Xbox 360 and You: A Newbie's Guide to Buying a Next-generation Console

Everyone has bought something they have deemed expensive; here is how to get the best bang for your buck when purchasing an Xbox 360 with variety to boot. This list comprises the top 10 best rated Xbox 360 games (according to gamespot.com) with game genre variety taken into consideration.

10. Dead or Alive 4- Considered to be the best fighting game released for the Xbox 360 (according to reviews) thus far, and also the first fighting game for the console, Dead or Alive 4 features fast and furious combat while including a large selection of characters to play as and the ability to play both against your friends/the computer offline and over the internet via Xbox Live. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/deadoralive4/review.html?sid=6141693 Rated 8.8/10

9. Bioshock - A critically acclaimed game that has won a multitude of awards, Bioshock is a first person shooting game that throws the player into a vast, decrepit underwater city known as Rapture trying to unravel the situation you are forced into. Bioshock is a single player game that features many customization options to ensure that every new game is a different experience, and is said to feature a compelling storyline to suck the player into the role of the main character. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/bioshock/review.html?sid=6176947

Rated 9.0/10

8. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords – Released over Microsoft’s Xbox Live service for download, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a puzzle game with a Role Playing Game(RPG) twist, making an interesting hybrid game that delivers on both ends. Featuring online play as well as a vast single player experience, Puzzle Quest is considered the best puzzle game released on the system so far and builds upon a solid puzzle mechanic with a compelling RPG storyline. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/puzzlequestchallenge/review.html?sid=6180836 Rated 9.0/10
7. Assassin’s Creed – Assassin’s Creed places you in the shoes of an assassin named Altair, exploring 12th century locations like Jerusalem and Damascus while trying to unravel a mystery. The game is a third person action-adventure known for its vast, beautifully detailed environments, fun combat and variety of game style’s blended into one fulfilling to play and captivating to finish experience. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/assassinscreed/review.html?sid=6182793 Rated 9.0/10

6. Rock Band- The first home rhythm game to feature the combination of drums, guitar, bass and a microphone, Rock Band is an experience created for having some friends over for a good time. Featuring over 40 songs initially, and offering a vast online library of pay per download songs to add to its collection, Rock Band is a game that features an ever expanding variety of new content to indulge in, and a value that will prove itself to not only the lone player, but to anyone who likes to get together with their friends and have everyone involved in the fun. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/rockband/review.html?sid=6183204 Rated 9.0/10

5. Forza Motorsport 2- Forza Motorsport 2 is a racing game that offers a challenging, yet appealing time to the player, regardless of skill level. Featuring a plethora of customization options, consistent action that doesn’t slow down or stutter, and over 300 cars from 50 major manufacturers, Forza 2 features everything a racing fan could want and enough to draw in new recruits to the genre. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/driving/forzamotorsport2/review.html?sid=6171672 Rated 9.2/10

4. Halo 3- Halo 3 is known as a system seller, or a game that people will purchase a console just to play. Available only on Xbox 360, Halo 3 is a first person shooter that refines and builds upon a sturdy, well constructed game series from the original Xbox, offering a multitude of ways to play. From a rabid online fan base to the games campaign (culminating the Halo trilogy’s storyline), Halo 3 offers something for everyone who like first person shooters. Downloadable content is regularly being added, and considering every mode is playable online, Halo 3 is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/halo3/review.html?sid=6179646 Rated 9.5/10

3. The Orange Box- The Orange Box is a collection of five games featuring the latest releases from the Half Life universe (a series of first person shooters originating from the PC). Offering Half Life 2, Half Life 2 Episode 1 and 2, Team Fortress Classic 2 and Portal, this variety pack offers a large amount of content for the price of a single 360 game. Each game is a well designed romp with realistic physics effects being the main draw, adding something to the combat (the exception being Portal, which is a first person puzzle game featuring heavy use of physics). For the price, The Orange Box delivers an excessive amount of content that few would argue with. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/halflife2episode2/review.html?sid=6180714 Rated 9.5/10

2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion- Most role playing games (RPG’s) deliver a respectable amount of content to consume the player’s time, but when regarding The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the amount of content offered is simply staggering. The game plays out similar to a first person shooter, but with a fantasy theme that lets you assume any role you’d like and gives the player the ability to do essentially anything, from being a knight in shining armor to a powerful wizard or even a shadowy thief or assassin. Over a hundred hours of game play await, and multiple downloadable content add-ons only expand a world that very well may consume the player if they choose to delve into the many options. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/theelderscrollsivoblivion/review.html?sid=6146657
Rated 9.6/10

1. Gears of War- Gears of War was hyped as one of the most anticipated new franchises for the next generation consoles, unique to the Xbox 360. Gears of War was universally well received by critics and gamers alike due to its third person shooting design that featured a redesign of an old videogame staple, the duck and cover shooting mechanic. As one of the Xbox 360’s most hyped releases, Gears of War is said to have delivered due to its impressive graphical capabilities and fun game design on top of its vast online competition. After the games release, two further games and movie plans were thrown into the works due to its popularity, as well as an adapted version for the PC. This is a game that everyone must simply try, with few having regrets. For more information visit http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/gearsofwar/review.html?sid=6161188 Rated 9.6/10

Sidebar Information (mini list)

Top 3 accessories every new 360 should consider investing in

1. Extra Controllers- Coming in both the wired and wireless variety, the Xbox 360 supports up to 4 controllers (2 wired controllers unless a four way adapter is purchased) and these greatly enhance the experience if only because they allow you to play with your friends at the same time in the same room instead of over the internet individually. A must buy if you plan on playing with others.

2. Xbox Live Gold Account- Xbox 360 comes with a free silver membership, allowing the user to download content to the 360’s hard drive. However, if you wish to play competitively over the internet, a gold membership is a must, and for the price of 59.99 for 12 months, it is an investment that that many would consider a worthy purchase.

3. Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit- Do you love having wireless controllers but are tired of buying new batteries for them? The play and charge kit allows you to charge the controller by connecting it to the 360, and only one is needed to charge any number of rechargeable batteries purchased for the 360.

Sidebar information 2 (mini list)

Recommendations from Gamestop Employee Adam Kingley

1. Gears of War- Further re-iterating exactly how impressive of a release it is, considering how long ago it was released and still being recommended today.

2. Grand Theft Auto 4- one of the most anticipated releases ever, Grand Theft Auto 4 is being released for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, and each with unique downloadable content. GTA IV is set in an open world modeled after New York, and lets you live the life of a seedy criminal in a way that only the Grand Theft Auto series delivers.

3. Lost Odyssey- A newly released role playing game for the 360. Lost Odyssey delivers a refreshing new series and a storyline/combat mechanic that can suck in RPG fans everywhere.