There was plenty of skepticism when the originalXboxwas announced, but now Microsoft is a top competitor that’s even been at the head of the pack. The first Xbox wasn’t perfect, but it found its footing and still turned out some satisfying &lengthy games, both in terms of exclusive and multi-platform releases.
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Microsoft slowly branded itself as the home for online shooters, but there are still someRPGson the original console that are worthy of attention. The genre can be difficult to properly crack and the Xbox has plenty of RPGs that struggle when it comes to their lengths.
10Too Short: Enclave (10-15 Hours)
Enclaveis an RPG that embraces a medieval fantasy aesthetic and it allows players to decide if they want to be a force of justice or evil depending on the character that they choose.Enclavemixes combat, puzzles, and more, but it comes out feeling like a shallow adventure when considering the deep world and concept of morality thatEnclaveteases. Games likeFableare able to turn this idea into experiences that last dozens of hours, butEnclavestruggles to hit double digits and deliver on its premise.
9Too Long: Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II (61 Hours)
Any game that takes its cues fromDungeons & Dragonsor classical tabletop RPGs is obviously going to be long.Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance IIis a successful and thorough take on the hack-and-slash action-RPG genre, but the game doesn’t feel like it adds that much to the formula from its predecessor. As a result,Baldur’s Gatecan feel tedious and drag on at times. Again, players are expecting a lengthy campaign, but that can become more of a hassle when there’s not enough new ideas coming forward.
8Too Short: Gun (12 Hours)
Thewestern genrehas become quite popular for video games, but back duringGun’srelease, it was much more untested territory for an open world action-RPG.Guncontains all of the crime, chaos, and gunslinger mayhem that one would expect for a game that’s set during this time period, but it ultimately doesn’t do enough with it. It’s a rich world where players want even more.
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Games likeGunhad to walk so that titles likeRed Dead Redemptioncould later run.Gun’sbrief length is nearly laughable in comparison to how extensive theRed Dead Redemptionseries has become.
7Too Long: Phantasy Star Online: Episode 1 & 2 (85 Hours)
Phantasy Star Onlinehas been able to take rich fundamentals and create an engrossing MMORPG experience.Phantasy Star Online: Episode 1 & 2started on theDreamcastand this Xbox port is another instance of the system taking advantage of Sega’s scraps. There’s just so much to explore in this game, whether players take it in by themselves or with others. A long list of events also turns out new content and keeps the game fresh. This title perfects the series’ formula, but it can be a little intimidating to get lost in this universe with so much to experience.
6Too Short: Crimson Sea (10 Hours)
It’s interesting when RPGs are more experimental and incorporate several different genres, which is the case withKoei Tecmo’sCrimson Sea.The game combines shooter and hack-and-slash elements with RPG mechanics and delivers a highly stylized & addicting game.Crimson Seahas a ton of personality and it creates an engaging mystery that works well with the action genre. The world and missions are so entertaining inCrimson Seathat it’s legitimately a shame once the game comes to a close. Curiously, the originalCrimson Seais an Xbox title, but its sequel is for the PlayStation 2.
5Too Long: Metal Dungeon (120 Hours)
Metal Dungeonis an RPG that’sexclusive to the original Xboxthat utilizes a very unusual approach. The game contains 100 randomly generated levels, with only the first ten pertaining to the game’s story and the rest being additional challenges to strengthen characters.
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This structure makes the game feel more punishing and longer than it needs to be, especially with so much of it being randomized. It’s unfortunate because the game’s mix of machines, magic, cyborgs, and monsters actually works and there’s a decent combat system in play.
4Too Short: Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone (9 Hours)
Forgotten Realms: Demon Stoneis one of the more cinematic RPG titles for the Xbox and it really tries to push the limits of gaming. The game’s story depicts the epic journey between man against monster and it plays with many of the ideas thatGod of Warwould later standardize. There’s such a rich story here that the biggest problem is that it’s over too quickly. The game even has the pedigree of a number ofcelebritiesthat lend their voices to the project, like Patrick Stewart and Michael Clarke Duncan.
3Too Long: Gladius (190+ Hours)
Gladiusis a multi-platform action-RPG from 2003 that was a rather well reviewed game for the original Xbox. There are now so many video games that pull fromAncient Romeand Greek history, butGladiusstands out for the level of customization that it adds to its experience. The LucasArts game lets players train for gladiatorial combat and there are four vast, distinct regions to explore and conquer. It’s an incredible experience, but it can become somewhat tedious with just too much ground to cover, especially towards the end of the conquest.
2Too Short: BlackStone: Magic & Steel (5 Hours)
It’s important for consoles to build exclusive intellectual properties and while Microsoft’s Xbox took plenty of risks in this area, there weren’t a lot of Xbox-exclusive franchises that caught on when it comes to RPGs on the console.BlackStone: Magic & Steelis a very conventional fantasy-based title that features a fun range of enemies and variety in combat that keeps it entertaining. A lengthier campaign and story could helpBlackStonestand out among the crowd, but instead it becomes a quick and forgettable title.
1Too Long: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (400 Hours)
Bethesda’sElder Scrollsseries has only grown more expansive over time and it features some of the lengthiest video games of its generation.Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindmarks a real turning point in the franchise as it increase the size of the game’s scope in a substantial way. The plot to liberate Morrowind from corrupt rule is almost inconsequential due to the incredibly detailed nature of the game’s world. Such immersive experiences likeMorrowindare a dream come true for some gamers, but for others it’s exhausting to have so much content to explore.
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