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he past year has been absolutely smashing for Xbox thanks to the launch of the Xbox One X and some cracking games such as Assassin’s Creed Origins and Wolfenstein II. But we wanted to celebrate the console’s history to see how far games have come over the last 15 years. Thankfully you don’t need to own an Xbox 360 or an original Xbox to be able to experience classic games of yore thanks to Xbox One’s backwards compatibility feature. Just pop in the disc of an old game and away you go!

It’s our favourite feature of the Xbox One – no longer do our old games sit forlornly on the side, they get just as much playtime as our new ones, making the console the perfect place to amass our ultimate gaming library. That’s why we’re taking a look back at our old favourites to bring you the very best backwards compatible games to add to your list from both the original Xbox and Xbox 360 eras.

All of these games are available through backwards compatibility, but if you can get any old games as part of a remaster or newer disc release on Xbox One we’ve left it out. So you won’t find the first few Halo games on this list because you can already find them as part of The Master Chief Collection. The same goes with Perfect Dark and Viva Piñata as they’re part of the Rare Replay disc. These are the games that are worth hunting down old discs for, to experience a slice of gaming history, and that are all playable on your Xbox One right now thanks to backwards compatibility.

So if you find a load of retro games during your next clearout make sure you hold on to them – you might be able to play them again on your Xbox One.

Xxxxx xxxxx The team originally planned to include a Sarlacc pit on Tatooine, but it was cut due to time constraints

The greaTesTsTar Wars game in The hisTory of The galaxy

DEvElOPER BioWare PublIShER Lucasarts RElEASE DATE septemBer 2003 FORMAT XBoX

There’s no doubt about it: KOTOR is one of the best-loved Star Wars games in existence. It’s also a fantastic RPG from the developers who would go on to make both Dragon Age and Mass Effect. This is a true Xbox classic. Set 4,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire, you have to face the machinations of Darth Malek by travelling to different planets across the galaxy in order to stop him. It features an alignment system that saw you lean more to the light or dark side of the Force depending on the choices you make in the story, and this in turn affects the Force powers you can use when engaged in battle. it also still holds up today thanks to the excellent characters, tight storytelling and the relationships you forge on your journey. it’s also got one hell of a twist, – one that’s worthy of its own star Wars movie even if this area of the expanded universe is technically no longer canon. however, elements of the game have been reworked into the current series universe, such as the planet malachor appearing in the star Wars rebels TV show, all thanks to Knights of The old republic’s influence. it’s so good that gamers still frequently lust over the idea that someday there might be another in the series, even if it is just a ‘legend’. Until then at least it’s easier than ever to replay this fantastic fantasy from a galaxy far, far away thanks to backwards compatibility. now let’s go adventuring with Bastila shan once more and relive those days of glory. n

ORIGInAl vERDIcT OXM ISSuE #020

“a vital game in the history of videogames, proving that a western developer can make a stunning rpG.”

9.5

Lasting Legacy

a sequel was in the form of Knights Of The Old Republic II, but the game’s legacy is even more influential than that – its mechanics became the backbone of BioWare’s biggest series, Mass Effect. that newer series may have fallen out of favour now, but the alignment system has left a lasting impression on the industry.

main Bastila Shan – one of the forerunners of Rey?

Tim Schafer almost blew his first interview at LucasArts in 1989 by saying his favourite game was a pirated version of Ballblazer

We furroWed our broWs and read your mInds for ThIs pIck

DeveloPeR Double Fine ProDuctions PUblisheR Majesco entertainMent ReleAse DATe February 2006 FoRMAT XboX

This quirky little platformer might not have sold well when it was first released, but it was critically acclaimed and has become a cult classic over time. You play as Raz, a boy who runs away from the circus to join a summer camp where his psychic powers might actually be appreciated and where he can train to become a psychic spy – a Psychonaut. Unfortunately while he’s there he discovers a sinister plot that only he can uncover and deal with.

There’s a real-world camp to explore as well as levels inside people’s heads that feature different styles depending on whose mind you’re in. It was praised for its odd characters and intriguing sense of humour that saw you encountering things like a mutated lungfish and stolen brains in tanks. It felt like a breath of fresh air on Xbox next to some of the darker games out there.

