Summary
- Crackdown 2 features fun combat & a virus turning people into monsters.
- Halo 5: Guardians is a topic of fan debate with Master Chief & Blue Team.
- Fable 2 offers a complex moral system, vast exploration, & interesting story.
The Xbox has been around for more than two decades at the time of writing this article, and many different generations of it have been released throughout this period. Many people agree that a fair share of this console’s exclusives would be better on the Nintendo Switch due to game mechanics and other aspects. However, what’s undeniable is that, over the years, players have had the chance to get great experiences from a handful of titles not available elsewhere.
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Ever since Game Pass was made available to players, they have been able to access some of the best exclusives on the console, although some are shared with PC and don’t have a narrative. To focus on those that do, here are some Xbox exclusive games with the best stories.
6 Crackdown 2
A Solid Sequel That Packs A Ton Of Action
Crackdown 2
- Released
- July 5, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
JUSTICE.
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
Ten years have passed since Pacific City's genetically enhanced Agents put a stop to the city's gang problems. Now, with the city overrun by mutated Freaks and bloodied by vigilante violence, the Agency will again bring justice to Pacific City - by any means necessary.
BLOW UP THE CITY.
Weapons, explosives, cars and streetlamps: create your own style of destruction!
BLOW UP THE CITY WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
Crush all resistance with 4 friends in co-op mode.
BLOW UP YOUR FRIENDS.
New and unique PVP modes for up to 16 people will keep even the most experienced Agents on their loes.
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
- Combat and exploration mechanics are very fun
- A virus is turning people into monsters
One of the greatest things about the Crackdown franchise is that it allows players to hop from one rooftop to another as they fight crime and take down powerful mob bosses.
Crackdown 2 is not the exception, as it takes place 10 years after the events of the first title and will once again pit players against insurmountable odds as they try to hold back a dangerous virus that turns people into monsters. While the game’s narrative is not as deep as what players can find in more story-driven titles, what’s available works very well with the combat and exploration mechanics available. The Crackdown franchise is so beloved that many players are still wondering whether there will be a Crackdown 4 in the future.
5 Halo 5: Guardians
Not The Most Beloved Title In The Franchise, But It's Still Fun To Play
Halo 5: Guardians
- Released
- October 17, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
PIC CAMPAIGN The Master Chief saga continues, with solo and up to 4-player cooperative experience that spans three worlds. A mysterious and unstoppable force threatens the galaxy. The Spartans of Fireteam Osiris and Blue Team must embark on a journey that will change the course of history and the future of mankind.
WARZONE MULTIPLAYER: Play with friends and compete against rivals in three massive multiplayer modes new to the Halo franchise: Warzone, Warzone Assault, and Warzone Firefight.
WARZONE is a massive-scale multiplayer mode that supports 24-player battles with both friendly and enemy AI constantly dropping in to mix up the experience.
In WARZONE ASSAULT, it’s 24-player attack-and-defend with the attacking team looking to overrun strategic objectives while the opposing force works to stop the onslaught.
WARZONE FIREFIGHT is an ambitious new multiplayer experience that delivers the biggest Halo cooperative experience in franchise history. Up to eight players work together to complete five rounds of increasingly difficult, dynamic objectives set against a timer to emerge victorious.
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Master Chief and the Blue Team work together
- This title is a topic of debate among the franchise's fanbase
For most fans of the franchise, Halo 5: Guardians is a huge topic of debate, as some players absolutely hated it, whereas others still defend it, claiming that it was a breath of fresh air even when some of the classic gameplay elements weren’t there.
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However, the story surrounding Master Chief, Jameson Locke, and the rest of the Blue Team is still very interesting, and the combat mechanics leave little to be desired. All in all, while Halo 5: Guardians isn’t the best Halo game out there, it’s certainly not the worst either.
4 Fable 2
Albion Is Vast, And The Hero's Story Is Interesting
Fable 2
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
Fable II, the best-selling action role-playing game, in which you take on the role of a Hero in the fully realised land of Albion. Play through an epic story, become the world’s greatest fighter, gunslinger or mage. Explore dozens of open, unique environments with your faithful dog. Make friends, fall in love and start a family. Meet hundreds of characters and face some very tough decisions. In Fable II, everything you do has a consequence
- Complex moral system
- Tons of areas to explore
The Fable franchise is so popular that even 20 years after the release of the first game, it's still going strong, and there’s even an upcoming title in the works. Most players agree that Fable 2 is the best installment in the main trilogy, as it presents players with a compelling narrative, entertaining game mechanics, and several areas like Wraithmarsh that are both fun and terrifying to explore.
