XBOX Video Games
Xbox is the first console from Microsoft and the 6th generation gaming platform. It was released on November 15th, 2001 in North America and on March 14th, 2002 in Europe. It didn’t achieve great sales – especially in comparison to its biggest rival, PlayStation 2 – but it was successful enough to let Microsoft prepare another console (Xbox 360) and use it to conquer a large portion of the market between 2005 and 2006.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005) (XBOX)
Racing 15 November 2005
The ninth installment in a legendary racing game franchise created by Electronic Arts company. After two Underground games, featuring illegal night street races, the franchise went back to its roots, combining ideas from the two most recent titles with classic elements. The player’s goal is to climb to the top of a black list of the most wanted drivers. Again you get to explore a huge virtual city, taking on different racing challenges. These include circuit, sprint, drag, elimination, time trial, speed challenge, and police pursuit. After completing enough of these you can challenge subsequent drivers from the black list. Apart from elements typical for the series, such as licensed cars and diverse soundtrack, the game features complex car customization, both in terms of appearance and performance.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords (XBOX)
RPG 06 December 2004
The second installment of the bestselling RPG set in the popular Star Wars universe. Contrary to its predecessor created by BioWare, it was developed by Obsidian Entertainment. The sequel’s plot starts 5 years after the events of the first part and tells a completely different story, focusing on entirely new characters. This time around, we assume the role of the last Jedi knight, whose task is to rebuild the dissolved Jedi Order and restore peace and order in the galaxy. Starting out, we possess practically no abilities. While playing, we gradually regain our powers and lost skills. Gameplay mechanics are virtually unchanged — the developed introduced just a few minor enhancements. Apart from new powers and character classes, the game allows us to use two different weapon configurations and significantly expands our crafting and customization possibilities.
Fable: The Lost Chapters (XBOX)
RPG 18 October 2005
An expanded version of Fable, the 2004’s bestselling, Xbox-exclusive RPG by Lionhead Studios. The action once again takes us to the fantasy land of Albion, where the protagonist seeks revenge on those who assaulted Oakenfold, his home village. In the game, we complete subsequent story quests and observe how the main character evolves from a defenseless child to one of the biggest heroes of Albion. The gameplay is supplemented by the constant necessity to make moral choices that influence the appearance and alignment of the protagonist as well as the way the NPCs react to his presence. Compared to the Xbox original, Fable: The Lost Chapters introduces numerous new elements to the gameplay – the most important one is the extended story line, including an additional chapter taking place after the game's finale. Moreover, the game offers new missions and locations as well as previously unavailable items and spells.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (XBOX)
RPG 06 June 2002
The third installment in a legendary action RPG series developed by Bethesda since 1994. The story once again takes the player to the realm of Tamriel, this time to the east, to the Morrowind province. The player assumes the role of a prisoner released from imprisonment by the Emperor and given a secret mission. As it turns out, the protagonist may be the reincarnation of the legendary, treacherously murdered hero by the name of Nerevar, and his mission is to stop the reemerging evil that his previous self had once defeated. The player can chooses from ten available races and twenty-one character classes - thanks to the game's flexible character progression system the character development is influenced mainly by the player's preferred gameplay style. The player can freely choose which quests to complete and when. The game's fully 3D visuals are a big step forward in comparison to the previous installments in the franchise. Additionally, a special editor allows the player to modify the game world to a very large degree.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (XBOX)
Action 07 June 2005
The seventh installment in the controversial Grand Theft Auto series – one of the most popular game franchises in history that brought Rockstar Games company international fame. The series has been letting the player start as a petty criminal and work his way to the top of the criminal underground. This next part of the series is the biggest one so far, featuring world – the State of San Andreas – almost three times larger than Vice City. Among many innovations, there are several thing worthy of mention: improved AI of civilians, option to recruit gang members, increased number of interactive buildings, hunger factor, swimming, and new means of transportation (e.g. bicycles). On top of that, there game features numerous extra activities, highlighting the sandbox character of gameplay. The game features the atmosphere of the 1990s, apparent in both the graphics and the soundtrack available via the numerous in-game radio stations.
