Christmas Buyers Guide - Xbox 360

360 Feature | All you need for a merry Xbox Xmas.

It's hard to dispute that Microsoft's now-gen machine occupies an enviable position as we head towards Christmas 2006. As well as the numerical advantage the 360 still enjoys over the competition (thanks to its earlier release, though let's not mention Japan), it also leads the pack by a long, long way in terms of online play. And of course, like the finest of wines, its library of games has matured into something that can't be matched on either the Wii or PlayStation 3 right now, boasting a good handful of must-have titles.

So, with such a choice in front of you, we selected the best dozen games that should be occupying your 360's disc tray come Xmas. Scroll down for the goodness.

Christmas Buyers Guides
PARENTS | PLAYSTATION 2 | NINTENDO DS | PLAYSTATION PORTABLE

Dead Rising

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

Our review said: "There’s not a whole lot to complain about in Dead Rising; the game’s scope has a real next generation feel to it, it looks really good in motion, it doesn’t feature the typical bad dub from Capcom and the game is a total blast to play.

The game’s save system can be a little unforgiving (only one slot is available), but if you get caught in a situation you can’t get out of, the game will allow you to restart with all of Frank’s new abilities intact. If you’re a fan of zombie movies or just in the mood to slay thousands of ghouls with unconventional weaponry, then Dead Rising is well and truly worth a look." [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

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Dead or Alive 4

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-4
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Tecmo

Our review said: "Dead or Alive 4 is the best in the series so far. It’s more balanced than ever (in fact, if you’ve got a broadband connection, the latest patch makes a few notable alterations to balance the game further), the added pace this version has is welcome, and the new characters are each excellent yet delightfully different additions to the DoA roster.

It shines strongly in multiplayer, offering fast and frantic battles for both beginners and veterans alike, both online and offline. Those looking for some multiplayer fighting fun could do a lot worse than Dead or Alive 4, though if all you’ll be playing is single player it’s very hard to recommend this at full price." [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

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F.E.A.R.

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-16
Developer: Monolith
Publisher: Vivendi Universal

Our review said: "Any gamer claiming to enjoy first-person shooters should definitely give F.E.A.R. a try. Some may be put off by the lack of a decent story and repetitive combat, but the overall quality warrants at least one playthrough.

What’s interesting about F.E.A.R. (and we don’t get to say this often about genre interests) is that those previously unattracted to FPS games might do well to give this one a bash. Its unique combat may attract those previously bored with the tired old run-and-gun franchises like Medal of Honour and Halo.

F.E.A.R. gives something unique to the genre that may be expected by veterans, yet previously unimagined by newcomers – a rather refreshing mix of appeal for the differing gamer segments. It certainly is an interesting game to say the least, and the probable sequel (beyond the upcoming expansion F.E.A.R: Extraction Point) will definitely be a title to watch." [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

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Test Drive Unlimited

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-6
Developer: Atari
Publisher: Atari

Our review said: "Test Drive Unlimited breathes quality in almost every area and is arguably one of the biggest surprises of the year.

You could spend over a hundred hours on this, and still not be done. There's a huge amount of single player missions and objectives to complete and things to buy, and that's before you even consider what Xbox Live offers here. If you don’t have a Xbox Live Gold subscription, you can knock a bit off the final score as its online integration is what really helps make this game special. Packed full of content and customisation, there’s plenty here for your money. One of the finest racing games in a long while, both in single player and online. Highly recommended." [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]

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Splinter Cell Double Agent

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft

Our review said: "Although not without its faults, Splinter Cell: Double Agent is a fantastic game. Overall, it's not quite the complete package that Chaos Theory was, but it deserves credit for trying something a bit different this time around, even if the changes weren’t entirely successful ones.

Few games recreate the sense of tension the way that the Splinter Cell games do, and this latest version does it incredibly well. All too often you’ll find you have forgotten to breathe for the past 20 seconds as you were creeping along a wall past two guards or cracking into a safe just yards away from an unsuspecting enemy. Games that can do that are always the ones worth playing most. Make sure you don't miss out." [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]

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NBA 2K7

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports

Our review said: "NBA 2K7 is a big game – there isn’t really another adjective to describe it. Larger than life presentation and chock full of content, it screams to be noticed. It would be difficult to find anything that rivals the epic scope, and it genuinely has something for everyone. Not all areas are as accessible as others, and this can limit the appeal to casual gamers as well as those curious to see if basketball may be their thing.

Still, it takes a long time to truly appreciate what NBA 2K7 has to offer, and it's the best Xbox 360 basketball game to date. For basketball fans this is a sure thing, and anyone searching for the game that will make or break their basketball curiosity should look no further." [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Publisher: 2K Games

Our review said: "On the whole Oblivion is excellent. Really excellent, actually, and arguably the strongest contender for game of the year yet. It’s possibly the most accessible RPG ever made, with a limitless scope for character creation and the fantastic ‘do what you want, when you want’ gameplay.

It’s also really freakin’ huge, with a massive world to explore, a great central plotline and an endless number of side quests to conquer – it’s completely pointless to try and put an hourly figure on it.

