10) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Morrowind may very well be the biggest game to ever grace the original Xbox. Did we say big? We meant huge. The third installment of the Elder Scrolls series offered a sprawling open-ended RPG environment the likes of which the video-gaming world had never seen. Morrowind was a radical free-form RPG experience, so much so that some gamers had a tough time dealing with the lack of linear gameplay. There was a central storyline, but it was oh so easy to get lost in the wilderness of secondary quest chains, guild advancements, and pure exploration. The proud pappy of Oblivion, Morrowind sucks 100 hours from you and takes the number 10 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
9) Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
Love sneaking around murdering people, but hate doing battle with villains like Psycho Mantis and Sniper Wolf? Have we got the Xbox title for you! Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell allowed players to assume the role of Sam Fisher, sneaky killer extraordinaire. Think a combination of Solid Snake and Jack Bauer. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell boasted a gritty and realistic plot, a considerable paradigm hop forward in AI reasoning, and groundbreaking use of line-of-sight, sound, and light/shadow as Sam Fisher tiptoed around dealing out his special brand of death. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell sneaks into the number 9 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
8) Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee
Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee was originally announced as a Playstation 2 title, but Microsoft snatched it up as an Xbox exclusive in one of the early skirmishes of the console wars. This highly polished puzzle platformer let players switch between familiar protagonist Abe and amphibious newcomer Munch to solve a serious of escalating action puzzles and save Munch’s species from utter extinction. If you’re a fan of Jak & Daxter or Crash Bandicoot this title is an absolute find-and-play, a tremendous platformer that many gamers missed out on because of the console switch. Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee jumps to the number 8 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
7) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Hate the movie, not the game. Okay yes that Disney film does cast rather a long shadow over the franchise. But we didn’t let the Super Mario Bros. movie ruin that series for us, and we need to be strong once again gamer nation! The game Sands of Time was a tribute to the Prince of Persia series: a wall-running, rope-climbing, time-churning thrill ride with cunning environmental puzzles and a much-improved multiple opponent combat system. No Gyllenhalls allowed! Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time climbs to the number 7 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
6) Fable
The trouble with lofty promises is that they so rarely come down from the clouds. When will Molyneux learn! Keep expectations as low as possible and then exceed them. The key to any good relationship. Although Fable didn’t completely revolutionize the world of video game storytelling the way we’d been promised, it did deliver a very solid experience and an interesting blend of RPG and action-adventure gaming. And hey, you could tell Molyneux was really trying. Characters kept scars, aged, the world reacted to the choices the player made (kinda). Not too shabby for a first attempt. Fable points up at the moon without actually bothering to take the trip. But at least now people are thinking about the journey. Fable aspires its way to the number 6 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
5) Psychonauts
Psychonauts is an oft-overlooked title by video game visionary Tim Schafer, LucasArts darling and designer of such memorable marvels as Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandagno, Full Throttle, and Brütal Legend. Psychonauts was a departure from this adventure game pedigree and saw Schafer step into the wide world of platform gaming. However strong elements of adventure gaming remained. Solid storytelling components, interesting dialogue, and humor that was actually funny set this title apart from a legion of mediocre platformers in the field. Psychonauts is at the same time a psychedelic adventure and a knee-slapping platformer. If you stuffed Grant Morrison full of candy until he burst like a piñata – this game would pop out. A don’t-miss title, Psychonauts psychic powers its way to the number 5 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
4) Panzer Dragoon Orta
Panzer Dragoon Orta is one of the greatest games you’ve never played. The fourth game in the series following the fall of the Sega Saturn, Panzer Dragoon Orta is a flying rail shooter that still has a cult following today. Many gamers still consider it to be the finest rail shooter ever made. In addition Panzer Dragoon Orta boasted an interesting plot, a noteworthy soundtrack, and a level of difficulty that would make you cry on your controller. This game was recently made backwards compatible with the Xbox 360 (with a few hiccups) and it’s definitely worth poking around game rental sites to find a copy. A title to make gamers born again hard. Panzer Dragoon Orta flies into the number 4 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
3) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The controversial and incredibly entertaining GTA: San Andreas takes the number 3 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown. Players took control of Carl “CJ” Johnson and worked to carve out a big section of gangland territory in San Andreas. Along the way CJ grabbed some vehicles, guns, drugs, and maybe even a little Hot Coffee. Add to that one of the greatest soundtracks in the history of gaming. GTA: San Andreas was a massively wide-open sandbox game (many players making the long drive out of the city to the boondocks even griped it was a little too big). There’s no question this title made an indelible mark on the history of gaming. Whether you love it or love to hate it, the GTA series will not be ignored.
2) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is without question the finest Star Wars game ever made. It’s a little late in the day to be complaining about spoilers, but suffice it to say KOTOR also boasted one of the greatest endings in the history of gaming. We’ll leave it at that. A party-based RPG that allowed you to recruit Jedi, bounty hunters, Wookies, Twi’leks, and the snarkiest assassin droid of all time. Sigh. It’s been so long since anyone has called us Meatbag. BioWare struggles against all odds to keep the Star Wars franchise good, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic earns the number 2 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
1) Halo: Combat Evolved
First person shooters like Gears of War3, Resistance 3, and Modern Warfare 2 have finally begun to eclipse the Halo juggernaut. But when Halo first released it was a game-changer. A solid FPS experience the likes of which gamers had never seen, a compelling story about one little Master Chief against legions of Covenant, an electric guitar inspired soundtrack, a long campaign with a variety of environments, solid AI, and the first glimpses of what would become one of the greatest multiplayer experiences in shooter history. Oh and did we mention Halo was almost single-handedly responsible for launching Microsoft/Xbox into the gaming market? All that and a bag of chips baby! Halo sticks you with a plasma grenade from across the map and takes the number 1 spot on the Top 10 Best Original Xbox Games countdown.
Conspicuously Absent:Halo 2. (We hate you giant talking plant monster thing.)
Resources:
Bethesda
Ubisoft
Psychonauts
Lionhead Studios
Bungie
Prince of Persia (Ubisoft)
BioWare
