The 33 games you can't live without (Pg.2/3)


Table of Contents

11. Halo 3

It may surprise you that there was much debate about including Halo 3 on this list - is there any Xbox 360 owner who doesn't own it already? But we decided to include it anyway based on the strengths of its Forge map editor mode and its silky smooth online community features such as File Sharing. Now some six years old, Halo's core shooting is beginning to show its age, but Halo 3's online-centric additions prove that Bungie's heart is set on meeting the needs and desires of its fan base. Besides, Halo is a cultural phenomenon like we haven't seen in years. And that's worth experiencing, isn't it?

10. Dead Rising

Some critics have decried Dead Rising's odd save system and crazy-stupid survivor AI. Those complaints are valid, but in a weird way, the game's faults help fuel the overarching Dawn of the Dead-esque fear. It's your job as Frank West to lead the less-capable to safety, and you shouldn't have a safety net at your beck and call. Quite simply, Dead Rising is the epitome of what a zombie game should be--an enclosed area with thousands of the undead, with hundreds of weapons at your disposal. No stupid key-based puzzles like in Resident Evil or super-combos like in Devil May Cry, Dead Rising gets to the base of the reason that zombies are great for games; because they're great moving targets. Speaking of targets... Capcom, please kill off Otis (the annoying walkie-talkie dude) in the sequel.

9. Pac-Man Championship Edition

While most arcade revivals on the Xbox Live Arcade have been shudder-worthy (PROTIP: Do not choose the "enhanced" graphics option on any XBLA title. ANY.,) Pac-Man Championship Edition fuses the best of the classic franchise with new-school aesthetics. Instead of breaking the game up into stages, you simply choose a time limit and the board regenerates dots when you eat fruit, and vice versa. Chaining power pellets to get combo ghost captures also manages to turn that Pac-Man staple on its ear in a wonderful, wonderful way. Speaking of staples and ears, we recommend you either find a way to affix your ears shut or use the Xbox 360's custom soundtrack ability, because the techno-ized remix of the original Pac-Man theme is the only downside to this upgrade.

8. The Orange Box

Though The Orange Box works a bit better as a PC game than a console game, we still have to recommend it as one of the best Xbox 360 games yet released. Though the quality of the bundle makes it easy to recommend, the real reason it made this list is for sheer value. For the price of one average game, you get the excellent Half-Life 2 and its two new expansions, Episodes One and Two. But the disc also includes two terrific new games: Portal, a trippy puzzle-solving game that's become an internet phenomenon, and Team Fortress 2, an elegant online shooter with a sharp sense of humor. The fact that we'd gladly pay $40 for Portal or Team Fortress 2 alone should prove how marvelous this all-in-one package truly is.

7. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

It's been bested in the visual department by games like Call of Duty 4, and trumped in the character and plot department by Mass Effect, but TESIV: Oblivion is still a phenomenal game that every Xbox 360 owner needs to experience. The beauty of Oblivion is in its nonlinearity - you're free to tackle the main quest, join a local wizard's guild, or slit throats as a member of the Dark Brotherhood. Though the combat is a bit clunky and the load times are excessive, Oblivion - like Mass Effect - excels in creating a huge, believable world that you actually care about. We also believe that the game's Dark Brotherhood quest line is particularly groundbreaking from an interactive storytelling perspective - you won't believe how it ends!

6. Rainbow Six: Vegas

This is the game that convinced one GamePro staffer to buy an Xbox 360 on the spot. Though it's a tactical shooter with a slower, more thoughtful pace, don't let that scare you away: Vegas is one of the smartest, most replayable games ever released on the Xbox 360. Its single-player campaign is enjoyable, but its multiplayer mode is a genre-buster legend. Long before Call of Duty 4's unlockable weapons and Perks, Vegas changed the way we play online team shooters forever. Players can earn new weapons and modifications by winning matches and gaining experience points, making matches more suspenseful and epic. In fact, it's likely that Infinity Ward looked closely at Vegas while designing Call of Duty 4's similar (if superior) unlockable Perks and ranks.

5. Rock Band

Guitar Hero's old news; Rock Band is the wave of the future. If it hadn't been for hardware shortages and a steep retail price, we think Rock Band would have stolen the show from Guitar Hero III this holiday. But don't let its middling sales fool you, because Rock Band is by far the better game. Guitar Hero III limits you to guitar and bass playing, while Rock Band adds singing and an incredibly enjoyable drum kit. The resulting four-player jam sessions are almost surreal in their similarity to real-life band practice; arguments, laughter, and plenty of drama all around. Adding to the appeal is a well thought-out online mode that will only continue to grow. If you've got the cash-and yes, $169 is a long shot-you won't regret the investment. Now get practicing!

4. Geometry Wars

Don't be fooled by the low price tag. When it comes to pure arcade action, your first stop should be the downloadable hit Geometry Wars, a sort of super-sized version of the vintage Robotron. Geometry Wars is easy to pick up and remarkably hard to put down, the true hallmark of an instant classic. Its enormous success paved the way for other classic games like Everyday Shooter and Super Stardust HD (both on the PS3). But Geometry Wars itself is a highly respected, highly enjoyable game that's well worth the tiny fee. Buy it!

3. BioShock

BioShock is an unusual game. It's actually an RPG masquerading as a first-person shooter...or is it a first-person shooter masquerading as an RPG? BioShock is an inspirational omnivore, taking its art direction from the 1920's Art Deco movement, its broader world and concepts from philosophers like Ayn Rand, and its action from both fast-paced modern shooters and the slow-paced predecessor System Shock 2. The result is a triumph, and makes Rapture a world unlike any we've ever seen. Shooter fans will come for the action, but stay for the smarts. If you're a fan of shooters or horror games -- or you simply want to see some amazing art direction-- BioShock is an absolute must-buy.

2. Mass Effect

Though it came in a bit short of being truly revolutionary, Mass Effect is still the Xbox 360's role-playing game. The gun-heavy combat is deeper than it first looks: you can combine skills like Singularity, which creates a zero-gravity whirlpool, with grenades and other spells to create chaos on an epic scale. But action doesn't carry Mass Effect; heart does. From the dialogue and voice acting to the eye-popping storyline twists, Mass Effect effortlessly achieves what so many other games have tried (and failed) to accomplish: it creates a fully believable world that you actually care about. Despite its quirks, it's absolutely worth owning.

1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Infinity Ward's latest is rapidly shaping up to be the best game of 2007, despite the fact that, on the surface, it's Just Another Shooter (JAS). Call of Duty 4 is most definitely a shooter...but it's also the freshest, most consistently enjoyable FPS we've played since Halo 2. If you're a new Xbox 360 owner, this is the first game you should buy - it's thrilling, immersive, and endlessly replayable. The single-player mode is astonishing in its ability to merge Hollywood production values with balanced, intuitive mission structures. You'll also encounter some subversive moments, such as using computer-guided bombs to decimate city streets, that may challenge your beliefs about war.

But even better is the addictive online multiplayer mode, which rewards you with unlockable weapons, attachments, and special abilities that shift the landscape of the battle. Shooter or not, Call of Duty 4 is a remarkable achievement and a must-own game for any Xbox 360 owner. It will change the way you think about shooters.

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GuitarHero9

This list is retarded. You put Excite Truck and Wii Sports in there, but not Zelda: TP?!

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