The original Xbox, literally a big, black box
with an X on it, had an important part to play in the history of video games, as the powerful
console represented Micros’ft's initial charge into the ongoing battlefield that is the console
market, and saw the likes of Master Chief, Sam Fisher, and Ryu Hayabusa at the tip
of the spear. Thanks to these highlights, Microsoft gained a foothold alongside
already-established console giants, Nintendo and Sony, and set the groundwork
for enormous succ
esses yet to come. When searching for hidden gems on the original
Xbox, there are lots of games that quickly come to mind. The likes of Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
and the Otogi games repeatedly come up in hidden gem discussions, and the same could be said
for Sega's numerous contributions to the Xbox's library. Panzer Dragoon Orta, Jet Set Radio
Future, and Shenmue II are just a few reasons why the Xbox has occasionally been cheekily
referred to as the Dreamcast 2, after all. However, while
all of these gems are
somewhat hidden in the greater gaming scene, they're not quite hidden enough
for this video. That's right, get your treasure hunting gear, people, because
we're looking for gems that are even hidden-er! I'm exalted examiner of extraordinary examples
of Xbox excellence, Peter from TripleJump, and here are 10 Hidden Gems for the Original Xbox. 10. Racing Evoluzione First on the starting grid,
we have Racing Evoluzione, an arcade-style driving gem that sped
right under
a lot of people's radars. With the likes of PGR and Forza out there on
the track, a racing game had to do something pretty unique to stand out on Xbox, and
Racing Evoluzione arguably did just that. It had all the ingredients that a competitive
arcade-style racer needed at the time; great graphics, tight handling, and lively
AI, but lots of games had all those, so, what makes this one stand out from the
Ridge Racers and the Need for Speeds? Well, it lets you create your own
car company from
the ground up. As you progress through Racing Evoluzione, you'll unlock car blueprints that you can put
into production and then race through career mode, providing a unique, extra layer of immersion
that nothing else on consoles really offered at the time. You can even come up
with your company name and logo. Oh, and if our American friends are wondering why
they've never heard of this one, it's because it was called Apex over there. Sadly, though, the
advent of Apex Legends has made this
game's American moniker almost impossible to Google, so
best stick to the European name– Racing Evoluzione has more je ne sais quoi anyway.
9. Xyanide What would one of these hidden gems lists be
without an overlooked, old-school shoot-'em-up, eh? This time around its Xbox-exclusive space
shooter, Xyanide, which is especially notable for its interesting story set-up. While the
majority of space-based shooters will go for the old alien invasion trope, Xyanide has something
a little m
ore occult and spooky up its sleeve. Players pilot an escort ship that is taking
unspeakable space-criminal and creepy, childlike space-witch, Aguira
, to her place of execution, however, the prison ship is struck by an
asteroid made of “xyanide” on the way, which is a mythical substance with the power
to make people's thoughts take form. This all results in an intergalactic sorceress
with revenge on her mind and the newfound ability to warp reality to her will. We hope you
brought your mo
st powerful lasers for this one. Lore aside, Xyanide is a tight and challenging
space shooter with a lengthy campaign, cool bosses, and unique presentation. All of
this combines to make it easy to recommend for shoot-'em-up fans, and those who have always
wondered what it would be like to see inside the mind of a terrifying space witch. I'll admit
that latter demographic is quite niche, though... 8. The Wild Rings One thing the original Xbox was missing out
on, was a really good wrestling g
ame. While PS2 owners were smugly enjoying the likes of WWE
Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain, Xbox fans were left with not-awful-but-decidedly-humdrum affairs
like WWE Raw 2, with no alternative in sight. Well, there was an alternative
out there, called The Wild Rings, published by Microsoft Game Studios, no less,
though, sadly, it was only released in Japan. While it lacked the tables, ladders, and chairs of
Western wrestling offerings, being more based on Japanese wrestling that was “purer”
at the time,
The Wild Rings made up for it with great grappling gameplay, robust character creation, and loads
and loads of match types, options, and settings. You see, while looking like your standard
wrestling game, and indeed being classified as one, The Wild Rings isn't just about the
wrestling, and offers many other disciplines as well. Players can take part in karate, boxing,
kick-boxing, sumo, and more. There are even three different styles of professional wrestling on
offer; Japan
ese, American, and Lucha Libre . I'll stick to the professional wrestling,
though, thanks. I like to keep it real, you know? I'm not really into
all that fake, predetermined stuff like boxing and judo.