Doom 3 (XBOX)
Action 03 April 2005
The third installment of the legendary FPS series by id Software which set new standards in the genre’s development back in the mid-90s. The action takes place in a secret research facility of the UAC corporation on Mars, where the protagonist, an ex-marine whom we control, begins his service. Shortly thereafter, strange things begin to happen: the lab comes under attack, the communications with the HQ are severed, and the people we encounter turn into bloodthirsty monsters. It turns out that a space-time portal was opened as a result of an experiment, which led to a demon incursion that we have to repel. Compared to its predecessors from the past decade, Doom 3 offers not only fast-paced and incredibly bloody action but also quite extensive plot as well as a number of horror elements. The game also features high-quality graphics.
Half-Life 2 (XBOX)
Action 15 November 2005
A sequel to the Valve Software's best-selling game that set new standards for the FPS genre back in 1998. Half-Life 2 is set several years after the events of the first game. Once again, the player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman – a doctor of physics who used to work in Black Mesa Labs, where an unfortunate incident opened a portal for alien life forms to invade the Earth. This time, the story takes us into a fictional City 17 and its immediate vicinity. The protagonist now works for a secret government organization. His mission is to repel the invaders from another dimension, in which he is aided by Alyx Vance – a young women fighting as a part of human resistance. The sequel introduces a technological revolution, employing the Valve’s proprietary game engine called Source. Its main advantage is excellent physics simulation, letting players destroy almost any element of environment and use various objects as covers or even weapons.
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (XBOX)
Action 28 January 2004
A 3D action game that takes the players to the 1930’s USA, the time when criminal underground flourished. The game was created by Czech developer Illusion Softworks, mainly known for the highly acclaimed tactical shooter Hidden & Dangerous. The story focuses on a rookie gangster named Tommy, who takes his first steps on the path of criminal life by doing jobs for an influential mafia family. Gameplay comes down to exploration of a virtual city and completing a string of story missions, featuring many subplots. While playing, you will engage in street shootouts, bank heists, car pursuits, and assassinations. The creators did their best to recreate the evocative atmosphere of the USA in the 1930s, and implemented weapons and cars from that period. Insanity 2 game engine made it possible to generate interactive, bustling city with road traffic and changing seasons.
The Sims (XBOX)
Simulation 14 January 2003
A bestselling life simulator developed by Maxis, a studio that specializes in the genre (they've created SimCity, SimTown and other titles). The Sims enables the player to take care of a virtual family of Sims. During the game the player must take care of various needs of his characters – starting with typically physiological ones (eating, toilet, hygiene etc.), through social relations, to career. The player has great freedom in expanding his family’s house, which can be furnished with various items that will be useful for the Sims. The gameplay mechanics are based on very simple principles and lack any violence, making the game a good title for casual players. A specific humor and large number of funny animations of character’s reactions are worth mentioning.
Neighbours from Hell (XBOX)
Logic 01 November 2004
A very humorous strategy game with adventure game features. In Neighbours from Hell the player is tasked with making the life of his neighbors as miserable as possible. The player assumes the role of a participant of a reality show who is tasked with presenting the toxic relations between the inhabitants of a single block of flats to wider audience. The action is shown from the side perspective and the game consists of fourteen scenarios of different difficulties and types of tasks to complete. Not only must the player set various traps and pull sophisticated pranks on his neighbors (for example by breaking household items), but he must watch for dangers as well. Some flats are guarded by dogs that make completing the task harder. During the game the player is constantly forced to improvise and discover unknown properties of seemingly useless items. The humorous tone of the game is highlighted by nice, cartoonish graphics and a catchy soundtrack. The game uses a simple, intuitive interface.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (XBOX)
Action 04 November 2003
A new installment in the bestselling series of action games. The game expands the ideas introduced in the third entry in the franchise, released in 2001. The game was developed by the authors of the previous installments who, after having been bought by the American giant, were transformed into Rockstar North. The game takes place in the 80's in a completely new metropolis called Vice City. The player becomes Tommy Vercetti, who was sent by his boss to establish a foothold in the city while taking care of the local gangs and corrupted police. The game has similar mechanics to its predecessor and focuses mostly on completing various non-linear story missions. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City added some new features, such as the possibility to use motorcycles and helicopters. The graphics, inspired by aesthetics of the 80's, were greatly improved as well. During the game, the player is accompanied by a varied soundtrack broadcast by several different radio stations.
