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Top 10 XBox 360 Games
Top 10 XBox 360 Games
Searching for the latest titles to play on your new 360? Dying to get that perfect gift for someone, but not sure what games are good and what games aren't?
Striving for the best of the best for the best next generation system out there?
Search no further; I've counted down the top ten best games for the 360. Whether for you, a friend, coworker, or family member, you can get the scoop on what will make a great gift for any gamer.
#1 Best Game for the Xbox 360 – Halo 3
This game was huge, and for good reason. With the biggest release in entertainment history, it brought in over $170 million within the first twenty four hours of release.
But let's throw away the hype for a moment – the millions people spent on it, and the soaring sales it continues to enjoy, even after months of being released. What about the game itself?
Well, the good news is that you don't have to play Halo and Halo 2 to be able to get involved in this action-heavy FPS. The bad news is, is that if you want to really get into the story line, you're going to want to at least know a little about what's going on.
The gameplay is intense, and with up to four players at one time together, or playing as a team online with countless others, this game is one of the best raw shooters ever. Give it a try – the three versions (Halo 3 Standard, Halo 3 Limited Edition, and Halo 3 Legendary) give you a ton of extra features, if you love looking behind the scenes, and even with Standard edition, you get the serious game play and smooth storyline that the Halo franchise is famous for.
Overall, this game is stunning – graphics, gameplay, story and more – and when you pick up your controller, get ready to be immersed. Halo 3 lives up to the hype, and so much more.
#2 Best Game for the Xbox 360 – The Orange Box
Kind of sounds like a cheap cleaning aid that doesn't work, huh? Well, The Orange Box isn't so much a cleaning aid as five video games all rolled into one purchase.
Yeah, that's right – five games. Two classics that gamers have loved for a long time, and three exciting new games that push the proverbial envelope.
With this impressive value, you get the old – Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One – and the new – Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal. They're all on the same graphics engine, but trust me, these games are not the same.
If you've never played Episode One, or the original Half-Life 2, running through these games quickly will get you through the basic stuff you'll want to know. Episode Two is both different and similar to what we all loved in Episode One, and the ending is so different that even the pro's were impressed.
Portal is something different altogether. A unique mesh of first-person, blood-pumping action and focused puzzle-solving can make it a bit mind-boggling at times, but trust me, it's worth it. And while Portal only has about 3-4 hours of game play, it's defiantly something new for this system.
The most awaited of the Orange Box, though, is Team Fortress 2, the only multiplayer in the set. While the premise is basic, and something we've seen in other games before, the deep choices you make into your character and the near-cartoon graphics TF2 offers makes it stand out from many of our favorite multiplayer titles.
The Orange Box has hours upon hours of fun – and with thought provoking storylines and characters to connect to, how can you not want a piece of this?
#3 Best Xbox 360 Game – Bioshock
If you have a deep-seeded fear of water, mutated humans, and absolutely no government, come no further. Only those who will brave heart-racing scenes, blood-pumping battles and some seriously creepy little kids shall continue on!
Bioshock takes place in 1960, and starts off exciting – you're apparently the only survivor of a plane crash, and stuck in the middle of the ocean. You stumble upon an elevator of sorts, and it takes you into what looks like a whole other world – Rapture, a city under water.
You find out not all is well, however, through fighting genetically modified humans called 'Splicers' and seeing the biggest-of-the-big, baddest-of-the-bad characters, Big Daddy's.
It's exciting, it's a nice, long game, and you'll be on the edge of your seat for most of it. The graphics to the game are absolutely gorgeous, and the story will drag you in by your collar and not let you go.
The only downside? Playing in the dark might make you scream like a little girl.
#4 Best Xbox 360 Game – Assassin's Creed
Step inside of the city of Damascus – a world that you would swear was coming alive right on your TV! The graphics of this game are some of the best (If not the best) the 360 has to offer right now. Smooth, fluid controls and a complex, unique story just adds to the beauty that is Assassin's Creed.
Really, I'm not exaggerating – this game is visually stunning, and the detail the designers put into it is mind blowing. Every little nook and cranny in the streets, each fold of a shirt, even just the sky above is so realistic and incredible that you'll wonder how, exactly, they made it so.
And with a game so visually jaw-dropping, you'd think that they probably skipped out on gameplay, right? Well, you'd be wrong – Assassin's Creed has smooth, fluid controls that make playing a breeze and a complex, enticing story that makes you want to play just a few more minutes. The voice acting is top notch, too, and the sounds from busy streets is so realist you'll pause to wonder what's happening outside of your house.
Overall, this game is stunning. Sure, the ending threw us for a loop – it's confusing, but possibly setting up for something more – and there are a few minor glitches, but this is defiantly a game worth owning.
#5 Best Xbox 360 Game – Gears of War
This game is almost a staple for 360 lovers, and it's no wonder why. But why is this game as exciting as it is?
Well, for one, there's almost no question that the graphics have changed the way many of us look at console games – even the smallest things, like the splattering of blood and the concrete slab you're standing behind to avoid being shot, has incredible detail. But graphics alone won't do it.
