Christmas Buyer's Guide - Xbox 360

360 Feature | Dreaming of a red light-less Christmas.

In terms of the number of quality games released this year, the Xbox has provided the best selection for those who are serious about their games. However, while the year in games has been great, 2007 may unfortunately be remembered for the hardware issues that continue to plague Microsoft's console. Thanks to the extended hardware warranty, you can now play your games in the knowledge that you at least won't have to pay for the (seemingly inevitable) repairs. Here are a few of the best games that were exclusively released for the Xbox 360 in 2007.

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Bioshock

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: 2K Boston/2K Australia
Publisher: 2K Games

The Xbox 360 hardly has a shortage of shooters, so it takes something special to stand out. Bioshock puts a whole lot of wonderfully tuned elements together in one place, to create one of the most commendable pieces of work this year. With a uniquely presented story, freedom of choice and many other elements all come together to deliver one of the most memorable games of the year. And that's without the help of a multiplayer mode.

Our review said: BioShock is a really compelling piece of work. While there has been a bit of streamlining and trimming of features from its spiritual predecessors, the game’s compelling story, satisfying action, pleasing aesthetics and brilliant atmosphere more than make up for it. BioShock may not do anything particularly new, but the combination of many important gameplay elements, a gripping narrative and interactivity with the game world in such an impressive fashion will undoubtedly raise the bar for many first person shooters to come. [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

Blue Dragon

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

With the PS2 still receiving the lion's share of RPGs, it's good to see that some are finally coming to the Xbox 360. Blue Dragon had significant input from legendary Final Fantasy creator Hinorobu Sakaguchi, famed animator Akira Toriyama and composer Nobuo Uematsu. So anyone who is after the traditional RPG experience in high definition, they will find that Blue Dragon fits the bill extremely well. There's not a lot that you haven't seen before, but there are certainly a few quirky moments and a fun story to keep the game going.

Our review said: So while it’s unlikely to set the world alight, if you have an Xbox 360 and you want a traditional Japanese RPG, Blue Dragon should be up your alley. So while it doesn't really provide anything exceedingly new, most of it is done reasonably well. The class system is nothing new but it's will put together and none of it feels redundant. Furthermore, it does have a few nice touches and has some real character to it. Familiarities aside, the only real downer, is the games skewed difficulty, which leads to it dragging before it's able to get off the ground. Still, it can be quite fun, so long as you can accept that you’re going to see a revolution. [FULL REVIEW: 7.5]

Crackdown

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-2
Developer: Realtime Worlds
Publisher: Microsoft

It's hard not to crack a smile when playing Crackdown. Even when you're not taking down the several crime lords in the futuristic city, the game is just as much fun when you're just stuffing around. So seeing what's the highest point that you can reach, or seeing how far you can toss a car. And damn those Agility Orbs become addictive once you start collecting them.

Our review said: Crackdown does have a few shortcomings such as an average targeting system and repetitive missions but the game really does have that "one more hour" feeling to it. Even after completing the game you'll still come back to find one more orb or just to cause carnage. When you're jumping from building to building avoiding grenades and hordes of gangs it's hard not to smile. Crackdown is a highly recommended game and a great debut for Real Time Worlds. [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

Eternal Sonata

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Tri-Crescendo
Publisher: Atari

If Blue Dragon wasn't enough to tickle your RPG fancy, then Xbox 360 owners also have Eternal Sonata at their disposal. Living out the last hours of famed composer Fredric Chopin through his dreams, Eternal Sonata delivers a mighty impressive RPG along the way. Not to mention, it looks great and given that it's based on a composer, the music isn't half bad either.

Our review said: Eternal Sonata is easily one of the more impressive RPG's that we have seen in recent years. Combining the history of Chopin with a magically far-out narrative and combined with some of the most beautiful visuals and audio we've seen on the console, Namco Bandai have done wonders here. Although it may not draw in anyone who wasn't a fan of RPG's before and it could be a little short or simplistic for the hardcore JRPG fans out there, it's hard to deny the quality of the game when it's been released onto a console whose target audience is usually more interested in blowing up stuff. Eternal Sonata gives us hope for the future of the genre not only on the Xbox 360, but on all current generation consoles, and we recommend this to anyone who has even the faintest interest in this style of game. [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]

Forza Motorsport 2

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-8
Developer: MS Game Studios
Publisher: Microsoft

With Gran Turismo 5 unlikely to come around for some time yet, anyone who is after a genuine simulation racing experience, will have to settle for Forza Motorsport 2. Though that's hardly a bad thing, because Forza Motorsport 2 is easily that best simulation driver on a high-definition console. With a career mode that is ridiculously huge and online play, you can certainly to a lot worse then Forza 2.