7. Shin Megami Tensei : Nine Another genre that had a pretty sparse
showing on the original Xbox, was the RPG, or specifically, the RPG of Eastern descent, and
while the likes of Metal Dungeon and Blackstone: Magic & Steel were a pair of RPGs of legitimate
Eastern origin, neither were
all that great. Japanese Xbox owners, however (yes,
all three of them), were treated to an entry into one of the most venerated JRPG
franchises of all time – Shin Megami Tensei. Taking place between the original NES game and
its sequel, Shin Megami Tensei: Nine tells the story of a hero in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, who
receives a mysterious email containing a program enabling him to summon demons. After unwisely not
sending said email straight to the junk folder, he is embroiled in a decade
-spanning
adventure through a demon-infested future. While not the best game in the Megami
Tensei series, Shin Megami Tensei: Nine is an intriguing JRPG that nails the
franchise's trademark atmosphere and offers Xbox owners their own, exclusive dip into
the lore of that demon-summoning world. It would also mark the first and
last time the series showed up on an Xbox console as an RPG until the
recent Persona re-releases. Who knows, maybe a Microsoft console will see another
exclusive Mega
mi Tensei in the future. 6. Deathrow We're heading to the world of futuristic,
violent sports for our next entry as we take a look at Deathrow. Looking like a spiritual
successor to old-school greats like Speedball 2, Deathrow puts players in control of a Blitz team, and sends them off into a sci-fi world
of single or multiplayer sporting mayhem. The sport of Blitz itself takes inspiration
from a number of real-world equivalents, including rugby, hockey, basketball, and
American football, a
nd Deathrow provides 18 teams to choose from with 180 unique
players between them. The basic goal of Blitz is to get your energised disk
through the opposing team's hoop, but how you go about this is up to you. Skilful
dodging or just battering your opponents so that none of them are able to stand up for long
enough to stop you are both legitimate tactics. While Deathrow did not include
an online multiplayer mode, which almost certainly held it back
at the time, it did offer top-notch, cha
otic fun if you had a few friends
over and enough controllers to go around. Many profanity-laden insults will be heard
from actual players and in-game competitors alike as the matches progress, and arena
obstacles and pitch mines all add to the sense of violent frivolity. Yes, there's
nothing quite like inviting the gang over for a spot of Blitz.
5. Advent Rising Advent Rising is probably best known today as
one of those games that was hyped up to be the next big thing, but ultimatel
y failed
to make a splash. The first part of a planned trilogy that never came to fruition,
you're probably thinking that it must be one of those big budget failures you
sometimes hear about, an Anthem, or a Too Human, if you will, but despite
an average critical reception at the time, modern hidden gem hunters have found that Advent
Rising offers a very interesting experience. Though it mostly plays like a
standard third-person shooter, Advent Rising features a unique “flick”
aiming mech
anic, in which players would can their targeted enemy by flicking
the right analogue stick in the desired direction. It definitely takes some getting
used to, but eventually feels intuitive, and ultimately frees up another controller
button for different combat options. Advent Rising was bright,
well-written, and action-packed, and was a fun experience for
those willing to dive in, despite the unusual targeting gameplay
putting many would-be players off of the game. To be fair, the elongat
ed character models
might have put off a few prospective buyers too, but if you're willing to learn a
new gameplay mechanic and look past the disproportionately large legs,
you might find something you like. 4. Raze's Hell Alright, so cutesy mascot platforming crossed
with excessive adult content had been done before, most famously with Rare's uncouth, squirrel-based
romp, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, which did receive an original Xbox remaster, by the way. Just
because something has been done be
fore, though, doesn’t mean we won’t allow it to
be done again, especially if it’s done well, and Xbox-exclusive action game, Raze's
Hell, did a very nice job with the concept. In Raze's Hell, players take on the role of a
transformed monster known as Raze, who is tasked with saving the Hinterlands from an invasion
by a race of cute-but-evil creatures known as the Kewletts. Nauseatingly saccharine, these
Kewletts have chosen to expand from the isolated walls of Kewtopia, and are forcibly tak
ing the
Hinterlands from the monsters that dwell there. Well, Raze isn't having any of it, and a bloody
retaliation ensues. While Raze's Hell has that interesting premise going for it, and has some
very competent, third-person action gameplay in store for potential players, it's that oddly
fascinating practice of horribly murdering cute little characters in gore-soaked
style that really gives it an identity. Go on, lay waste to the adorable
little blighters. They deserve it. 3. Phantom Cra
sh While the original Xbox is home to a few
mech-based games, they tend to be full-on combat simulators with serious, military storylines.
