TXB Readers Top 25 Games of All Time (Part 1 )

TXB Readers Top 25 Games of All Time


Our look at the top Xbox 360 games of all time continues today with not a look at games of a specific genre, but instead focuses on games of a specific delivery system – Xbox Live Arcade.

The Xbox Live Arcade is one of the greatest success stories of this generation, bringing indie games, ports, remakes, and genuine blockbusters to Xbox 360 players from the comfort of their homes. With over 500 games available, XBLA brought us games that were maybe too small or too risky for the usual retail publishing, but were often real gems in their own rights. So what did the community find the top 5 Xbox Live Arcade games to be?

Top 5 Xbox Live Arcade Games

#5 – Perfect Dark HD



When released in 2000 for the Nintendo 64, Perfect Dark was extremely well received by both critics and players alike. Taking place in a futuristic setting where two groups of aliens had decided to wage war using covert methods on Earth, agent Joanna Dark is sent out on a corporate espionage mission that snowballs into a full out war between the two alien races.


Building on the success Rare had achieved with GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark refined the gameplay by improving many elements, enhancing the game's graphics and features, adding in a co-op mode, and expanding the game's customizable multiplayer portion. Becoming one of the best regarded titles on the N64, Microsoft’s purchase of Rare meant that not only would the game receive a prequel in the form of Perfect Dark Zero, but the original N64 title would be ported over to the Xbox 360 with enhanced graphics, Xbox Live online multiplayer support, and support for up to 8 different human players in the game's Combat Simulator multiplayer mode, giving players another chance to experience Perfect Dark all over again.

What the community had to say about the game:

xChoad Masterx: Perfect Dark was way ahead of it's time way back in 2000 & in many ways, it still is.
Femaletuffy:: Perfect Dark is the BEST game on Xbox Live Arcade so far!

#4 – Toy Soldiers


Built by Signal Studios and released in 2010, Toy Soldiers takes tower defence, World War I and some good ol’ RTS fun to make the year’s best selling Xbox Live Arcade game. The premise works as most other tower defense games – you’re placed on a toy box map and tasked with preventing the World War I era toy soldiers from entering your toy box by placing various turrets to stop their advance. But the game is much more action focused than that, allowing you to take direct control of not only any tower you build, but gives you the command of various units of your own, ranging from armored tanks to bombers.


The game was so successful that it spawned an Xbox Live exclusive sequel this year. Titled Toy Soldiers: Cold War, it took the game from World War I to the 80s and improved the game in every way with more modes, units, towers, and bigger boss fights.

What the community had to say about the game:

Spraypaintnink: Rest assured, it's a really good game.
Rowdie: Absolutely amazing! Go check it out.

#3 – Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved


Originally a minigame designed by Bizarre Creations and included within their Project Gotham Racing 2 game for the original Xbox, Geometry Wars proved so popular that Bizarre expanded it as a standalone title and launched it as one of the first titles for the Xbox Live Arcade service. The concept behind the game is relatively simple -- it is a dual stick shooter in which you have to survive as long as possible against an ever-increasing wave of enemies. However, addictive gameplay and beautifully simple and vibrant graphics helped make the game one of the best reasons to check out the Xbox Live Arcade.



When Geometry Wars creator Bizarre was purchased by Activision, they created additional versions of the game for various platforms, eventually releasing a sequel called Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 on Xbox Live Arcade in the summer of 2008. With the closure of the studio, it is unclear if the Geometry Wars franchise will have a future.

What the community had to say about the game:
Gonzmeister#1: This game is really, and i mean REALLY, addictive.
CyanideSandwich: Geometry Wars is a game that is simple to learn, but very challenging to master. Imagine Asteroids on steroids, and you have the basic idea of the game.

#2 – Castle Crashers


                                                   

One of the bestselling games on the Xbox Live Arcade marketplace, Castle Crashers is a side scrolling beat-em-up/RPG title which sees four different knights tasked with retrieving the King's daughters, who had been kidnapped by a renegade wizard.

