For this ‘Remembering The…‘, we’ll be bouncing back to the world of home consoles to take a look at the original Xbox, an all-time classic that blew my little mind when I first played with it.
Let’s get into it!
The Console
Chunky but powerful, the Xbox was one of the first home consoles that really felt like it could do more than just play games.
This beast could, of course, play the brand-new generation of video games, entering into the era where games actually started to look kinda okay. But on top of that, it could play DVD movies, it could play CD music (you could even upload your music from CDs straight onto the Xbox, and then certain games could use that music in-game), and it had a cool launch menu that you could explore around when you were bored (okay, maybe that last thing is something that only I did).
Four built-in controller ports was a really nice touch too. I also really liked the front-and-center disc-eject button and power button, and also the way the disc tray would just slide on out. It sounds simple, but with the PS2 having a pop-open disc tray (which meant you couldn’t keep the system in any sort of enclosed space), and other modern consoles having vertical disc trays (which I always mess up remembering which way the disc should face when you put it in), the Xbox’s simplistic build really excels.
The Controller
Now here’s a pretty modern-looking controller! And even despite that, it’s still got some unique style!
When you think of a video game controller, this is probably vaguely the image that comes into your head. At the very least, whatever you’re thinking of probably has this general shape and layout. Two analog sticks, start and select buttons, a D-pad, four buttons on the right side, and then L and R triggers. Plus those silly little white and black buttons, which were a good way to make this controller model unique. I’m also a huge fan of the big Xbox logo.
Now, yes, let’s address the elephant in the room. This isn’t the original controller model for the Xbox. That one is colloquially referred to as The Duke, and it’s a monstrosity that was rightly replaced with this model in short order. Because this model just has everything you’d want in a controller for this era. It feels good in your hands, the buttons are nice and response, and it’s more or less got this really pleasing symmetrical design philosophy going on!
Cultural Impact
I mean, this was the Xbox, Microsoft’s entry into the gaming world. Can’t get a lot more impactful than that. The gaming landscape changed forever when Microsoft entered the fray, and though Microsoft’s impact in the gaming world is but a shell now of what it used to be, it was a hughmongus deal during this era and the following era of the Xbox 360. A console that could play movies and music, and bring forth the hottest new games, especially right when multiplayer was taking off? Oh yeah, it was big.
And it’d be foolish to not talk about Halo, of course. Don’t forget, Halo was a launch title for the Xbox. Many systems didn’t get their defining games until later in their lifespans, but the Xbox launched with its single most defining game. Halo was a revolution in FPS games, multiplayer gatherings, and even just in sci-fi storytelling in gaming, and it’s still a massive (and rather massively mishandled) franchise to this day. Tens of thousands of people became gamers in this era because they either wanted to play Halo, or their friends already were and convinced them to join in too.
Favorite Games
I moved between the N64, Genesis, and GBA rather fluidly for a while, but after our family got an Xbox, it would be quite a while before we got another system, so I really had a lot of years to settle with this console, and thereby develop a lot of love for certain games.
Halo 2
It’s Halo 2. What more needs to be said? The original game revolutionized the genre, and this stellar follow-up improved upon the formula in practically every single way. More weapons, more maps, more game modes, more customization options, inimitable online multiplayer, a beefier and more well-written campaign, the ability to play as either Spartan or Elite, better graphics…the list just keeps going on and on. Halo 2 is the definitive shooter experience on the Xbox, and a worthwhile game to return to even today.
Of course, those who know me know I prefer sole-player content, so I spent most of time here with the campaign. I’ve played Halo 2‘s campaign more times than I can count, and it’s varied and exciting missions still never get old. There’s just something about exploring alien planets and battle-infested streets that is continually engaging. But, I did do a lot of local multiplayer with friends and family, and put many hours into running-and-gunning to outsmart my opponents! Halo is certainly addicting!
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
I’ve always loved platformers since the moment I picked up a controller and fumbled around with Super Mario 64, and that love never stopped even when I branched away from Nintendo systems. Now, yes, licensed games sometimes get a bad rap, and sometimes they even deserve it. But every once in a while you get a licensed game made by a genuinely passionate team, and it totally blows your expectations out of the water. Or, uh…into the water, in this case?
