Within the RPG discourse, Sony and Nintendo’s consoles garner probably the most affection, whereas Microsoft tends to be missed. However why?

I feel that is due primarily to a few elements. First, PlayStation and Nintendo had been already established juggernauts when Microsoft launched their first console. Secondly, two of those three firms are based mostly in Japan and thus have deeper libraries of JRPGs. Microsoft has additionally (by their very own admission) did not make important inroads into the Japanese market.

Nevertheless, Xbox isn’t any slouch in terms of its RPG legacy over time. Going again to Xbox 1…ahem, authentic Xbox (I admit they get a failing grade for his or her console naming conventions), there have been some nice Xbox-exclusive console RPGs. So, I compiled an inventory of the very best Xbox RPGs of their 20+ 12 months historical past.

I thought-about solely video games that had or have some type of Xbox exclusivity. Some video games on the checklist have been launched on different consoles, but when their preliminary launch was Xbox solely, they certified for my checklist. I additionally disregarded PC variations and targeted solely on console variations, that means a concurrent PC launch didn’t disqualify a sport.

So right here they’re in no explicit order: the very best Xbox RPGs. The checklist kicks off with the sport heralded because the “greatest sport ever”…

Fable

…in accordance with its creator, Peter Molyneux. Jokes apart, Molyneux definitely overhyped Fable main as much as its launch to the purpose that it was destined to disappoint when it couldn’t ship on its many guarantees (he has since expressed remorse for his actions throughout this time). Aggressive gross sales pitches apart, Fable is a strong motion RPG and one in all Xbox’s first large unique IPs. Even with the perceived failures to stay as much as its personal hype, Fable nonetheless acquired favorable critiques and maintains an 85 rating on Metacritic.

The sport did embrace components that had been nonetheless novel on the time, corresponding to your hero’s selections impacting how NPCs work together, and altering your look. Fable additionally spawned a remastered assortment and two direct sequels. What makes the sport stand out for me is the British-style humor it leans into (not in contrast to Monty Python). I used to be relieved to see in a latest trailer that the builders appear to have maintained this model of humor for the upcoming collection reboot. Fable: Anniversary is the way in which to go if you wish to expertise this European fantasy for the primary time.

Talking of European fantasy RPGs…

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Imagine it or not, CD Projekt RED developed two Witcher video games earlier than the mega-hit The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Loopy proper? No, they didn’t go the Star Wars route and begin mid-series. The Witcher 3 turned such a mainstream success that its predecessors have been almost forgotten (although that will change with the upcoming Witcher remake). Whereas the collection’ debut sport by no means reached past PC, the second providing bought an unique console port on the Xbox 360.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings comprises many gameplay options that made Wild Hunt a smash hit. The sport doesn’t comprise as huge an open world or as lengthy a narrative, however these will not be knocks in opposition to it. The open-world areas in The Witcher 2 are smaller however really feel extra dense and fleshed out. The narrative is shorter, however your selections have an effect and add to the sport’s replayability. I encourage any Witcher followers who’ve by no means given The Witcher 2 an opportunity to take action. I feel you can be pleasantly shocked.

Additionally, a enjoyable truth: Poland gifted a replica of the sport to then-US President Barack Obama in 2011. I gained’t get into the irony of a diplomatic present the place the story focuses on regicide, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly cool.

The Elder Scrolls (Morrowind and Oblivion)

Bethesda has all the time been a giant participant for Xbox, which can proceed into the foreseeable future with Microsoft’s acquisition of the developer. It began on the unique Xbox with The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. On reflection, it’s nonetheless onerous to imagine that in 2002, such a big open-world RPG might run on a house console.

Morrowind is from a time when Western RPGs had been extra primitive and leaned towards a “hardcore” viewers. Issues we take as a right in trendy titles, like goal markers, quest logs, and arranged stock administration programs, are all absent. This makes Morrowind extra of a problem to navigate and advance by way of, whereas concurrently creating a sense of immersion unusual in different RPGs of the time.

