There was plenty of skepticism when the original Xbox was 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.
Microsoft slowly branded itself as the home for online shooters, but there are still some RPGs on 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.
10 Too Short: Enclave (10-15 Hours)
Enclave is 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. Enclave mixes combat, puzzles, and more, but it comes out feeling like a shallow adventure when considering the deep world and concept of morality that Enclave teases. Games like Fable are able to turn this idea into experiences that last dozens of hours, but Enclave struggles to hit double digits and deliver on its premise.
9 Too Long: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II (61 Hours)
Any game that takes its cues from Dungeons & Dragons or classical tabletop RPGs is obviously going to be long. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II is 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 Gate can 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.
8 Too Short: Gun (12 Hours)
The western genre has become quite popular for video games, but back during Gun’s release, it was much more untested territory for an open world action-RPG. Gun contains 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.
Games like Gun had to walk so that titles like Red Dead Redemption could later run. Gun’s brief length is nearly laughable in comparison to how extensive the Red Dead Redemption series has become.
7 Too Long: Phantasy Star Online: Episode 1 & 2 (85 Hours)
Phantasy Star Online has been able to take rich fundamentals and create an engrossing MMORPG experience. Phantasy Star Online: Episode 1 & 2 started on the Dreamcast and 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.
6 Too Short: Crimson Sea (10 Hours)
It’s interesting when RPGs are more experimental and incorporate several different genres, which is the case with Koei Tecmo’s Crimson Sea. The game combines shooter and hack-and-slash elements with RPG mechanics and delivers a highly stylized & addicting game. Crimson Sea has a ton of personality and it creates an engaging mystery that works well with the action genre. The world and missions are so entertaining in Crimson Sea that it’s legitimately a shame once the game comes to a close. Curiously, the original Crimson Sea is an Xbox title, but its sequel is for the PlayStation 2.
5 Too Long: Metal Dungeon (120 Hours)
Metal Dungeon is an RPG that's exclusive to the original Xbox that 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.
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.
4 Too Short: Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone (9 Hours)
Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone is 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 that God of War would 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 of celebrities that lend their voices to the project, like Patrick Stewart and Michael Clarke Duncan.
3 Too Long: Gladius (190+ Hours)
Gladius is 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 from Ancient Rome and Greek history, but Gladius stands 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.
2 Too 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 & Steel is 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 help BlackStone stand out among the crowd, but instead it becomes a quick and forgettable title.
1 Too Long: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (400 Hours)
Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series has only grown more expansive over time and it features some of the lengthiest video games of its generation. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind marks 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 like Morrowind are a dream come true for some gamers, but for others it’s exhausting to have so much content to explore.