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth (XBOX)
Adventure 25 October 2005
A horror action adventure game. The production refers to the work of H.P. Lovecraft and the universe he created. In the game, taking place in the year 1920, we play as detective Jack Walters, who has to find a missing person. The trails eventually lead the protagonist to the bottom of the town's dark secret. The game focuses on traveling through various locations, fighting against opponents and searching for clues.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (XBOX)
Action 08 November 2005
Another virtual adaptation based on a book belonging to the series written by J.K. Rowling. The series revolves around the adventures of Harry Potter and his two friends: Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
Ghost Master (XBOX)
Strategy 27 August 2004
A unique real-time strategy game by studio Sick Puppies. You play as the eponymous Ghost Master, who arrives in the town of Gravenville to terrorize and scare its citizens. The game features 23 kinds of wraiths, ghosts, and other spectral beings. Each of them has psychokinetic energy, unique powers and skills to use against humans, who can be affected by four kinds of stimuli: optical, auditory, olfactory, and thermal. You can phase through walls, create physical or spiritual peculiarities, or manipulate the environment's temperature. Your potential victims vary in terms of their lifestyle, character, and preferences, and they go on with their daily lives during the game — they clean, work or watch TV. Ghost Master consists of twenty missions involving various tasks, such as driving humans out of a given house or helping amateur sorcerers in finding the Book of Death. The production features pleasant colorful visuals with a humorous touch.
The Sims 2 (XBOX)
Simulation 24 October 2005
A sequel to the bestselling human life simulation game – The Sims (2000). The Sims 2 was developed by Maxis Studio (SimCity, EA Land, and others) in cooperation with the Electronic Arts company. Players again take care of virtual characters leading them through their entire lives – from early childhood till elderly age. The main goal is to achieve as high Life Score as possible, which stands for how well a sim leads his/her life. When compared with its predecessor, The Sims 2 offers much more complex character creator and a wider array of available objects. A new, more efficient game engine allowed for presenting the life of the sims in fully 3D graphics.
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (XBOX)
Action 13 August 2004
The Chronicles of Riddick'. (in Poland known as "Riddick's Chronicles") became an inspiration to create a game under the same title as the screening itself. This is a fantastic story describing the story of a prisoner gifted with the ability to see in the darkness, who gets into the very middle of a galactic war.
Pirates of the Caribbean (XBOX)
Action 01 July 2003
An action-adventure game with RPG features. It is based on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Except for the title and the presence of some common motives (most of all the Black Pearl ship), the game has little in common with the movie. It was at first developed as sequel to Sea Dogs, another similar game created by studio Akella, but the popularity of the movie caused the change of the title. In the game the player assumes the role of an independent ship captain who is caught in the middle of a conflict between 17th century sea empires: England and France. The protagonist must gather a crew and complete a series of mission for the selected empire. As time passes, the protagonist gathers experience, becomes a better captain and warrior. Sea battles, including artillery combat, boarding, and sword fighting are an important part of the game.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (XBOX)
RPG 16 July 2003
A third person RPG title set in the Star Wars universe, one of the world’s most famous science fiction franchises. The game was created by BioWare Studios, mainly known for the legendary series Baldur’s Gate. The story of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is set 4,000 years before the events of the film saga, during the so-called Old Republic period. You take lead of a party of heroes representing three different races and several classes, and make your mark on the age-long conflict between Jedi knights and the Sith. The game invites you to visit 8 diverse worlds – some of them known from the films and a couple of brand new ones. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic features real-time combat with active pause, letting you adjust your tactics on the fly. As befits an RPG, you get to use a large arsenal of weapons and supernatural artifacts. Moreover, characters can be developed in multiple ways. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic constantly puts you up against choices between the dark and light side of the Force – these decisions will impact the way the story unfolds.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (XBOX)
Action 29 May 2004
Harry Potter and Azkaban Prisoner is the fourth game based on J.K. Rowling's books about the adventures of Harry Potter's title student and his two friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
Need for Speed: Underground 2 (XBOX)
Racing 17 November 2004
A sequel to Need for Speed: Underground, a best-selling 2003 game from Electronic Arts, which changed the shape of one of the most popular car racing franchises. The game takes you to a virtual metropolis that thrives after dark. For the first time in the history of the franchise, the city is completely open for exploration. As you ride around its streets you can challenge the drivers you meet on the way or learn more about the favorite locations of the street racing community. The gameplay mechanics did not change much; rather, the developers focused on an even more detailed recreations of licensed cars and car parts used for tuning. The game’s graphics were noticeably improved, featuring all sorts of new visual effects. The soundtrack keeps equally high level, as usually featuring songs by famous artists across a wide spectrum of genres.
