Top Five Underrated XBLA Games
Arguably the best thing about the Xbox Live is the Arcade, where for a small fee you can buy some of the greatest “old school” games ever produced. Now, when you talk about XBLA, you usually wind up talking about how much fun UNO or DOOM is. Not here. I present to you MY (not to be confused with “The”) Top Five Underrated/Unnoticed Xbox Live Arcade games.
5.) Outpost Kaloki X
Outpost Kaloki X is actually a port of a PC title, cleverly titled “Outpost Kaloki.” Sure, it took a bit for the game to get it’s act together — a patch was released on 10/25/06 that fixed a bug which prevented some achievements from being unlocked, but now that the game is working it’s about as good of a city-building sim as you’re going to find for less than ten bucks. It may not have the complexity of Sim City, but that is what gives it it’s great appeal for someone who just wants to throw a space station together and have a quick ten minutes of fun.
4.) New Rally-X
It’s Pac-Man in Formula 1 Racers, how can you not love it? A classic from the 1980s has found it’s home on XBLA, and not only do you not hear about anyone buying it, but you actually hear haters going on about how this game shouldn’t be on there. Well, I say you’re wrong. I say this game is a fantastic blast from the past, and I say that you are missing out if you don’t pick this up.
3.) Novadrome
Novadrome is what you get when you take Twisted Metal, with a pinch of Micro Machines, and a dash of Sci-Fi, throw it in a blender and pour it out on the floor. Maybe not vehicular combat at it’s finest, but it’s certainly no slouch. Throw in the fact that there is always competition online, and you’re looking at a game that you’ll find yourself inexplicably going back to time and time again.
2.) Hexic HD
Yes, Hexic. The game that came with the hard drive. Think about it. It’s a simple, straight forward puzzle game that’s fun, fast paced, and best of all, free. You can’t top free.
But not even a free game can top my #1 underrated Xbox Live Arcade game…
1.) Time Pilot
There is something about Time Pilot that I just love. I think it lies in the fact that Time Pilot gets insanely difficult in it’s own simplicity. All you have to do is shoot all the little green/blue planes/helicopters. Occasionally, you shoot a bigger, green or blue plane/helicopter. But be warned: The jump in difficulty from 1970 to 1982 is staggering, but it goes back down a knotch when you get to 2001.
So there you have it, folks. MY, J.W.’s, Top Five Underrated Xbox Live Arcade games. If you have a few credits to waste after buying all those Oblivion add-ons, maybe you should consider checking one of these unnoticed classics out.