With a sequel finally on the way over ten years later, now is the perfect time to rediscover this classic. n

main Training to be a psychic spy can be psychedelic.

oRiginAl veRDicT oxM issUe #050

“a platform lover’s dream, literally. turns the hopping/collecting formula on its head and then inside-out.”

8.5

Black included an easier Ninja Dog mode after players complained that the original game was too hard. It was still difficult

TheSe vIolenTDelIghTS have vIolenT enDS

DevelopeR Team NiNja publisHeR Tecmo ReleAse DATe may 2004 FoRMAT XboX

Touted as one of the hardest games ever when it was released, this gory action title sees you as ninja Ryu Hayabusa, slicing through hundreds of tough enemies in your efforts to lift a curse. Featuring decapitations and plenty of blood, it was considered horribly violent at the time and courted a fair bit of controversy. As a result, it was censored in several countries. This notoriety made it a musthave – like watching an 18-rated film when you’re far too young (sorry mum), there was a real thrill in playing it in all it’s claret-soaked glory.

It was also a brutally hard and slick action game long before Dark Souls came along, albeit with a more simplistic set-up consisting of fairly linear stages to cut through and bosses to fight. It made for a very tight experience worthy of multiple playthroughs on increasing difficulties. The character design is a little dated now, but there’s still plenty to love about it’s slick slicing action. n

main The graphics and movement still hold up well.

oRiginAl veRDicT oxM issue #029

“beat-’em-up action of the highest calibre. a must for anyone who has the ability to hold an Xbox pad.”

9.2

Hold in the left stick on the first balcony and quickly press A, X, Y, B, Y, A, X, B to get to a secret retro level

MAke SoMe TiMe To Go bAck ANd PlAy ThiS oNe AGAiN

DEvElopEr Ubisoft publIshEr Ubisoft rElEAsE DATE febrUary 2004 ForMAT xbox

This influential parkour’em-up introduced the gaming world to freerunning and went on to influence the likes of Assassin’s Creed and Mirror’s Edge. It’s still considered one of the best examples of 3D action gaming thanks to its innovative time-rewinding mechanic and perfect controls.

After being tricked into releasing the titular Sands of Time, all of the Prince’s citizens turn into horrible creatures, and it’s up to the historical hero to correct his mistake and gather it all again. Thankfully there isn’t a dustpan and brush in sight – instead, you have a magical dagger that allows you to rewind time if you make an error and freeze enemies for simple stabbing.

This classic adventure’s time-bending mechanics have never been bettered, making it well worth revisiting. Plus, this is your chance to play something so iconic that it spawned a movie in 2010 starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Now that right there is an endorsement. n

main Braid is the only other game that does time-rewinding quite as well as it’s done here.

orIgInAl vErDICT oxM IssuE #026

“a consummate adventure that is made all the more impressive by the novel timetwisting gameplay.”

9.0

Human fist Jason Statham voiced Shrike in RFII – it was has first videogame role

Looks aren’t everythIng – but they are somethIng…

DevelOpeR Volition publISheR tHQ ReleASe DATe June 2003 FORMAT XboX

It may not have grabbed as many headlines as the original Red Faction, but this first-person-shooter makes for an excellent history lesson as it’s a great example of the genre at the time. Set five years after the first game, you’re tasked with taking on an army of enhanced soldiers and making sure they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Of course things are never that straightforward so it all goes a bit wrong and you and your squad need to scramble to fix it.

It’s fair to say that this one has definitely aged a bit more… noticeably than the others in this list, but it’s got a cube-like retro charm to it. It also didn’t include online multiplayer, but does have it locally with bots, so if you’re in the mood for destroying your friends while sitting next to them on the sofa, all while getting your nostalgia fix, then this is the game for you. It’s also amazing to see this and realise just how far the genre has come – that alone makes it worth replaying. n

main These were hyper-realistic graphics back in 2003.

