Here we are, the final Retro|Spective of 2018 and this time we will be casting our eyes to a variety of games rather than a particular franchise or developer. The thing these games share in common is that they were notable releases for this platform when they came out for one reason or another but never managed to find life beyond this era. These are a selection of the games that were on Xbox.. and (if you set aside growing XBO support) were also left behind...
Entry 01 - Blinx: The Time Sweeper & Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space
Other Formats: None
As the new kid on the block Xbox was like any other platform, a system in search of a mascot. Master Chief was already shooting up Covenant forces but Microsoft was also keen to find a more child friendly face to put next to that green X and one of the contenders was Blinx. Armed with the power to affect time, Blinx sets out to correct glitches in time. Players can speed up, reverse and pause time as well as create a copy of Blinx. The sequel arrived two years later expanded the idea by adding a second character you could choose to play as but in both cases the games garnered average review scores and sales tapered off between instalments leading to the end of the franchise as quickly as it had emerged.
Entry 02 - Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions & Double STEAL: The Second Clash
Other Formats: Playstation 2 and Gamecube (Original Game Only)
Never known for being a heavy hitter release, the game attracted attention on its unveiling because a small developer had managed to create a visual showcase for the new system that looked far and beyond rival games via the use of various filters and effects. Working through missions, the player is tasked with defeating rival vehicles and beating the clock in a limited open world. Reviews were very mixed because of how limited the gameplay itself was and ports to rival systems failed to make an impact because they were so heavily compromised from the original version. A Japan only sequel made it out that is largely the same in terms of how it plays though once again it wasn't quite as strong a visual showcase either.
Entry 03 - Brute Force
Other Formats: None
Aimed to do for third person games on the Xbox what Halo had done for first person shooters, Brute Force was a big title for the platform. Four characters working as part of a squad led this sci-fi title with combat approachable from varying styles such as stealth or direct assault. The squad component meant co-op was a core part of the experience on offer also, though solo missions were also available. With hype levels so high it was expected that Brute Force was to be the next key Xbox franchise, on launch that hype translated to sales and the game outsold Halo but once in players hands complaints started to arise with disappointment coming from combat scenarios not being as distinct, character orientated and emergent as trailers had suggested. The shine very quickly vanished from the game and the developers were soon shuttered and folded into the wider company burying the ip.
Entry 04 - Midtown Madness 3
Other Formats: None
The franchise was already a running concern having existed happily on PC already and the third entry was seen as a common sense release for the Xbox. What made a lot less sense was the reveal that the game would come out but would forego a PC release altogether. In addition to this change it was also revealed that the game would see a change in developer and so scepticism quickly set in amongst fans. The end game was fairly well received but taking a successful series from one platform to another didn't pay off as Microsoft had hoped and so the curtain fell on the open world racer.
Entry 05 - Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Other Formats: None
Another PC title to see its potential future moved over to the new console, Crimson Skies followed on from the original release by dialling back on customisation but expanding into a more open flight design. Set in an alternate world 1930's, players set out to seek revenge for the death of a friend in their plane. With a fairly arcade form of gameplay, the title also carried multiplayer support playable over Xbox Live and also twenty single player levels. It's critical reactions were very strong however sales proved to be very low.
Entry 06 - Breakdown
Other Formats: None
Namco released this Xbox exclusive that told its tale from a first person perspective. Using elements of first person lock on fist fighting, the game aimed to increase player immersion by having movements fully animated meaning interactions were fully animated rather than automated via the common 'floating head' method. The game pushed a sci-fi plot and due to this sense of narrative immersion it drew positive reviews however this didn't translate into sales success and it remains a one shot effort for Namco.
Entry 07 - GunValkyrie
Other Formats: None
Another third person shooter but this time from Sega with this effort that was carried over from its origins as a Dreamcast project. Battling insects on an alien world, the game utilised controls that were considered to be overly complex and that aspect dragged down the game from wider reveal right into its release. With ten levels, players would use their boosters to traverse the alien locations attempting to tackle enemies and bosses in an action game that was originally developed to utilise light gun support. The game received some critical support on its release but publicly it floundered and was quickly buried amongst the systems lineage.
