Best of the Xbox 360, for those on a budget!

[Metalcrack]

With the lowest entry price for the current generation, and abundance of great games, the Xbox 360 has become a must-have console IMHO. These are 2 dozen or so fellow Racketboy members who have one as well. There have been some (a lot) of QC issues with the "Red Ring of Death", but there have been numerous hardware revisions to cut down on those said faults. Microsoft has also extended the warranty to 3 years from date of purchase for the three red light error. The newest revision uses smaller main components that heat up less, in turn, cutting down the internal temperature. The high temperature is believed to be the main culprit causing the 3 red light error.

Since the Xbox 360 has been around longer than the other current generation consoles, there are more games available. Whether it is the best console, best value, or has the best games is subjective, but one can't deny there are many great budget titles available. Many of these are multi-platform, so if you have a platform to play any of them on (PC or PS3) I'd recommend it.

To me, a budget title is < $20.00, is fun to play alone or multiplayer, and is an overall good value to the gamer. Here is a list of some great titles that can be had "dirt cheap" Personally, I have a baby, and day care is expensive, so budget shopping is my specialty.

Many forget about the Xbox live arcade, where retro titles and exclusive titles can be found. Classics like Pac-Man and TMNT: The Arcade Game are $5.00, while new exclusive releases, like Braid, are $15.00. These are games I currently own, and am an Action game fan, so you won't see many RPG's here, but there are many RPG's on the 360, both Western and Japanese.

1. Crackdown - Think GTA sandbox play, Jet Grind Radio art style, minus the sexual content, and add a good dose of super hero and you get Crackdown. At $15.00, a must have for action game fans. Has online co-op, which is a bonus.

2. The Darkness - This is a supernatural FPS that has an interesting story, good gunfights, and some great supernatural powers. The controls aren't super-polished, but at around $10.00, present a good value for an FPS fan.

3. Earth Defense Force 2017 - Wow, where do you begin. It is a third person shooter that should have been released as a budget title to begin with. It's an over-the-top invasion of earth with insane weapons, insane difficulty on the higher levels, and is insanely fun. Throw in offline co-op, and you have a great game for an all-nighter.

4. Oblivion - A Western RPG with great class/character customization (as long as you want to be a hero). A game that can last extremely long, with an open world and open mission structure, Oblivion is well worth the $20.00 price. The GOTY Edition is more, but comes with the expansion. If you buy the regular version, the expansion is available via Disc, or DLC.

5. Gun - Made by Neversoft (Spiderman and Tony Hawk), Gun is available on many platforms. It has a good story, horseback fighting, and on the highest difficulty, is similar to Call of Duty 2 on veteran (that means tough)! Can be found for <$10.00

6. Overlord - This is an action-strategy hybrid that allows you to be the "Overlord" and controller different types of minions, each with there own strengths and weaknesses. The NPC's chatter is pretty funny too. Solid title for $15.00

7. Dead Rising - Zombie survival horror with almost everything being a weapon. It has two modes of play. Survival, where your life is constantly being drained, and try to last as long as possible, and a regular story mode.
Still a very popular title keeps the price around $20.00.

[the7k]

I've put thought into getting an Xbox360 due to budget, although honestly it's to play games for free rather than on the cheap. Judging by all the torrents available online as mentioned in a previous post, it'd seem playing "backups" should be a walk through the park. Still, gotta look into it a bit before a make the $200+ plunge. Plus, have to actually get the money to make a $200+ plunge. Of course, just like with the PS2, I'd probably still buy the games that'll go up in value later or companies I like to support like SNK.

After seeing Battle Phantasia go unreleased on the PS3, it's making me realize that I'll need an X360 if I want my 2D fighting fix as Sony is returning to their old habits. Too bad Microsoft isn't allowing Xgaming to make an adapter for the X-arcade; imagine how much better it'd be to play fighters and shmups on a real arcade stick.

I have The Darkness for PS3 and it is an under-rated game with a gripping story and great gunplay. Definitely get this game if you're looking to expand your library, even if the X360 and PS3 are both plagued by a flood of FPS games.

[Gamerforlife]

I have The Darkness for PS3 and it is an under-rated game with a gripping story and great gunplay. Definitely get this game if you're looking to expand your library, even if the X360 and PS3 are both plagued by a flood of FPS games.

I absolutely love that game. I have the 360 version and will probably get the PS 3 one if I ever actually get a PS3. Few games made me actually give a shit about the characters the way The Darkness did

[Japhei]

Ridge Racer 6
Dead Or Alive 4
Wartech Senko No Ronde
Burnout Revenge

[kewlrabbit]

Prey and Viva Pinata are also good choices. Prey, while not super long or difficult, can be had for under $5 and Viva Pinata is addicting as all get out. I put something like six hours into it the first day I got it. And of course the first Condemned, which can be had for $15 and is a must play IMHO. Loved every minute of both of my play throughs.

[RemyC]

anybody have news on the backwards compatibilty of the xbox360? the main-site stopped updating back in 2007. Last i checked, the prince of persia series wasnt on the list of compatible games.

[fox099]

the 360 is turning into the rpg console.

blue dragon
ffxiii
infinite undiscovery
tales of vesperia
eternal sonata

alot are dual platform, but they are coming out on the 360 first

[Flak Beard]

the 360 is turning into the rpg console.

blue dragon
ffxiii
infinite undiscovery
tales of vesperia
eternal sonata

alot are dual platform, but they are coming out on the 360 first

Don't forget Lost Odyssey, Star Ocean 4 and Last Remnant.

By the way, I second EDF2017 as a great budget title. Well worth the $20.

[Citizin]

Where do most of you go to get your 360 games? or do you shop online for modern games? I usually don't see prices as low as that in any nearby stores. And am I the only one who finds the "Platinum Hits" to have really ugly box art backgrounds?

[Metalcrack]

Where do most of you go to get your 360 games? or do you shop online for modern games? I usually don't see prices as low as that in any nearby stores. And am I the only one who finds the "Platinum Hits" to have really ugly box art backgrounds?

I've got a few on eBay, but most I've bought from 2 chains of local used game-cd-dvd stores.