Microsoft Xbox

Knights of the Old Republic is a massive RPG and one of the most ambitious Star Wars games ever devised. By focusing on character customization and implementing round-based battles, Knights of the Old Republic seems to draw its inspiration from classic “paper and pen” RPGs. The way the battles system blends real-time and turn-based elements together almost makes the game feel like a more accessible version of Dungeons and Dragons. Players interact with other characters in the game by selecting from a list of menu responses, and the dialogue varies in accordance to the gender and abilities of the player’s character. To give you an idea of how expansive the quest is: Over 15,000 lines of speech were recorded for the game! Despite the overwhelming scope, the story progression is surprisingly fast-paced and the goals are clearly defined. The most interesting aspect about the game is how it tracks every action the player makes in order to determine whether their character will align with the light or dark side of the Force. (Generosity and kindness will lead to the light side whereas selfish and violent actions will lead to darkness.) The path the player takes has profound affects on the story and even impacts their character’s appearance. One reason why Knights of the Old Republic is so effective is because the game is set thousands of years before the events of the films and revolves around brand new characters. This gave the a developers an opportunity to create a refreshing story that was full of surprises and shocking plot twists. (I’m talking “Bruce Willis is dead” levels of shocking, here.) Star Wars fans will adore Knights of the Old Republic for obvious reasons, but the game will also appeal to anyone who appreciates first-rate storytelling.

Beyond Good & Evil focuses on an investigative journalist name Jade who aims to use her camera to expose a planet-wide alien conspiracy. Jade is an expert martial artists, but combat is just a small portion of the game. Beyond Good & Evil successfully combines platforming, puzzle solving, and stealth-based gameplay into one of the most atmospheric adventure games of its generation. The production values are amazing, and the smooth animation and incredible voice acting give life to the game’s characters. The witty dialogue and intriguing story add even more personality to the game. Even the minor characters have their own personalities. The level designs are every bit as compelling as the characters are, and most players will be instantly drawn in by the game’s stunning environments. Beyond Good & Evil is a game that excels in multiple areas, but I wish the adventure could have lasted a little longer. The game left me begging for more, but the planned sequels are unlikely to ever see the light of day because consumers failed to recognize how special the game really was.

SoulCalibur II had some big shoes to fill. After all, the first SoulCalibur basically revolutionized the genre with its eight-way run mechanic. SoulCalibur II featured new characters and improved graphics, but it also boasts several gameplay refinements. There were additional weapons for each character, arena walls were added in many stages, and a new “clash” system was implemented for when players attacked each other at the same time. SoulCalibur II saw a simultaneous release on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube; and each version of the game featured an exclusive character. GameCube and PS2 owners could select characters from Zelda and Tekken respectively, while Xbox owners were given Spawn from Todd McFarlane’s comic book series. Spawn wasn’t as rooted into the world of gaming as the other guest characters were, but his flowing cape and giant axe made him a perfect fit for the series. It should also be noted that the Xbox version of SoulCalibur II was the best-looking version and even supported 720p output. High-definition games were still a rarity in 2003, so SoulCalibur II really stood out. SoulCalibur II didn’t make as much of an impact on the industry as its immediate predecessor, but it’s still the best 3D fighting game on the Xbox by a considerable margin.

The Sands of Time is a textbook example of how to revive a forgotten franchise. The engaging story, intriguing setting, and incredible production values made the game stand out; but it’s the brilliant gameplay and intuitive controls that place the game into the upper-echelon of Xbox titles. Like the classic 2D Prince of Persia games, The Sands of Time is well-known for its incredible animation. The game combines elements from action and platform games, and a heavy emphasis is placed on agility and acrobatics. During the game, players will find themselves climbing various structures, grabbing onto ledges, swinging around on poles, running along walls, and making death-defying leaps across dangerous chasms. Acrobatics even play a role in combat. Vaulting over enemies or bouncing off walls are two effective methods of dispatching foes, and the action is surprisingly graceful. The Sands of Time was also notable for its innovative “time control” dynamic which allowed players to slow down (or even rewind) time. The time manipulation aspects gave the developers license to be as creative as they wanted to be without having to worry about frustrating players in the process. The Sands of Time received unanimous praise upon its release and effectively made Prince of Persia relevant again. It’s just a shame that Ubisoft decided to adopt a darker tone for the sequels.