Bad pun aside, Battle For Bikini Bottom is a beloved platforming classic (why else do you think it got a modern remake a few years back?) that manages to do essentially nothing new, but yet everything it does do it does with 100% gusto and charm. There’s boss battles, there’s sliding levels, there’s huge levels and hundreds of collectibles to find. The classic laugh-worthy writing of SpongeBob‘s early years is delightfully here, with most of the voice cast returning. And, by golly, the soundtrack is so good for some reason, like what?
Goldeneye: Rogue Agent
Now, here’s a real Goldeneye experience, unbeholden by the jank that makes the N64 classic pretty difficult to come back to. If you asked me to close my eyes and think of ‘Goldeneye‘, this game right here is what would be first to come to my mind. Of course, I’ll admit that’s a little bit silly given I only ever really engaged with half of this game, as I never touched the campaign past the first level. I played this game during my era of gaming I lovingly call my ‘Being Bad At Games’ era, so I wasn’t skilled enough for the story mode.
But who needs skill when you can just futz around in multiplayer with friends and have a grand old time? This game’s multiplayer is fantastic, and I enjoyed all my hours with it. The weapons in this game are super neat, especially the disintegration gun, and the gun that shoots through walls. But, bar none, the biggest unique feature of this game is that nearly every map includes traps. Floors that fall out from under you, spikes that shoot up, rocket blasts of fire that incinerate entire rooms. There’s a lot, and messing around with them is a real joy. I love pranking my foes with traps!
Star Wars Battlefront 2
Still one of the all-time greatest Star Wars games ever made, Battlefront 2 is still massively fun to come back to even today. Back when I was less-skilled at games and mostly fumbled around, and in the modern-day when I finally truly know what I’m doing, Battlefront 2 is still amazing. The core gameplay of running and shooting, and occasionally driving a vehicle, is just so solid! The game feels great to play in spite of its age, and it’s still extremely popular even today with the modern release on Steam.
What really gets me with this game is the mind-boggling amount of content. There’s, like, a thousand maps to play on. Then there’s four factions, and each faction has six or seven completely unique characters with their own pros and cons. Then space battles, which have a staggering number of unique mechanics (like, you can destroy key points from outside in a craft, or you can board the enemy capital ship to disable them from within). Then there’s alternate modes like Heroes Vs Villains, or the ability to play as Wampas, Jawas, and Ewoks in other special modes. There’s Galactic Conquest, a full Campaign…why does it just keep going?
Gaming Memories
Like I addressed up above, I’ve got so many memories with the Xbox, as it was my primary system for quite a few years. I remember when we first got the Xbox and the only game we had was Forza Motorsport, which I played for hours and hours not because I liked racing games but just because it was so new and exciting! I remember creating gargantuan and explosive crashes in Burnout 3: Takedown. I remember making it to the Pelican during the final escape sequence of the original Halo with literal seconds to spare, leaving my poor older brother to die. I remember playing countless Sonic games from across the eras in the compilation release Sonic Mega Collection Plus (that’s where I first beat Sonic 2).
I remember busting bricks and gathering studs in both of the Lego Star Wars releases (my favorite character was Greedo). I remember not being good enough to defeat Obi-Wan in the final bonus boss fight of the Star Wars Episode Three game, and I remember my older brother grievously betraying my trust by telling me I could hide behind a giant machine to protect myself from a terrifying boss in Star Wars The Clone Wars, only for the boss to blow up the machine, and then me. I remember unleashing demons into New Orleans by skateboarding on coffins and knocking off skulls in Tony Hawk Underground 2 (what a wild game). And I remember finally conquering the dark ghost Spooky and saving Pac-Land in Pac-Man World 2.
Conclusion
To wrap up, the Xbox is a stellar system with a wide multitude of games covering an extremely diverse set of genres. Probably the most varied collection in gaming history, at the point of its release. There wasn’t a thing you couldn’t play on this system if you were looking for it, whether it be children’s games, racing games, fighting games, shooting games, or more. Add in the built-in capability to watch movies and listen to your music, and the Xbox was a really good all-in-one machine, all the more impressive given its age!
The Contrarian Corner 