On top of this, there's a very complex moral system that affects how players are viewed by others and can even get them discounts at stores. Moreover, players can't get married and start a family that includes children and a dog—talk about the white picket fence dream.
3 Gears Of War 3
An Epic Conclusion To One Of The Best Trilogies Ever
Gears of War 3
- Released
- September 20, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Developed by Epic Games exclusively for Xbox 360, “Gears of War 3” plunges players into a harrowing tale of hope, survival and brotherhood. In “Gears of War 3,” players fight on as Marcus Fenix, the grizzled war hero and leader of Delta Squad. Eighteen months after the fall of the last human city, the war against the Locust rages on. Meanwhile, deep beneath the surface, a fearsome new threat is infecting the planet from within. With survivors scattered and civilization in ruins, time is running out for Marcus and his comrades as they fight to save the human race.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- The epic conclusion of a world-famous trilogy
- An interesting change of scenery from the franchise's classic grim, industrial setting
Few trilogies have left as great a mark on gaming as the Gears of War one. It's really hard to say that there's a weak spot in that trilogy, as every installment has its own great things. Gears of War has General RAAM and the Krill, as well as the honor of having introduced the mighty Berserker, whereas Gears of War 2 took players to Nexus and introduced the Riftworm. As for Gears of War 3, this title can take credit for being the conclusion to this epic trilogy, tying most loose ends and ending the Locust threat, if only temporarily.
In all honesty, there are very few weak spots, if any, in the Gears of War 3 narrative, so players who haven’t played it yet are in for a treat.
2 Ninja Gaiden Black
Formidable Bosses And Amazing Combat Mechanics For Its Time
Ninja Gaiden Black
- Released
- September 20, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
In Ninja Gaiden Black you can reprise the role of Ryu Hayabusa, ninja extraordinaire. This sequel to Ninja Gaiden supplies a new story and new missions, plus two more difficulty settings and cinematic cut scenes that provide background about the protagonist. Ninja Gaiden Black also incorporates the additional content from Hurricane Packs 1 and 2 and includes unlockable content such as the original arcade version of Ninja Gaiden.
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- Outstanding, fast-paced combat mechanics
- Extravagant boss designs
When Ninja Gaiden Black came out back in 2005 on the original Xbox, it revolutionized the way players experienced fast-paced combat mechanics. There was just something special about running around as Ryu Hayabusa while hacking enemies to bits and facing supernatural monsters and even skeletal dragons.
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On top of the amazing combat mechanics, Ninja Gaiden Black also featured a very interesting story that involved complex bosses with extravagant designs. This, along with the world design in this title, make it one of the best Ninja Gaiden games to have ever been released for any console.
1 Gears Of War 2
Arguably, The Best Installment In The Franchise
Gears of War 2
- Released
- November 7, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
War rages on. Entire cities are sinking, swallowed by a new threat from below. Soon humanity will have nothing left to defend. Only one option remains: an all-out attack on the Locust Horde.• HD Gaming’s New StandardInnovative controls and unmatched intensity made Gears of War® one of the best-selling Xbox 360® games ever. Breakthrough advances in Unreal® Engine 3 raise the bar again.• A Blockbuster ExperienceUse enemies as shields, fight chainsaw duels, and discover new monsters, weapons, and vehicles in an emotional campaign of loss and retribution.
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Lots of loss and tragedy
- New enemy types, like Grinders and Maulers, were introduced in this title
Gears of War 2 is, without a doubt, the best installment in the original trilogy, as it not only introduced players to Nexus, the complex Locust stronghold, but it also made formidable enemies like Skorge a considerable challenge throughout the narrative.
This, along with the introduction of new enemy types, such as Grinders, Maulers and Butchers, makes for a gameplay experience that is never boring and shines thanks to its variety. Moreover, Dom’s greatest tragedy near the end of the game, and the loss of some of the most likable and resilient Gears throughout the story, has a certain psychological effect on players that lingers until the conclusion of this epic title. All in all, it’s safe to say that the Gears of War franchise wouldn’t be where it is today without Gears of War 2.
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