The Xbox and Xbox 360 collecting thread (rare/valuable/etc)

[retrosportsgamer]

Loved this review by prfsnl_gamer. Looks like it isn't a cheapie but worth seeking out.

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth (XBOX)

Call of Chthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is an immersive, survival-horror, first-person adventure game based on H.P. Lovecraft's writings (particularly, The Shadow of Innsmouth and The Shadow Out of Time). In it, you play a private investigator sent to the town of Innsmouth, Massachusetts to locate a missing person. The townsfolk are less than welcoming, and your investigation eventually uncovers a vast and terrifying conspiracy.

Despite the game's far-fetched premise, its mechanics emphasize realism. There is no HUD, and you have to judge your character's health listening to his heartbeat, analyzing his injuries, etc. (If sounds are muffled, color is fading from the screen, and your reaction time starts dropping precipitously, you are bleeding to death.) All but one of the weapons are from the first-half of the twentieth century; they all take time to reload; and if you keep them aimed for too long, your arms will get tired (and your accuracy will drop). Treating your wounds requires a first-aid kit; takes the better part of a minute; and does not result in immediate recovery of your health. Finally, you have to count your shots to know when to reload, and counting your enemies' shots is a very effective combat technique. (If your enemy has a double-barreled shotgun, it is best to wait untilhe has fired off two rounds before mounting your attack.)

The emphasis on realism - and your character's distinctly human fragility - make the game incredibly tense. (You can kill most of your enemies with a well-placed shot, but they can drop you just as quickly. You have to find safe-locations to treat your wonds. Falling from even a modest height will kill or wound you.) Moreover, the game has a fantastic "sanity" mechanic that makes some of its most exciting moments even more hectic. (Looking at the game's horrors will blur your vision and result in hallucinations. Looking down from great heights will cause vertigo.)

The game is also incredibly well-designed. Despite my discussion of combat mechanics, you spend most of the game unarmed. Accordingly, the game emphasizes evasion, stealth, and creative problem-solving, and it is much more of a first-person adventure game than a first-person shooter. The enemies react realistically to your actions. They are much smarter than the brain-dead soldiers in the Metal Gear Solid games, and they will not stop pursuing you just because you ran down a hall way or closed a door. (In fact, they will break down the door, and search every corner of a room until they find and kill you.)

Finally, several of the set pieces are simply amazing. The ambush at the hotel, the escape from Innsmouth, the assault on the Marsh refinery, the voyage on the USS Urania, and the battle with the flying polyps are among the best set-pieces in any game.

The game is not entirely without its flaws, however. I encountered several bugs during my playthrough, and the game froze on multiple occassions. It is also brutally difficult, and the solutions to many of the game's "puzzles" are not easily uncovered. I therefore cannot recommend it to anyone who is easily discouraged or frustrated.

Nonetheless, it is, IMO, one of the very best games of its generation. It is, as I mentioned above, incredibly well-designed. Moreover, it is very faithful to H.P. Lovecraft's work, and the settings (particularly, Innsmouth and the Yith civilization) match his decriptions precisely. Accordingly, I highly, highly recommend this game to anyone who is a fan of H.P. Lovecraft's work, a fan of survival-horror, or a fan of challenging first-person advenure games.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Thanks!

It is a really great game, and it definitely justifies its asking price. Moreover, it is "console exclusive" to the Xbox (and, through its backward compatibility features, the Xbox 360). It is, however, available on Steam for less than $10; so, for those who are merely interested in playing it, that may be the best route.

[retrosportsgamer]

Checked out Metal Jesus' videos and did some looking around. Apparently netdirectsales has a LOT of Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes because they're selling them new for $3.99 with free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Xbox-Live-K ... 4d03d3b242

[dsheinem]

Checked out Metal Jesus' videos and did some looking around. Apparently netdirectsales has a LOT of Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes because they're selling them new for $3.99 with free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Xbox-Live-K ... 4d03d3b242

thanks!

[flojocabron]

Since we're all list-o-holics right now

will someone make a 360 list of must have games?

I think right now is the perfect time to get them. I want to beef up my 360 games before I have to pay absurd amounts a few years from now. I know they can be burned and copied, but I want some good games original, or some that may be cheaply priced now but I know will get more expensive later.

I've been doing some snooping in some sites and some not so usual ones.

Prices are okay in some and a little higher in others. But it looks like the are used but complete.

Well, that is compared to gamestop. Right now they have a special deal on certain games that are 3 for $10. I took a list home with me and I've been checking the prices.

I see some nice games in there but I fear that these games will be disc only. And I prefer having them complete, or at least with the box.

I've already hit up one of mine (gamestop) and going through the list and asking the worker there to check things out for me.... No luck.

Not to mention other 360 games. Doing a search shows the closest gamestop with the games I want at least a 3+hours drive away.

Just a little while ago I went to FYE.com and I ordered Too human, Onechanbara and Wartech Senko no Ronde. All together with tax and shipping $26.00.

I know they are cheaper at gamestop. but we go back again to the availability issue. They are too far away and may be just disc only.

I'm eyeballing a few more 360 games right now too. But I have to do a bit more searching and snooping before I buy them.

Soooo, Is someone here on the forum willing to make a master list for X360?

[mas]

Fine I'll start.
The must haves for me is
Mass effect trilogy. Cheaper to buy them separate.
Gears of war series
Batman trilogy
Capcom classic collection
Raiden 4
Raiden fighter aces
Konami collection 1 and 2

[casterofdreams]

I've mentioned it a few times here and there but the 360 games to get are the Game of The Year editions. It has a fully patched game and, in most cases, a second disc with all the DLC included.

Its bad enough keeping a single disc release complete, adding multiple discs in a release complete can be troublesome. Just look at the used section at Gamestop.

If you need a list I have a link to a little guide I created to call out most of these re-releases. I need to put more work into the guide (such as clean up and order) but its sufficient as of now.