Statistically, a LOT of people never played these games. Yet most of them are very critically acclaimed, whilst others shine out despite some average reviews.
The Xbox is probably one of my favourite consoles, up there with Snes and Saturn. There are usually lots of folks who'll say the PS2 had the largest, and therefore best range. Depending on your taste, this may be true, but in all honesty, there are definatly enough Xbox titles out there to have kept you busy since 2002. Yes we all know about Halo, Halo 2, Ninja Gaiden and Forza etc. However, there was a whole wealth of titles aside from these that really deserve to be seen.

So therefore, I have assembled a list which I may add to in future, for those who either now have a 360, and are looking for some budget titles to while away the rest of Summer, or an avid retro collector who has a gap in their shelf. These titles statistically didn't sell awfully well, but still may have been praised by reviewers.

(Please note, Psychonauts will not make it onto this list, as suddenly, everyone claims to own and love it since Yahtzee announced he loves it like a woman)

The Warriors
The unloved movie tie-in



I have previously mentioned this game in my blog. The Warriors was a 1979 cult film which was panned by critics but loved by a growing number. Everything reeked 80's cult; a dilapidated city, hordes of gangs in vibrant costume, violence, blood, tears, and whiny villain with bottles on his fingers. It had awesome pouring out of it.
Nearly thirty years later, Rockstar Toronto give us this little gem. A scrolling beat-em-up which will remind old gamers of Double Dragon, Streets of Rage and the like, The Warriors proudly brought street based scuffing into the twenty-first century with a cocky swagger and all the slick charm of a 1980's synthesizer.
You take control of all of the nine main members of the Warriors, a street gang who call Coney Island there home. You will contend with rival gang the Destroyers, flee in fear from the Baseball Furies, and pick a fight or two with wimpy wannabes the Orphans (who sport shirts with ORPHANS written on in masking tape. Hardcore!)
Like many lesser movie tie-ins, most of The Warriors video game takes place at a different time to its movie counterpart. Unlike those lesser games however, this plot stands up on its own two feet and compells the player to continue with the war.
Most of the gameplay consists of fighting, using anything you can pick up to smash your opponents face in. You will also have to distract cops, robs stores, steal car radios, and mug people. The game shows a real darker element of the Warriors, and what petty criminals they really are. These is especially evident when Cleon, the Warriors leader, molotov cocktails the leader of an opposing gang, and watches him burn. These elements, however, only serve to add to the ending of the film, which shows regret on the part of Swan and the other remaining Warriors.

Compatible with 360: No
Bought for: £2.50 as part of 4 for £10


Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon
If you want something very different to the Xbox norm



I picked this one up towards the end of the Xbox's lifespan, and it was a very strange breath of fresh air, one that made me cough for a bit and play something else, but eventually, one rainy Sunday, I gave in to the last remaining uncompleted game on the shelf.
Broken Sword is a "point n' click" series of games, which follow Yank lawyer George Stobart, and his French on and off love interest Nico in their ongoing battle with the Templars.
However, be warned that you will not fire a single bullet. In fact, you will only kill one enemy in the whole game. It is a game of patience, exploration, and running back and forth to Gamefaqs to see what the hell you missed.
This aside, the game has a kind of rustic charm with its cheesy dialogue and cardboard cut out villains. Squint, and you could be forgiven for thinking you're playing The Da Vinci Code (not the awful game, but the book).
The game is pretty enough, characters are modelled well, environments are colourful and detailed, and puzzles are simple enough once you learn how the developers think. Before you know it, you'll be smiling slyly to yourself as you set your microwave trap and run off giggling.


I hope you like stereotypes. This fellow's Australian you know...

If you have a place in your heart still for block puzzles and stiff voice acting, then Broken Sword 3 really is a laugh. Pick it up, and you'll soon be foiling everyone from hippies to French roadworkers.

Compatible with 360: No
Bought for: £4 in Game. Probably just as cheap on Ebay


Pariah
The heavily ignored Halo-clone



Now Pariah really REALLY isn't perfect. There are a lot of things that, if you don't know about, will annoy you. But, if like me, you go in not expecting much more than a casual blast in a strange country full of mining equipment, futuristic architecture, and shite loads of trees, then you'll more likely than not enjoy this one.
Pariah is unashamed about how much of a Halo-clone it is. Originally tipped to be a Halokiller, Pariah steals vehicular combat and all the things that made Halo Halo.
However, when compared to Halo 2, Pariah does fall short in many ways. Environments often become repetitive and bland, and you will soon get annoyed at NPC's shouting "It's not you we want, it's the girl"
However, I encourage you to forgive Pariah on several basis.
1) It has a rather cool method of healing yourself: The Healing Tool. As a doctor, you carry around a medical injector which you stab yourself with to feel better. Vision blurs, and soon you'll be right as rain.
2) Weapon upgradesare pretty sweet. One of the best guns in the game is the grenade launcher, which when upgraded, becomes a Remote Grenade Launcher. Laugh to yourself as you watch a squad of hooded idiots stumble onto your little trap, and with a tap of the L-Trigger, its byebye.
3) The game is actually fairly challenging even on the easiest difficulty setting
4) The plot and ending. One of the coolest and unexpected twists in any game ever. I didn't see it coming from a mile away. May leave a lump in your throat.
So, forgive it for its shortcoming, and this is quite a game
Comaptible with 360: Yes
[b]Bought for: £3.98 in Game[b/]