The gaming industry has been really good to Microsoft. They were first out the door with a next-gen system and have had some hardware troubles (some of which are still on-going), but the quality of games has matured with the system. It took several years, but one of the most anticipated games for the Xbox 360 was also Microsoft’s only gaming franchise, Halo 3.
Alot has changed since the 360 was first introduced: you can now walk into any store and pick up the flavor of Xbox 360 of your choice, and there are a ton of great games to choose from. Even though some of the games on this list are available on other platforms, the Xbox 360 offers one of the most robust online experiences because of the sheer amount of subscribers on Xbox Live.
Assassin’s Creed (read our walkthrough here)
Release Date: Nov 13, 2007
| Assassin’s Creed (Xbox 360) | ||
 |
Shop at | Price |
 |
$19.25 | |
| Compare Prices for All 2 Sellers ($3.25 – $19.25) | ||
 |
Assassin’s Creed is a third-person stealth game, in which the player primarily controls the assassin Altaïr through computer-rendered memories experienced by Desmond. The primary goal of the game is to use stealth and other tactics to complete nine assassinations, though prior to strike out for the target, the player must perform a minimum number of intelligence missions, whether by eavesdropping, interrogation, or pickpocketing information from a given target. Additionally, the player may be made aware of other opportunities to use the assassin’s skill, from climbing tall towers to map out the city, or to save citizens from being threatened by others. Many of the acrobatic skills mimic those found in Ubisoft Montreal’s previous Prince of Persia games.
Halo 3 (read our walkthrough here)
Release Date: Sep 25, 2007
Halo 3’s story centers on the interstellar war between 26th century humanity, led by the United Nations Space Command, and a collection of alien races known as the Covenant. The player assumes the role of the Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced supersoldier, as he wages war in defense of humanity, assisted by human Marines as well as allied alien Elites led by the Arbiter. The game features vehicles, weapons, and gameplay not present in previous titles of the series, as well as the additions of saved gameplay films, the Forge map editor (which allows the player to perform limited modifications to levels), and file sharing. Overall, the game was well-received by critics, with the Forge and multiplayer offerings singled out as strong features.
Mass Effect (read our walkthrough here)
Release Date: Nov 20, 2007
Mass Effect is the first in a planned trilogy of games created by BioWare, award winning developer of such RPGs as Knights of the Old Republic and Baldur’s Gate. It takes place in the year 2183, as humanity begins to take its first steps on the galactic stage, interacting with new alien races and settling uncharted worlds. You play as Commander Shepard, a promising young officer in the Systems Alliance Navy who has just been assigned to the SSV Normandy–the most advanced starship humans have ever created.
The year is 2183, and the SSV Normandy–the most advanced starship ever created by the Alliance–is being put through its paces. Aboard is Commander Shepard, a talented young officer who will soon embark on a galaxy-spanning adventure with the fate of the known universe hanging in the balance…
The Orange Box
Release Date: Oct 10, 2007
| The Orange Box (Xbox 360) | ||
 |
Shop at | Price |
 |
$19.54 | |
| Compare Prices for All 1 Sellers ($19.54 – $19.54) | ||
|
|
This is the first Xbox 360 product to have 99 Achievements, exceeding the 50 Achievement limit that Microsoft maintains (up to 60 through downloadable content), though the Achievement points still add up to 1000 Gamerscore, which is the typical maximum for an Xbox 360 retail game. The achievements are focused on Half-Life 2 but are spread through all five games.
BioShock (read our walkthrough here)
Release Date: Aug 21, 2007
| BioShock (Xbox 360) | ||
 |
Shop at | Price |
|
|
$18.91 | |
|
|
$19.25 | |
| Compare Prices for All 3 Sellers ($6.50 – $19.25) | ||
|
|
This “genetically enhanced” first-person shooter lets you do things never before possible in the genre: turn everything into a weapon, biologically mod your body with plasmids, hack devices and systems, upgrade your weapons and craft new ammo variants, and experiment with different battle techniques in an incredibly unique underwater city.
The game focuses on a secret underwater city named Rapture, created by a rich philanthropist by the name of Andrew Ryan. Andrew has the goal of creating a utopian society where the great and powerful would not be constrained by the poor, and where the world’s elite could live without being bound by morality, government, or religion.
The player takes the role of Jack, who aims to fight his way through Rapture, using weapons and plasmids that give him special powers such as telekinesis or the ability to electrify foes. Security cameras and foes can be evaded by stealth; alternatively, security cameras and turrets can be destroyed using weapons, or hacked to use them to the player’s advantage.Hacking, which is based on the Pipe Dream game concept, can also be used on health dispensers and vending machines to gain extra benefits, and on locks and safes to gain access to the secured contents.
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock
Release Date: Oct 28, 2007
| Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Entertainment – Xbox 360) | ||
 |
Shop at | Price |
 |
$29.99 | |
|
|
$6.50 | |
|
|
$20.83 | |
| Compare Prices for All 5 Sellers ($1.50 – $29.99) | ||
|
|
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game and the third full installment in the Guitar Hero series. As with the previous Guitar Hero games, the player uses a guitar-shaped controller to simulate the playing of varying genres of music by playing notes as they scroll in-time with the music. Gameplay from the previous installments of the series has remained mainly intact, except for the addition of a new cooperative mode.
The game features over 60 total songs, many of which, in contrast to previous games, are master tracks. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is available both individually and in bundles packaged with wireless controllers. Previous Guitar Hero controllers are compatible with this title. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is the first game in the series to feature online play, in addition to existing game modes.
Rock Band (read our review here)
Release Date: Nov 20, 2007
| Rock Band (XB360) | ||
 |
Shop at | Price |
|
|
$26.50 | |
| Compare Prices for All 2 Sellers ($2.00 – $49.99) | ||
|
|
Rock Band allows players to perform in virtual “bands” by providing up to four players with the ability to play three different instrument-based peripherals (a guitar peripheral for guitar and bass guitar sequences, a drum peripheral, and a microphone). These instruments are used to simulate the playing of rock music by hitting scrolling notes on-screen. Players using the Xbox 360 both online and offline multiplayer capabilities.