Featuring bright, vibrant cartoony graphics, the game had you take control of one of the four different knights, each armed with their own unique weapon. Moving throughout the game's overworld, players could earn gold that allowed them to purchase additional items and weapons, and earn experience points through combat that allowed them to upgrade the stats of their characters and weapons

While Castle Crashers was an enjoyable single-player experience; the game’s real treasure was the cooperative mode. Available both online and locally via splitscreen, it could support up to four players each taking on a role as one of the knights, making Castle Crashers one of the best (and most chaotic) coop experiences on Xbox Live Arcade.

What the community had to say about the game:

Magus666: Worth every penny. Anybody who likes video games should pick this up... YES I AM TALKING TO YOU. BUY THIS NOW!!

Adny2: Thank goodness and god bless Castle Crashers! best freak'n game i've played all year.

#1 – Shadow Complex




By 2009, the Xbox Live Arcade had seen its fair share of games of various quality and acclaim. But the release of Shadow Complex was one of the biggest releases on the system, showing that the Arcade platform could handle a game with graphics and gameplay as impressive and deep as any retail game. Inspired by titles such as Castlevania and Metroid, Shadow Complex was a 2.5 side scrolling title that put an equal focus on shooting, exploration, and adventure.

Taking control of a hiker named Jason Fleming, you stumble upon a giant underground complex full of hostile soldiers and traps. As you unravel a conspiracy, you decide to do your best to stop them, taking up arms. Like Metroid, progressing further through the game would give you new weapons and abilities, and an experience system led to increased attributes. As your character grew in strength and function, you could backtrack through the complex to find new areas and objects, adding in quite a bit of depth and content to the game.

With its lengthy gameplay, emphasis on exploration, and impressive graphics thanks to the Unreal Engine 3, Shadow Complex was praised by many as being the type of game one would expect to see as a full retail disc, not as a downloadable offering. The game was so popular that developers Chair began to craft a sequel, but put it on hold in the planning stage so they could focus on releasing their popular iOS title Infinity Blade. As it stands, the concept for Shadow Complex 2 is there, but whether gamers will get to see it is unknown. What the community had to say about the game:

Been There: This game is so fun .....played for 3 hours so many hidden places to find , and things to collect great game worth the time , and MS points....


Vans74: definately one the best xbla titles yet.

Check back tomorrow for our look at the top 5 FPS games as voted by the Team Xbox communityBack in early October we asked you, our readers, to nominate your favorite Xbox360 titles in five different categories . Once we tallied those nominations we put the top ten entries from each categories in to a series of polls that ran for the month of October.

After a few weeks of waiting we are ready to unveil the Top 25 Xbox 360 Games of All Time as voted by the readers of TeamXbox. To kick things off we're starting our countdown with the top 25 Action Games. Did your favorite make the list? Read on to find out...
We will be updating this article every day until Friday with a new category.

Top 5 Action Games
 
 5 - Ninja Gaiden 2

 
Ninja Gaiden 2 was a bloody good time. The game boasted buckets of blood and for the first time in the franchise, Ryu Hyabusa could slice the limbs off of his opponents. The game boasted not only a new combat system but also new Obliteration Techniques that allowed Ryu to finish off his opponents in quick succession. Although the game suffered from some frame rate issues it was reviewed favorably and has left an impression on the TXB Community - earning it the number five slot in the action category.

Here is what you had to say about Ninja Gaiden 2:

Huey The Doctor Posted:

Looks good, although i must admit this isn't really my type of game, i'm always much more excited about free-roaming games like GTAIV or Alan wake... or well-made FPS titles. I never played the original, but i know it's a cult classic for a lot of people. I'll be looking into this one for sure, if only because so many people seem to be looking forward to it. Graphics look pretty sweet, gameplay looks okay from the demos i've seen... just doesn't seem to be anything about this game that stands out to me however.

No Face Posted:

The latest screen shots look amazing.It's hard to believe, but the game is looking even better than before. Pretty soon, DMC 4 will be left behind in terms of which action title has the better graphics....

