Summary
When most gamers think of RPGs, they likely do not consider the originalXbox. The original Xbox helped pave the way for console gamers to experience Western RPGs, which were typically exclusive to PC platforms. Many of the greatest epics of the sixth generation were console exclusives for the Xbox.
With strong developers like FromSoftware and Bioware, the Xbox was consistently supported by major RPGs throughout its lifespan. Ports from the Dreamcast also supplied the Xbox with JRPGs, making it a console with a surprisingly diverse RPG library.
10Rent-A-Hero No. 1
One of the goofiest RPGs that was exclusive to the Sega Genesis got a Japanese-only remake for the original Xbox. Rent-A-Hero No. 1 is a JRPG that focuses on slapstick humor and meta-humor about video games. Rent-A-Hero No. 1’s battles resemble 2D side-scrolling beat-em-ups, which were popular in the ’90s.
Rent-A-Hero No. 1 doesn’t use experience points. Instead, it is cash-oriented, requiring players to balance their money between buying upgrades and paying rent to keep the superhero suit. The game is also more dialogue-heavy, with a focus on picking up clues and discovering humorous exchanges.
One of the first MMORPGs to come to console, Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 and 2 add a hack-and-slash element to the MMO formula. Unlike many JRPGs of its time, which typically feature a medieval setting, Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 and 2 fully embrace a space opera atmosphere, with music that complements its futuristic, highly colorful world. There are many dungeons to explore, offering hundreds of randomly generated drops.
The Xbox version includes both Episodes 1 and 2, adding more characters, quests, maps, and an extension to the story. Some of the best rewards in an RPG are found in these quests, like unlocking minigames similar to Puyo Pop.
Instead of the turn-based combat that Baldur’s Gate is known for, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 adopts a loot-based, dungeon-crawling ARPG style. It’s larger and more polished than its predecessor and offers a solid co-op mode.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 fills a couple of key niches for the Xbox. It stands out as one of the few quality ARPGs available and can also be enjoyed in co-op mode. Loot and experience are shared equally, eliminating the need to compete for treasure or argue over who gets the final hit on a boss.
Not many Western developers would create an RPGheavily inspired by Chinese culture, but Jade Empire offered a fresh world to explore. The game showcases Bioware’s trademark attention to detail and gameplay, set in a Wuxia-like setting.
Jade Empire features a simple battle system that effectively utilizes gauges for health, chi (magic), and focus (weaponry). When a gauge depletes, you must switch from magic to focus or from using a weapon to hand-to-hand combat, ensuring you become proficient in all the game’s core systems.
Compared to most open-world RPGs, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowindremains one of the largest. It integrates its vast world with detailed text, encouraging players to pay close attention when interacting with NPCs to uncover clues about where to go next or what to explore.
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind takes a different approach from later Elder Scrolls games by starting you off as incredibly weak. You may struggle even against commoners, and as a mage, your spells might initially be ineffective. However, as you progress and gain power, the sense of achievement is far more rewarding than games where you begin as a demi-god.
One of the highest-paced action RPGs is X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse. It captures the simplicity ofthe beat-em-up genreoften associated with superhero video games and adds a wide range of abilities.
Playing co-op significantly enhances the fun in X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse, thanks to a well-designed camera that keeps all four players visible despite the high-tempo action. The game features a stacked roster, offering the option to play unorthodox X-Men such as Juggernaut, Bishop, Professor X, and Magneto.
One of the many excellent gamesfrom FromSoftware you might not have heard of,Otogi: Myth of Demons, captures the essence of a fighter on their last legs. Throughout the game, your health gradually depletes, requiring you to keep moving forward, collect health orbs, and use spells to stay replenished. Balancing between using magic and maintaining your health creates a constant stream of strategic choices throughout the playthrough.
The controls in Otogi: Myth of Demons are among the smoothest in FromSoftware’s library. A strong emphasis on mobility, such as gliding and double jumping, provides enjoyable tools for both traveling and battling hordes of enemies.
The Xbox version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 lacks technical refinement but compensates with its ambitious storytelling. It also features a well-balanced skill tree and various useful stats like wisdom and charisma.
The narrative is the game’s strongest aspect, with every party member worth exploring and conversing with. While Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 does not have the iconic twist of the first game, it offers a thoughtful exploration of the human condition. The game delves into themes such as the difference between leadership and manipulation, the impact of lacking agency, and the inescapable nature of one’s choices.
Combining RPG elements with card game mechanics and third-person action, Phantom Dust is the most distinct game on the original Xbox. It allows you to build a magical RPG-like character by crafting a deck that represents your attributes, skills, and spells. The story of Phantom Dust delves heavily into themes of isolation, but its team-based multiplayer mode adds significant value. You must ensure your cards not only synergize with each other but also with those of your three teammates, giving Phantom Dust a level of complexity unmatched by other RPGs.
There are countless synergies between different card styles, and no single card can defend against every type of offense. The arenas are crucial for their diverse layouts, and the effectiveness of spells can vary depending on the map they are cast on.
A video game that defined an entire era in Star Wars lore, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic combines rich lore with an intricate plot. While the good and evil system is rather primitive, it still lends a solid reason to play the game twice to see the different paths. It tops its narrative off with some of the best plot twists in gaming.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic gives turn-based RPG lovers everything you can want, and is accessible even for those used to JRPGs. You have a wide selection of charming characters with different backgrounds in Star Wars lore like a wookie and a homicidal droid.
