# Just bought me a new XBox!  Now what games do I get?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 23, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510 "2002-05-23T17:11:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/1 "2002-05-23T17:11:13Z")

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So I bought a new XBox at lunch. It’s sitting in my office. But now I need some games to go with it.

The box came with “Amped,” and I got “Halo” and “World Series Baseball.” I plan on renting some games and trying them out, too, but what would any Dopers with Xboxes recommend?

Note: I’ve played “SSX Tricky” on the PS2, and loved it.

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**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/2 "2002-05-23T17:13:17Z")

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I’d say you’ve got enough to keep you busy for a while already. That Wreckless car racing game was a lot of fun. I tried it in the store.

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**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/3 "2002-05-23T17:29:27Z")

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I was going to recommend Halo, but you already have it. It’s the only game I’ve played on Xbox, and I highly recommend it. The multi-player mode is great.

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**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/4 "2002-05-23T19:10:27Z")

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Games I own/owned:

Halo  
SSX Tricky  
Project Gotham Racing  
Max Payne  
Silent Hill 2  
Tony Hawk 3  
Simpsons Road Rage  
Dead or Alive 3  
Madden 2002  
Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee  
Wreckless

Also, Spiderman should be arriving any day in the mail.

Max Payne rocked, but I beat it rather quickly. You may want to do a double rental on that one and save some $.

Oddworld was a lot of fun. If you like the mario-mold of “run around, figure shit out and kill things” this is a great one.

SSX tricky is REALLY addictive.

Simpsons Raod rage is so-so. Wouldn’t recommend buying it.

If you like racing games then PGR is really solid.

Tony Hawk is fun but I haven’t played it too much yet, just got it a few weeks ago and all of my XBox time of late has been for online Halo.

Wreckless is cool, great graphics but I got stuck and frusterated pretty early in the game, I havent picked up since then. I probably will soon.

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**Author:** ![PolishSausage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@PolishSausage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolishSausage)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/5 "2002-05-23T20:48:03Z")

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I agree with the what **mouthbreather** said. I will add some thoughts too~

You’ll want to get SSX Tricky. Lost some weekends to that game.

I have Tony Hawk 3 and it’s a blast. Mind you, this is the first time I ever played a skateboarding game (I never saw the point). After renting this though, I had to buy it.

Rented Gauntlet the other week and I wasn’t too impressed.

DOA3 is a ton o’ fun that somehow gets overlooked sometimes. Good looking backgrounds and character to fight with.

Rented Bloodwake and had fun with the story mode on it. Only played the multiplayer once or twice. Another good looking game.

When you’re ready to buy another game (like **bernse** said, I’ll think you’re going to be busy for a bit) rent first and/or pick up Xbox Magazine when it has some demos that sound good to you.

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**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/6 "2002-05-23T21:13:47Z")

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I like Halo.

What are the steps I need to take to become an online junkie? 🙂

Tibs.

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**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/7 "2002-05-23T22:11:49Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tiburon \*  
> \*\*I like Halo.
> 
> What are the steps I need to take to become an online junkie? 🙂  
> \*\*

[Just posted the where and how in this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=116132)

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/8 "2002-05-23T22:57:48Z")

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Try [ebay.com](http://ebay.com) for some cheap used games, also [half.com](http://half.com) & ebgames, as well as BB rental stores.  
There is No use paying full retail. I thougth ssx tricky looks better on the ps2.

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**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/9 "2002-05-24T03:47:31Z")

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And here I thought I was the only person left who still enjoyed their xbox.

I recommend all of the following:

Xbox exclusives:  
**Halo** - What a fully developed game, it has so much to love. If you haven’t already check out the [Halo Physics Experiment](http://halo.bungie.org/misc/warthogjumpmirrors.html) video.  
**Gun Valkyrie** - Rent it before you buy it, this one is hard as hell and requires not stop clicking of the analog sticks. But it’s beautiful and action packed and very rewarding once you master its awkward control scheme.  
**Dead or Alive 3** - Its no Tekken, but a good game in its own right, and not utterly devoid of its own nuisances. My roommates and I are all reasonably good and we have some very intense fights. Plus, arguably the best graphics in any game for any console.  
**NBA Inside Drive** - If you prefer simulation style basketball go with Sega’s 2K2, but avoid EA NBA Live like the plague (rebounding in that game isn’t an art or a science, its an exercise in frustration).  
**Amped** - I think Tricky is a lot more fun. But, Amped is great if you want a very realistic snowboarding game. Its more relaxing than anything else.  
**Project Gotham Racing** - Another tough game, but also very rewarding once you get good. And the custom DJ feature is awesome, I love hearing “Hot 97, Blazing Hip-Hop and R&B” just before one of the tracks I uploaded is mixed in.  
**Jet Set Radio Future** - I’m amazed this one didn’t get more attention. This game is incredible I can’t recommend it enough. Its not difficult at first, but gets progressively more challenging. And the level design is outstanding (the Sky Dinosaurian Stage is a giant futuristic Tokyo meets Las Vegas enmeshed in roller coaster tracks, and you just happen to have brought along your trusty mangno-jet skates.

Cross Platform:  
**NHL 2002** - It’s a good game, some people prefer Hitz, its all a matter of tastes.  
**Tony Hawk 3** - I love this game, it lives up to the hype imo.  
**Spider-man** - This one is not that hard, I almost beat it on rental, but it was a lot of fun. You can do literally everything a spider can (you can even catch thieves just like flies).  
**NFL Blitz 2002** - Some people are Madden enthusiasts, they play it with all of the strategy and passion of a real football game. I like to throw on blitz and have a fast paced, nearly mindless arcade-style bashfest. Again its all a matter of taste.

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**Author:** ![PolishSausage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@PolishSausage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolishSausage)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/10 "2002-05-24T03:58:56Z")

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**cainxinth** ~ you’ve shamed me. I can’t believe that I forgot Jet Set Radio Future. Yes, yes, yes, get this game too.

…with much love for my Xbox  
~t

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**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/11 "2002-05-24T05:39:25Z")

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If you want a basic, linear fantasy game with good graphics and excellent gameplay, I would recommend Nightcaster (avoid Azurik like the plague… it’s terrible). It’s hardly as immersive or as expansive as any of the Final Fantasy’s or Zelda, but hoo-doogy, you can pull out some mean-ass spells over the course of the game.

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**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/12 "2002-05-24T17:39:48Z")

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Wow, thanks, **Mouthbreather!**

Tibs.

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**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/13 "2002-05-24T23:43:51Z")

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SPOOFE, you liked Nightcaster? I worked as a tester for Nightcaster. Nightcaster has some really great elements and some really cool spells. But if you don’t pick up the light rune (for healing) on level 3 you are going to have trouble completing the game. And once you’ve left a level there’s no way back…so if you miss it you’re screwed. Ah well, you can always start over again…

I really like Bloodwake multiplayer. Ah, I love being a little speedboat and zooming circles around the big hulking boats…

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**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/14 "2002-05-25T09:15:11Z")

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I like Nightcaster because it’s a basic, simple game that doesn’t try to be anything more. It’s not particularly deep or full of plot or characterisation, but sometimes it’s nice to have a game that’s just all flashiness and fun.

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**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-me-a-new-xbox-now-what-games-do-i-get/110510/15 "2002-05-25T14:33:04Z")

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Anyone have anything to say about Blood Omen 2? I think my ps2 vs XBox dilemma is over, and I’m in the XBox camp.