#4 - Grand Theft Auto 4


 
With Grand Theft Auto 5 being recently revealed we shouldn't forget Niko Bellic just yet. The Serbian immigrant who just couldn't escape his past was a hit with critics and gamers alike. GTA 4 brought the "crime simulator" genre to the Next Generation with unheard of levels of realism and an amazing draw distance. What other game would let you buy a hotdog from a vendor one second and parachute off of a building the next? Well, GTA of course!

Here is what you had to say about Grand Theft Auto 4:
Xbox-Man Posted:

This Game will be a masterpiece..Most likely will become the best GTA game available and all time...well until GTA V is announced..:)
danieljordan960 Posted:

The graphics on GTA4 also impressively contribute, as the lighting and darkness set in the game give off the realistic touch and authenticity that has set a new level indeed for many to level with.The more and more you play the game,the better and better it gets to when you are playing it whether in the light or in the dark-it just makes it really great to play over and over again.

#3 - Batman Arkham Asylum
 
 
 
 
Rocksteady proved that the videogames could do the Dark Knight justice with 2009's Arkham Asylum. The joker has taken over Arkham Asylum and set all of the inmates free. Batman would have to face off against Killer Croc, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and the Joker before his adventure was through.

The game boasted impressive free flowing combat and some tense stealth sections. The game was dripping in comic book atmosphere and it ended a long string of bad superhero videogames.
Here is what you had to say about Batman Arkham City:

EnderW Posted:

I am stoked for this Game! I would say yes an open wold game would be great, however if they attempted this Gotham would just be too small. Batman knows gotham inside and out. open world would have the designers shutting the doors on most buildings just to save memory. Maybe if they made it 4 discs or something similar with loading screen in between districts.

#2 - Read Dead Redemption


Here is what you had to say about Read Dead Redemption:

PR0PH37 Posted:

I've been waiting for this for a long time since Red Dead Revolver was one of my favorite on the original Xbox(still have it). Maybe the time you had with the game didn't give you enough time with the game but I got nothing from the hands on. At least nothing I didn't know already.

#1 - Gears of War

Here is what you had to say about Gears of War:

Great game but bring on some realism & logic to it. I don't like the fact that you can't fall off edges of cliffs or buildings, you can't jump unless it is over specific obstacles that are convenient to game play.

Ammunition should be retrieved from baddies after you kill them not lying around everywhere. The healing process is also a bit stupid but I won't even go there. If this could be changed it could be the best game ever. A little longer would help so too.

This is the game that I have been waiting for since i first started gaming, true coop bliss, and it is everything it was hyped up to be. I played it first for a couple of hours with my friend via splits-creen and then we went online. and it played exactly the same as splits-creen....smooth with no lag at all. I could not be happier with what i've seen. It is challenging, beautiful, funny, gory and it's like playing out an epic movie.

The story is as awesome as the action, and there is no game that even come close to this type of action. The sound is phenominal and the best to date. Game of the Yearn no doubt!

This is just the beginning of our Reader's Choice Top 25 Games celebration. Move on to the next page to see the top 5 RPGs on Xbox 360!
 
TXB Readers Top 25 Games of All Time


By: TeamXbox Staff - "TeamXbox"Share This ArticleNovember 7th, 2011 Continuing on with the Top Xbox 360 Games of All Time, today we're revealing the results of the Top 5 RPGs as voted by you, the community. Did your favorite game make the cut?

We will continue to update this article every day up until Friday with a new category, so remember to keep checking it out!

Top 5 Role-Playing Games

#5 - Lost Odyssey



This four-disc epic continues to be one of the best RPG experiences not just on the Xbox 360, but on any of the current generation of consoles. Created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the famed father of the Final Fantasy series, this is a traditional JRPG at heart but mixes it up in various ways while presenting an absolutely fantastic story. Experiencing Kaim's story while exploring multiple environments that span across two nations is something that every true RPG fan should do. The legendary Nobuo Uematsu composed a beautiful soundtrack for the game, and tracks from Lost Odyssey are amongst his best – all these bits land Lost

Here's what some of you had to say about the game:

jj984jj posted:

Definitely looking forward to this one, Eternal Sonata's battle system was fun for all of 5 minutes. I definitely this battle system has a bit more strategy involved.