ORIgInAl veRDIcT OxM ISSue #018

“Smashing things to bits is the way forward, and this game exploits that to the full. Action fans: you know what to do.“

8.5

The announcement trailer for Reach was 77 seconds long, or 1:17 – a reference to John-117

Before the rise of our favourite spartan, there was the fall of reach

DevelOpeR Bungie puBlisHeR Microsoft gaMe studios ReleAse DATe septeMBer 2010 FORMAT XBoX 360

Would it surprise you to know that every single Halo game has seen either a release or a remaster on the Xbox One apart from one? That’s right, the loneliest of soldiers in this harsh battlefield was left behind, despite being considered one of the best in the franchise. But it’s not out of pity that it’s on our list – oh no, we adore Halo: Reach and you should too. this was the last Halo game that Bungie developed before handing the reins over to 343 industries. it also takes on a more sombre tone than the series is used to. set as a prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, you play as noble six, a spartan iii and the newest member of noble team sent to planet reach to investigate a downed communications relay. it isn’t long before you discover that the planet is under a covert attack from the covenant. Your mission gets a lot more complicated from there onwards and your efforts to repel the enemy get increasingly difficult.

Bungie delved deep into Halo lore for this one, giving us the first in-game appearance of catherine halsey, the person largely responsible for creating the spartans – including the most famous of them all – and at last showed us the final planet-side moments of the fall of reach. it would be nice for Halo: Reach to fall in line with its brothers in arms, but for now if you want to play it you can dust off an original copy and take advantage of the Xbox one’s backward compatibility. playing it will make you a happier person, we promise. n

ORiginAl veRDicT OXM issue #082

“the campaign is built to replay and firefire gets match-making. the fps epic comes full circle. pure quality.”

10

Fun with FireFight

the multiplayer was better than ever and brought over the ridiculously fun firefight mode from Halo 3: ODST, which sees you joining with up to three other friends to take on waves of covenant forces. a similar mode was found in Halo 4, with spartan ops, which saw the addition of a story. But sometimes more doesn’t mean better.

BELOW For the first and only time, you get to play as a female Spartan.

The game includes references to the likes of Pirates Of The Caribbean and Monty Python And The Holy Grail

NoT eveN PeTer MolYNeux could Praise THis GaMe eNouGH… MaYbe

DeveloPeR Lionhead StudioS PublisheR MicroSoft GaMe StudioS ReleAse DATe february 2014 FoRMAT XboX 360

Fable will always hold a special place in our hearts and this remake is vastly superior to the original on the graphics and performance front. The welcome addition of an improved save system, allowing you to save at any point, makes it the best way to return to this strange, wonderful RPG.

You play as a young boy who, after the destruction of his village and the supposed murder of his family by bandits, is whisked away by the wizard Maze to join the Heroes’ Guild.

The game is notable for a feature whereby your appearance changes depending on the good or evil actions you perform. You’ll either begin to look more heroic, with a halo and butterflies circling you, or more demonic, which sees you grow horns and attract flies. These changes affect the way nonplayer characters react to you.

Anniversary scored well when it was released in 2014, but we’ve included our original 2004 Fable review and score below to reflect its legacy. n

main Thanks to improved visuals the game looks as magical as you remember.

oRiGinAl veRDicT oxM issue #34

“unique in videogames. confident, flashy, and polished beyond belief, there’s no way you won’t love it.”

9.4

Until the release of GTA V, John Marston was the oldest Rockstar protagonist ever at 38

Get BaCk In the Saddle and return to the WIld WeSt

DevelOper RockstaR puBlIsher RockstaR releAse DATe May 2010 FOrMAT XboX 360

Of course this deserves to be on our list, its saddlebags are packed with memorable moments and interesting characters. It did a spectacular job of wrapping us up in the life of cowboys, criminals and the Wild West. Before long we were strapping on stirrups, hocking into spittoons, and greeting everyone with a tip of the hat. It was a great time, although the cleaners weren’t too happy with mopping up after the shootouts.

In Red Dead Redemption you play as ex-outlaw John Marston on a mission to save his wife and son, who’ve been taken hostage by the government. You’re tasked with taking out the remaining members of Marston’s former gang in order to get your family back. Marston is certainly a little rough around the edges but he’s honest and charming, and that’s why we love him.

With the prequel coming out this spring, now is the ideal time to pick this one up again and revisit Cholla Springs, Perdido and Blackwater. n

MAIN We don’t know how John got those scars… and we’re definitely not going to ask.

OrIgInAl verDIcT OxM Issue #061

“a beautiful world, brilliant characters and classic Western scenes. the best cowboy game ever.”