Whereas Morrowind set the primitive framework for console open-world RPGs, its sequel, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, established a firmer basis. Oblivion — together with Fallout 3 — created the components for Bethesda RPGs that their video games nonetheless usually adhere to. Oblivion’s console model was unique to Xbox 360 for a full 12 months earlier than it was launched on PlayStation 3, additional establishing the connection between Bethesda and Microsoft, which finally led to a $7.5 billion acquisition. And whereas we’re on that matter…

Starfield

The newest Bethesda RPG and the primary to launch post-Microsoft acquisition ventures away from Cyrodiil and the Wasteland to the far reaches of area. Starfield takes most of the acquainted components of a Bethesda RPG and expands upon them. The gunplay is large, the characters are memorable, and the sheer scope of the liberty it permits is immense.

The sport acquired a broad spectrum of overview scores upon launch, which I attribute to the general divisive opinions of all Bethesda RPGs. “Haters gonna hate,” as they are saying. I’m keen to offer Bethesda video games a cross for his or her “jank” as a trade-off for the sheer measurement and freedom they permit. Starfield suffers from the least quantity of mentioned jank of all of the Bethesda video games I’ve skilled and will proceed bettering with patches over time. Starfield lives as much as its title. Even after rolling credit on the principle story, I really feel like I’ve barely scratched the floor of the secrets and techniques to be found. I can also’t wait to see the place the mod group takes Starfield sooner or later.

Earlier than I am going and crown Starfield because the premier sci-fi RPG on Xbox, a few BioWare classics would really like a phrase. Beginning with…

Star Wars: Knights of the Outdated Republic

Rising up within the ’90s, there was no scarcity of Star Wars video video games — particularly as soon as the prequel motion pictures began to hit theaters. There have been shooters, platformers, and even an underrated pod racing sport. Licensed Star Wars video games by no means captured my curiosity rising up. That’s, till BioWare’s superb RPG landed on Xbox in 2003.

Star Wars: Knights of the Outdated Republic isn’t just the best Star Wars sport; it’s the best licensed role-playing sport ever. A daring assertion, I do know. It doesn’t depend on the content material from the flicks to inform its story; moderately, it tells an authentic story and locations you in a time some 4,000 years earlier than the Skywalker saga. Many acquainted Star Wars races and components may be discovered (lightsabers, droids, Wookies, and many others.) inside KotOR, however it’s plentiful in originality. The storytelling is on level and comprises one of many most impactful plot twists in Star Wars historical past, proper up there with Vader’s reveal as Luke’s father.

KotOR set a brand new customary for what a Star Wars sport may be that has but to be outdone (we’ll see if the introduced remake — ought to it launch — can take the crown). Maybe its most impactful side is that it allowed BioWare to create their very own area epic collection sooner or later, and did they ever ship…

Mass Impact (1 & 2)

Mass Impact appears like an developed type of Knights of the Outdated Republic. It affords the identical BioWare strengths of sturdy storytelling, choice-driven dialogue, and character improvement in an authentic sci-fi universe. Mass Impact thrives in its world-building and depth of lore. Alien races really feel absolutely realized, every with their very own histories and relationships with different species. There may be additionally political intrigue on a galactic degree as humanity continues to be discovering its place within the established order.

Although the unique Mass Impact is just not with out its flaws (i.e., imbalanced gameplay and the infamous Mako), it’s a incredible expertise, and its sequel — Mass Impact 2 — perfected most of the sport’s programs. Mass Impact 2 can recurrently be discovered atop “best sport” lists to this present day. The sport is nearly flawless. Many memorable characters from the primary sport return in Mass Impact 2 to assist Shepard on their quest to convey down the Collectors earlier than a common apocalypse.