Phantom Crash offers mech-based carnage, but takes itself a little less seriously. The
mechs are referred to in-universe as “scobees”, the first character you interact
with is a cat AI called Salsa, and the gameplay is more like arena-based
vehicular combat than serious mechanised warfare. In the game, players pilot their chosen mech in
explosive, tacti
cal arena battles, and the aim is to earn enough money in these matches to upgrade
your mech and hit the higher leagues, but if you let your scobee take too much damage you'll have
to fork out for some expensive repairs. The trick is to bail on the match when your earnings are
good and before you take too much damage yourself. Get this balance right, and you'll be equipping
your ride with overpowered ordnance in no time. The mechs look great, the characters
are fun, the combat is satisfying
, and the sense of progression is
addictive, making Phantom Crash a great option for those in the market for
some giant robot-on-giant robot action with a more light-hearted tone. It's just good,
harmless, mech-mashing fun for all the family. 2. Phantom Dust What happens after a Phantom Crash? Well, someone
has to sweep up all the Phantom Dust, I suppose. The next game on our list combines
action-adventure and card-battling strategy in a way that is often considered ahead
of its time. Deve
loped by Microsoft Game Studios, Phantom Dust was released only in Japan and the
US, and put players in the shoes of an Esper, a man who can control the dust that covers
the surface of a post-apocalyptic Earth. Outside of battle, players explore and
further the story, talking to NPCs and uncovering tantalising lore details, as well
as sorting out their equipped abilities, deck-builder style. Once heading out on a mission,
players will use their equipped deck of skills in battle against vari
ous enemies, and can find and
use abilities dotted around the battlefields. Although it reviewed very well, Phantom
Dust performed poorly in the sales stakes, and the potential franchise was put on the back
burner, despite the likes of Microsoft Gaming CEO, Phil Spencer, repeatedly and
publicly supporting the game. The good news is, if you're interested in
this action, strategy, card-battling hybrid, a remastered version was released as a
free-to-play game on Xbox One and PC in 2017. It's
not often that these hidden gems are so easily and
freely attainable, so why not give it a download and get into some Phantom Dust-ups.
1. Breakdown Telling the story of a mysterious, underground
facility that appears to be home to strange, invincible beings known as the T'lan , Namco's
Xbox-exclusive action-adventure, Breakdown, represents an interesting mix of styles that came
before it and some that have developed since. Breakdown is played from a first-person
perspective, but spe
nds a lot of effort on making the experience especially immersive,
with super-soldier protagonist, Derrick Cole, able to have detailed interactions with everything
from weapons and ammo to burgers. What results is an experience that feels somewhere
in between Shenmue and Mirror's Edge. Most reviewers at the time had mixed feelings
about Breakdown's gameplay approach, praising the story, action, and immersion, but finding
the movement and design disorientating. However, most retrospective ac
counts from gamers tell
tales of a captivating adventure that's as memorable as it is unique. It even has some
decent first-person beat-em-up mechanics. Breakdown's detailed movement
and experimental style aren't going to be for everyone, and the game's
insistence on sticking to a realistic, first-person perspective even when Cole
has been flipped head over heels by a T'lan attack threatens to give players
dizzy spells, however, those undaunted few who are willing to push through will
fin
d an absolutely fascinating experience. Everyone else will probably just have a breakdown.
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