The Xbox brand has made quite a name for itself during its stint of over two decades. But at least in the early days, there have been quite a few titles that tend to get lost in the pages of gaming history.
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With such expansive, populated libraries, and heavy-hitters like Halo and Gears of War hogging much of the spotlight, it's easy to see how some games could become afterthoughts even for Xbox fans. This is especially the case for the original Xbox, which never reached the popularity of its successors, and whose run in the early 2000s seems ever-so-distant now. Looking back, there are more than a few notable games that, for one reason or another, have been forgotten by most gamers. This applies even to some of the stronger titles on the console.
Cel Damage
With games like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, a new, more stylistic aesthetic known as "cel-shading" was on the rise, as studios explored other ways to display their games in the 3D space. This vehicular combat game by Pseudo Interactive is one of the more obscure examples from this era.
The game puts a cartoony spin on the grittier, gorier Twister Metal formula, featuring cartoon characters who seek to take each other out for the amusement of TV audiences. The game pits players against one another in a variety of unique vehicles, wielding everything from chainsaws to boxing gloves to black holes. While it offers some fun bouts, Cel Damage's overtly wacky style, minimal gameplay, and crude mechanics quickly made it an afterthought in the crowded Xbox library.
Freaky Flyers
Taking the form of an air racing romp a la Diddy Kong Racing, this game veers into distinct territory with motifs and aesthetics that seem modeled from old school cartoons; wrought with goofy caricatures and stereotypes.
While met with a pretty tepid reception and mixed reviews, Freaky Flyers offers a fun spin on arcade kart racers, with some colorful locales, satisfying items, and zany humor. The gamecan also burn ample time with its fairly deep adventure mode, addictive Dog Fights, and a Racing Mode which offers rather tricky challenges.
Grabbed By The Ghoulies
While British studio Rare is largely known for its efforts on Nintendo platforms and the online pirate journey Sea of Thieves, their 2000s offerings tended to fall under the radar. This can partly be attributed to its transition from Nintendo to Microsoft consoles, which diverted their attention and resources elsewhere. This can be sensed by the cheekily-named Grabbed by the Ghoulies; a quirky and lukewarm action romp for Xbox.
The game plays akin to a virtual funhouse, wrought with kid-friendly Halloween themes and cartoony visuals. Though competent enough—this slim, whimsical experience didn't draw too much attention on a console that touted epic, flashy experiences for older gamers.
Fuzion Frenzy
While it's found its way back in the spotlight for some with its Xbox Game Pass release, this local party romp by Blitz Games was somewhat overshadowed by the Mario Party series.
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The aptly-named Fuzion Frenzy offers a slew of fast-paced minigames in various futuristic-themed arenas. These range from ball-rolling elimination battles to music, sporting, and racing showdowns. Though not exactly revolutionary, the Xbox launch title filled a gap as a rare party game in a library of intense shooters and epic solo campaigns.
Enclave
On the surface, Enclave may seem like just another fantasy-based ARPG amongst a sea of similar titles. But while it may not look like much these days, the game's core concept of picking the good or evil path was quite ahead of its time. Yet even with the Steam and GOG rerelease in late 2013, this adventure from Stockholm-based Starbreeze Studios remains underrated and overlooked.
The game tasks players with venturing out either as a hero or villain upon fleeing prison, where they must defeat either the demon king Vatar or the queen of Celenheim, depending on the faction. Whether the "light" or "dark" path is picked, players will wield weapons and magic to stave off foes, solve puzzles, and collect wealth to progress.
Dead Man's Hand
While most tend to think of the Rockstar epic Red Dead Redemption when it comes to Western-themed games, this shooter from Human Head Studios similarly nails the style. But the similarities mostly end there, as Dead Man's Hand takes a far more linear, arcade-style approach to its gameplay.
Those who appreciate the finer points of cheesy old-school shooters will likely have a blast in this overlooked FPS, despite it being rather rough around the edges. It's certainly hard to deny the unique charm of being able to play virtual poker to score more health and ammo.
Blinx: The Time Sweeper
While some of Xbox's younger gamers likely heard of this platformer, it tended to fall flat considering this feline hero was apparently set to be Xbox's version of Super Mario.
Artoon's Blinx was also touted as being "the world's first 4D action game," referring merely to the hero's time-traveling abilities which are used to progress, take out baddies, and recover world-saving crystals. Blinx's primary attack beyond time manipulation involves sucking up trash and firing it at foes. This distinct mix of traits can be likened to Luigi's Mansion mixed with Banjo Kazooie mixed with Braid. While this odd blend of gameplay and rough difficulty turned off many, some were enticed by the game's unique concepts and colorful, sleek visuals.
Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth
This 2005 romp shines with its rich Lovecraftian themes and its spooky bouts of psychological horror. Those few who do remember this overlooked gem often point to the innovative use of deteriorating "sanity," which warped the on-screen action and made the experience more unsettling. This is a concept that few other games have tried to this day; with Amnesia and GameCube's Eternal Darkness being rare examples.
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This eerie period game also draws from horror hits like Alone in the Dark and Resident Evil, with its intense survival gameplay. These distinct qualities—and its late release on Xbox—tended to give Call of Cthulhu a niche appeal, despite being well received by fans and critics alike.
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Set to carry the Xbox banner along with the likes of Master Chief, this oddball of a platformer largely fell off the map compared to the explosive phenom that was Halo. While it's seen a bit of a resurgence thanks to an HD remaster on Switch, Munch's Oddysee largely remains anXbox obscurity.
The game takes place in a strange land with even stranger creatures known as the Vykkers, along with frog-like Gabbits. Players venture through unique environments as they utilize abilities like zap attacks to progress and solve puzzles.
Jade Empire
These days, BioWare is one of the biggest names in WRPGs, with hits like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. But during the 90s and early 2000s, they were still somewhat making a name for themselves with the cult-hit Baldur's Gate, and this lesser-known adventure for Xbox.
But despite its somewhat dated visuals and lack of popularity, the same BioWare charm and quality resides in this Eastern-themed RPG. To many, Jade Empire remains one of the most underrated RPGs in recent history, with its gripping plot, exciting combat, and dynamic progression system.
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