With theXbox Series Xdue to be released this holiday season, fans are eager to see what the new machine will be capable of. If the trailer showing off the incredible technology behindSenua’s Saga: Hellblade IIis anything to go by then the next generation will be a very interesting one indeed.
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However, when the Xbox Series X and thePlayStation 5do arrive it’s amazing to forget that the Xbox 360 will be two generations ago. What is also surprising is how many the launch titles the console had when compared to the upcoming PS5 and XSX. While not all titles were amazing system sellers at launch, the Xbox 360 still had a number of gems that are still highly regarded today. Let’s take a look at ten of them, ranked according to Metacritic score.
10Gun (Metascore 75)
Gunis an open-world action-adventure game set in the American Wild West. It was originally released on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and the GameCube before it was ported as a launch title on the Xbox 360. The 360 version is by the far the best version of the game and it was well-received by gamers and critics alike.
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Unfortunately there was never a sequel, which may have been due to the outcry regardingGun’s controversial use of racial stereotypes.
9NHL 2K6 (Metascore 75)
Developed by 2K Sports,NHL 2K6was the new brand name for the series formally known as theESPN NHLseries. The game introduced a new Crease Control system that was exclusive to the Xbox 360, coaching mechanics, and bigger impact from the larger and more aggressive hockey players.
It’s biggest criticisms were that aside from the upgraded visuals and the new control systemNHL 2K6was essentially the same game as the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox versions.
8Kameo: Elements Of Power (Metascore 79)
Developed by Rare,Kameo: Elements Of Poweris an action-adventure game that took inspiration from thePokémonseries with its elemental spirit collecting features. Even thoughKameowas a launch title, it already separated itself from other games in the same generation with its vibrant and colorful visuals.
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In addition to thePokémoninfluence, there are elements fromThe Legend of Zeldaseries in its dungeon design, puzzles, and exploration. Despite its dedicated fanbase and the potential to be a great series, all plans for a sequel toKameowere canceled.
7Peter Jackson’s King Kong (Metascore 80)
Peter Jackson’s King Kongis a first-person action shooter based on the movie of the same name. Being a licensed game based on a movie, the expectations for this game were not particularly high. However,King Kongwas a surprisingly entertaining if linear ride from start to finish and still one of the best games to feature dinosaurs since theTurokseries.
Developers at Ubisoft clearly wanted to capture the feel of theKing Kongmovie, bringing in all of the cast from the movie to reprise their roles. The antiquated weaponry feels great to use, and there is even an element of survival horror to the game with lots of jump-scares to keep players on their toes.
6NBA 2K6 (Metascore 81)
NBA 2K6was the second sports game from 2K Sports to launch on the Xbox 360, and was arguably their best. The series was already outclassing EA’sNBA Liveseries by raising the bar in visuals, gameplay, and presentation for basketball sims.
The was a steeper learning curve compared to EA’sNBA Liveseries, but the gameplay was far more rewarding and technical as a result.NBA 2K6was also a great system seller for the 360 due to its great graphics, animation, and the sweat mechanics which were way ahead of their time.
5Perfect Dark Zero (Metascore 81)
Perfect Dark Zerowas another launch title developed by Rare, who was also known for developingGoldeneye 007for the Nintendo 64. Its plot is set before the events of the first game on the N64 so newer players could jump into the story without prior knowledge of its predecessors.
Unfortunately,Perfect Dark Zerowasn’t a big seller on the Xbox 360 which meant the series has been sidelined since. While the game didn’t have the same impact asHalo,PZD’s level design was fantastic and the handling of the weapons felt great by incorporating weight into its handling and the character’s movement.
4Condemned: Criminal Origins (Metascore 81)
Condemned: Criminal Originsis a first-person survival horror series developed by Monolith Studios. It’s the same team behind theF.E.A.R.and later theShadow of Mordorseries, and is still one of the best titles in the Xbox 360 library.
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Criminal Originsimplemented crime scene investigation techniques into the game’s story and environment. It’s the incredibly brutal melee combat, atmospheric visuals, and the survival horror elements that make it one of the best launch titles for the Xbox 360.
3Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Metascore 83)
Before theCall of Dutyseries was guaranteed worldwide Christmas number one hit, it was theNeed for Speedseries that dominated every holiday season.Need for Speed: Most Wantedwas another great launch title for the Xbox 360.
TheNeed for Speedseries did a great job of capitalizing on the rising popularity and themes of the earlyFast & Furiousmovies.Most Wantedfeatured an open-world environment and its overuse of browns and yellows aside, it was a huge step up in visuals from its PS2 predecessors.
2Project Gotham Racing 3 (Metascore 88)
Developed by the now-defunct Bizzare Creations theProject Gotham Racingseries was the spiritual successor to the Sega Dreamcast exclusiveMetropolis Street Racer. Project Gotham Racing 3was another racing title for the Xbox 360’s launch.
Just like its predecessors,Project Gotham Racing 3isn’t just a game about coming first place, it was also about racing and winning in style and earning Kudos points. Being developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 meant it was easily one of the best looking launch titles for the console.
1Call Of Duty 2 (Metascore 89)
The WWII-setCall of Duty 2was one of the biggest selling launch games for the Xbox 360, and the highest scoring according to Metacritic. It’s still highly regarded as one of the best World War 2 shooters ever released.
The D-Day assault of Pointe du Hoc was reminiscent of one of the most memorable scenes in the movieSaving Private Ryanby capturing the true horror of war. It was arguably the best-looking shooter on the 360 and offered gamers a significant campaign mode and an excellent – at the time – multiplayer.
NEXT:10 Best Launch Games For The Original Xbox, Ranked (According To Metacritic)