9

Paradise City was originally going to have an airport, but it was replaced with Big Surf Island during development

TAke-DoWNS iN PArADiSe CiTYWhere The roADSAre meANANDThe CArSAre PreTTY

DeveLoPer Criterion Games PuBLisher ea reLeAse DATe January 2008 ForMAT XboX 360

Burning down the highway taking down cars and pulling off triple barrel-rolls with a bunch of your mates in an abandoned airfield while listening to the ‘Flower Duet’ from Lakmé by Léo Delibes is the perfect snapshot of Burnout Paradise.

The set up is simple: you arrive in Paradise City with just your driver’s licence, a beat-up car and the open road stretching out ahead of you. You immediately have free reign of the city to take part in high-speed races, cause huge car crashes, perform stunts and just have a great time with or without friends. With every road being a time challenge and each intersection a racing event there’s endless amounts of fun to be had.

Sadly, this was the last Burnout game in the main series. Sure, we’ve had a few Need For Speed games from Criterion since that shared a lot of Burnout Paradise’s DNA, but none have come close to the joy it gave. For that reason, this is one of our favourites. n

originAL verDicT oxM issue #030

“Hours will fly by as fast as the cars with Xbox Live options that expand its life. Prepare to burn in arcade racing paradiso.“

8

left You’ll spend hours driving around listening to the in-game radio station, CrashfM.

Commander Sheppard is named in honour of Alan Shepard, the first American in space

A SECOnDSpIn In ThISSpECTACulARSpACEOpERA wIll DO yOu A wORlDOf gOOD

DEvElopEr BioWare publishEr ea rElEAsE DATE January 2010 ForMAT XBoX 360

Considered by many to be not only the pinnacle of the series but one of the best games of all time, Mass Effect 2 explores the grittier side of science fiction.

The story takes place two years after the events of the first game. In that time, entire human colonies have been disappearing all over the galaxy at the hands of an alien species known as the Collectors, who are believed to be under the command of the Reapers. Determined to stop them at any cost, Commander Sheppard joins a shady organisation called Cerberus. Equipped with a shiny new starship you zip around the galaxy recruiting some of the most complex and interesting characters the series has to offer.

There are plenty of standout moments from your first steps on the criminal hub of Omega to the daring final mission. If you were left with a bitter taste in your mouth after playing Mass Effect: Andromeda, then grabbing this game will make you feel a whole lot better. n

main it’s nice to meet your old friends but you make a bunch of new ones.

originAl vErDiCT oxM issuE #057

“improved combat and balance with superb acting. Great action and still gaming’s besttold story.”

10

The original working title of the game was Terror Strike. We prefer Left 4 Dead

The genre-defining four-person shooTer of our Times

DeveLoper ValVe pubLIsher ValVe reLeAse DATe NoVember 2008 ForMAT XboX 360

Zombies have always been a bit of a staple of the videogame landscape, but there was a brief period when they weren’t quite so overdone as they are these days. Cast your mind back to 2008. It was a time before The Walking Dead came to television and the living dead had taken over every kind of media – the year that saw a new cult classic shooter launch on Xbox 360. The set-up for Left 4 Dead is pretty simple – there’s been a virus outbreak that’s caused almost everyone to turn into zombies and it’s up to you and three of your friends to band together and survive by shooting your way through different areas, relying on teamwork to progress. it also featured a lot of tech innovations to keep the experience varied and unpredictable. one of these was an Ai ‘director’ that could shift the spawn points of enemies and items depending on your status and location so that no two playthroughs would ever feel the same even if you were repeating a level. it was originally meant to feature more dLC, but only one chapter and a few free updates that added new modes were ever released before the sequel made its debut in 2009.

While the first game may have only had a fairly brief time in the limelight by today’s standards, at just over a year, it burned brightly and left a strong impression on its fans, which is why it’s in here instead of the sequel. This is where the wonderful co-op zombie shooter started and where it began to influence the genre. n

orIgInAL verDICT oXM Issue #041

a great multiplayer zombie shooter and the fastest co-op game ever made. a truly unique experience.

8

Followed up

Thanks to the game’s success there was a sequel in 2009. it caught a bit of flak for its graphic content and had to be adjusted before release. There was also disappointment from L4D fans worried about lack of support for the original as the releases were so close together. Despite the success of the first two, we’re still awaiting a third.

Main Each character had a well fleshedout backstory to relate to.