Heart-pounding action is also a huge part of this game – if you're not ready to have your blood rushing through you at twice the normal rate, or feel your adrenalin skyrocket, you might want to try a more calm game.
And while the story could have been fleshed out, characters could have been more lively, and the difficulty rankings are a little off, the raw power this game presents is incredible. If you own a 360, are planning to get a 360, or want to get a 360 game for a friend, this should be on the list.
#6 Best Xbox 360 Game – Mass Effect
Complex, realistic characters? Yep. Superb voice acting? Check! Action-packed, unique storyline with a back story that will have you wanting to take notes? Of course.
Mass Effect seems to have it all – and it's graced the 360 just in time for Christmas shopping. The story line is the main feature of this shooter – it has a draw-you-in-and-slap-you-around sort of feel to it, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
And this game cannot be figured out, because just when you think you know where it's going, it tosses a turn or two in. The voice acting is impressive, and the ability to customize to the last detail is what makes this game feel as personal as it does.
There are some interface glitches, which is why Mass Effect isn't topping the charts – but, real fans can see through that, and realize the action and story that's behind it. After all, that's what makes a game good.
#7 Best Xbox 360 Game – Rock Band
The price will make you cringe, but look past that – look onto the possibilities at parties, the long nights trying to nail that solo, and the sheer fun you'll have with the 40+ songs.
It's almost three games in one – you have a guitar, vocals, and drums. And while you'll see similarities to Guitar Hero and the guitar of RB, the vocals and SingStar, the drums are something entirely different. You actually get to play with a couple of drumsticks and a foot petal, and your biggest challenge will be keeping in beat.
It's fun by yourself – there's no question about that. But snag some friends and hand them instruments, and you've really got a great game on your hands.
The only real downside is the hardware – which, despite the hefty price tag it totes, has been known to fail and break apart. Lucky, EA is offering a 60 day warranty on it all. Still, it's something to consider – after dropping over $150 on a game, do you want it to break?
Even with it's flaws, Rock Band is an incredible game that the entire family can enjoy, and you'll have countless hours of fun playing and replaying your favorite sounds.
#8 Best Xbox 360 Game – The Darkness
Embrace The Darkness.
The darkness is where you – Jackie Estacado, and New York City Hitman for the mob – function best. And when a demon rips apart your soul on your 21st birthday, giving you incredible powers and the ability to strike back at someone you hate, you know you're in for a ride.
And that's only the tip of the iceberg.
The darkness is stuffed with action and amazing abilities – like eating your enemies head off with a demon tendril coming from your shoulder blade. Sound cool enough yet?
The darkness was a quiet hit, sure, but it's no wonder that those who've played it are raving. The graphics impress, the story – based off of a book by Top Cow – is entirely unique and fun, and hey, how can you beat a creepy demonic voice in your head granting you the revenge you want and the ability to protect the one you love?
There are a few downsides – most of the conventional weapons are completely useless, leaving you to play with the more fun Darkness abilities, and the multiplayer option leaves you wanting a little more. But the story is spectacular, the graphics are impressive, and the world nearly seems alive. How can you go wrong?
#9 Best Xbox 360 Game – Forza Motorsports 2
Over 300 cars, 12 racing enjoinments, and a ton of aftermarket parts that are fun to test and play around with... need I say more about this game that appeals to all?
If you're searching for a great racing game for the 360, you really don't need to look any further – FM2 seems to have it all. Just glancing at all of the cars you can choose from will impress you – from a Mini-Cooper to Saleen, you can find a car that fits your style. And if that isn't enough, you can tack on tons of aftermarket parts that will give your ride serious style.
The tracks leave a little lacking, however – perhaps a few more would have made the game perfect. However, many that are included are real tracks, and hey, who cares if you race the same track twice when racing is this fun.
Each car feels a little different from the last, and the controls are smooth and easy to grasp. Just picking up the controller and racing blind, you'll get an easy feel for it.
Can you handle a few missing tracks, and too little sound effects when it comes to racing? Sure – because what you get in exchange is a true-blue racing game that has just about any on the market beat.
#10 Best Xbox Game – Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Don't groan. No moaning. Give this Tom Clancy game a chance before you bundle it with the others that you didn't care for, because this has something new – and something great.
Set in a sprawling city, the graphics leave you impressed that Ubisoft got so much out of an engine never made to do it. Arguably the best in the series, the realism that this game flaunts, coupled with impressive lighting and great game play, make it a must-own for any gamer.
You're Scott Mitchell, and you're the captain of the uber-elite Ghosts, the best of the best at getting out of tight situations. As the game unfolds, the Canadian prime minister is killed – and both the leaders of the US and Mexico are missing, all due to a rebel attack on a summit. So, it's all up to you.
The details are some of the best in a modern shooter, and the time spent on the game clearly shines through. This game is polished, smooth, and will leave you on the edge of the seat.
The lighting, however impressive, often makes it hard to see – and the AI's for your team leave something to be desired. But fear not, this game makes up for it, and so much more. A classic in it's own right, there's no question it's going to be around as a favorite for a long time to come.
Thank you to Marie Newman for this "Top 10 XBox 360 Games" article.
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