As Xbox continues to preserve games, and add them to the ever-growing backward compatibility library, here’s a list of our top 5 choices Xbox needs to bring to the list.
Manhunt:
Developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, Manhunt was released in 2003 and won several accolades – including being nominated for “Console Action-Adventure Game of the Year.” Following the story of a death row inmate, the protagonist (James Earl Cash) is forced to commit a series of violent murders against Carcer City’s gang members on camera to earn his freedom. With a series of gruesome murder options available, Manhunt can be considered one of the darkest (and most controversial) games ever released. Banned in several countries including New Zealand and Australia, it rapidly gained a cult following and went on to sell over 1.7 million copies worldwide. Game Informer summed it up perfectly - “It's a frightening premise that places gamers in a psychological impasse. The crimes that you commit are unspeakable, yet the gameplay that leads to these horrendous acts is so polished and fierce that it's thrilling."
This statement alone proves it is an excellent candidate for backward compatibility!
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay:
Probably one of the best film-tie-in games ever made, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay was released in 2004 and published by Vivendi Games (and the Vin Diesel founded Tigon Studios). With Vin Diesel providing his likeness and voice acting skills, the first-person action and stealth game received rave reviews from fans and critics alike. The game itself is considered a prequel to the film Pitch Black and follows Riddick’s attempts to escape from maximum security prison, using a combination of stealth and FPS elements. With a respectable 89/100 score on Metacritic (Xbox version) and 90/100 for the PC version, the Golden Joystick “Unsung Hero Game of the Year” is surely a must for backward compatibility!
Outrun 2006 Coast to Coast:
The ninth game in the series, OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast released with a new game engine and more modern graphics, making it one of the best racing games ever produced. The game features various races and challenges as well as online multiplayer which made this a must-play (back in 2006). EDGE magazine even included it in their “Top 100 Games of All Time”; it also received a noteworthy 77/100 on Metacritic for the Xbox release (81/100 on PC).
Brute Force:
Released to much excitement and breaking Xbox sales records for both first day and first-week sales (even beating HALO,) Brute Force is a controversial choice on this list. Set in 2340 when humans have spread out across the galaxy, Brute Force was developed to be a third-person squad-based shooter. Despite not having online multiplayer, you could connect up to 4 controllers and play CO-OP throughout the whole game. The controversy mainly came from the single-player aspect with which people grew frustrated trying to keep track of all the characters, which in itself could be considered as challenging as the game. Despite some criticism, the game was generally well-received – scoring 77/100 from Metacritic, and 28/40 from Famitsu.
Max Payne:
Last and certainly not least, the first Max Payne was released to overwhelmingly positive reviews and received high scores across the board – receiving 89/100 on both Xbox & PC from Metacritic. After launching on PC in 2001, the Xbox & Playstation versions swiftly followed in 2002 and instantly caught people’s attention with its gritty story and innovative use of one of its most notable game mechanics, bullet-time. Following former NYPD and DEA agent Max Payne, the story is a classic tale of revenge as he chases down those responsible for murdering his wife and child. A unique neo-noir third-person shooter, Max Payne is a prime candidate for backward compatibility and is undoubtedly one of Remedy Entertainment’s best achievements.
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