The Xbox 360 was the star of the show at E3 2005. It was the only one of the next-gen consoles from the "big three" to be playable and have solid information behind it. We still don't know how much it will cost or when exactly it will launch, but we do know it will have a lot of really pretty looking games on it. Here is our picks for our most wanted Xbox 360 games of E3 2005.
1. Perfect Dark: Zero
A prequel to the N64 hit, Perfect Dark Zero is going to be the definitive multiplayer experience for Xbox 360. At least until Halo 3 comes out … Promising multiplayer with over 50 players, destructible environments, a ton of weapons including classics from the original PD, and a huge single-player game, PDZero is looking fantastic. Lets just hope that Rare can pull it off in time for the Xbox 360 launch in November.
2. Quake IV
Matching the amazing Doom 3 engine with next-gen power, Quake IV is going to be something great. The true sequel to the amazing Quake II (Quake 3 was a multiplayer focused game), Quake IV will deliver all of the thrills, chills, (blood) spills, and everything we have come toe expect from the Quake franchise.
3. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Morrowind is one of the biggest and coolest games on the Xbox, and now Oblivion is going to take everything that game did and make it ten times better on the Xbox 360. A bigger world to explore with more enemies and more interactivity with everything around you along with better combat are all steps developer Bethesda is taking in the right direction. It should be something wonderful when it finally arrives.
4. Dead or Alive 4
The Xbox’s flagship fighting franchise is back and looking better than ever. The gameplay has gotten significantly better and more refined with each successive installment in the series, and DOA4 looks to continue that pattern. It looks phenomenal and things like skin textures are a big step above the Xbox DOA games. The characters look more realistic and not so much like plastic dolls this time around.
5. Kameo: Elements of Power
Kameo has been in development forever. It started on the GameCube and was then ported to the Xbox and was actually finished but Microsoft decided to push it back for the Xbox 360. The extra power of the system allowed Rare to implement huge battles with hundreds of enemies onscreen and touch up the graphics. Kameo features Zelda-style dungeon exploration and combat, so it should be pretty good once it finally arrives.
6. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Combine the customization of Underground with the police chases of Hot Pursuit and you have Need for Speed: Most Wanted. What EA has shown of the Xbox 360 version so far has been very impressive and it looks absolutely gorgeous. The gameplay isn’t going to be radically different from the last few NFS games so expect the same high speed thrills as before but in a much nicer looking package.
7. Project Gotham Racing 3
PGR2 is one of the best racing games on Xbox and now PGR3 will be the best racing game on Xbox 360. Expect the gameplay to be a little tighter and the graphics to get a major facelift along with a huge number of new cars and tracks and races that make this the biggest racing game yet. PGR2 is huge but PGR3 is going to be a monster.
8. Dead Rising
Dead Rising is a zombie game from Capcom, so that right there is a sign that this should be pretty good. Capcom has revealed that the game will take place in a shopping center and you will be able to use anything and everything you find to help fight off the zombies. Dawn of the Dead, anyone?
9. Final Fantasy XI
The first Final Fantasy game to appear on an Xbox system is the massively online multiplayer role playing game, Final Fantasy XI. The graphics will be given a facelift and everything will be made to run smoothly on the X360. Rumor has it is that since this is a subscription based game that Square Enix runs off of their own servers, you won’t actually have to have Xbox Live Gold to play it online. You just have to pay Square Enix a monthly fee. We’ll see if this comes true …
10. Gears of War
Gears of War uses the powerful Unreal Engine 3 to create lifelike visuals and a presentation that feels like you are controlling a blockbuster movie. It is a third-person tactical shooter that follows humankind’s battle for survival against the Locust Horde. Not too much is known about it, but it sure looks pretty.
