The Bluffer's Guide to Xbox Cult Classics
Top of the Flops, if you like. [updated!]
Fahrenheit
Rated by us as "far and away the best adventure game of modern times" it's a fantastically enjoyable - if flawed - tale of one man's battle to avoid being locked up for a murder that he did commit but wasn't responsible for. Sure, the storyline goes completely bonkers at the end (spoiling it irredeemably for some) but on balance it was a game that dared to shake up convention and introduced some truly brilliant concepts such as the rubber band narrative which had wonderfully subtle effects on the storyline depending on your actions. Whether it worked...well, that's not a clear cut issue, but aside from the ludicrous button hammering sections it was easily one of the most daring games to emerge on the Xbox and certainly one of its most enjoyable. Of course, it didn't sell a great deal, which is why we implore anyone who missed out on it to give it a try.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No.
You'll like it if: You enjoy narrative-rich adventure games.
A word of warning: Track and Field button mashing for the lose.
Secret Weapons Over Normandy
A typical example of a game that was released at completely the wrong time of year (i,e, in mid November, 2003), and one that consequently got utterly ignored in a way that made me cry inside. A lot. What a travesty! By far the best version of the game ended up on the Xbox, and as such, Totally Games' WW2 combat flight classic went completely under most gamer's radars, blissfully unaware that they missed out on possibly the best flight combat game in a generation. Ok, there were some savage difficulty spikes to overcome, but any game that can consume an entire Christmas when I'm supposed to be taking time off playing games has to be celebrated. It was also one of the first games to deliver free downloadable content, which was lovely of them.
What did we think? 9/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Not yet.
You'll like it if: You have any interest in flight combat games. Truly, some of the most memorable levels ever made.
A word of warning: Did I mention the difficulty spikes? You'll scream and curse, but somehow it's all worth it.
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
A bit of revisionism here, but actually I changed my mind about Stranger's Wrath not long after reviewing it - showing how fluid opinions can be when you're pressed into making a call about a game's worth. There was never any question about how incredible the game looked, and even now it's a stunning example of what the Xbox was capable. To all intents, Oddworld Inhabitants did a grand job of skilfully combining third person action adventure (with fast-paced platforming elements) with an amusing take on the first person shooter genre. In a sense it's very much a one of a kind game that feels ahead of its time, but poor promotion of the game contributed to its rather dismal sales performance. A real shame. Definitely one to pick up on the cheap.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No
You'll like it if: You admire the unique humour of the Oddworld titles and fancy a fresh take on the shooter genre.
A word of warning: The quirky style might hold you back, but it's effortlessly charming.
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
And while we're talking about Oddworld, we shouldn't forget this once highly anticipated launch title. At the time, Microsoft saw the scooping of Munch's Oddysee as real proof that it had arrived - after all the two previous Oddworld titles on PSone had sold by the bucket load. Translated into rather gorgeous 3D for the launch of the Xbox, it was everyone's fourth choice for what to buy - and got a bit left behind by the more conventional charms of Halo and Gotham. That's a shame, because it's basically a puzzle game that dares to be different - and for the most part does a decent job of being both fun and unusual during a period of gaming history where convention has been embraced arguably more than ever by a cautious buying public. For those that did take the plunge, many - myself included, rather warmed to its charms, and I have no hesitation in adding it to the list of interesting 'cult' titles that came to Xbox.
What did we think? 6/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No.
You'll like it if: The goofy charm of Oddworld's characters doesn't annoy you.
A word of warning: It's a puzzle game at heart - platform fans can move along.
Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge
Microsoft assumed that many of its prime PC brands would be just as big on its powerful new console, but it rarely worked out that way. Despite being a great flight combat title that reviewed well across the board, the console owning public shrugged their shoulders at it - despite the allure of online play, lavish production values and excellent visuals. Set in an alternative 1930s where the US no longer exists and the Zeppelin is the de-facto transport standard, you play a swashbuckling hero tasked with cleaning up the skies of the filthy bandits that keep robbing everyone. It wasn't the most groundbreaking title ever, but exceptionally polished and well worth the attention of anyone who like a bit of flight combat now and then.
What did we think? 8/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes siree Bob.
You'll like it if: You can't get enough flight combat - especially really polished ones.
A word of warning: It follows a well established design template, but mostly in a good sense.