It’s here, it’s brilliant, and it will take over your life." [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

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Gears of War

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-8
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft

Our review said: "What Epic has created here is a gorgeous, Hollywood blockbuster of a game, a title packed with soaring production values and a style of combat that manages to be highly engaging, despite its ultimately repetitive nature.

True, it's some way from being original, and it features a cast and a setting that's almost as old as the science-fiction genre itself. But to whimper about such things as innovation would be rather missing the point; that for your hundred dollars or fifty quid, you're buying in to (at least) ten to twelve solid hours of supremely entertaining gaming. This is a formidable title - miss it at your peril. " [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

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Tony Hawk's Project 8

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Neversoft
Publisher: Activision O2

Our review said: "Tony Hawk's Project 8 is a solid game and a vast improvement upon the previous Tony Hawk games. The 'nail the trick' option is a fantastic addition to the game, and it really feels like you are actually creating and mastering your own trick. The story mode is a lot more focused and more enjoyable because you're actually completing challenges which relate to skating.

The new engine that Neversoft has developed is a lot more realistic, but the frame rate issues are disappointing. This is only really a minor complaint though, as Tony Hawk's Project 8 is easily the best Tony Hawk title since Pro Skater 4. Highly recommended." [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

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Viva Piñata

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft

Our review said: "It’s possible to go on and on about what Viva Piñata has to offer, but part of the fun is about discovery and experimentation within the game. With this being said, it’s strongly recommended to immerse yourself into the unknown and take everything as it comes. This is a stunning effort from the team at Rare, who have produced their greatest title since the golden-days (get it? HA) of Nintendo 64 gaming.

Viva Piñata has an unstoppable, infectiously happy theme that’s instantly enjoyable for kids, but that any age group will have an equally large amount of fun with. It isn’t without its flaws, including putting too much emphasis on romancing, as well as a sometimes frustrating, cluttered Piñata management system – but it really is up to the player to determine at what level to succeed and interact with the environments. Anyone dismissing this as a silly children’s game will be missing out on an absorbing, memorable experience that easily ranks among the best for the Xbox 360. The title itself says it all – Viva Piñata!" [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]

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Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-2
Developer: Rockstar San Diego
Publisher: Rockstar Games

Our review said: "Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis is a game that justifies the score of 8. While the game is actually quite light on options, it's extremely easy to pick up and yet the control system makes it quite a deep experience. If you are only in it for the single player, then the game isn't quite so appealing, but there are a few unlockables to extend the single player campaign.

Rockstar has developed one of the most accessible games on the Xbox 360, and the lower recommended retail price just makes the deal even sweeter." [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

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Saints Row

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-4
Developer: Volition Inc.
Publisher: THQ

Our review said: "In all aspects of life, it is tough to come up with a good original idea, but the entertainment industries have it even tougher, having to come up with original ideas that are also marketable. Audiences tend to look the other way when a studio or developer takes a few elements from another highly successful production to incorporate into their own.

Well, Saints Row doesn’t pretend to be original, and it isn’t without problems, but it does provide enough high quality gaming for players to overlook the game’s few shortcomings. It introduces a lot of cool little features, while providing enough entertaining gameplay to keep players coming back for months to come. It's a damn fine game." [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

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27 Comments

ugh the boot

5 years ago

^ Sorry....not too sure which game you're talking about here

Quote

Actually famitsu gave it a good review

If you thought I was actually calling Dead Rising or Lost Planet crap they you're severley mistaken. I was saying if capcom were pimping themselves out like EA and Ubi then chances are those games would turn out crap! I love capcom, they're my fave and they're one of the only reasons I still play games!!

Also Resident Evil isn't exclusive to Wii. Xbox 360 and Ps3 will actually get the next iterations in the series (Resident Evil 5). Wii is actually getting a spin-off/remake/compilation or something....i'm not too sure on the details but I know it's not RE5.

It's funny because it seems Capcom like to stick with one company when they make new games in the RE series and they will usually port it to other machines. E.g. Resident Evil 1, 2 and 3: Nemesis were developed for Playstation and later ported to other consoles including PC, Code Veronica was developed on Dreamcast and later ported to Ps2 and Gamecube, Resident Evil 4 was developed for GCN and ported to Ps2 and PC. I hope they do this with Resident Evil 5 as I try and stay away from multi-platform developed games.

Jim Dash

5 years ago

Different games appeal to different people too..Ugh and Leon loved Dead Rising, while I was a bit 'meh' about it. Jibbs was convinced and bought it too, and I think he 'quite enjoyed it'.

Ellegarden

5 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

^ Sorry....not too sure which game you're talking about here

Quote

Actually famitsu gave it a good review

Actually I disagree, even capcom does do multiplatform, they also develop good games, one good example is the resident evil 4 port, they could easily messed up the port on ps2, they did perfectly not only did it give gamecube version run for its money.

No Wii is getting resident evil exclusive to the wii, kinda the gamecube. Re5 is excluive to the next gen console i.e xbox and ps3. They're both being released at the same time, I dont think multiplatform games make bad games, its the developers who do.

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