In contrast to the unique, Mass Impact 2 was launched on PlayStation 3 a 12 months after its preliminary Xbox 360 launch. Nevertheless, the Xbox model nonetheless had the benefit of carrying over your save from Mass Impact, which affected sure in-game occasions and interactions. There are additionally many callbacks to the primary sport that might be misplaced on anybody who had not performed it. BioWare was top-tier in RPG output within the 2000s earlier than EA needed to go and wreck issues. Between the corporate’s two sci-fi epics, they launched a lesser-known RPG based mostly on historical Chinese language mythology…

Jade Empire

Jade Empire was BioWare’s first RPG not based mostly on a longtime IP. It takes heavy inspiration from Chinese language mythology and kung fu motion pictures, with fluid martial arts motion fight that gives fairly the variability for a sport of the time. Characters can carry out many types, from Leaping Tiger to Thousand Cuts and even Drunken Grasp.

The acquainted BioWare ethical system is present in differing combating types. Jade Empire‘s morality system stands out as a result of neither path is explicitly good or evil, however moderately based mostly on the differing philosophies that concentrate on benevolence vs. self-reliance. The sport is on the quick aspect for a BioWare RPG, however that makes it excellent for gamers not searching for an 80-hour dedication. Of all of the BioWare RPGs, Jade Empire is probably the most missed and thus underrated. I’ll by no means completely surrender hope for a sequel or cross on the possibility to sing its praises, because it stays one in all my favourite video games of all time.

So allow us to shift from a sport based mostly within the East (however made within the West) to a few RPG classics made within the East…

Misplaced Odyssey

This checklist wouldn’t be full with out some JRPG illustration, and fortunately, Xbox has delivered some classics. Maybe probably the most memorable of those is Misplaced Odyssey. The sport’s story was born from the thoughts of Closing Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, with a soundtrack composed by Nobuo Uematsu. That alone could be sufficient to lure in JRPG fans, and those that took the bait had been handled to an epic journey.

Misplaced Odyssey felt destined to be a traditional with a dream group on the helm. It was the second Xbox launch for Sakaguchi’s Mistwalker studio following Blue Dragon (one other strong albeit considerably forgettable RPG). Nevertheless, the event course of was rocky, primarily because of technical points stemming from the selection to make use of Unreal Engine 3 for a JRPG. Misplaced Odyssey shines in its visuals and story. It’s fairly probably probably the most graphically spectacular JRPG of its time. A number of playable characters — together with the principle protagonist, Kaim — are immortals, and the story explores the emotional results that immortality would have on a psyche. The story involves life by way of quick, visible novel-style tales known as “A Thousand Years of Goals.”

Misplaced Odyssey was a well-received hit for Xbox, particularly in Japan. When you’re searching for a deeper dive into the sport, RPGFan’s Retro Encounter not too long ago did a two-part evaluation (Half 1, Half 2) that I extremely advocate.

Tales of Vesperia

Now, we transfer from a standalone JRPG to a brand new entry in a longtime collection. Tales of Vesperia was initially deliberate for the PlayStation 2, however Namco wished to keep away from {hardware} limitations and take the Tales collection into the following console era. For the reason that builders didn’t but have entry to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 turned the brand new vacation spot.

Vesperia is without doubt one of the greatest within the Tales collection. The cel shaded characters and locales look incredible, the battle system is strong, and it has a number of the extra memorable characters in a Tales sport. Yuri, Estelle, and Repede are my private favorites. Tales of Vesperia is just a enjoyable and memorable expertise. Although one of the best ways to expertise it in the present day is thru the Definitive Version (obtainable on a number of platforms), Vesperia may have all the time been an Xbox sport first. Now that I give it some thought, Tales of Vesperia and Tales of Symphonia are my two favourite Tales video games. Guess I simply favor non-PlayStation entries. Sorry Sony.

Closing Ideas

So there you’ve gotten it: my little historic romp by way of the Xbox RPG catalog. The previous 12 months has not been the strongest stretch for the Xbox model when it comes to sport releases (Redfall is a first-rate instance) or its repute. In fact, Xbox’s stoop may be traced again to the atrocious Xbox One reveal, an occasion so damaging that they’ve by no means actually recovered. Starfield’s success is a giant win for the model, and hopefully, future RPGs (just like the Fable reboot) can share comparable success. Time will inform if Xbox can rebuild its repute within the RPG panorama.