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (XBOX)
Action 30 September 2002
The sequel to Io-Interactive's well-received stealth action game from 2000. The game’s story starts in a Sicilian monastery, where the protagonist of the first game, Agent 47, tries to forget about his former deeds by seeking atonement in peaceful life and prayer. Unfortunately, he is soon tracked down by the Russian mafia and forced to get back to work. He quickly learns that he is being manipulated and eventually becomes a target himself, hunted by highly-trained ex-Spetsnaz operatives. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a set of 21 new missions set in six main locations all over the world. As you play, you make use of the protagonist’s talents, such as reconnaissance, camouflage, sneaking, and covering his tracks. The game offers a selection of more than 30 diverse weapons, including brand new tools, such as crossbows, poisonous darts, stun ammo, and even chloroform.
Forza Motorsport (XBOX)
Racing 03 May 2005
A racing simulator developed by Microsoft’s internal studio - Turn 10. Serving as a response to a competing franchise - the popular Gran Turismo series, Forza Motorsport offers an impressive number of 200+ licensed car models from several manufacturers, divided into a number of classes and sub-classes. Each available car can be profoundly tuned – not only visually, but also mechanically. Effects of customization and damage to the cars are depicted during races due to a special system that calculates the performance of the car in real-time. Competitions take place on multiple and diverse tracks, among them both fictional street circuits as well as real tracks from all around the world. Apart from the career mode, the game features an online mode.
Fable (XBOX)
RPG 13 September 2004
A fantasy action RPG developed by Lionhead Studios, the creators of Black & White, led by an industry legend, Peter Molyneux. In the game, we assume the role of a young boy whose father was killed and mother and sister abducted when their village was raided by bandits. Saved by a man named Maze, the protagonist is brought up in the Heroes’ Guild to eventually become a full-fledged hero and take revenge on those responsible for the massacre. In Fable, our task is to complete story quests, the integral part of which is real-time combat with the use of magic and melee weapons. The game’s hallmark is a unique character development system: the protagonist not only gains experience and improves the three basic skill trees but also ages. His appearance and alignment can also change, as the game constantly faces us with the necessity of choosing between good and evil.
Tomb Raider: Legend (XBOX)
Action 07 April 2006
The seventh major installment of the Tomb Raider series. As the previous parts of the game were not received very well, a new studio – Crystal Dynamics, with Toby Gard, the creator of the original series, in its ranks – was entrusted with the game. Setting-wise, the title goes back to its roots, which means exploring ancient tombs and catacombs. During the gameplay you will visit a number of exotic locations, including Himalayas, Bolivia, Peru, Japan, Ghana, Malaysia, England, and Kazakhstan. The production offers new skills, weapons, and a whole new range of useful gadgets unavailable before. Lara’s character has also changed, both mentally and visually. The graphics are powered by a new engine, which allows for bigger interaction with the environment and changing weather conditions.
