11 Must-Have Games and Accessories for Your New Xbox
You're the proud owner of a shiny new Xbox 360. With scores of classic games and plenty of add-ons, there are so many different options available that it can be overwhelming to choose what's right for you. And as a new gamer, it's even more difficult to feel like you're making an informed decision.
Well, Here's a handy guide to everything you'll need to get the most out of your new system. From the best accessories to the most engaging games, there's not a bad investment in the bunch -- and you'll enjoy your Xbox 360 more than you ever thought possible.
1. Another Controller
If you haven't gotten a second controller now, it's a very wise investment to get one soon. While Xbox games usually thrive on smart, single-player campaigns and online multiplayer, several excellent games -- like Borderlands 2 -- are taken to a new level in local co-op mode. Plus, if you're looking to pick up any party games designed for multiplayer, a second controller is a definite must.
While Xbox makes proprietary wireless controllers at a very reasonable price (and a few limited edition ones, if you desire to be fancy), there are also some worthwhile third-party options to consider, depending on your needs and budget. The big choice is simple: Go wireless, or stay wired? It all depends on play style and your cash flow, but the allure of wireless is hard to resist.
Whatever you decide, you'll definitely find that a second controller will come in handy.
2. Rechargeable Battery Packs
This is another no-brainer item that will save you major money in the long run. Xbox controllers can really gobble up AA batteries, and there's nothing more frustrating than having to cut your game time short and head out to your nearest drug store because you have no more batteries left to feed the system.Rechargable battery packs are simple, easy to use, and can often double as a great storage area for your controllers in the off-time.
A full suite of proprietary Xbox rechargeable battery packs and a charging system is a bit of an investment, around $75. But with 40 hours of gameplay loaded into a single charge, there's a big opportunity for the system to eventually pay for itself (and save a lot of batteries from the landfill). If you're looking to save some money, you could also snag a good charging system from Energizer for around $35, including battery packs -- rechargeable battery packs are definitely a product you that benefits from third-party invention.
3. Xbox Live Gold
Really, owning the Xbox is only half the fun -- the system can accomplish much more once it's hooked up to the Internet. From massive multiplayer throwdowns to quality time streaming Netflix, Xbox Live Gold supercharges the whole console and makes it an all-around entertainment system for the whole family.
A year-long membership of XLG runs $60 (around $5 per month), and it essentially allows games and other applications to access the infinite power of the Internet. Gamers can engage in online multiplayer combat under their Xbox Live gamer tags and also access extended content in the form of community-created levels and the like. You'll also unlock significant value in the media options that come with an XLG membership: Netflix, HBO Go and Rdio are fantastic services that require a Gold membership to access.
If you plan on using your system for more than just solo gaming, this purchase should be top priority.
4. Amazing Xbox Live Arcade Offerings
Sure, you probably already have a couple games for your new console already, but there are plenty of worthwhile investments you can pick up and play on your console without setting foot in a brick and mortar store. Xbox Live Arcade has come a long way in the last few years; you'll find some high-quality games and downloadable content definitely worth a try -- and you'll be able to get most of them for a mere fraction of the price of a traditional game.
Xbox Live Arcade plays host to pretty much every earthshakingly awesome indie game that has come out in recent memory, so don't hesitate to snap up the ones that suit your play style. Notables include 2008's Braid, Castle Crashers andWorld of Goo, 2010's Super Meat Boy, 2011's Limbo and this year's Fez andSpelunky -- each an all-star title that will keep you entertained for hours. If extras are what you're after, be sure to pick up some of XBLA's downloadable content to augment your current games and add new features.
Whatever you do, don't ignore XBLA -- it gives old games new life and exposes you to new games you wouldn't have seen otherwise. Download away!
5. Halo
Halo is the series that put Xbox on the map and defined its core audience -- hardcore gaming folks drooled over its layered gameplay and sharp controls, while casual gamers lauded the high-octane multiplayer scenarios. And unless you've been living under a rock for the last decade, you know the kind of powerHalo wields on the console.
Take this opportunity to jump into Master Chief's shoes and fight for the future of the human race. Halo 4, the series' most recent installment, came out just in time for the holiday season. It features hallmark campaign and multiplayer modes with a really interesting storyline, to boot. But if you're less enthusiastic for the new title (or the steep, new game price tag), you can always pick up 2007's Halo 3 for some great gaming at a fraction of the price. You'll still be able to get a feel for the game's amazing artillery and killer online play.
Above all else, this game is Microsoft's baby -- its historical significance alone makes it an essential to any Xbox library.
6. Kinect
After the 360 was on the market for a few years, Microsoft decided to innovate ways to refresh gameplay without scrapping the system entirely. The result, of course, was the Kinect -- released in 2010, the peripheral add-on added motion capture and camera abilities to the Xbox's repertoire. The accessory is a bestseller and features both expanded gameplay for traditional games and unique original titles that capitalize on its many features.