Our review said: So, that’s a whole lot of good stuff. So, what about the bad? Well, to be honest, there isn’t much wrong with Forza 2. It’s probably a little too similar to the first game – but the first game was pretty damn good, so it’s not much of a strong argument. If we do have a big problem with Forza 2, it’s just that there aren’t enough tracks – and most of which come from the first game. We would have liked a few more, especially street circuits, where we could look at scenery which actually borders on interesting. But ultimately, these are minor concerns. Forza Motorsport 2 is a brilliant game – possibly one of the best we will see this year. It has an ambitious goal of appealing to both casual racing fans, and hardcore driving nuts, and delivers in spades. If you even remotely like racing games, you need to get your filthy mits on this game. [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

Guitar Hero II

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-2
Developer: Harmonix Music
Publisher: Activision

The phenomenon that brought music games to the masses, Guitar Hero had it's sequel released on the Xbox 360 eariler this year. Guitar Hero II was the last title to be handled by the original developer, Harmonix, before Neversoft took over with Guitar Hero III. Exorbitant extras aside, you could argue that the true Guitar Hero experience lies within this version.

Our review said: Guitar Hero II may seem a little pricey, but with so much content and an extra guitar, it's one of the easiest games we've had the pleasure of recommending. Even those who normally don't consider themselves fans of music games will enjoy Guitar Hero II - it's just so easy to pick up and play, yet so incredibly difficult to put down and master. An instant classic and a great addition to the Xbox 360 library. [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

Halo 3

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-16
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Microsoft

It's rather commonly accepted now that Halo 2 left a lot to be desired. Namely an ending would have been nice. Halo 3 manages to rectify this, and provide a damn good multiplayer mode. But it doesn't end there. Players can now record their exploits and share it over the net, as well as create their own multiplayer games. As far as gaming packages go, Halo 3 is hard to beat, though you'll have to use everything to get the most out of it.

Our review said: If you were to take the campaign and basic multiplayer of Halo 3, you’ve got an experience that is rather similar to its predecessors. It’s certainly better in parts but there are still areas that it could have been improved on. The Halo gameplay is certainly not as infallible as its critically made out to be and if you didn’t ever like it, there’s little chance of Halo 3 changing you mind. Despite the short campaign (at least it finishes this time), breezy co-op and same-y multiplayer, taking Halo 3 as a package reveals what its meant to be. The Forge and Theatre modes redefine what it is to make a game “for the fans”, as they are substantial and influential additions to the game and have the potential to build Halo 3 even further then it has ever been before. It's obvious that Halo 3 is about satisfying the community that has been built since 2001 on as many levels as possible. Be they casual or hardcore, Bungie certainly got it right. Halo 3 certainly won’t be the greatest game ever released and it won’t fulfill its premise without an Xbox Live connection, but as a game and multiplayer package for those who just want Halo, Bungie have hit the nail on the head. [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

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

Even though it was released within the first few weeks of the year, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition left us with a very strong impression. Strong enough to warrant a recommendation even a year after its release. It's not that it's revelationary, it just happens to be an extremely well built action game that implements 3rd-person shooting and mech-combat in a neat package. While not very long, the game is one heck of a challenge and the multiplayer is fun as well.

Our review said: Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is an intense and enjoyable shooter from the reliable Capcom stables. The single player, while a little too short by modern standards is an absolute blast. The multiplayer is a little different, fun and likely to be popular until the next big Live game is released. In particular, the VS are some of the best additions as they don’t hinder the game, they make it better. A few things didn’t come through and a few little aspects are disappointing but overall, the good far outweighs the bad. All Xbox 360 owners ought to check this out, at the least as a rent. [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

Mass Effect

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

It's well known that Bioware are good for it when it comes to making top-class western RPGs. In what seems like an effort to fit in with the Xbox 360 crowd, their latest effort, Mass Effect is their most action-oriented effort yet. While you will be fighting combat in real time, don't forget that this is an RPG. Bioware has also continued their tradition of excellent story telling, deep characters and a compelling world to explore.

Our review said: Mass Effect is undoubtedly one of those games that will be talked about for a very long time. BioWare have set a new standard in storytelling, and if you have even the faintest interest in RPGs or science fiction, then this game simply demands to be played. While there are some technical issues and awkward gameplay decisions that are hard to ignore, when it comes down to it, Mass Effect is so compelling that most people will be able to push the issues aside and immerse themselves in one of the most detailed game worlds every created. A story of this quality should be experienced by all Xbox 360 owners. [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

Naruto: Rise of the Ninja

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1-2
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft

There aren't a lot of anime games that aren't blatant cash-ins or old ports. However, Naruto: Rise of a Ninja was built from the ground up for the Xbox 360, and manages to combine the Naruto universe of the first 80 episodes, a lot of the aspects from past Ubisoft games and a Crackdown-esque knack for exploring to provide a faithful and enjoyable franchise experiences. The multiplayer mode is fast and furious, and it has a nice twist as well.

