The Best Xbox 360 Exclusives

Crackdown 2

The gameplay reveal of Crackdown 2 was one of the biggest surprises at this years' Tokyo Game Show. Although the original was initially overshadowed by the inclusion of a Halo 3 beta, Crackdown proved to be one of the breakout hits of 2007. Although development shifted away from Realtime Worlds, the team at Ruffian is comprised of many veteran developers from the first game. Orbs were the "crack" of Crackdown, and players will now be able to track down a variety of orbs around the city -- each with their own power-ups. Bring on the four-player co-op, because we're ready to return to Pacific City.

Shadow Complex

Imagine if Super Metroid and Metal Gear Solid got together and had a baby. The result would be Shadow Complex. It is a game of upgrades, exploration, crazy conspiracies, boss battles, and more all in an isolated military complex. And the best part is that it looks like a current-gen, Unreal Engine game but is played from a 2D side-scrolling perspective. It pairs amazing presentation with amazing gameplay to create one of the best XBLA games yet. It costs 1200MS Points ($15), but the replay value is through the roof so there is no question you'll get your money's worth.

Splinter Cell: Conviction

After a less than ideal first round of development, Conviction re-emerged in mid-2009 looking like a completely different game, with new features like the ability to tag enemies from a distance and then take them out in one automated move. Unlike previous Splinter Cellgames, the gameplay is now focused on rewarding aggressive players who use stealth as a way to take out enemies rather than as a way to sneak past them. Conviction also brings back the critically acclaimed co-op mode from Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, and updates it by carrying over many of the "aggressive stealth" ideas from the single-player mode.

Gears of War 2

Lead designer Cliff Bleszinski said that Gears of War 2 was going to be “bigger, better, and more badass”, and now that we have spent some time with it we have to agree with him. This is a bigger and better game in every single aspect. The campaign feels more epic and is filled with jaw dropping moments. The multiplayer has been beefed up with new modes, and the addition of Horde mode as well as a training mode means that Gears 2 has plenty to offer both on and offline. This is simply a great game.

Prey

OK, this is a personal favorite and I am sure most of you are saying “what the hell is Prey”? I bought the special edition game when it was released for the Xbox 360 back in the day. I still go back from time to time and play because it is one fun-ass game. I also really dig the storyline. You play as Tommy, a Indian trying to get the hell out of his town/tribe to make a life for himself. Only aliens come to earth and create quite a stir. Your uncle and girlfriend are abducted and its up to you to be a man and start kicking some ass. The game still has some pretty cool graphics and those gravity walkways are crazy. There’s even a cool little cameo by Coast to Coast’s old host Art Bell.

You can find this game mega-cheap now. From $5-15 depending on where you shop for games. I have yet to see this game new anywhere.

Alan Wake

Alan Wake has been in development for roughly six years, but it still looks great and features a lot of promising ideas -- such as having to fight off enemies and vehicles possessed by a power the developers refer to as "the darkness," and having to use flares and other forms of light to create safe areas that said darkness fears.

Fable 3

Lionhead Studios is ready to serve up a sequel to their massively popular Fable franchise, which will be two years removed from Fable II. Incorporating Project Natal, Peter Molyneux and crew have a lot in store to showcase what they can do with Microsoft’s “next-gen” technology for the Xbox 360. The Fable II DLC was some of the best add-on content we had ever seen, taking the world of Fable and smashing completely new story-lines for a small amount of money. We have to hope that Mr. Molyneux can continue the strong tradition of creating triple-A titles, exclusively for the Xbox 360.

Halo: Reach

From the beginning, you know the end. In Halo: Reach, players experience the fateful moments that forged the Halo legend. It's the story of Noble Team, a squad of heroic Spartan soldiers, and their final stand on the planet Reach, humanity's last line of defense between the terrifying Covenant and Earth. This darker story is echoed by grittier visuals amid a backdrop of massive, awe-inspiring environments.

Mass Effect 2

It's a bit hard to believe that after a great game like Dragon Age: Origins, that Bioware would be able to release Mass Effect 2 just four months later. Surely, something has to give, right? Well, from what we've played, it just seems like BioWare is really good at multitasking, as Mass Effect 2 already hits the "improved what work, and fixed what didn't" formula for a sequel. Not only have the graphics and loading been optimized, and combat finally feels like an honest-to-god shooter, but the story twists and turns that happen in the very beginning already give us a "dark, The Empire Strikes Back type of middle act" feeling.

Dust: an Elysian Tail

This game is so good it doesn't even need Explanation just look, This may very well be the Best XBLA game ever. It's a sidescrolling action-rpg, with an emphasis on crazy combo-based action. Everything in the game is hand-animated and painted by Dean Dodrill music is provided by Hyperduck Music Studios and Dean's long-time friend Alexandor Brandon.

Click here to get all these Games for FREE!!