In a previous edition of 10 Best, I posted a list of the 10 best games that should be put on Xbox Live Arcade, and generally, it was met with positive reviews. However, that was originally written months ago, and when I looked at the list recently, I found myself wanting a different selection of games on Xbox Live Arcade.

And so, I quickly went to work on writing up another list of 10 games that would be an ideal fit for the Xbox 360’s downloadable content service. I’m pretty pleased with what I came up with, and hopefully, you’ll find it just as good.

There was one stipulation: no game that made the first 10 Best list could make the second one. That removes the following titles, none of which are on Xbox Live Arcade or announced for it as of Feb. 1, 2008:

Knights of the Round
Killer Instinct
Battletoads
X-Men: The Arcade Game
Duke Nukem 3D
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
The Simpsons Arcade
Daytona USA
NBA Jam
Super Off Road

In their place rises another 10 games that deserve a shot at Xbox Live Arcade glory. But which 10 made the cut? Find out next in:


Games That Should Be On Xbox Live Arcade II

10.) OutRun



If the words Magical Sound Shower sound familiar to you, then you’re probably agreeing with me on this game making the list. OutRun is an arcade racing classic and one game that is sorely missing from Xbox Live Arcade. With a great soundtrack and replay value because of the multiple paths you could take, there’s hours of fun to be had with OutRun. Add in online leaderboards for fastest times and perhaps a slight improvement in the graphics, and this will be a solid addition to any classic gaming fan’s library on the 360.

9.) Risk



Of the many cheap, yet complex games that Microsoft could add to Xbox Live, it’s an enhanced port of Risk, or at least a new game based on it. Yes, Risk takes forever to play, but if you get people around you who know what they’re doing (or if you can find them online), then it becomes fun. The popularity of games like Dice Wars on the Internet is proof enough that people are interested in these kinds of games. And at a price of about 400 MS Points, Risk might be tempting for a whole lot of people.

8.) Marvel vs. Capcom 2



A fantastic series of fighting games, the Marvel vs. Capcom series was at its peak when it was at its end in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Similar to the later Street Fighter games, but with a wide ensemble of characters, MvC2 is a long-shot due to licensing issues (Marvel’s license is owned by no one right now after EA lost the rights recently). But if it did make it in… it’d be a big win for Microsoft.

7.) ChuChu Rocket



Xbox Live Arcade needs more classic puzzle games, and ChuChu Rocket is indeed one of those titles. The Sega Dreamcast game featuring mice, cats and rockets has achieved legendary status. Simple to play yet difficult to master, ChuChu Rocket should’ve already been on the Xbox Live Arcade service, and there’s no reason I can think of that Sega and Microsoft can’t get together and work this out. Who knows, maybe they are doing so at this very moment…

6.) Power Stone



I don’t have much play time with Power Stone, but I like what I’ve seen and I’ve heard so many good things about it from people that I’ve decided to include it on my list. Like Marvel vs. Capcom 2, it’s a solid fighting title with a strong fanbase, upgradeable attacks in play thanks to the system of collecting power stones, and it should be relatively easy to port. Still, there are a few games I’d like to see come first…

5.) Strider



And here’s one of them, also from Capcom. If you’ve ever lurked around an arcade, then chances are you’ve heard of Strider, a side-scrolling platformer where you play the role of ninja assassin Strider Hiryu, who spends his days fighting against evil, a journey that takes him from the Soviet Union to the jungles of the Amazon. Known for being a well-rounded and difficult as hell platformer, Strider would be another great addition to the classics collection on Xbox Live Arcade, but not as a re-done 3-D title. We’ll save that for later.

4.) Gunstar Heroes



When it comes to side-scrolling shoot ‘em up games, only two comes to mind as the absolute essence of that genre: the Metal Slug series and Gunstar Heroes. The old Genesis title got a port to the Game Boy Advance a few years ago, which is where I learned to love the game, but on a service that already has the likes of Alien Hominid, it feels like a natural fit. The analog sticks the 360 has would make a perfect fit for the arcade-style shooting that Gunstar Heroes beings to the table, and perhaps an enhanced port would do well if it had online co-op and polished-up graphics.

3.) Darkstalkers



If you know me, this is no surprise. I love this series, everyone is furry for Felecia, blah blah blah. I don’t need to go into deep explanation about this being on the list, but since the other big Capcom fighting game franchises have made the list, then why leave the second best Capcom fighting franchise out? With a great cast of characters, a good fighting engine and my own desire to see this franchise revived, there’s not a damn good reason to leave Darkstalkers off the list.

2.) Perfect Dark



The unlikeliest of all on this list given recent events, but even the tiniest glittery shard of hope puts it at #2 based on the pure awesome that Perfect Dark still is. The potential here is limitless: online stat tracking and multiplayer, online co-op and other additional features would only add to what is a deep and exciting game. The ability to play offline with bots, match and character customization and the fact that all the weapons in the game have dual functions only make Perfect Dark that much more enticing for me. I loved this game on the N64… I’d love it even more on Xbox Live.

That leaves only one game... what could it be? *drumroll*















*drumroll continues*



















1.) Super Mario Bros. 3 HD



Just kidding. Here's the real #1...

1.) Sonic HD (a.k.a. Sonic CD in HD form)



Yeah, Sonic's already on there in full force, but it's not the ultimate incarnation in the series. That title belongs to Sonic CD and Sonic CD alone. As the defining Sonic title, it deserves to be put on Live so that everyone who doesn’t own a Sega CD or Sonic Gems Collection can enjoy it… but it needs more than that. Make this the Sonic title that is rendered in beautiful HD graphics so that we can enjoy it in a way we haven’t enjoyed it yet. Pump up the sound quality. Bring in the Japanese soundtrack for the game. Do whatever it takes to make this the best looking, best sounding, best overall Sonic game you can buy, because if you make it, people will buy it in droves. I’d kill for Sonic CD in HD, and I know I’m not alone, Charlie. Just please, Microsoft and Sega, do this. For the gamers.

Honorable Mention
Monopoly
Super Tecmo Bowl
Cave Story HD
Marvel vs. Capcom
Capcom vs. SNK Millenium Fight 2000
Super Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts