The Xbox 360 was a fantastic console that had banger after banger. Sure, the rush to beat Sony to market meant most of the original units suffered from the Red Ring of Death (mine included) but it manged to turn things around and become a much loved console.
But what about those games that didn’t make Microsoft’s machine look very good. Today we take a look at a couple of those games that weren’t even worth buying if they were in the bargain bin of your local video game shop.
Rogue Warrior
There was a time when Bethesda wanted its own Call of Duty and they thought Rogue Warrior was their ticket to the shooter big leagues. But there’s a reason that Bethesda never mentions this title and barely acknowledged it upon release. Rogue Warrior is, without a doubt, an astonishingly bad video game. From its painfully short length and needless macho cursing to its uninspired design, this title stands as a glaring example of how not to make a game. It’s the sort of game a 12-year-old boy would dream of making before being sent to the office to speak with the school psychiatrist. How a studio like Rebellion made this is beyond us, but at least this is one of those so-bad-its-good sort of games.
Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger
Raven Squad is a game that struggles to find its identity, blending first-person shooter and real-time strategy elements but not really excelling at either. The idea is sound but the bugs, boredom, and lackluster cooperative experience just detract from any potential enjoyment. The idea of controlling a single squad in co-op mode to simplify the RTS aspects is nice, but the core gameplay and technical issues just keep it from being any fun. If you’re looking for a co-op experience or a more polished blend of FPS and RTS, there are other titles out at the time that deliver on those fronts without the frustration of Raven Squad. The only saving grace with this one is that you can wrangle a friend to play with you and share some of the pain.
Brave: A Warrior’s Tale
Brave: A Warrior’s Tale is a textbook example of what not to do on a new console. You don’t take a middling PS2 game, change its name, and release it on the Xbox 360 with very little fixed, and some things made worse. When a game is so poorly made that it becomes a chore to play, it’s especially disappointing for a title aimed at children, who deserve engaging and well-crafted experiences just as much as anyone else. What they instead get is a cheap port only there to steal money from parents looking for something kid-friendly to play on the 360. If you’re looking for a genuinely fun adventure game, there are countless better options out there—even for younger audiences. Brave: A Warrior’s Tale seems like one to avoid unless you’re specifically seeking out bad games for the sake of curiosity or masochistic bragging rights.
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails is a classic case of a title that fails to deliver even the basics of a satisfying gaming experience. When a game falls short in key areas like dated visuals, lackluster level design, and brain-dead AI, it’s hard to overlook those flaws, especially in a genre as competitive as first-person shooters. The fact that it only offers 10 brief stages and lacks any multiplayer options further limits its appeal, making it feel like a bare-bones experience that doesn’t justify even a budget price tag. For players looking for a compelling FPS, there are so many better options available, even in the budget category. It’s a shame that this is yet another poor Rebellion created title this generation. If you didn’t know any better you’d think the studio wasn’t very good at making video games.
Fast & Furious: Showdown
This Fast and the Furious video game adaptation missed the mark entirely, which is especially disappointing given the franchise’s over-the-top action and larger-than-life set pieces. The films thrive on their absurdity, high-octane stunts, and charismatic characters—elements that should translate seamlessly into an exciting video game. Yet, Activision somehow managed to strip away all the fun, leaving behind a dull, uninspired experience that fails to capture even a fraction of the movies’ energy. It’s a shame, because the franchise has so much potential for a thrilling racing or action game, with its blend of street racing, heists, and explosive set pieces. There are games where you go into them knowing they are going to be bad, so when Fast & Furious: Showdown surprises you with how bad it is you know it’s a disaster.
Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance
From its dated visuals and poor sound design to repetitive and frustrating gameplay, Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance lacks any redeeming qualities other than being the poster child for every bargain bin. The fact that it feels like a relic from a previous generation of consoles, while failing to innovate or offer anything original, makes it a tough sell for anyone looking for a worthwhile gaming experience. The idea of a battle between Heaven and Hell has so much potential for a gripping, visually stunning, and morally complex game. Unfortunately, Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance squanders that potential entirely, leaving players with a forgettable and frustrating experience that feel like being in hell while playing. In the battle between Heaven and Hell, the real loser here is the person who bought this game.
Battle: Los Angeles
A video game based on a movie that most people never heard of. Battle: Los Angeles sounds is yet another example of a rushed movie tie-in game that prioritizes quick profits over quality. These types of games often suffer from a lack of development time, resulting in shallow gameplay, poor design, and a general lack of polish even with Konami behind it. The fact that it’s a short, uninspired shooter that can be completed in less time than watching the movie it’s based on is a clear indication of how little effort went into creating a meaningful or engaging experience. Battle: Los Angeles is a 30 minute shooter to be avoided at all costs on any platform.
Samurai Shodown Sen
There’s nothing worse than being obsolete before you even launch with graphics years old with no updating. Samurai Showown Sen feels incredibly stiff, clunky, and slow at a time when 3D fighters were pushing the boundaries on smoothness, style, and speed. It lacks strategy and matches almost always come down to who can press the instant kill move faster. Combat is broken up into two positional planes for attacks for horizontal & vertical slashing techniques but it’s not clear which is which making countering anything feel more like luck than anything else.
Attack of the Movies 3D
Nothing about this game makes sense for the Xbox 360. This port of a Wii game looks like crap and will actually give you a headache because it comes with 3D glasses to make the action come right off the screen. It’s a really short experience with six stages that feels like they drags because of how poorly designed they are. On the Wii these short of rail shooters were all the rage and made sense with the controller. That can’t be said of the Xbox 360 making the controls slow, clunky, and forcing them to recenter is a disaster. And when you take away the only gimmick that makes these types of games a little bit of fun you are left with a title that nobody will enjoy on the 360.
Battleship
Battleship for the Xbox 360 struggles to find its footing, failing to balance its two modes of play effectively. Part first-person shooter and part and part naval combat with each failing and feeling cheaply done. While there’s a faint hint of ambition, it’s not enough to save the game from being dull and forgettable and not even trying to implement the boardgame outside of collecting pegs to complete the game. The campaign is also painfully short, easily finished in one sitting. It also lacks any multiplayer which could have saved this game with its concept. Imagine one team fighting on sea and another on land online. Shame we got this instead.
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