Our review said: Naruto: Rise of a Ninja as a package is easily one of the best efforts to bring an anime to home consoles and one of the best franchise efforts in general. Sure, it doesn’t reach Goldeneye status, but at the same time, it just gets so many gameplay aspects right and at the same time, is immensely faithful to the source material. It’s a little fetch quest heavy, the roster is small and the fighting isn’t that well explained or as balanced as it could be, but as far as franchise representations go, you’d be hard pressed to find one that’s better. Then there is the promise of some enticing downloadable content that actually looks to address some of the minor issues. So if you’re a fan of the series, Naruto: Rise of a Ninja is pretty much the game that you’ve been looking for and that your friends can enjoy. Believe it! [FULL REVIEW: 8.0]

Project Gotham Racing 4

Release Date: Out Now
Players: 1
Developer: Bizzare Creations
Publisher: Microsoft

The simplest way to put it is that Project Gotham Racing 4 is the game that Project Gotham Racing 3 should have been. It might not have an Australian city in it, but it has the most tracks, the most cars, the addition of motorcycles and some wonderful features that make PGR4 stand out amongst the arcade/simulation racers. It may not be as fast as Burnout or as realistic as Forza, but as an overall package, it's pretty hard to beat.

Our review said: It’s hard to fault PGR4 in any major way. The biggest issue some may have with it is how similar to PGR3 it essentially is, but is that a fault in a racing game that doubles its tracks, includes bikes and vastly increases the size of its single player campaign? Project Gotham Racing 4 really is the whole package this time around. The new cities are fantastic; the handling model still hits that perfect balance between fantasy and realism and the sheer amount of things to do, plus its online multiplayer means you be playing it for a long time to come. In addition, those long reload times you had to endure in PGR3 whenever retrying an event have been cut to well under 10 seconds, so even loading is dealt with better here. In case you were wondering about it, we’ve not even made mention of Geometry Wars: Waves as it deserves more than a short paragraph squeezed into this review but needless to say it’s just as great as we’d hoped. With Bizarre Creations now under Activision’s wing, Microsoft have a tough job ahead of them finding a developer to better this. [FULL REVIEW: 9.0]

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25 Comments

sleeping247

4 years ago

Good list there.
I would've thought Ace Combat 6 was a 360 exclusive that would be worth a mention too?

Puddingfork

4 years ago

Lost Planet FTL, does not deserve to be on that list
Also, although I havn't played it, Naruto? probably shouldn't be there either. What you should have had instead guys was Orange Box and Call of Duty 4, I know its a lot of shooter games but thats generally what a person with a 360 will like.
Also sleeping27, its not just exclusives

Infested Jibbs

4 years ago

Yeah , i smell and edit coming along with orange box magically appearing afterwards.

Nice list otherwise, you got a nice selection going, sonata ftw, but pudding makes a great point, if you've got a 360 chances are your a fan of shooters anyways so don't be afraid to list all the good ones.

Luke

4 years ago

Orange Box is Multiplatform, Multiplatform titles will be covered in a seperate update and I can assure you that Orange Box is in that multiplatform guide.

Puddingfork

4 years ago

Then whats Bioshock Luke?
EDIT: AND GH2? I am 100% that is multi platform, its on everything but handhelds.
EDIT:Oh, not quite everything, got GH2 mixed up with GH3, my mistake there

Luke

4 years ago

There is no buyer's guide going up for the PC, so for the sake of these articles PC titles are excluded from the "multiplatform" category.

EDIT: GH2 was released in 2007 only on the Xbox 360, we are looking only at 2007 titles.

Sin Ogaris

4 years ago

It feels good to be a PC gamer, I feel so neglected! Oh, and you're kind of stretching the faith with Guitar Hero 2.

I don't think people would have been miffed if you'd left those titles out (ok, I lie, people would complain, but it'd only be the retards anyway).

cmdwedge

4 years ago

Maybe ditch the PS3 fanboyism, eh?

Release night 360, never had a single fault. They don't all fail and it's certainly not 'inevitable'.

bradc1988

4 years ago

Maybe ditch the PS3 hate, eh?

Could be a Wii fanboy.

mipac

4 years ago

You guys going to do a PS3 list?

Luke

4 years ago

Yes.

mipac

4 years ago

I like. I own both a 360 and PS3, and love my PS3 to death, but I just haven't time to play all its big recent titles. I have Warhawk, but still need to play Ratchet And Clank, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword and everything else. I need more hours in the day

Anthony

4 years ago

Luke wrote

Orange Box is Multiplatform, Multiplatform titles will be covered in a seperate update and I can assure you that Orange Box is in that multiplatform guide.

So is Call of Duty 4.

Jeremy

4 years ago

Don't give away all the suprises now, boys

Frozencry

4 years ago

cmdwedge wrote

Maybe ditch the PS3 fanboyism, eh?

Release night 360, never had a single fault. They don't all fail and it's certainly not 'inevitable'.

Lol, of all things to say

. Some people take machines too seriously and can't take jokes.

Definitely a good list and I'm glad you guys put Crackdown in there, which is still one of my favourite 360 titles.

Lord Halo Nerd

4 years ago

Crackdown is good unless you are doing the Time Trials on the hardest difficulty trying to kill the Shai Gen Kingpin but then as soon as you make it to the top the enemies respawn....with Firefoxes. BOOM! Start the whole thing over again. I hate it.