Share your thoughts and memories on these Xbox era releases before pouring one out in their memory
Entry 01 - Blinx: The Time Sweeper & Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space
Other Formats: None
As the new kid on the block Xbox was like any other platform, a system in search of a mascot. Master Chief was already shooting up Covenant forces but Microsoft was also keen to find a more child friendly face to put next to that green X and one of the contenders was Blinx. Armed with the power to affect time, Blinx sets out to correct glitches in time. Players can speed up, reverse and pause time as well as create a copy of Blinx. The sequel arrived two years later expanded the idea by adding a second character you could choose to play as but in both cases the games garnered average review scores and sales tapered off between instalments leading to the end of the franchise as quickly as it had emerged.
Entry 02 - Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions & Double STEAL: The Second Clash
Other Formats: Playstation 2 and Gamecube (Original Game Only)
Never known for being a heavy hitter release, the game attracted attention on its unveiling because a small developer had managed to create a visual showcase for the new system that looked far and beyond rival games via the use of various filters and effects. Working through missions, the player is tasked with defeating rival vehicles and beating the clock in a limited open world. Reviews were very mixed because of how limited the gameplay itself was and ports to rival systems failed to make an impact because they were so heavily compromised from the original version. A Japan only sequel made it out that is largely the same in terms of how it plays though once again it wasn't quite as strong a visual showcase either.
Entry 03 - Brute Force
Other Formats: None
Aimed to do for third person games on the Xbox what Halo had done for first person shooters, Brute Force was a big title for the platform. Four characters working as part of a squad led this sci-fi title with combat approachable from varying styles such as stealth or direct assault. The squad component meant co-op was a core part of the experience on offer also, though solo missions were also available. With hype levels so high it was expected that Brute Force was to be the next key Xbox franchise, on launch that hype translated to sales and the game outsold Halo but once in players hands complaints started to arise with disappointment coming from combat scenarios not being as distinct, character orientated and emergent as trailers had suggested. The shine very quickly vanished from the game and the developers were soon shuttered and folded into the wider company burying the ip.
Entry 04 - Midtown Madness 3
Other Formats: None
The franchise was already a running concern having existed happily on PC already and the third entry was seen as a common sense release for the Xbox. What made a lot less sense was the reveal that the game would come out but would forego a PC release altogether. In addition to this change it was also revealed that the game would see a change in developer and so scepticism quickly set in amongst fans. The end game was fairly well received but taking a successful series from one platform to another didn't pay off as Microsoft had hoped and so the curtain fell on the open world racer.
Entry 05 - Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Other Formats: None
Another PC title to see its potential future moved over to the new console, Crimson Skies followed on from the original release by dialling back on customisation but expanding into a more open flight design. Set in an alternate world 1930's, players set out to seek revenge for the death of a friend in their plane. With a fairly arcade form of gameplay, the title also carried multiplayer support playable over Xbox Live and also twenty single player levels. It's critical reactions were very strong however sales proved to be very low.
Entry 06 - Breakdown
Other Formats: None
Namco released this Xbox exclusive that told its tale from a first person perspective. Using elements of first person lock on fist fighting, the game aimed to increase player immersion by having movements fully animated meaning interactions were fully animated rather than automated via the common 'floating head' method. The game pushed a sci-fi plot and due to this sense of narrative immersion it drew positive reviews however this didn't translate into sales success and it remains a one shot effort for Namco.
Entry 07 - GunValkyrie
Other Formats: None
Another third person shooter but this time from Sega with this effort that was carried over from its origins as a Dreamcast project. Battling insects on an alien world, the game utilised controls that were considered to be overly complex and that aspect dragged down the game from wider reveal right into its release. With ten levels, players would use their boosters to traverse the alien locations attempting to tackle enemies and bosses in an action game that was originally developed to utilise light gun support. The game received some critical support on its release but publicly it floundered and was quickly buried amongst the systems lineage.
Share your thoughts and memories on these Xbox era releases before pouring one out in their memory
Definitely another highlight from the launch period. 
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