Like other games in the Oddworld universe, Stranger’s Wrath boasts impressive graphics, a compelling storyline, and unique play mechanics. The game centers around a mysterious bounty hunter with a tough-as-nails persona (comparable to Clint Eastwood), and the setting is reminiscent of the Old West. The objective in the game is to make money by capturing outlaws, and players are given the freedom to choose which bounties they want to accept. The bounty system is well-executed and perfectly balanced. Players get higher rewards for bringing in live enemies, but it’s often easier to kill them outright. Stranger’s Wrath incorporates elements from third- person platformers and first-person shooters, and the game seamlessly transitions from one gameplay style to the other. Stranger’s Wrath is a lot more than the sum of its parts, however, and the game is loaded with creativity. One of its most unique features is its innovative “live ammo” system. Ammunition is literally made out of insects, small mammals, and other animals that populate the game’s environments. There are over 80 different combinations of ammo to experiment with, and each has different uses and effects against enemies. Stranger’s Wrath relied on familiar themes and gameplay styles, but the entire package was completely unlike any game on the market.

After laying dormant for over a decade, the Ninja Gaiden franchise finally returned in 2004. Thankfully, the game retained nearly everything that made the NES games so beloved in the first place. The graphics are phenomenal, the storytelling is effective, and the production values are incredible. The combat in Ninja Gaiden feels intuitive and fast-paced without ever becoming too simplistic or automatic. The controls are fluid and responsive, the combo system is creative, and the game demands players to have both reflexes and strategy. Players can obtain a wide assortment of weapons in the game and also have a myriad of melee attacks at their disposal. The inclusion of magic spells gives players even more options in battle. The game’s stages range from typical Japanese villages to breathtaking air ships, and the environments themselves are highly interactive. During the game, players will find themselves jumping off walls, swinging from poles, and even running across water! Incredible boss battles, booberific sidekicks, and gratuitous violence round out one of the best action games ever made. As impressive as Ninja Gaiden was, it did have a few significant flaws. The camera didn’t always cooperate with the player, and the difficulty could only be described as outrageous. Ninja Gaiden Black addressed both of these issues with the inclusion of a vastly improved camera system and the option to adjust the difficulty. Black also featured new missions, new cinemas, and new costumes to unlock. Ninja Gaiden Black is basically what Ninja Gaiden should have been in the first place and is regarded by the game’s creator as the definitive version. Once you go black, you never go back.

Burnout 3 might not be the most realistic racing game on the Xbox, but it’s streets ahead of the competition when it comes to fun factor. Who needs realistic handling or real-world physics models when you have ridiculous speed and astonishing crash sequences? Like previous games in the series, Burnout 3 encourages players to drive recklessly. You can increase your speed by driving through incoming traffic, drifting around corners, launching yourself off jumps, and by causing competitors’ cars to crash. In addition to the typical “reach the finish line” objectives, Burnout 3 also features modes in which players are tasked with taking out a pre-set number of opponents or causing as much monetary damage as possible. With nearly 70 cars to unlock (including buses, fire engines, and garbage trucks) and more than 170 different events to partake in, the amount of content in Burnout 3 is staggering. The online mode was another great addition to the series. Burnout 3 is quite possibly the best arcade-style racing game of all time, and it wasn’t even released in the arcades!

