Microsoft's very first venture in the gaming console, the original Xbox named after Microsoft's graphics API, Direct X, was released 15 years ago in the United States and in North America, followed by Australia. Europe and Japan finally got their hands on the console in 2002. 15 years later, the Xbox is now one of the best gaming consoles in the market.
To observe the 15th anniversary of the original Xbox, Digital Spy picked out 15 best games on Xbox and has ranked them. However, the games launched on PS2 and GameCube were excluded.
Ranked number 15 is "Shenmue 2" released in 2001 preceded by "Fable" (2004) on rank number 14. "MechAssault" in 2002 is on number 13, "The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind" in 2002 on number 12, "Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath" released in 2005 on number 11, "Jet Set Radio Future" in 2002 on number ten, "Jade Empire" in 2005 on number nine and "The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay" released in 2004 ranked number eight.
Preceding "The Chronicles of Riddick" is "Project Gotham Racing 2" in 2003 on number seven, "Ninja Gaiden" in 2004 ranked number six, "Panzer Dragoon Orta" released in 2003 on number five, "Forza Motorsport" in 2005 ranked number four, "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" released in 2003 on number three, "Halo: Combat Evolved" released in 2003 ranked number two.
Digital Spy ranked "Halo 2", which was released in 2004, on number one fairly because it defined the original Xbox by providing a vast twist on gameplay such as the giant walking tanks, the combat, the characters and its ending that leaves every gamer feeling astounded.
The Xbox is a home video game console and the first installment in the Xbox series of consoles manufactured by Microsoft. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console market. The sixth-generation console competed with Sony's PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube. It was also the first console produced by an American company since the Atari Jaguar ceased production in 1996.
