Flashback to the mid-2000s when the sixth generation of gaming was well underway and the industry was a much different place. Halo 2 wasn't available yet, Super Mario Sunshine had just been released the year prior, and The Simpsons: Hit and Run was brand new. Online multiplayer was in its infancy and the conventions that make up proper game design were still being experimented with. It was a time when creativity was at an all-time high and many risks were taken to mix up genres and deliver the wildest experiences possible. Enter Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, releasing on the original Xbox back in 2003.
Having to be the new kids on the block against the already well-established Nintendo and PlayStation brands in the early 2000s was no easy feat for Microsoft. However, the company made a name for itself by delivering its own legion of successful franchises such as Halo, Fable, and Forza. Crimson Skies is another example of this commitment to creativity and attempting to tap into something new to always keep players entertained. Nowadays, Phil Spencer has made it clear that the Xbox brand is making a stronger effort than ever to deliver first-party experiences, which makes a comeback for the Crimson Skies series all the more recommended to deliver on this promise.
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Crimson Skies: A Token of a Different Time
For those unaware, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge was a high-flying, aerial dogfighting simulator similar to the Star Wars Rogue Squadron series. Players would soar through the skies in a series of wide-open levels, spanning from cities with huge skyscrapers to tropical beaches. Objectives usually ranged from protecting a target, destroying another, or pursuing an enemy fighter jet in intense battles. While probably not as revolutionary as Halo was for the Xbox brand, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge still brought two crucial elements to the table: originality and fun.
With so many games nowadays focused on season passes, battle royale, and live service subscriptions, a game like Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge feels old-fashioned in the best way possible. Its simple overall design, addictive gameplay, and visual style made it unlike anything else on the original Xbox and even a unique gem by today's standards. The Xbox has several first-person shooters in development, but it's important to switch genres up and keep things fresh for its user base.
Xbox Exclusives: A Push for Diversity and Quality
Aside from Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge being an enjoyable video game in its own right, its potential comeback would be far more important than just being a fun few hours for gamers. As stated, Phil Spencer has made it clear that the Xbox brand is making a push to deliver on more first-party games, something evident from a number of studio acquisitions over the past year. While Halo Infinite is sure to be a big hit and the revival of Perfect Dark is a welcome surprise, both are first-person shooters. This isn't even mentioning Crossfire X or Contraband, other high-profile shooters launching on the Xbox Series X.
It is crucial for Microsoft to maintain a sense of diversity among its first-party content, something which titles like Everwild promise, a concept which needs to continue with future titles. Taking a look at the competition, Sony's first-party lineup is all action-adventure games, but each brings a new concept, style, or gameplay mechanic to the table. Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is as unique a concept as it gets, set in a futuristic depiction of the 1930s with obvious inspirations from adventure franchises like Indiana Jones.
The Xbox Series X is a powerful machine that can allow developers to stretch the boundaries of their imagination. A new Crimson Skies taking advantage of modern tech would be a wonderful treat, and it would be a shame for Xbox to just deliver a dozen polished, albeit repetitive, first-person shooters.
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