TimeSplitters 2 takes a much more lighthearted approach than most first-person shooters, and the play mechanics are decidedly less complicated. The game doesn’t allow players to jump and there is no real cover system to speak of. On the other hand, TimeSplitters 2 also happens to be one of the fastest-moving games in the genre and the controls are basically unparalleled when it comes to accuracy and comfort. TimeSplitters 2 is extremely varied, and the game’s “time travel” theme is put to excellent use. Throughout the course of the game, players will chase monkeys through temples, shoot cowboys in the wild west, and fight robots in a futuristic wasteland. Each stage takes players to a new place in time, and gamers are given a wide assortment of weapons appropriate for each era. In addition to the main story mode, TimeSplitters 2 features comprehensive “arcade” modes that give players opportunities to unlock bonus content. Naturally, the multiplayer component is also a big part of the game’s appeal. There are dozens of characters to choose from and countless scenarios to select. The ability to play against up-to-ten computer-controlled bots was another nice touch that most games in the genre completely neglect. The number of options is staggering and the level of customization makes TimeSplitters 2 one of the most replayable games of its generation. Some viewed the lack of an online mode as a drawback, but the game’s split-screen multiplayer action is second to none.

Halo: Combat Evolved put the Xbox on the map and was the perfect launch game. From the very beginning, impressive lighting and advanced texture effects (like bump mapping) effectively showcased the power of the Xbox. It was hard not to be drawn in by the vibrant colors and wide-open areas. As impressive as the game looked, the gameplay itself was every bit as enticing. The controls were intuitive and put the Xbox controller to great use. The AI was extremely advanced for the era, and the enemies actually seemed like they understood their surroundings. Instead of simply running around aimlessly, they would run for cover and even showed signs of fear when they were being attacked. It was rare to see such a high level of interaction between the enemies and their environments in 2001. The manner in which players react to their surroundings also affected the game in profound ways. Tactics like finding cover, gaining the high ground, and exercising stealth were all encouraged, and the levels lent themselves well to strategic gameplay. As impressive as the game’s single-player campaign is, the multiplayer aspect is even more legendary. With dozens of maps and options to choose from, the multiplayer offers near-endless replay value. The game lacks any online support, but the four-player split screen mode is a blast and you also have the ability to link multiple systems together via a local Ethernet connection. Halo 2 was a shot in the arm for Xbox Live and online gaming in general, but the game’s single-player experience was lacking. With the online features no longer being supported, Halo 2 is a shell of its former self, but the original is just as incredible as it ever was.

Grand Theft Auto III was arguably the most influential game of its generation. The game popularized the concept of “sandbox” environments where gamers were given freedom to play the game as they saw fit. Grand Theft Auto III had tons of predetermined missions to complete and the game followed a pre-set narrative, but players could simply ignore the “real” game and waste countless hours doing random things within the game’s massive city environments. Controversial elements like stealing cars, picking up hookers, and shooting police officers garnered a lot of negative press, but the open-ended nature of the game made Grand Theft Auto III a landmark title. San Andreas was the third game based off the Grand Theft Auto III engine. (The second being the ’80s-themed Vice City.) San Andreas was considerably larger than either of its direct predecessors and featured a host of significant gameplay refinements. There were now three massive cities to explore and over 200 vehicles to steal. The range of vehicles included bicycles, helicopters, dune buggies, jets, combines, and nearly everything in between. San Andreas also placed a stronger emphasis on vehicle customization and character personalization. The ability to burglarize homes and partake in gang warfare also helped San Andreas stand out from its predecessors, and the host of new mini-games added even more variety. The Grand Theft Auto franchise was so closely associated with the PlayStation 2 that many people completely overlooked that the games were also available on the Xbox. The Xbox version of San Andreas is nearly identical to its PS2 brother, but it runs at a higher frame rate and boasts a snazzy “instant replay” feature that allows players to rewind the game for up to 30 seconds. I realize that the Xbox version hit store shelves six months after the PlayStation 2 version, but that’s certainly no reason to discredit it. San Andreas is still one of the most ambitious games ever created, and it’s a true classic regardless of what platform you play it on.