Freedom Fighters
The makers of Hitman briefly dabbled with squad-based combat a few years back, and did a pretty good job, as Tom was happy to point out back in the late summer of 2003. Taking a determinedly arcade approach to squad based antics, you could argue it was a little ahead of its time in spotting that gamers might prefer less, rather than more complexity. Amusingly, the premise was to fight back against a Russian invasion of America, determined to liberate the country from their corrupt capitalist rulers - and despite watering down the tactical side of the game, it made for a solid, fun experience where you essentially waded through endless commies, backed by reliable trigger men. Where this might provide extra interest is finding out where IO is going with its next title, Kane & Lynch - supposedly a combination of Hitman and Freedom Fighter in many respects. Let's hope it's as good as Blood Money...
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Nyet.
You'll like it if: Accessible squad-based shooters with savvy squad mates are your thing.
A word of warning: Multiplayer isn't that great.
Metal Arms: A Glitch In The System
This is probably one of those "7s that should have been an 8" with the benefit of hindsight - Swingin' Ape turned out a great looking game that sat somewhere in between Halo and Ratchet & Clank, which is to say it has all the ingrediants of two of our favourites from this generation. It was all third person shooting and massive metallic explosions, and plenty of platform combat and weapons upgrades. Great stuff that deserved not to be released - like SWON and BG&E - in the midst of the 2003 Christmas rush. The developer, like so many of the teams behind the games on this list, went out of business not long after. Cruel, considering the quality of its game.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Yes. Glitch free.
You'll like it if: You want a technically polished shooter with oodles of charm.
A word of warning: Pretty savage difficulty spike kicks in after a few hours.
Enclave
The makers of Riddick haven't had the best of luck over the years, managing to produce not one but two great games that didn't sell on Xbox. Will it be third time lucky with The Darkness next year? Way back in the summer of 2002 the ill-fated Swing brought this to market, but like many of its other games, Enclave failed to get much attention. And that's a great shame, because it remains one of the best fantasy adventures on the Xbox, and is certainly (still) one of the best looking. For what it's worth, I spied this in my local games exchange for about £4 and snapped it up, having never once seen it on a shop shelf. If you're one of those oddballs like me that collects games, I suggest you do the same soon...
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Is it hell.
You'll like it if: You want to see what Starbreeze got up to before Riddick and admire good game design.
A word of warning: The progression system is a mite unforgiving. Even though Tom loved it, his pad suffered severe punishment at times.
Voodoo Vince
Even three years on I can still hear the charming "Viiiince the Voooodoooo Dooooll" theme music, if that tells you how much of a lasting impression this charming little platformer had on me. At the time, I think I'd been absolutely saturated by about a dozen character platform games that all arrived pretty much at the same time (think Ratchet, Jak 2, Sly, et al), but the review still managed to exude warmth even in the face of genre burnout. The best thing about the game was its Day of the Tentacle style atmosphere, great graphical style (Vince, himself is exceptional) and some genuinely brilliant levels. It falls down a little in the consistency stakes - a little like our cult poster child Psychonauts. In fact, the best thing I can say to perk up your interest is if you dug Double Fine's hilarious game, this exudes the same happy, comical vibe.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? No. Curses.
You'll like it if: Platform gaming isn't a dirty word to you. It's funny, looks great and has brilliant music.
A word of warning: It follows a lot of well worn platform convention. Long-ish load times.
Indiana Jones & The Emperor's Tomb
No one believes me when I rave on about how much I like The Collective's overlooked gem, maybe because the PS2 version was so atrocious. But on Xbox it was a lovely combination of Tomb Raider style third person adventuring and fisticuff brawling that suited Indy's gruff personality perfectly - it also came out during a period when there was a serious dearth of decent action adventures. At the time I had a bit of an issue with its unapologetic mass market design, but I'm over that now, it's a fine game once you get over the fact that, no, it's not The Fate of Atlantis. Pick it up on the cheap and enjoy some dumb action adventure fun.
What did we think? 7/10
Compatible with Xbox 360? Sorry, Dr. Jones.
You'll like it if: You want Indiana Jones to do what Lara Croft does, but with a whip, without the poncey voice and more hilarious fisticuff violence than your average pub brawl.
A word of warning: Pretty linear stuff, and simple puzzles - don't expect LucasArts to pander to your 90s adventure fetish.
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