Alright alright people want it so here it is. The Xbox 360 store is being obliterated from orbit on July 29, 2024 so I've written a non-exhaustive thread here of a few interesting games/DLC that will not survive*. Some are on sale others...not on sale.🧵
*I'm going to include a couple of games that are going from cheap, easy to get digital copies to basically impossible to get expensive, piracy only, jump through hoops to play. Also PS3 PSN is likely to get switched off without warning I'm including a couple of not-exclusives.
The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai - The first title by indie dev James Silva, a hyper violent, high difficulty side scrolling character action game. Silva would develop his style further and release a sequel but original is stuck on Xbox 360 for some reason. Quite punk.
0D Beat Drop - Arc System Works published music puzzle game DOA likely due to an odd name and using the Xbox Avatar's. Need to activate your clears in time to the music - smashing electronic soundtrack or use your own. Way too good to die with the 360 - has blazblue DLC get it!
Black Knight Sword - Despite being available on digital PS3 as well this gets a rec because there's a steep discount on it and Sony might turn their servers off without warning. Odd Grasshopper/Digital Reality game with a crunchy marionette thearte aesthetic - has some suda51.
Fusion: Genesis - People who got into this one loved it and I think it must have sold like ten copies since Microsoft didn't bother BC'ing it. Enormous top down twin stick space shooter. Built like an MMO, with a sprawling universe, player invasions and co-op. Deserved better.
Death Tank - Xbox 360 exclusive remake of the scorched earth inspired hidden game in the Saturn releases of Powerslave and Duke3d. Got a lukewarm reception (maybe the drop from 7 to 4 players and the price) but it's a great 4 player local title. Real time worms type combat.
Exit & Exit 2 - Xbox 360 release of the PSP escape things puzzle game from Taito. An odd combination of Lemmings and maybe Abe's Odyssey - kind of rough but not much exactly like it. 360 releases might have more levels and they're the only version made specifically for your TV.
Aegis Wing - Short interlude with a completely free game, just press the download button and it's yours. This one might be BC but its status is confusing. marketplace.xbox.com/en-us/product/…
Mini Ninjas Adventures - Kinect spin off of the Mini Ninja series, I'll be honest this one is here because it's very cheap and people don't hate it. If you've got a Kinect you may as well pick it up.
Diabolical Pitch - The other Grasshopper/Suda51 game that will be showing up, not quite the worst game I'll be highlighting but that you've likely never heard of it bodes poorly. Gimmicky, repetitive and exhausting (regular kinect game then) this title at least has some style.
TotemBall - The worst game I'll be highlighting TotemBall is so bad that it's free, 100% free. Oh except it uses the Xbox Vision Camera exclusively (It does not support the Kinect). You attempt to katamari two hand the TotemBall around, it doesn't really work. $20+ for a vision.
Gel (Set & Match) - From Gastronaut Studios who made Small Arms a mildly successful early 360 arcade title (available on BC) released this game prior to being absorbed into Popcap. Not on discount and was tempted not to include it but 4 player local and decent number of modes.
Otomedius Excellent - Physical copies of this anime girl side scrolling shmup from Konami during their more desperate years are around but the game has a pile of DLC that is going kaput. This includes extra characters and stages. Not exactly a high scorer but twinbee DLC...
Project Sylpheed - A multi-axis ace combat styled space shooter with amazingly colourful beam laser aesthetic. While a regular boxed game it had extra new unique missions/weapons in its DLC - and the DLC is FREE. GET IT! Also leaderboards are in the DLC. marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/…
A few games that might be worthwhile but also had wii versions and aren't discounted are Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure - the 360 version has xbox avatar support wow. BUBBLE BOBBLE Neo! - I'm not really sure if this one is meaningfully different
Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition - Similar to the two other games mentioned above, has a wii release (and a PS3 one) but it's cheap atm so worth a look. An actually awesome soundtrack and more 4 player local play. Similar to Pac-Man Championship in being *modern* frogger. Has DDR?!
RAYSTORM HD - No specific discount and also I believe has a digital PS3 release but that might have been Japan exclusive? This is one of those shmups that anyone that wants it probably already has it but if you don't...hurry.