The technology of the Kinect is fascinating (you can read all about it here). It allows players to not only control their Xboxes via voice but also with hand motions and gestures. There are many titles that show off the Kinect's many abilities, but something as simple as asking your Xbox to play your DVDs feels pretty magical. The Kinect is also the Xbox's "party game" accessory, since its original titles are often geared toward younger and casual gamers who enjoy playing with their friends.
Although it only costs a hundred bucks, the Kinect will make you feel like you're from the future -- years after its release, it's still super cool.
7. Dance Central
Dance Central did for the Kinect what Halo did for the Xbox: Made it huge. Group dancing games have steadily increased in popularity over the years (Dance Dance Revolution, anyone?), but Dance Central actually tracks your dancing instead of relying on button pressing or holding a motion-sensing baton. The result is a super fun and high-energy series that is addicting to play once you get off your couch and start moving.
The latest installment of the series, Dance Central 3, came out earlier this year and is the sharpest title yet. Full of choreography scaled to your skills and plenty of hits (see: "Call Me Maybe"), Dance Central 3 actually gets people dancing. The game is also a master class for the Kinect: The cameras are highly accurate and really push people to go for more complex moves. Whether you'll notice it or not, this game will actually make you a better dancer.
Oh, and it has "Gangnam Style" as DLC. Can we say party game?
8. NBA 2K13
This roundup would not be complete without a sports title that shows off some of the best graphics and AI out there. There's a game to suit nearly every sports fan, but really, none comes close to NBA 2K13. Arguably the most advanced and realistic sports game out right now, NBA 2K13 can actually trick your companions into thinking you're just watching sports on TV. Yes -- it's that good.
The reason this game stands head and shoulders above the rest is that it's jam-packed with content that would make anyone -- not just NBA fans -- oddly excited. From unlocking Justin Bieber as a playable character to rocking out to the sweet playlist crafted by none other than rap star and Brooklyn Nets godfather Jay-Z, you just have to try these features. Beyond that, the on-court action is absolutely breathtaking -- the pacing, the physics and even little player quirks make it all feel, well, real. It's insanely fun and a standout in a genre full of all-stars.
As a new game, it's a bit of an investment, but the game's comprehensive and immersive features make it a can't-miss.
9. A Great Headset
By this point, you've picked up an Xbox Live Gold account and plenty of games to take advantage of an online experience, but you're not quite outfitted until you have a reliable headset. An overwhelming portion of the Xbox Live community rely on headsets to effectively communicate in-game, without friction. And, when playing a games that require a heavy amount of cooperation among online players, you're going to want to make your voice heard, too.
Headsets are another feature that have their own proprietary models, as well as a few supreme third-party offerings, if you're interested in something fancier. Looking for something cheap and cheerful to get you off the ground? You can score an Xbox 360 branded headset for around $20. Want to look like you're from the future or a corporate bigwig? Xbox also offers a wireless earpiece that looks like a lightweight bluetooth device for $40. And, if you want to be so immersed in a game that you feel like you're living it, third party hardware developers make high-rolling headphone/headset systems with increased bass and high-definition audio transmission for about $100.
Any way you slice it, you'll need a headset if you want to truly own the online space.
10. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Every once in a while, a game comes along that will take over your life. You may find yourself sinking hour after intriguing hour into the story, captivated by the life you've created and functioning in a new and interesting society. You'll start creating goals and having ambitions in that world -- maybe even more lofty than your own. In case you didn't notice, Skyrim is totally that game.
The Elder Scrolls series, crafted by Bethesda Networks, has evolved over time into a massively expansive world full of rich history and notable voices. Skyrimplaces the character as the Dragon Born, a gifted person who can commune with the dragons of old. From there, everything you do is entirely up to you: You can play with honor and valor, or you can surreptitiously murder everyone and spend the rest of your life on the lam from the local law. The main quest is full of epic battles and fun missions, but you can sink plenty of hours in side quests and just plain wandering around.
Add to that some expansive DLC (Vampirism! Riding dragons!) and you have hundreds of hours of gameplay immersion.
11. The Mass Effect Trilogy
If dragons, guns, dancing and basketball aren't really your thing, then run, don't walk to your nearest gaming outlet and purchase the Mass Effect series. This amazing and critically acclaimed trilogy has captured the minds and hearts of many gamers, and the full arc of the adventures of Commander Shepard, the soldier destined to save the world against hostile alien forces, is truly a sight to behold.
As Shepard, you will navigate the future of the human race while facing the challenges of entering an intergalactic community with aliens of all kinds. You'll assemble a team of lovable and zany colleagues, fight some pretty gnarly characters and even romance an alien or two.
The core gameplay is divided into two modes: battles and conversations. Battling is straightforward: Select the class skills of Shepard from the outset and tailor your team to complete different objectives. Conversations, of course, are more difficult -- Shepard is a highly influential person in the galaxy, and it's up to you to make important decisions that may have devastating consequences in the long run. The best part, of course, is that you can import your character over all three games, taking with you the many decisions you've made over time.
Images courtesy of iStockphoto, scooby53, Microsoft Studios
(Source: Mashable)