SilverTripod posted:

Lost Odyssey is one of my all time favorite games. All the technical things that bring it down don't compare to the great gameplay and overall amazing detail that surrounds it. I can easily compare this to my favorite FF games.

#4 - Dragon Age Origins



Bioware is known for creating RPGs that look great, play great, and sell well. That trend continued with Dragon Age Origins. Unlike Bioware's other current-generation RPG, DA:O requires gamers to pause a bit more to carefully plan tactics out in advance before going into battles. Player's decisions have an impact on the game in many ways, including having characters once thought to be friendly attack you because of your choice. The game has memorable characters and was met with critical acclaim, which lead to Bioware since then turning it into a franchise of it's own.

Here's what you had to say about the game:

Been There posted:
Great game , graphics are drab in someplaces , and not much detail looks like a mix between Morrowind , and Two Worlds with graphics , some places come close to Oblivion graphics....but overall not that bad. The storyline is what grabs you , and never lets you go I played for 10 hours straight so far , the gameplay , and combat are great , and easy to get into if you have played Bauldur's Gate.

#3 - Fallout 3

Bethesda, similar to Bioware, have a history of making best-selling, immersive RPG games. And after they acquired the license to Fallout from Interplay, people began to wonder how it'd be handled by Bethesda. The results were stunning, after we were introduced to a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. complete with detailed structures and a great story with Liam Neeson playing your character's father. The game allowed for all kinds of moral choices, from saving a cult of children, to detonating a nuclear bomb that was in a town full of people – it's all up to the player, and it reflects what a true RPG should be – that's what makes it the #3 Xbox 360 RPG of all time.

Here's what you had to say about the game:

TheHeartless posted:

So all in all, with everything that has been said about this game. It should now be everyone's must have game. With the game play, replay ability, and great story there is something for everyone in this game. For those who still aren't sure, rent this game and see for yourself. It's time to fall in love with you console all over again.

mookies.groove posted:

Whoa! Just like that. However, I really s**t you not that this is a very long game ‎and replayability is high. I never would have thought I’d get hooked in a game like ‎this and I’m glad that I finally stashed it in my “best games of Xbox 360” ‎collections.

#2 - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

With the arrival of Skyrim right around the corner, let's take a look at the first Elder Scrolls game on 360. It was originally released in 2006, but still stands up as one of the best RPGs of the generation. Pretty impressive! The beautiful environments, the massive amount of content in the game, and the character customization all contribute to Oblivion's success – and it's something that looks to continue in Skyrim.

There's a reason the Elder Scrolls series is so popular – it continues to re-define what is expected from a truly open RPG every time a new game in the series is released. But it's only enough for #2...
Here's what you had to say about the game:

Ophie posted:

This game really restored my faith in RPGs of any gaming system out there. After several boring hours of playing Final Fantasy and realizing that there was no depth or personality in the characters, I finally turned to Oblivion. Oblivion definately made up for the loss of faith that Final Fantasy, and cured the dissapointment of Fable, for me for all of time.

#1 - Mass Effect 2


We arrive at the top with Mass Effect 2. Bioware's sci-fi RPG series has built a reputation as being not just being one of the best RPGs, but one of the best games of all time – and the series has quickly become one of those that redefined how moral choices work in video games. Bioware built a massive universe (figuratively) with interesting characters and compelling storyline with dramatic twists and love plots.

This series was born on the Xbox 360, and with the coming release of Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard's story will come to a conclusion on the same console. I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite RPG on Xbox 360.

Here's what you had to say about the game:

TheDarkAlbino posted:

I can’t say enough about this game. The story, gameplay, music, graphics, setting – all of it is perfectly orchestrated. The folks at BioWare have crafted a masterful tale with an epic conclusion that makes the wait for Mass Effect 3 almost unbearable. No game is perfect, but Mass Effect 2 comes close. This game sets the bar not only for 2010, but for the decade and beyond.

neoearth posted:

Bottom Line - "Yes... it's that good".
That about covers the top RPGs on the 360 – be sure to come back tomorrow as the list of the top 25 games on Xbox 360 continues





Videos// You tube
Article,photographs and video taken entirely from the web TEAMBOX