Games on the 360 that have physical but worthwhile for reasons Armored Core Verdict Day - No discount $$$ physical has DLC Kane & Lynch: Dead Men -cheap, Angry meme man Bionic Commando 2009 -cheap, People hate it but it's actually pretty good Devil May Cry 4 -cheap, It's DMC lol
More misc - Crimson Alliance - 4p local co-op hack and slash. X360 exclusive, not that interesting and no discount. Burnout Crash! - Top down burnout, good discount but available on PS3. Choplifter HD - Good discount, has duke nukem? On PS3 as well, Steam version delisted.
One final game misc before we swap over to the Japanese store and get back to EXCLUSIVES. Spare Parts - Xbox 360 arcade/PSN co-op puzzle platformer that has an incredible steep discount. Simon Pegg is in it. Not quite fully baked. dailymotion.com/video/xfwlgo
A word of warning, the old Xbox 360 region system lets you change region once every 3 months (allegedly) so don't jump over hastily. You will need to buy a Japanese points card and not everything will be purchasable with points, I'm only listing a few items which are however.
Muchi Muchi Pork/Pink Sweets - While this Xbox JPN exclusive SHMUP double set has a physical it's $250 and going up. MMP is a pig themed shmup from the Battle Garegga guy (Shinobu Yagawa) so it's has an involved scoring system but is colourful and quirky. marketplace.xbox.com/ja-JP/Product/…
The other game you get in that two set is Pink Sweets which had a mixed reception in the arcade but the 360 version has a number of improved modes, if you want details hardcoregaming101.net/pink-sweets-ib… , it's bright and a bit odd featuring bullet absorbing/destruction as a major mechanic.
Dodonpachi Saidaioujou - Another Cave shmup that was overhauled on the 360. Quite exceptional in motion. Don't let arcade versions extreme difficulty turn you away, new xbox 360 modes provide even more game and options for mere mortals (like myself). marketplace.xbox.com/ja-jp/Product/…
Mushihimesama Futari - No link to this one since the BASE GAME is IP locked, will need a JPN CC and a VPN to actually download it. It makes this list because it has exclusive DLC called Black Label that is actually region free and can be used with the also region free physical.
God we need a shmup break - For reasons that are unclear SEGA released the Virtua Striker port/emulation only in JPN and it's not BC either. It's a pretty good soccer game, the other SEGA arcade ports are BC Virtual-On etc but if you like football. marketplace.xbox.com/ja-jp/Product/…
Ending this on a whimper with a couple of bits of on disc DLC. Virtual-On Force DLC (BUY A DISC COPY of the main game, the digital is region locked!) has missions 3 & 4 DLC which let you unlock the ingame robots much faster through extremely easy levels. marketplace.xbox.com/ja-JP/Product/…
As a bonus Sonic 06 has a bunch of DLC for the 360 version which is stuff like harder alternative versions levels and bosses that made it to the PS3 version built in. But the 360 version is better so...pony up the cash marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/…
If you enjoy games from approximately all years that are neat you should consider bookmarking hardcoregaming101.net also definitely listen to me talk about games, I actually talked extensively about Project Sylpheed in Feb begging people to get the DLC! hardcoregaming101.net/podcasts/top-4…
If for some reason you do end up going into the Japanese regional store, Otomedius Gorgeous (オトメディウスG) is the previous Otomedius game and that ALSO has a bunch of DLC, Yuzo Koshiro contributed music DLC. Not an expert on what Japanese games have regional DLC though so rip.
Decided that despite them not being very good I'm going to add a mention to Warlords and Battlezone (2008) which both dared to ask, what if the company that made Carmageddon made edgy factory metal versions of atari games with webcam support to dox yourself/flash your genitals.
Okay Warlords is slightly better than not very good. A real HD sheen that I haven't seen many other games render. Good basics with charging power shots but also really bare bones so unless you've got 4p that love Warlords it's lacking. Might as well be a Mario Party minigame.
I should mention that RayStorm is included in the RayStorm X RayCrisis Collection for PS4 and Switch, so there is another way to play it.
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