategy as you identified priority targets and took them out with a range of weapons.
My lack of enthusiasm forHalotoday might be because the game’s best features and story beats have been replicated to the point of becoming stale. That’s not really the game’s fault, though, and back in the day, it was a mainstay multiplayer title for my group of high school friends. We even got eight players together on two connected Xboxes for a few nights. Good times.
And, as much of a curmudgeon as I am, I’ve always loved the vehicular side ofHalo. It tied in various modes of transportation in satisfying ways without having to completely disrupt the action.
3.Ninja Gaiden Black(2005)
2004’sNinja Gaidenis a title that I feel was significantly over-hyped at the time of release while simultaneously holding the opinion that it’s a fantastic game. An Xbox exclusive at the time, Tecmo and Microsoft pushedhardwith marketing, and a lot of people around me ate it up. It was theDemon’s Soulsof the time; it was so difficult that completing it meant you were just so skillful and cool.
It was so built up as this transcendental experience that nothing could realistically live up to the hype. And it didn’t. But I still love it.
It was followed up a year later withNinja Gaiden Black, which compiled in the two DLC packs that were released for the original title, added missions, and rejiggered other parts of it. It was sort of a definitive edition, and that was only solidified whenNinja Gaiden Sigmawas released on the PS3 and was considered to be a prettier version of the game, but otherwise flaccid in comparison. Even today,Ninja Gaiden Blackis considered by many to be the best version of the stellar title. I can’t disagree.
2.Steel Battalion(2002)
“It’s not the game that matters, it’s the controller,” is something I don’t think anyone has ever said. However, in the case ofSteel Battalion, that would probably be accurate.Steel Battalionis designed around a controller with 44 inputs. This includes three pedals, two joysticks, a dial, some toggles, and a whole lot of buttons.
There is a game involved here, but I’m not surehow one is supposed to play itwith such anassertivelyarousingcontroller.Steel Battalionitself is constructed around hardware outside and in. A lot of effort has gone into making its mechs feel like steel coffins with an almost retro-futuristic, cyberpunk feel. There’s enough depth to all the systems to necessitate a good read-through of its extensive manual.
However – and this is one thing you need to know going in – it is absolutely brutal. There’s an eject button on the controller, and it’s more than just for show. If your mech starts giving out on you, you’ll need to press that button to preserve your life. Going down with your tin can meansSteel Battalionis going to erase your progress and force you to start over. Even if you do manage to eject, you’ll need to pay for that military hardware you let go up in flames, and if you don’t have the cash to cover it,Steel Battalionwill blatantly tell you how much you suck and delete your save. Considering that it can be quite a feat to topple even the fourth level, that eject button will get a workout. At least you’ll get your money’s worth out of that controller.
There was a sequel a couple of years later,Steel Battalion: Line of Contact. It, too, used the giant controller, but it was multiplayer only. However, there are still fans playing it online today, long after the servers were taken down. Hm? 2012’sSteel Battalion: Heavy Armor? We don’t talk about that one.
1.Burnout 3: Takedown(2004)
If there’s one game that made me particularlyjealous of Xbox gamersin the day, and one that I’m begging for a port or remaster of today, it’sBurnout 3: Takedown. I was a huge fan of the wreck-’em-up racers Burnout and Burnout 2 on GameCube. Then EA would get their green-stained hands-on Criterion, and suddenly the GameCube got kicked to the curb. PS2 got it, but my little lunchbox was ignored. That sucks, becauseBurnout 3: Takedownis easily the best in the series.
It took everything that was good about the first two games (the crashes) and made them better. Suddenly, bumping and grinding felt more impactful, and the game was more chaotic. You were not only rewarded for skillful driving, but aggressive combat. Somehow, Criterion was able to harness the chaos and create mechanical systems that enhance it. A world tour framework brought all the various modes together in one career. It is, to this day, one of my favorite racing games.
Burnout 3would be followed up withBurnout Revengeon the platform. However, I feel like the “traffic checking” mechanic (allowing you to knock cars traveling in the same direction out of the way) cheapened the thrills of dodging through traffic.Burnout 3, on the other hand, is racing perfection.
